Neither is meaningfully cheaper: both run around €40 a day. Which means the decision comes down to everything else — how safe each rates, when you can travel, and what each one is genuinely good at.
Bulgaria packs a Black Sea coast and ski resorts into a small country, so beach and mountains are both close. Romania is considerably bigger, and its draw is inland: the Carpathians and the medieval towns of Transylvania. A long weekend fits Bulgaria. Romania needs the fortnight, and repays it.
| 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 🇷🇴 Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily cost | ~€40 | ~€40 |
| Safety score | 78/100 | 80/100 |
| Best time to go | Spring, Summer, Autumn | Spring, Summer, Autumn |
| Climate | Temperate | Temperate, Cold |
| Best for | Culture, Beaches, Mountains, Nature | Culture, Nature, Adventure |
| Suits | Solo travellers, Couples, Groups of friends | Solo travellers, Couples, Groups of friends |
| Budget level | Budget | Budget |
The safety scores are general indicators, last reviewed in August 2026. They are not travel advice: conditions change, and official advisories often flag specific regions rather than whole countries. Check your own government’s advice before you book.
🇧🇬 Bulgaria. Rose valleys, Black Sea beaches, Rila Monastery and ski resorts at a fraction of Western prices.
🇷🇴 Romania. Dracula's Transylvania, painted monasteries, the Carpathian wolves and medieval Saxon towns.