Romania and Bulgaria see tourism boom after Schengen border removal

Easier cross-border travel boosts tourism and economy in Rousse as Romania and Bulgaria join full Schengen zone.

Romanian tourists shop at a supermarket in Ruse, near the Danube Bridge linking Bulgaria and Romania, on March 22, 2025. Photo by Nikolay Doychinov/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

The Romania and Bulgaria Schengen border removal is already producing visible changes in both countries, especially in the city of Rousse, Bulgaria, which has seen a sharp increase in Romanian tourists crossing the Danube Bridge. The new open-border arrangement has made cross-border travel quicker and more convenient, boosting local businesses and creating fresh economic opportunities for communities near the frontier.

For decades, traffic crawled across the Danube Bridge connecting Giurgiu in southern Romania to the northern Bulgarian city of Rousse. But that changed dramatically after both countries fully joined the European Union’s Schengen zone on January 1, 2025, finally removing border checks that had long frustrated drivers, tourists, and commercial carriers alike.

Faster access, more travel

One Romanian traveller, Christian, stood beside his blue Ford Mustang at a rest stop near the crossing, relieved by the faster journey. He regularly travels the 75 kilometers from Bucharest to Rousse to buy cheaper perfumes and cigarettes.

"With Schengen, it’s faster: no more queueing to have our papers checked," he said. His story is not unique. Weekend traffic now flows smoothly across the border as thousands of Romanians cross into Bulgaria for short trips, shopping, or dining out.

Data from Romania’s road management agency reveals the impact: around 160,000 vehicles used the Giurgiu-Rousse crossing between January and March 2025, a sharp increase from the 128,000 during the same period in 2024.

A new economic pulse in Rousse

Rousse, often dubbed “little Vienna” for its elegant 19th-century architecture, has quickly adjusted to welcome its Romanian neighbors. Restaurants have printed menus in Romanian, and local businesses are seeking bilingual staff to meet the growing demand.

Todar Ratsov, who manages a busy downtown restaurant in Rousse, says the changes have been swift and positive. “There are quite a few Romanian tourists, mainly because of easier entry,” he noted. “Ninety percent of our menus are now in Romanian.”

At lunchtime, a long line stretches outside Ratsov’s eatery. Claudia Badarau, a 43-year-old teacher from Giurgiu, stands with her partner Bogdan. “It’s easier to come now. We really like this place; it’s one of our favourites,” she said.

Schengen zone opens new doors

The Schengen zone, created in 1985, now covers 29 countries including 25 EU members, plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. It allows free movement for more than 400 million people.

While Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007, their full Schengen accession faced long delays, particularly from Austria, which cited migration concerns. After a frustrating 13-year wait, both countries were finally admitted into the full Schengen zone starting January 2025.

For Bulgaria’s fifth-largest city, the effect has been transformative. Economist Adrian Nikolov from the Institute for Market Economics in Sofia believes the Romania and Bulgaria Schengen border removal has brought immediate gains. “The effect is almost exclusively tourism-related for now,” he said. “But over time, it will be interesting to measure the impact on hotel and restaurant turnover.”

Monastery welcomes Romanian pilgrims

Just outside Rousse, the Basarbovo Monastery has also seen a spike in visitors. Carved into a rocky cliffside, the monastery is famous for its relics of Saint Dimitar Basarbovski, a shepherd-turned-hermit who is venerated in both Bulgaria and Romania.

Father Aleko, a priest at the site, says the monastery has seen a "clear increase" in visitors from Romania. “Once they pass through Rousse, they never fail to come and light a candle and pray to the saint,” he said.

Oana Manulescu, a translator from Bucharest, brought her family to the site. “There are things to see, the prices are more affordable, and the Bulgarians are very welcoming,” she said, standing inside the cool rock-hewn chapel.

Trade and logistics benefit too

The impact of the Romania and Bulgaria Schengen border removal extends beyond tourism. Businesses that rely on freight transport are saving both time and money. According to Romania’s national transport federation, each truck now saves two to three hours per trip.

That means improved delivery reliability, reduced fuel costs, and higher profit margins for transport companies. “For companies whose lorries cross the border, this means reduced journey time, more reliable delivery times, and lower fuel and personnel costs,” said Nikolov.

This change is especially important for the many Romanian and Bulgarian firms whose supply chains stretch across Europe. With no more customs delays at the Danube, logistics networks can operate more efficiently.

A long-awaited success

For many Romanians and Bulgarians, full Schengen membership marks a hard-won milestone. After more than a decade of negotiations and delays, the removal of border checks symbolizes a new era of integration and opportunity.

For those living near the frontier, the benefits are tangible. Easier travel, more tourism, and increased commerce have given cities like Rousse a fresh sense of dynamism. As weekend visitors spill into restaurants, shops, and historical sites, the local economy is flourishing.

Whether it’s lighting candles at a monastery, shopping for discounted goods, or enjoying a meal in a bustling square, Romanians are finding new reasons to visit their southern neighbor. And for Bulgarians, the open border brings a steady stream of customers and economic vitality.

As Nikolov put it, “The economic logic of Schengen was always about more than just removing border controls. It’s about connecting people and markets.” For the people of Romania and Bulgaria, those connections are now stronger than ever.

With the Romania and Bulgaria Schengen border removal, a long-awaited dream of open travel has finally become reality—and the benefits are just beginning to unfold.