What do tolls and vignettes cost on the drive to Central Europe — and is driving worth it versus flying?

For the motorways in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia and Czechia you need a vignette. All six are available online as an e-vignette and can be bought without any problem while you are already on the road (several countries no longer issue a sticker at all). Short-term vignettes are usually in the low double-digit euro range — Austria, Slovakia and Czechia around 12 to 14 euros for ten days, Romania just a few euros; the exact prices and purchase are on the official portals in the travel section. Serbia has no vignette — there you pay the toll like in Italy directly at the booth (cash in euros or by card), roughly 15 to 25 euros for a crossing. For fuel, Bulgaria is the cheapest for both petrol and diesel — fill up before you leave; Romania, Hungary and Austria are noticeably more expensive (Romanian diesel is even among the priciest in the region). On the cost trade-off: outside the high season flights are usually cheaper. Driving is worth it above all if you want to enjoy the scenery — for example in Romania — and have to transport goods; otherwise only with a full car, that is three to five people. Live fuel prices and all vignette portals in the travel section.