The border and Thessaloniki, live - before you get in the car

Every summer it is the same story: you set off for Greece with no idea what is waiting at the border, and the queue hits you as a surprise. It does not have to be that way. On Metla we have gathered the live cameras from all three crossings into Greece - Bogorodica (Evzoni), Medzitlija and Star Dojran - in one place, together with the current waiting time in both directions.

The gap between a weekday and a weekend is huge. Off-peak, Bogorodica usually means a 10-20 minute wait. But on a Saturday morning heading into Greece and a Sunday afternoon heading home, the line can climb to 1-3 hours. Since April 2026 the new EES biometrics also apply at Bogorodica, but good news for drivers: at peak times Greece often pauses it so the queue moves faster.

The Thessaloniki ring road - see whether to go in or go around

The route to Halkidiki, Pieria or Kavala runs past Thessaloniki, and in 2026 the ring road is a major construction site because of the "Flyover" viaduct. That is why the guide also carries live traffic from the official IMET platform, plus when the jams usually peak (07:00-10:30 in the morning and 15:00-19:00 in the afternoon, around 10:00 on Saturdays heading to Halkidiki).

If you hit heavy traffic, instead of sitting in the column you can go around Thessaloniki via Star Dojran - Gerakaru, Zagliveri, Poligyros, about 2.5 hours to Nikiti. It is all in one place, updated live, and worth opening before you set off, not after you get stuck.