site.btaBulgarian Consul General in Edirne: Extra Measures Are in Place In View of Upcoming Heavy Border Traffic

The annual summer wave of travelling Turkish citizens from and to European countries has officially begun, bringing a sharp rise in traffic at key border crossings between Bulgaria and Turkiye.

The main transit routes pass through the Kapikule/Kapitan Andreevo and Hamzabeyli/Lesovo checkpoints near the city of Edirne, as well as the Derekoy/Malko Tarnovo crossing near Kirklareli — all falling within the district of the Bulgarian Consulate General in Edirne.

“These are expected to be the busiest days of the year for staff at our border crossings with the Republic of Turkiye,” said Bulgaria’s Consul General in Edirne Radoslava Kafedzhiyska, in an interview with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA).

She noted that during recent meetings between Bulgarian and Turkish authorities, joint measures were discussed to better manage the heavy vehicle traffic and tourist flows anticipated over the coming months.

 In preparation for the busy summer travel season, officials from Bulgaria and Turkiye held a traditional high-level coordination meeting at the Kapikule border crossing a few days ago, aimed at ensuring smooth processing of the anticipated heavy traffic.

The Bulgarian delegation was led by Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov, Director of the General Directorate of Border Police, while the Turkish side was headed by Edirne Governor Yunus Sezer. Also present were Bulgaria’s Deputy Minister of Tourism Pavlin Petkov, Customs Agency Director Georgi Dimov, Executive Director of the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency Dr. Svetlozar Patarinski, and the heads of the key border and customs checkpoints expected to be under the most pressure this season.

According to Bulgaria’s Consul General in Edirne Radoslava Kafedzhiyska, both sides have put in place coordinated measures to process the flow of vehicles and passengers as quickly as possible, given the full operational capacity of the checkpoints.

Preliminary estimates suggest that close to 4 million passengers will pass through the Bulgaria–Turkiye border crossings in both directions over the next three months — a figure similar to last year.

The coordination efforts and increased staffing at the border are aimed at reducing wait times and maintaining safe, efficient travel conditions during one of the busiest times of the year for transit between Europe and Turkiye.

When asked about advice for Bulgarian citizens during this high-traffic period, the Consul General recommended avoiding travel on weekends to minimize delays and congestion at the borders.

Bulgaria’s busiest border checkpoint, Kapitan Andreevo, is currently operating at 100% capacity, and despite well-coordinated efforts and the deployment of extra personnel from the Border Police and Customs Agency, long queues are expected on peak travel days, warned Kafedzhiyska.

Last year’s busiest outbound day was July 14, 2024, when nearly 60,000 travelers crossed the border en route to Turkiye. The busiest day for inbound traffic was August 18, with over 56,000 people entering Bulgaria. These peak dates align with the annual summer holidays of Turkish nationals living in Western Europe, many of whom drive back to Turkiye in mid-July.

Kafedzhiyska advised Bulgarian travelers to avoid scheduling trips on Fridays and weekends during this period, if possible. “If travel is unavoidable, it is important to be prepared with food, water, and patience, especially in light of expected high summer temperatures,” she said.

In the event of emergencies or problems at the border, travelers should seek assistance from Border Police or Customs Agency officers, or from Turkish personnel stationed at the checkpoints.

To further support travelers during long waits, Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay) assistance stations will be placed at the checkpoints. These will offer aid to travelers experiencing discomfort or distress while waiting.