Weekend gridlock to Greece: long waits at Evzoni border
The Evzoni crossing is once again a bottleneck toward the Greek beaches. Weekend waits run past three hours, and with tolls and lodging a peak-season holiday rarely costs under 1,500 euros.
- On the way out of Greece via Evzoni, weekend waits now run more than three hours, in the sun and in line.
- The toll from Belgrade to Thessaloniki one way is about 3,126 dinars, while the total to Athens can top 7,000 dinars.
- During the heaviest crowds, crossings switch to a fast mode with basic passport checks and more open lanes.
- A family of four can manage a ten-day pre-season trip for 500 to 600 euros, but in peak season it rarely drops below 1,500 euros.
Summer is in full swing, and with it comes a familiar picture: kilometer-long lines of cars with Serbian plates heading for the Greek beaches. The Evzoni border crossing, the main gateway toward Halkidiki and the Thermaic Gulf, is a bottleneck once again. On the way out of Greece, weekend waits stretch past three hours as the lanes merge, and the heat makes every minute spent shut inside a car that much harder.
During the worst of the crowds, Greek authorities have decided to ease the procedure for a while. Instead of full controls, the crossings then run in a so-called fast mode, with only a basic passport check, while the complete EES procedure is temporarily postponed. More lanes open as well, which thins out the columns at least somewhat, but at the weekend peak even that does not spare travelers hours in the queue.
When should you leave to dodge the line?
The practical rule of every seasoned traveler is simple: avoid Saturday and Sunday. That is when the largest number of families set off at the same time, so even the shortest crossings turn into a wait of several hours. Leaving overnight usually means lighter traffic and a more pleasant drive, since a good part of the route is covered before the sun climbs and before the columns even form.
If Evzoni looks overcrowded, there is an alternative. The Dojran crossing, on the Macedonian-Greek border, often has shorter holdups and can be a good choice for those traveling toward eastern Greece. There are other, smaller crossings too, but they are not always practical and depend on the final destination, so before setting out it is worth checking which route actually suits where you are headed.
What the trip to the sea really costs
Before leaving, it pays to add up the cost of the journey itself. The toll from Belgrade to Thessaloniki one way comes to about 3,126 dinars. For those who push deeper, all the way to Athens, the total tolls easily exceed 7,000 dinars in one direction, which means double that for the round trip.
On top of that come fuel, a possible overnight stop, and the stay itself. A family of four can get by on 500 to 600 euros for ten days in the pre-season, if they choose lodging and timing carefully. In peak season, when apartment and service prices jump, a holiday rarely costs less than 1,500 euros. The gap is wide enough that many deliberately plan their break outside the main rush, both for the price and for the lines at the border.
The math and the crowds really do go hand in hand: skip the weekend and you skip both the column and a good share of the cost. Would you rather set off at night and pay less, or does keeping your usual holiday rhythm matter more?
