How to bypass Serbia (en route from Prague to Sofia)?

[HiRazor]

Hi guys (and gals, provided you're the lucky corner of SSC and have any ladies here).

I've posted similar thread in Romanian section but perhaps you might know better.

I'm driving from Prague to Sofia next week and because I've just noticed my passport has expired weeks ago, I need an EU only alternative route to find (Serbia doesn't accept EU ID cards yet - as far as I know). And because Google maps as well as Michelin and other route planners still don't provide a too detailed coverage of the Balkan peninsula (:bash:), I'd appreciate an advice from locals:

What is the best way how to get from Nagylak/Nadlac (HU/RO border) to Calafat/Vidin (RO/BG border), provided it's the best way how to avoid Serbia en route from Hungary to Bulgaria (if not, what is?)?
How are the roads beyond Vidin, what's the best route between Vidin and the capital?
How are the roads in that area (narrow/wide, smooth/bumpy, straight/windy)?
Anything else I should know to plan the route in that area?

Simply what is your route of choice when Belgrade gets bombed?

Thank you for your kind help, that, I'm sure, you won't refuse to provide to an absent-minded fellow SSC member who doesn't keep his papers in order.

A special note for Radi:
I already know Struma is NOT on the way, so don't even try it!:)

[Turnovec]

^^Hello HiRazor :)

The road from Vidin to Sofia is in good condition :) The part Vidin-Montana-Vratsa-Botevgrad has been rehabilitated in the last 7-8 years by the Austrian Strabag. You can find my photo reports about it here:


[E79] Montana - Vratsa Part I (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=23575668&postcount=519)
[E79] Montana - Vratsa Part II (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=23575730&postcount=520)
[E79] Montana - Vratsa Part III (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=23575684&postcount=521)
[E79] Montana - Vratsa Part IV (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=23575694&postcount=522)
[E79] Montana - Vratsa Part V (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=23575762&postcount=523)
[E79] Vratsa - Mezdra Part I (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=24378416&postcount=561)
[E79] Vratsa - Mezdra Part II (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=24380556&postcount=562)

From Botevgrad you will take the Hemus Motorway [A2] which will lead you directly to Sofia.

:cheers:

[vycanismajoris]

Ok, i'll try to explain. I guess you know how to reach Budapest. After the hungarian capital you should continue all the way to Szeged, there is a very good motorway and easy for driving. After you've reached Szeged, you must continue to the Hungarian-Romanian border, but not through Mako, there is another road which will take you to the city of Sinnicolau-Mare - the first city on Romanian territory on that road. Once you've reached it must continue to the only road available to Timisoara. After Timisoara the nice city of Lugoj on the same road. And after that all the way to Drobeta Turnu-Severin south-east from Lugoj. And this part of the road is the hardest one. It is being renovated right now, and it's not good experience to drive there. I recommend another road which will take you to Bucharest , although the distance will be much longer passing through the Romanian capital. Anyway, if you are searching for the shortest distance you'll have to drive from Lugoj to Turnu-Severin. After the city you'll have to make right turn and drive on the main road which will take you to Vidin-Calafat, and this road is good, some parts were renovated recently. And i don't know till what time the ferry is working in the evening, there's not 24 hours service there, so you'll have to be there before the night or after 6 am in the morning. And once you are on BG territory, it's easy to find Sofia :) I hope this will help you, if not, ask me :)
And navigator(GPS) is a must :)

[Zaro]

Hi guys (and gals, provided you're the lucky corner of SSC and have any ladies here).

I've posted similar thread in Romanian section but perhaps you might know better.

I'm driving from Prague to Sofia next week and because I've just noticed my passport has expired weeks ago, I need an EU only alternative route to find (Serbia doesn't accept EU ID cards yet - as far as I know). And because Google maps as well as Michelin and other route planners still don't provide a too detailed coverage of the Balkan peninsula (:bash:), I'd appreciate an advice from locals:

What is the best way how to get from Nagylak/Nadlac (HU/RO border) to Calafat/Vidin (RO/BG border), provided it's the best way how to avoid Serbia en route from Hungary to Bulgaria (if not, what is?)?
How are the roads beyond Vidin, what's the best route between Vidin and the capital?
How are the roads in that area (narrow/wide, smooth/bumpy, straight/windy)?
Anything else I should know to plan the route in that area?

