Travel to Greece: Safety warnings on car thefts and alternative border routes

In early July, Macedonian tourists traveling to popular Greek destinations such as Halkidiki, Thessaloniki and other seaside resorts have been cautioned that thieves often target fully loaded cars. The advice stresses not leaving passports, cash, phones, laptops or other valuables in sight inside vehicles, especially when parked near supermarkets, shopping centres, beaches or campsites, and to ensure cars are properly locked.

Motorists can also avoid long queues at the Evros border crossing by using a lesser‑known route that runs from the Tabanovce crossing through Skopje, Stip and Strumica, then via the GP Novo Selo checkpoint into Bulgaria, passing through Petrich and the GP Kulata checkpoint before reaching Thessaloniki. Though around 90 km longer, the alternative often eliminates hours of waiting in traffic and hot conditions.