Sofia to Craiova Transfer: Private Car via Vidin and Calafat
A Sofia to Craiova transfer takes you in one private car from your address in Sofia to any address in Craiova: about 300 km and 5 hours of driving through North-West Bulgaria and over the Danube at Vidin – Calafat. Our pricelist gives 255 € for a sedan, 343 € for a minivan and 392 € for a minibus, for the whole car. Prices to Vidin and the Danube Bridge, also from Plovdiv, are below.
| Route | Distance and time | Sedan (up to 4) | Minivan (up to 6) | Minibus (up to 8) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sofia → Craiova | 300 km · about 5:00 h | 255 € | 343 € | 392 € |
| Sofia → Vidin | 230 km · about 3:30 h | 176 € | 225 € | 265 € |
| Sofia → Danube Bridge 2 (Vidin – Calafat) | 220 km · about 4:00 h | 176 € | 225 € | 265 € |
| Plovdiv → Vidin | 342 km · about 4:30 h | 235 € | 314 € | 343 € |
| Plovdiv → Danube Bridge 2 (Vidin – Calafat) | 365 km · about 5:30 h | 235 € | 314 € | 343 € |
| Plovdiv, Burgas or Varna → Craiova; Craiova Airport, Targu Jiu, groups over 8 | given with your quote | on request | on request | on request |
Updated: 20 October 2026
Craiova is the biggest city of Oltenia, in the south-west of Romania, and on the map it is closer to Sofia than to Bucharest. Getting there without a car is still hard work: there is no simple direct line, and a bus trip usually means a change in Vidin or Calafat, a walk with the bags and a long wait. In a private car you leave at the hour you choose, the driver takes the road north to the Danube and stops at the door of your home, hotel or office in Craiova.
Sofia to Craiova prices and travel time
Every price is for the vehicle, not per person, for one direction. The times are pure driving time, without breaks.
Prices, kilometres and hours from our Sofia and Plovdiv pricelists. The price is fixed when you book. Places without a line in the pricelist and groups over 8 are priced on request.
Who books this transfer
| Your trip | What we do |
|---|---|
| You flew into Sofia and your family lives in Oltenia | we collect you in Sofia and drive you to the door of the house in Craiova, with all the luggage |
| A work trip to a factory or office in Craiova | leave Sofia early, arrive before lunch, and book the return for the same evening or the next day |
| A group of friends or colleagues | one minibus for up to 8 people, one price for the whole car, no taxi convoy |
| Students going back to university after the holidays | one car for the suitcases and boxes, straight to the dormitory or the flat |
The road from Sofia to Craiova
- Sofia to Vratsa and Montana: the car leaves Sofia to the north, crosses the Balkan mountains and comes down into the plain of North-West Bulgaria.
- Montana to Vidin: a quieter road through small towns and fields to Vidin, the old fortress town on the Danube. This is the natural place for a short break before the border.
- Danube Bridge 2: the long road and rail bridge, also called the New Europe Bridge, links Vidin with Calafat in Romania.
- Calafat to Craiova: on the Romanian side the road runs east across the flat Oltenian farmland and comes into Craiova from the west.
The other way is over the Danube Bridge at Ruse – Giurgiu. From Sofia it is much longer, so we only use it when there is a closure or heavy traffic at Vidin. You do not have to choose: the dispatcher and the driver decide on the day and tell you in advance.
Crossing the Danube into Romania
- No regular passport control: Bulgaria and Romania are both in Schengen since January 2025. Keep your passport or ID card in your bag, not in the boot, because spot checks are still possible.
- The same time zone: Sofia and Craiova use the same clock, so there is no hour to add or take away.
- Different money: Bulgaria pays in euro, Romania in leu. You pay us in euro, to the driver; for a coffee in Romania a bank card works almost everywhere.
- Fog in the cold months: the Danube plain is often foggy on autumn and winter mornings. On such days plan half an hour more and let the driver take it calmly.
Pickup in Sofia and arrival in Craiova
- From an address or hotel in Sofia: the driver comes to the door at the agreed time and waits 15 minutes for free.
- From Sofia Airport: the driver meets you in the arrivals hall, with a name sign if you like. We follow your flight, so if it lands late the waiting at the airport is free for as long as it takes. The airport pickup is priced with your quote.
- In Craiova: we stop at your home, hotel, office, the university or any address you give. Craiova Airport, Targu Jiu and other towns in Oltenia are priced on request.
- The way back: the pricelist works in both directions. Tell us the pickup address in Craiova and the time, and we send the car across the bridge for you.
Travelling with small children? Baby carriers, child seats and boosters are free; tell us how many you need. Our drivers speak English.
Luggage: which car to choose
| Your group | Car | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 people, normal bags | Sedan | the lowest price for a couple or a small family |
| 4 people with big suitcases | Minivan | four large cases do not fit in a full sedan |
| 5–6 people | Minivan | up to 6 passengers plus the driver |
| 7–8 people, or a lot of luggage | Minibus | one car, one driver, one price for the group |
| 9 and more | Minibus or bus | priced on request; two cars can also travel together |
Going further into Romania?
Craiova is often one stop on a longer trip. For the capital read our Sofia to Bucharest transfer guide, and for the mountains our transfer to Brasov guide. If your flight home leaves from Otopeni, see the Bucharest Airport transfer page.
Book your Sofia to Craiova transfer
Sofia to Craiova transfer: FAQ
How much does a private transfer from Sofia to Craiova cost?
Our Sofia pricelist gives 255 € for a sedan (up to 4 people), 343 € for a minivan (up to 6) and 392 € for a minibus (up to 8). It is the price of the whole car for one direction, not a price per person.
How long is the drive from Sofia to Craiova?
The pricelist gives about 300 km and 5:00 h. With one coffee stop in Montana or Vidin, plan about five and a half hours from your door in Sofia to your address in Craiova.
Which border crossing do you use?
Usually the Danube Bridge 2 between Vidin and Calafat, because it is the shortest way from Sofia. If there is a problem on that road, the driver can cross at Ruse – Giurgiu instead; the dispatcher tells you before the trip.
Is there passport control between Bulgaria and Romania?
Not as a rule. Both countries are full Schengen members since January 2025, so cars normally drive over the bridge without a stop. Police can still make spot checks, so every passenger, children too, needs a valid passport or ID card.
Can you collect us at Sofia Airport or drop us at Craiova Airport?
Yes. The pricelist line is from Sofia city to Craiova; for a pickup at Sofia Airport or a drop-off at Craiova Airport the dispatcher confirms the exact price of the car before you book.
Do I need to pay in advance?
No. There is no prepayment. You book by phone, on Viber or WhatsApp, or with the price request form, and pay the driver at the end of the trip.
