Bucharest – Thassos by car: everything you need to know

If you are planning a vacation in Greece, in Thassos, and you want to enjoy a complete experience, then choose to travel from Bucharest to Thassos by car. This way, you’ll be able to enjoy the beauties of each town you pass through, whichever route you choose, and discover new things and unique experiences with your loved ones.

Discover below a travel guide that tells you everything you need to know about a Bucharest – Thassos route by car.

• Route options Bucharest – Thassos: which cities to pass through
• Driving to Greece: what costs to expect
• Tips & Tricks: how to travel as cheaply as possible
• Romania’s entry into the Schengen Area and the abolition of border controls

Route options Bucharest – Thassos: which cities do you pass through?

For the most enjoyable experience and to avoid unplanned events, plan your drive from Bucharest to Thassos in advance. However, before that, you should be aware that, in general, the duration of the drive from Bucharest to Thassos can vary depending on several factors, such as traffic conditions, traveling speed and the stops you make.

Distance Bucharest – Thassos and recommended routes

Here are 3 options to consider when choosing which route to take:

București – Veliko Tarnovo – Stara Zagora – Svilengrad – Ormenio – Keramoti – Thassos

In this situation, the distance Bucharest – Thassos is 600 km. In general, the route could take about 8 to 10 hours, but it can be even longer if you want to visit some of the sights in some of the towns you pass through on the way to your destination.

Cities and sights worth visiting on your way to Thassos

If time permits, you can set aside a day or two to visit a few sights en route to Thassos. Here are some interesting ones:

• Veliko Tarnovo – town in Bulgaria known for its medieval fortress Tsarevets, which offers an impressive view of the town and its surroundings. It’s well worth a visit, as throughout the fortress there are loudspeakers narrating a brief history of the fortress in English and Bulgarian.

Another interesting thing to admire if you come to Tsarevets is the Yantra River, which runs through the base of the fortress and divides the town in two, snaking through the houses. The road distance from Bucharest to Veliko Tarnovo is about 182 km, which is about a 3-hour drive.

👉 If you’re passionate about history, then you must discover the charms of Romania’s historic cities. Here are 10 examples of historical cities not to be missed!

• Svilengrad – another Bulgarian town whose symbol this time is an old bridge built in 1529 during the Ottoman rule and remarkably well preserved considering its age.
• As the border of Ormenio follows this town, here you can take a longer break for a rest and lunch. In Svilengrad you’ll find plenty of restaurants and cafes where you can savor local dishes and drinks while enjoying the beauty of the city.
• Keramoti – After crossing the border, the next big town is Keramoti in Greece, from where the ferry crossing to Thassos is made. Inquire ahead of time about the ferry schedule to Thassos to make sure you reach your destination on time.

Given that the distance between Svilengrad and Keramoti can be covered in about 5 hours, it’s good to know that after the ferry crossing to Thassos, you can find plenty of tavernas and restaurants on the island. For example, in Limenas, the island’s main port, you can enjoy fresh seafood and traditional Greek dishes.

👉 Discover other Greek sights to explore for an authentic Greek experience!

București – Ruse – Sofia – Kulata – Keramoti – Thassos

The Bucharest – Thassos route is 775 km long and takes about 12 hours, but there are some interesting sights worth seeing here too. Here are our suggestions.

Cities and sights worth visiting on the route

Whether you are passionate about history or you just like to discover new things and admire great architecture, then you can keep in mind the following objectives, if you choose to travel this route by car Bucharest – Thassos:

• Ruse – In this Bulgarian city you can visit the Monument of Liberty, which was designed in the 20th century, and the Palace of Justice. You can also take advantage of the good weather by strolling through the city center, which offers restaurants and terraces suitable for a short break.
• Sofia – A stop in Sofia can also be suitable for lunch and a short break as the border is later near Kulata. Here you can visit the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral – the emblem of the city and one of the most important sights in Sofia. A very interesting feature here is certainly the dome, over 50 meters high. Another must-see in Sofia is the National Art Gallery, which contains an impressive collection of 12,000 works of art.

If you prefer just to enjoy the fresh mountain air and don’t want to go sightseeing, then you can relax by strolling along the charming Vitosha Boulevard. The view of Mount Vitosha is sure to enchant you and fill you with positive energy.

