Bulgaria Romania Ferryboat

Why did you go via Vidin from Sofia to get to Craiova? There are shorter routes!

Thanks for the report!

Sometimes development is underdevelopment for some groups, like travellers. So,

THIS IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CROSSING THE BORDER FROM VIDIN TO CALAFAT.

So, there is new bridge. Ferry boat connection does not function anymore. Yes, the bridge connects Bulgaria and Romania, but it does not connect two border cities so well... I could write an essay how this bridge is the symbol of whole EU, but here is the practical information.

The bridge is 10 km out of the city. (You can see well in Google maps)

Bulgaria and Romania has no natural connections, as Danube here is the border of two different cultural and language areas. So, until autumn 2013 there is no any bus or train connections between the countries here. Railway connection will be there sooner or later, because there is new railway on the bridge and they have built new station to Vidin with big money of EU.

As we can read in internet, crossing border by walking is free, so...

I asked the taxi drivers near the railway station of Vidin, how much is the price for a bridge. I was not satisfied for the answer that they want to cross the bridge to Calafat with 25 e (50 leva). I knew that is bull. Even I explained and I showed that I want to walk Calafat. No result. So I left and I went to ask from exchange office how much it should be to the bridge.

Bulgarians are very helpful and soon there were plenty of people to tell me, that the real cost is 8 leva. So they called me a taxi and I got to the bridge.

When walking on the bridge and watching historical river of Danube, you might think, that all that big money should have put the saving the river instead of building the massive bridge...

Anyway, bridge is less than 2 km, as we can read and easy to cross it, BUT, just after crossing Danube, you will see
bridge over you going to your right to city of Calafat. NO ANY ACCESS FOR PEDESTRIANS. No even any off roads, because there are high fences on your left and highway and railway on your right. This is unbelievable, as there is no any surveillance or checking for pedestrians, so that is not the reason.

As a pedestrian, you will see sign Craiova 86 km and to the next city 4 km. And Calafat is just at the riverbank of Danube. Far behind you...

Believe it or not, you have to walk over 3 km when road turns back to Calafat, this is after toll-area. I went to the bridge, where I saw sign Calafat 4 km and I hitched. This was for cars only. There were stairs there, but that was not official road, I went there thorough the bushes.

So, if you are planning to continue your trip from Calafat, leave early to reach the bus or train in Calafat as the last ones are leaving very early. Train goes this 86 km trip for 3 hours so that is not the real option. Last bus to Craiova leaves 14.30. There are only two before that. There is train 3.30 in early morning.

There was one exchange office in small city and that was easy to find.

AND, there is no concept of BUS STATION in Calafat, even this is marked on google map. (Bus station is autogara in Romanian if u ask for it). It is actually bus stop in front of one small kiosk. Beware also that Romanians are cool and proud and for them is not so natural to help u out like Bulgarians do. :) But sooner or later you will find someone who will tell where is the right bus stop. (There are many to different directions.)

The most clever thing to do would be to hitch to Craiova directly after the toll-area.

CONCLUSION: it is easy to walk to Romania, but not to Calafat. By walking all the way to Calafat, it is over 7 km, even you can throw a stone from Vidin to Calafat... Interesting experience I could say.

One extra tip: In Vidin center, just near the railway station, women are selling very good pastries with eggs and herbs. (Not typical börek with only cheese inside.) You`ve gonna need these when you walk over the bridge, especially walking in the heat. In Calafat, you do not find this kind of easy, cheap eating.

Vidin supposed to be the "poorest city in EU" according to some resources, but that is normal nice and neat Bulgarian city.

Craiova is also nice and beautiful city to stay over night. Good point for travelling any part of Romania. Bus from Calafat goes to Northern Station. There is ra ailway and busstation.

Edited by: katjabloigu

Hi,
We would like to go to Calafat to Vidin to catch a train to Sofia. Do you (or anyone) know if we can take a car or taxi across the bridge to the train station? We are trying to avoid having to take that long train ride to Bucharest and then over to Sofia. We can also walk across but it doesn't sounc like we can acess the bridge by foot - unless that's only a problem going from Vidin to Calafat?
This is coming up for us in about 5 or 6 days so knowing in advance would be great!
Thanks...

You can hitch a ride with someone.but also check for a bus.