Planning a road trip in Bulgaria straight from the USA? Brace yourself for a world quite different from what you’re used to. Everything follows the metric system from kilometers per hour for speed to kilograms and tons for weight, liters for volume, and Celsius for temperature. City centers draw crowds, and finding a parking spot can be challenging—it often requires payment. Initially, locals might seem reserved. Remember, European countries boast a rich tapestry of languages, histories, and cultures. To ease into your Bulgarian road trip, familiarize yourself with the essentials of driving, parking, speed limits, road safety, and converting temperatures.
Your Sky-High Guide to Unforgettable Journeys
Understanding Traffic Pattern
Be prepared for quick changes on highways due to frequent exits and merges. Flash your hazard lights if you encounter sudden stops.
No Right Turns on Red Like in the USA
Bulgaria enforces a strict no-turn-on-red rule. Wait for the green light, even if the coast seems clear.
Navigating Intersection: The Right of Way Rule
Like many European countries, Bulgaria adheres to the right-of-way rule at intersections, dismissing the “first come, first served” approach.
Roundabout Etiquette
Roundabouts help manage traffic flow. Always yield to cars inside the roundabout and signal before you exit.
Fuelling Up
Expect higher gas prices and smaller tanks. Stations offer various octane-level gasoline (98, 95, 91, and occasionally 100), plus diesel and LPG. Forget about 87, 89, or 93 octane gas here. Prices are per liter, not per gallon (1 gallon = 3.8 liters) – anticipate frequent adjustments to gas prices.
Traffic Lights
Traffic lights are positioned before the intersection. Stop just before the light and look up to see it.
Understanding Headlight Signals
A flash from an oncoming vehicle signals you’re clear to go. If the flash is from behind, it means someone wants to overtake.
Manual Transmission Cars
One striking difference between driving in the USA and Bulgaria is the prevalence of manual transmissions in Bulgaria, as opposed to the dominance of automatic transmissions in the USA. Like much of Europe, in Bulgaria, driving a car with a manual gearbox is the norm rather than the exception. This reflects a difference in driving culture and impacts driver training and vehicle selection. If you are accustomed to automatic cars, you might find yourself at a learning curve when driving in Bulgaria. Mastering the clutch and gear shift is essential for navigating the country’s diverse terrains, from bustling city streets to winding mountain roads. This fundamental difference underscores the varied automotive preferences and driving practices that characterize the driving experience in these two parts of the world.
Prefer automatic? Make sure to specify when renting, though manual cars are less expensive.
Sharing the Road is Different from the USA
Expect to share city roads with scooters, bikes, mopeds, trucks, buses, trolleybuses, trams, and taxis.
Dealing with Narrower Roads
Europe, including Bulgaria, is known for its narrower roads. Highways typically feature two lanes plus a shoulder.
Winter Preparedness
Local and city roads receive priority snow clearance over highways. Don’t assume that cleared roads near you mean all roads are clear.
If you’re road-tripping Bulgaria from the US, note that car temperature dials display Celsius, not Fahrenheit. Converting between the two is simple, and here is an easy way to understand how to convert between the two systems.