About 2 hours from Sofia is Kulata, the border point with Greece. From here it’s about 3 hours to Keramoti, where you can take the ferry to Thassos.

👉 Discover other driving routes to explore on your next European vacation!

Ruse – Biala – Veliko Tarnovo – Gurkovo – Stara Zagora –  Dimitrovgrad – Haskovo – Kardzali – Makaza – Komotini – Keramoti

The road from Romania to Thassos via Makaza is one of the most popular routes for tourists, due to its accessibility and spectacular scenery. Makaza, located on the border between Bulgaria and Greece, lies at an altitude of about 1,000 meters. After crossing the border, the route continues on the Egnatia Odos, passing through towns such as Xanthi and Kavala, and the distance from Kavala to Thassos is about 99 km.

The distance from Makaza to Thassos is about 120 km and the journey takes 2-3 hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. The Ruse-Makaza road is about 365 km and can be traveled in about 5 hours, without intermediate accommodation. The route offers superb views but is winding and requires extra caution in bad weather. This is the shortest route Bucharest Thassos.

Driving to Greece: what costs to expect

As you may have noticed, on your way to Thassos by car you pass through several major towns, which is why it’s important to know that you’ll have to pay some taxes to avoid possible penalties and fines. Here are the estimated costs:

1. In Bulgaria, in Ruse, you will have to pay a vignette which costs about 45 lei for a week.
2. Also in Ruse, you will have to pay a bridge toll of about 10 lei.
3. In Greece, you will have to pay a highway toll of about 10 lei.
4. In Keramoti, you have to pay the ferry. Check the ferry price list.

Fuel costs – where to fill up on the road

In addition to the above fees, don’t forget to factor in fuel costs. We can’t give an estimate here, as it can vary widely, depending on the type of fuel you need and the model of car.

Whichever option you choose, you should be aware that there are refueling stations at regular intervals along the route, both on the highway and in cities. Even so, it’s always a good idea to make sure you have enough fuel to cover the distances between refuelling stations and to cross borders.

Tips & Tricks: how to travel as cheaply as possible

In addition to accommodation costs, which can be lower if you book in advance, when traveling by car, you also have to pay quite a bit for fuel. So to save as much as possible, there are a few tricks that really work. Here are a few.

For example, a good idea would be for you and your family to travel with another close family and rent a spacious car. Here are the benefits:

• Share fuel costs and tolls;
• have more space, allowing you to enjoy more comfort and take more luggage with you on vacation;
• if you are 2 or more drivers, you can avoid the extra expense of extra accommodation on the road and cover the route in one piece.

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Another thing you can do before you set off is to research fuel prices and identify the most competitively priced refueling stations en route. Avoid refueling in tourist areas as prices can be higher.

Also, adopt an efficient driving style and maintain a steady speed, as this can contribute to lower fuel consumption and therefore lower costs.

Where to stay in Thassos

As for accommodation, here are 3 resorts in Thassos where you can find affordable deals:

● Limenas (Thassos Town) – is the capital of the island and offers a variety of accommodation options. In the areas further away from the coast, you can find more affordable hostels, villas and hotels than in the beach resorts and thus take advantage of the various Thassos drive trips.

● Limenaria – is located in the south-western part of the island and offers a range of accommodation options to suit all budgets. Here, you can find larger hotels as well as more affordable hostels or apartments for rent.

● Potos – is a resort in the southwest of the island, known for its beautiful beaches. There are plenty of accommodation options here, including reasonably priced hotels and hostels, especially if you book in advance or during off-peak periods.

If you’re wondering how many kilometers the island of Thassos is, well, it’s almost 400 square kilometers, so to discover as many sights as possible during your vacation, make sure you always have an online or even a physical map of Greece Thassos handy.

Romania’s entry into the Schengen area and the abolition of border controls

Romania’s entry into the Schengen Area brings significant benefits for Romanians traveling by car to Greece, eliminating internal border controls and thus reducing waiting time, stress and costs associated with stops.

This makes travel faster, more comfortable and flexible, and tourists will reach their holiday destinations without delays or inconveniences, enjoying a more relaxing and efficient experience on the road.

As you can see throughout this article, traveling Bucharest – Thassos by car can be a real adventure that you can enjoy with your loved ones. Take advantage of all the information in this article and discover each city of your trip while staying within your budget.

Surse foto: Shutterstock, Shutterstock.