Serbian drivers face border jams en route to Greece this summer

The summer tourist season has begun, and vehicle queues are already forming on Serbian highways and at border crossings as motorists head to resorts in Greece and Bulgaria. The public company JP "Putevi Srbije" warned that the highest traffic volumes are expected in July and August, especially on routes toward the southern borders.

To ease the flow, the toll‑collection sector has activated all available resources and introduced an emergency operating mode at toll stations. "Sektor za naplatu putarine preduzeo je niz mera i angažovao sve raspoložive kapacitete u cilju bržeg protoka saobraćaja," said Vesna Tonić Živković, adding that more than 50% of drivers now use electronic toll payment. The Serbian TAG device is also accepted in North Macedonia, Montenegro, the Republic of Srpska and Croatia, simplifying regional travel.

A new EU electronic entry system (EES) requiring biometric registration for non‑EU citizens is now in force at the Bulgarian border, meaning drivers traveling to Greece via Bulgaria undergo a single checkpoint before entering the Schengen area. This change, together with recent upgrades to the Sofia bypass, has made the Bulgarian route more attractive despite earlier congestion concerns.

The Auto‑Moto Association of Serbia cautioned that the surge in traffic may cause occasional delays and a higher risk of accidents, urging drivers to plan rest stops and drive carefully.