Simply what is your route of choice when Belgrade gets bombed?

Thank you for your kind help, that, I'm sure, you won't refuse to provide to an absent-minded fellow SSC member who doesn't keep his papers in order.

A special note for Radi:
I already know Struma is NOT on the way, so don't even try it!:)

HiRazor,

What a coincidence, I'll be heading for Prague, however by plane.

Anyway, I guess that here you can get the answer for the Bulgarian section of the road, while the Romanians will provide explanation for their section of the road. As Turnovec has already stated, our section is in good condition, picturesque at some places, and a bit narrow at others.

A special note for Radi:
I already know Struma is NOT on the way, so don't even try it!:)

How can you avoid driving along the infamous Struma motorway..I don't get it:lol:

[HiRazor]

Thank you very much for your replies, actually the Bulgarian part is a nice surprise for me. I expected a narrow winding road crawling through some high mountains while it's actually a pretty straight and wide road and mountains stay away from it in a safe distance just to appease the eye and not harm the voyage.

Now I'm more concerned about the Romanian part, especially since I noticed there's even no bridge between Calafat and Vidim. Thank you for suggesting there's a direct link between Hungary and Timisoara avoiding Arad (DN6), Via Michelin is unaware of. I'm a bit frightened everyone suggest to go through Craiova. On map it seems like there's a huge distance penalty. Is the DN56A really such a NO, NO? (I know I should better ask in the Romanian section but anyway).

Again thank you for your kind and useful replies, it's very appreciated.

[radi6404]

Yeah, the Strabag road is great, looks great and has nicely shaped curves, must be a lot of fun to drive there.

[Turnovec]

Thank you very much for your replies, actually the Bulgarian part is a nice surprise for me. I expected a narrow winding road crawling through some high mountains while it's actually a pretty straight and wide road and mountains stay away from it in a safe distance just to appease the eye and not harm the voyage.

Now I'm more concerned about the Romanian part, especially since I noticed there's even no bridge between Calafat and Vidim. Thank you for suggesting there's a direct link between Hungary and Timisoara avoiding Arad (DN6), Via Michelin is unaware of. I'm a bit frightened everyone suggest to go through Craiova. On map it seems like there's a huge distance penalty. Is the DN56A really such a NO, NO? (I know I should better ask in the Romanian section but anyway).

Again thank you for your kind and useful replies, it's very appreciated.


^^ Last time i travelled Kalafat-Timisoara was back in 1995 :) So i am not a reliable source about its condition. I remember that the part of the road along the Iron Gate at the Danube(after Turnu Severin) had very beautiful views and scenery...

I believe vycanismajoris travelled that road very recently and he can tell you a lot more details. :okay:

[panda80]

how is the road through petrokhan mountain pass?isn't it the shortest route from vidin to sofia?

[radi6404]

People tell the petrohan road is in very bad condition. Maybe that changed by now but I doubt it, havn´t heart news that it´s rehabilitated.

[vycanismajoris]

I think the best option is Vidin - Montana - Vratsa - Botevgrad - SF. Most of us i think, are using this road despite the longer distance.

[bgrs]

NOOOOO!

No Petrohan. Use Vidin-Montana-Vraza-Hemus motorway-Sofia route. It's faster though it seems 2 times longer on the map. Petrohan is for hardcore drivers only, a very dangerous route.

[radi6404]

He would get a pretty good scenery though, but yeah, don´t use the Petrohan since the road is of very low qualtiy.

[panda80]

btw i heard news of a possible tunnel under petrokhan.does smbd know what's the stage of this project?

[Turnovec]

btw i heard news of a possible tunnel under petrokhan.does smbd know what's the stage of this project?

^^ It's just a project on paper :) First they have to build Danube Bridge II, than to enlarge all the part of [E79] from Vidin to Botevgrad to 2x2 ... and than probably no early than 10-15 years ahead in time they can think about doing a tunnel under Petrohan. :)