Bechet – Oryakhovo — no border checks

There are no border checks at this crossing

We deliberately show no number here. There is no queue to measure, so a calculated waiting time would be invented. Checks at internal Schengen borders are sometimes reintroduced temporarily — when that happens, waiting times will return to this page. Last verified: 2026-08-18.

Key facts: Bechet – Oryakhovo

About Bechet – Oryakhovo

Here the Danube separates Bechet in Romania's Dolj county from Oryahovo in Bulgaria's Vratsa province, and there is no bridge between them – a car ferry provides the crossing. It is a link of regional importance, used by people from both banks, drivers travelling from the Craiova area towards Vratsa and on to Sofia, and anyone wanting a shorter route between Oltenia and north-western Bulgaria. The ferry takes cars in both directions.

Since 1 January 2025 Romania and Bulgaria have been full Schengen members at their land borders too, so systematic document checks between them have been abolished. Like any Schengen state, however, either country may temporarily reintroduce checks – look at the current announcements before travelling. Carry an identity document. Romania's national roads require a vignette (rovinieta) and Bulgaria's an electronic vignette; the ferry ticket is bought separately.

The wait for the ferry depends on the timetable and above all on river conditions: low water, fog or strong wind can reduce or halt sailings, so check whether the ferry is running before you set off. If it is not, or the wait is too long, the nearest fixed alternative is the Calafat–Vidin bridge upstream, while downstream there are the Zimnicea–Svishtov crossing and the Giurgiu–Ruse bridge. The live board shows the latest data.

Border webcams: Bechet – Oryakhovo

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Alternatives close by

Nearby crossings