Traffic expected to surge during Serbia's summer season; drivers advised on routes and delays

Serbia is bracing for a significant increase in traffic as the summer tourist season kicks off, with authorities anticipating heavier congestion on main road routes and at border crossings. The Auto-moto savez Srbije (AMSS) has reported an intensification of traffic on key routes leading to border crossings, a trend expected to continue throughout the summer months.

While current reports indicate no significant delays at passenger terminals as of Friday morning, AMSS spokesperson Tamara Ninić highlighted that weekends, particularly Friday afternoons, typically see heightened activity. She noted that the peak periods for tourist movement, characterized by substantial queues, usually occur around the beginning and end of months, specifically around July 1st, August 1st, July 15th, August 10th, and August 15th.

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We are at the very beginning of the summer tourist season, and traffic is intensifying on the main routes to the border crossings. This will be the most congested area in the coming period and months.

Ninić mentioned that major border crossings such as Preševo, Batrovci, and Horgoš, as well as Gradi-na with Bulgaria, are experiencing a higher volume of vehicles. Although extended waiting times are not currently reported, she cautioned that travelers should be prepared for potential delays.

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We are seeing a slightly larger number of vehicles at the main border crossings, primarily Preševo, Batrovci, Horgoš, and also Gradi-na with Bulgaria. There are no long waits yet, but this is something we will certainly have to pay attention to in the coming period.

To mitigate the impact of congestion, Ninić recommended utilizing smaller, alternative border crossings, especially during peak travel times. For those traveling to Croatia, crossings like Sot and Ljuba are suggested. For Hungary, Bačka Palanka and Lok Kelebija or Horgoš 2 are viable options. Prohor Pčinjski is recommended as an alternative to Preševo for those heading to North Macedonia, provided travelers have their "green card" insurance documentation, as this smaller crossing does not offer border insurance.

In addition to border crossing traffic, drivers should also be aware of ongoing roadworks across the country. Ninić specifically pointed out the closure of the Preljina toll booth exit and entry, which affects access to Čačak. While drivers heading towards the coast, Zlatibor, or Užice can still use the highway by taking later exits, those intending to travel to Čačak will need to find alternative routes.

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It is advisable to use smaller crossings when traveling on weekends and during peak season times.