Travel alerts & warnings
Bulgaria driving guide.
Driving in Bulgaria makes it easy to combine historic towns, mountain monasteries and Black Sea beaches. Main routes are generally straightforward, but secondary roads can have potholes, limited lighting and slow-moving traffic, while mountain routes require extra care in winter.
- Advisory
- Normal precautions
- Drives on
- Right
- Best season
- May to June…
- Permit honored
- Yes
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Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Bulgaria is generally a safe destination for travelers.
- Exercise normal precautionin Bulgaria
Driving there
Your permit in Bulgaria
- Bulgaria honors the International Driving Permit. The permit is a translation of your license into ten languages — it is not a license on its own.
- Carry your valid U.S. driver's license with the permit at all times. The permit is valid for one year and only while your U.S. license is valid.
- Rental companies and local police can be stricter than national law. Confirm the requirement with your rental company before you travel.
Advisory information is published by the U.S. Department of State and reproduced here for convenience. It can change at any time — always check the official advisory before you travel. USIDA does not issue travel advisories.
Before you drive
Top travel tips for Bulgaria
Road rules
Use dipped headlights or daytime running lights even during daylight. Seat belts are compulsory, and handheld phone use is prohibited. The blood-alcohol limit is 0.05%; avoid drinking before driving.
Electronic road tolls
Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes generally need an electronic vignette for the paid national road network, including motorways. Buy through bgtoll.bg or an authorized seller, entering the registration number and country correctly. Check whether your rental already has one; some Danube bridges charge separately.
Fuel stops
Unleaded petrol, diesel and LPG are widely available. Major stations usually accept cards, but keep a backup payment method and fill up before remote mountain drives. Confirm the rental's fuel type carefully, and do not assume smaller rural stations operate overnight.
Speed limits
For ordinary passenger cars, default limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h outside them, 120 km/h on expressways and 140 km/h on motorways, unless signs specify otherwise. Expect camera enforcement and lower limits through villages and roadworks.
Rental paperwork and police checks
Carry your original driver's license, International Driving Permit, passport, rental agreement, vehicle registration and insurance documents. An IDP does not replace your license. Confirm cross-border permission before leaving Bulgaria. Police may check documents and safety equipment; verify that the rental has a warning triangle, reflective vest, first-aid kit and fire extinguisher.
Worth the drive
Places to see in Bulgaria
Rila Monastery
Rila Mountains, southwestern Bulgaria · About 2–2.5 hours from Sofia.
A UNESCO-listed monastery with vivid frescoes and mountain scenery; expect winding roads on the final approach.
Koprivshtitsa
Sredna Gora Mountains, central Bulgaria · About 1.5–2 hours from Plovdiv.
Colorful Bulgarian National Revival houses and museums in a compact historic town; park and explore the cobbled streets on foot.
Belogradchik Rocks and Fortress
Vidin Province, northwestern Bulgaria · About 1 hour from Vidin.
Dramatic sandstone formations surround a fortress built into the rocks, with panoramic viewpoints nearby.
Nessebar Old Town
Burgas Province, Black Sea coast · About 40–50 minutes from Burgas; longer in summer traffic.
A UNESCO-listed peninsula of medieval churches and traditional houses; use parking outside the restricted historic core.
Cape Kaliakra
Dobrich Province, northern Black Sea coast · About 1–1.25 hours from Varna.
A striking headland with sea cliffs, fortress ruins and coastal views, reached by a scenic drive north of Varna.
Bachkovo Monastery
Rhodope foothills, southern Bulgaria · About 40–50 minutes from Plovdiv.
An important Orthodox monastery with historic murals, easily combined with nearby Asen's Fortress.
Heading to Bulgaria?
Apply online in about ten minutes. We print and mail your permit, and you can track it the whole way.