During the summer season, crowds at the border crossings to Greece are a very common phenomenon and, unfortunately, there is no sure recipe on how to completely avoid them.
Experience from previous years shows that it is still possible to reduce the risk of waiting for hours if the journey is carefully planned.
General tips are as follows:

  • Avoid traveling on weekends and before holidays and during “round dates” (1st and 15th of the season, for example).
  • If possible, travel in the early morning hours.
  • Consider alternative border crossings - Dojran is one of them.

However, it is important to emphasize that even alternative crossings are not always relieved - it happens that there are crowds there as well, especially at the peak of the season.

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Border crossing Dojran - working hours, crowds and practical information

An increasing number of our travelers in recent years have been using the Dojran border crossing, with many taking a break or staying overnight there.
We often get questions about working hours, so let’s clarify right away:
The Star Dojran border crossing is open non-stop - 24 hours a day.
You can use it at any time that suits you best.
Additional relief for travelers comes from May 2025, when two new checkpoints were opened, as well as two additional traffic lanes for entering and exiting the country, significantly speeding up traffic flow.
There are no live cameras for monitoring crowds at this crossing, which can make planning difficult, but practice shows the following:

  • if you arrive at the crossing around 7 in the morning
  • you reach Thessaloniki before the morning rush hour
  • and you arrive at the resort early enough for a morning swim.

How to get to Dojran - three options commonly used in practice

1. Exit at Demir Kapija

You exit at Demir Kapija, and then take the old road through Udovo and Valandovo to reach Dojran.

  • road length: 61 km
  • travel time: about 1 hour
  • road condition: excellent

This is one of the most commonly used and reliable options.

2. Exit at the village of Smokvice

You take the new highway to Smokvice, where you exit and continue through the villages of Marvinci, Valandovo, and Dojran.

  • road length: 65 km
  • travel time: about 55 minutes
  • road condition: excellent

This option is often the fastest, especially outside of peak hours.

3. Exit at Gevgelija (Đevđelije)

You reach Gevgelija via the highway, and then go through Bogdanci to reach Dojran.

  • road length: 74 km
  • travel time: about 1 hour
  • road condition: poorer

Due to the road conditions, we recommend this option only if there is no other alternative, while the first two are a safer choice.

Alternative route Dojran - Halkidiki (without bypassing Thessaloniki)

From the Dojran border crossing, there is an alternative route that leads through the interior of northern Greece:
Dojran - Gerakarou - Zagliveri - Poligiros - Gerakini - Nikiti

  • a regional road, without toll booths
  • total distance similar to the main route
  • mostly passing through small towns and hilly areas
  • the road is paved, clear, and passable
  • on certain sections narrower, with more curves - caution is advised

Travel time from Dojran to Nikiti is about 2 hours and 30 minutes, depending on traffic and any delays.
This route is especially recommended for those traveling on weekends or during periods when heavy traffic is expected on the Thessaloniki bypass.

Break or overnight stay on the way to Greece - why Dojran?

If you plan to take a break on your way to Greece, Dojran can be a very pleasant and practical solution.
The place is located on the shore of Lake Dojran, one of the three large lakes in North Macedonia, and during the summer, it has a lively but relaxed atmosphere.
In Dojran, you will find:

  • a large promenade along the lake shore
  • restaurants and cafes with a view of the water
  • facilities for children
  • plenty of options for dinner, walks, and rest after the journey

As the popularity of Dojran grows year by year, so does the variety of accommodation options.

Where to eat in Dojran - restaurants, specialties, and prices

Dojran has a large number of restaurants, and according to locals’ recommendations, as well as our travelers, the following stand out:
Fuk Tak restaurant
Graniko restaurant, as well as many others for which recommendations can be found on our social media here.
The most famous local specialties are:

  • carp from Lake Dojran
  • fish roe meatballs
  • fish soup (a specialty of the Fuk Tak restaurant)
  • pastrmajlija

At the Vavilon pizzeria, you can try excellent pastrmajlija (more details about this specialty).
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In the village itself, there are several bakeries and fast food kiosks, and one of the popular grilled specialties is the sharska pljeskavica, similar to a stuffed burger.

Important information for travelers: food prices in Dojran are lower than in Serbia and Greece.

Free Shop after the Dojran border crossing

Immediately after crossing the border, on the Greek side, there is a Free Shop.
According to the experiences of our members, the working hours are as follows:
Sunday: open 24 hours
Monday: 09:00–18:00
Tuesday: 09:00–21:00
Wednesday: 09:00–18:00
Thursday: 09:00–21:00
Friday: 09:00–21:00
Saturday: 09:00–18:00

Useful articles for trip planning

Toll from home to the sea. You can calculate in detail how much money you need to set aside for tolls from home to your destination.

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