For many, the holiday begins with the very departure on the journey. Therefore, in order for the trip to Greece to be enjoyable, not too tiring, and for you to arrive safely, it is advisable to take more frequent breaks or stay somewhere halfway. Accommodation options on the way to Greece are available in Serbia, Macedonia, and Greece.

If you are not in a hurry and don’t mind delaying your journey to Greece a little, we recommend visiting Vlasina Lake. It is located 30km from the highway junction near Vladičin Han, but expect to need about 50 minutes of driving due to the winding, yet good road. The beauty of this lake will enchant you more than you can imagine. If you want, you can also have lunch at Narcis restaurant at Vlasina, which offers accommodation, or you can have lunch in the nearby town of Surdulica.

For the adventurous ones, the journey to Greece can continue through Vlasina or Bulgaria (there are two border crossings at Vlasina). For information on the route through Vlasina to Greece, click here. If this is too adventurous for you, you can return to Vladičin Han and get back on the highway at the same place where you exited.

Those who have been avoiding the crowds at the Preševo border crossing have stayed at Prohor Pčinjski Monastery (see attached picture) and say that it is a very good and affordable solution. You would be surprised how this accommodation, although part of the monastery, keeps up with modern living standards (you will even have internet connection available, which you wouldn’t expect in such a place). Also, the food and drinks they serve truly exceed all expectations. However, even though there is no crowd at the Prohor border, the road continues to be rough, so we recommend this crossing only if you truly enjoy a leisurely drive through new landscapes.

Where to take a break in Macedonia?

We asked you, as our followers and guests, to recommend good places for lunch, a short break, or accommodation based on personal experience. Below, we present the exact answers and recommendations we received from travelers who regularly drive this route. Our members have the most recommendations for Northern Macedonia, especially for Dojran. Accommodation recommendations include:

• Bed & Breakfast Delikates Stojakovo (clean, friendly hosts, highly recommended)
• Chavdar Apartments
• Studio KN, Dojran
• Panini Hotel Ship (also on Lake Mladost, much more affordable than Romantika, and kids love it. They have a restaurant, but no pool)
• Villa Stefani, Dojran
• Tiki apartments in the village of Bogorodica (800m before the Evzoni border crossing)
• Dojran (primarily - close to a border crossing with no crowds, with a wide choice of quality and affordable accommodation)
• Dojran near Istatova (famous Partizan goalkeeper, lovely place)
• Dan Dar, Dojran
• Romantik Hotel on Lake Mladost
• Đevđelija, Migato apartments
• Sky Hotel in Đevđelija
• Nastov Hotel in Veles, on Lake Mladost

Many tourists who take a break on the way to Greece spend the night in Đevđelija to check the border situation live via webcam before continuing their journey. Member recommendations for good food and relaxation: Passing through southern Serbia without trying the local specialties is a real shame, especially for tourists from the north who don’t have the opportunity to enjoy Leskovac barbecue regularly. In addition to places in Serbia, our members have highlighted specific restaurants and taverns in Northern Macedonia where they always receive reliably good service and quality food. You can view the complete list of all dining establishments, comments, and recommendations firsthand in our group through the original post at this link: Live from Greece - Suggestions for a break and accommodation.

Recommendations for a break in Greece

The best place to stay overnight in Greece is in Polikastro, near the Evzoni border crossing, where there are several hotels with one, two, and three stars (e.g., Astro Hotel) or in Thessaloniki itself, where there is, of course, a large number of hotels of all categories (it is advisable to make a reservation in advance over the internet in one of the hotels in Thessaloniki). One of the most affordable hotels in Thessaloniki is the Pella Hotel, close to the center. In the city center, there are also the El Greco and Olympia hotels, which are slightly more expensive, and Esperia, which has moderate prices.

Where to stay in Bulgaria or take a break on the way to Greece?

If you are traveling through Bulgaria, for example, towards Thassos as we recommend, then it is best to stay overnight in Bansko. A huge selection of hotels, affordable prices, and a very nice place are the reasons why more and more people are choosing to stay here. Read more about staying in Bansko and accommodation on the way to Greece through Bulgaria here.

The total overnight stay prices range from 40 to 100 euros depending on the room or apartment size, the travel period, and the accommodation category you have chosen. However, although these figures are not small, the safety of you and your fellow travelers is invaluable, and a well-rested driver will certainly arrive safely at the destination compared to one who drives from Serbia to Thassos without breaks or with only short breaks.

You can view the complete Greece Travel Guide on our blog. Choose the destination you are heading to and read everything that interests you by clicking on the link HERE.

Live cameras for monitoring border crossing situations

What will surely help you while at one of the rest stops is to follow the situation at the border crossings live on cameras, especially at the Bogorodica border crossing: Bogorodica Border Crossing (N. Macedonia) - Evzoni (Greece) https://uzivokamere.com/bogorodica-severna-makedonija-grcka-evzoni/ Preševo Border Crossing / Serbia - N. Macedonia https://uzivokamere.com/granicni-prelaz-presevo-srbija-s-makedonija/ Preševo Border Crossing - Exiting Serbia https://uzivokamere.com/granicni-prelaz-presevo-srbija-s-makedonija/ All border crossings in N. Macedonia: https://roads.org.mk/patna-mreza/video-kameri/ Unfortunately, the Dojran border crossing still does not have cameras for live traffic monitoring. Check out other border crossings and places where you can take a break on the way to your desired “seaside” destination:

Useful articles for planning a trip to Greece

• Overnight stay on the way to Greece through Bulgaria
• Lunch break on the way to Greece
• Accommodation and sightseeing on the way to Greece through Bitola
• Metsovo - overnight stay on the way to the Ionian coast
• Route to the Ionian coast through the Niki border crossing

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