Driving from Sofia to Bucharest
Bucharest lies 296 km (184 mi) north-east of Sofia, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
Driving takes about 4 h 31 min without stops, over roughly 361 km (224 mi) of road; add breaks, fuel and any border.
| Sofia | Bucharest | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Bulgaria | Romania |
| Population | 1.2 million | 1.9 million |
| Elevation | 562 m (1,844 ft) | 83 m (272 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+3 (Europe/Sofia) | UTC+3 (Europe/Bucharest) |
What changes when you arrive in Bucharest
Crossing from Bulgaria into Romania: money changes from the Lev to the Leu (RON); the dialling code becomes +40; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1061257.
Where to book car hire from Sofia to Bucharest
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Bucharest
Our booking partner lists 4,113+ places to stay in Bucharest (statistics below are from the first 1,000). Of the 854 with a star rating, the largest group is 4-star (446), and 11 are five-star. Across 676 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 9.2 out of 10. Guests have left 474,482 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Bucharest
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Bucharest from Sofia?
296 km (184 mi) in a straight line, north-east of Sofia; by road roughly 361 km (224 mi).
How long does it take to get from Sofia to Bucharest by car?
About 4 h 31 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Sofia and Bucharest?
No, both are on the same offset at the moment.
What currency do I need in Bucharest?
The Leu (RON).
Where can I stay in Bucharest?
Our booking partner lists 4,113+ places to stay in Bucharest, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.