It connects the key naval port of Brest in France with Makhachkala, on the Caspian Sea in the Russian republic Dagestan.

The route is some 6,000 kilometres (3,700 mi) long and runs fully across the European continent.

On its way through Europe it crosses several major European routes, such as: It is one of the longest E roads on the continent.

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia took direct control of the areas in Donbas.

Geographic data related to European route E50 at OpenStreetMap