The road to Athos

Our description

In this text we will describe the route by car from Belgrade to Athos, through Macedonia.

We won't talk much about the road through Serbia, because we assume that this part of the road is known to all.

The total price of toll through Serbia in 2020 is 1460 dinars and it's payable by the ticket which you take on the entrance of the highway and you pay at the exit.

You must obtain green card for your car in order to enter North Macedonia. It is mandatory to drive with your headlights turned on during the day. There are five pay tolls in total, which will cost you 7.5 euros or 380 denars. You can pay in coins, but no less than 50 cents. Also you can pay by paycard.

Also, pay attention to speed limits because there are plenty of traffic patrols, especially during the summer.

The journey through Macedonia is our favorite part of the road because it is the most picturesque, and at the same time it's not that long to get bored. Driving through the Pcinja valley and the separated highway lanes, then the Vardar valley, vineyards and plantations on both sides of the highway, with impressive mountains that you can see in the distance make this ride very interesting :-)

Through Macedonia you can hardly miss the road because you have nowhere to turn from the highway and you just need to go straight or as it seems to me - downhill :-) If you want to make a break for lunch or even spend the night, Macedonia is a great choice.

Important information for North Macedonia

  • driving without headlights turned on 35€
  • phone usage during driving 45€
  • unattached seat belt 20€
  • passing through the red light 300€
  • speeding 30-50€

Fuel - season 2020

  • Super 97 - 1,1€
  • Diesel - 0,82€
  • LPG - 0,40€

At 551km from Belgrade, we reach the border crossing Bogorodica. Here is the first toll station where the toll is 1,80€. On the way to Halkidiki, another new toll, ring road Thessaloniki, where fee is 0,50€, that makes overall toll expenses in Greece 2,30€. As of January 1, 2024, toll prices in Greece have increased by an average of 7-7.5%. The Attiki Odos and Egnatia Odos highways will not increase toll prices.

There are no many police patrols in Greece, but be sure to pay attention to all the rules and limitations since fines are rigorous!
Here are the most important data:

  • headlights are not required
  • phone usage during driving 100€
  • unattached seat belt 350€
  • passing through the red light 700€
  • speeding 100-350€

Upon entering Greece, you will encounter a slightly worse main road to Thessaloniki, but quite wide, which many drivers use to pass one another basically in the same lane. At 603km from Belgrade you will encounter the first exit for Thessaloniki, but here you should continue straight, because with this exit you would enter the most crowded part of the city. On the 613th kilometer there is the next exit, there you should continue straight to Thessaloniki, and if you want to go to the Olympic region or the Ionian coast (Corfu, Lefkada, Parga ...) and you need to go straight toward Thessaloniki.

At 625th km, you have a exclusion on the right for Kavala and Halkidiki and then just continue straight, but be sure to pay attention to signs that are well placed.

On exactly 58th km from Thessaloniki on the way to Kavala there is an exclusion on the right for Asprovalta and Stavros. From Stavros you drive along Olympiada, Stagira, Stratonia winding, but good road, then you reach Ierissos, which is about 47km from Stavros and to Ouranopolis after 62km from Stavros.

You can reach Athos through Poligiros or Sithonia, but also through Bulgaria, but all of these roads are in some segment a worse option than the Stavros route, which we recommend.

Fuel - season 2020

  • Super 97 - 1.50 - 1.55€
  • Diesel - 1,30€
  • LPG - 0,85€

P.S. An international driving license for Greece is no longer obligatory, and the green card for Macedonia is still mandatory.

To check out accommodation offers in Athos click HERE.

Have a nice trip!


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