Bulgaria–Greece border crossings: which one to use

Updated: October 29, 2026

Bulgaria and Greece share several road crossings: Kulata–Promachonas for Thessaloniki, Ilinden–Exochi for Drama and Kavala, Zlatograd–Thermes for Xanthi, Makaza–Nymfaia for Komotini, and Kapitan Petko Voyvoda–Ormenio for the Evros region. The best one depends on where you start. From Smolyan to Thessaloniki, Zlatograd is the natural route; the transfer costs 185 € per vehicle.

All crossings at a glance

The border runs along the Rhodope mountains for most of its length, which is why the crossings are spread out and why the roads to them vary so much. Since 1 January 2025 there are no routine passport checks on any of them, according to the European Commission.

Crossing (BG – GR)	Nearest Bulgarian town	Greek side leads to	Road character
Kulata – Promachonas	Petrich, Sandanski	Serres, Thessaloniki, Halkidiki	Main route; motorway in Greece
Ilinden – Exochi	Gotse Delchev	Drama, Kavala, Thassos ferry	Mountain road on the Greek side
Zlatograd – Thermes	Zlatograd, Smolyan	Xanthi, then Egnatia motorway	Winding Rhodope road
Makaza – Nymfaia	Kardzhali, Momchilgrad	Komotini, Alexandroupoli	Mountain pass, good modern road
Kapitan Petko Voyvoda – Ormenio	Svilengrad	Orestiada, Evros valley	Low-lying; near the Turkish border

Choosing by starting point

From Sofia, Plovdiv’s west or the Struma valley

Use Kulata. It is the only crossing with a fast road on the Greek side, and the drive from Sofia to Thessaloniki is about 300 km, around 4 hours. Our Kulata guide explains where traffic still slows.

From Bansko, Razlog or Gotse Delchev

Use Ilinden–Exochi for Drama, Kavala and Thassos. For Thessaloniki, both Ilinden and Kulata work, and the choice can come down to road conditions. See our Ilinden–Exochi guide.

From Smolyan, Pamporovo or Zlatograd

Use Zlatograd–Thermes. It leads to Xanthi, where you join the Egnatia motorway west to Kavala and Thessaloniki or east to Komotini and Alexandroupoli. Before the Rhodope crossings opened, going to Greece from Smolyan meant a long detour; now Xanthi is only a couple of hours away.

From Kardzhali, Haskovo or Plovdiv’s east

Use Makaza–Nymfaia for Komotini, Alexandroupoli and the eastern Greek coast. From Plovdiv, compare it with Kulata: Makaza is better for anywhere east of Kavala.

From Svilengrad or Edirne

Use Kapitan Petko Voyvoda–Ormenio, close to the three-way meeting point of Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey.

Smolyan to Thessaloniki: an example

Route	Approx. distance	Approx. time	Comment
Via Zlatograd – Thermes and Xanthi	about 300 km	4 h 30 min – 5 h	Mountain roads to Xanthi, then motorway
Via Makaza and Komotini	about 340 km	5 h	Longer detour east
Via Plovdiv, Sofia and Kulata	about 550 km	7 h or more	Only makes sense in very bad weather

Booking a cross-border transfer

When you book, enter the actual pickup address in Bulgaria and the destination in Greece, the number of passengers and bags, and any child seats. The price is per vehicle and shown in the form before you confirm, so a family of four pays the same as a single traveller for the same car. For a group with a lot of luggage, choose a Minivan or Van rather than squeezing into a Sedan on a five-hour mountain drive.

If your trip ends at a flight from Thessaloniki or Kavala, enter the flight number in the booking form and plan the pickup time back from the departure, with a margin for mountain roads. For a ferry to an island such as Thassos, check the ferry timetable first.

Winter and night travel

The Rhodope crossings all involve mountain roads. They are maintained in winter, but snow and ice slow them down, and some stretches are quiet at night. Kulata is the most predictable choice in bad weather, even if it means more kilometres.

Documents

Schengen removed routine checks, not the need for documents. Carry a valid passport or EU ID card for everyone in the car, and the consent documents children may need; see our checklist for children. For what can still happen at the border, read our Schengen explainer.

Opening hours on the smaller crossings have historically been more limited than at Kulata. Check the Bulgarian Border Police website before planning a night crossing at Zlatograd, Ilinden or Makaza.