Crossing from Greece into Türkiye by motorcycle

Two road crossings link Greece and Türkiye, both over the Evros river, which the Turks call the Meriç. Kipoi–İpsala sits at the end of the Egnatia motorway and is the busiest. Kastanies–Pazarkule, next to Edirne, is smaller and often quieter. Both take motorcycles.

The two crossings

Kipoi–İpsala

Kipoi is the eastern end of the A2 Egnatia Odos, the motorway across northern Greece. The road crosses a bridge over the Evros and becomes the Turkish D110 on the far side. It is the obvious crossing if you are coming along the motorway from Thessaloniki.

It is also the busiest crossing between the two countries and the one most likely to have a queue. During the June 2024 holiday return, the line reached about 2 km on the Greek side at Kipoi and 200 to 300 m at İpsala. Greece is upgrading the Kipoi station with separate lanes for passenger and commercial traffic, so expect works.

Kastanies–Pazarkule

The Greek road from Orestiada runs straight to Kastanies and the Pazarkule gate in Karaağaç, about 5 km from Edirne. On the Turkish side, the long Meriç Bridge links it to the Edirne ring road. Pazarkule reopened after a renovation in 2023 with three entry and three exit lanes for passenger vehicles, and the terminal building has shops.

On the same June 2024 holiday weekend when Kipoi had a 2 km queue, Pazarkule had none. If you are heading for Edirne or Istanbul, it is worth the slightly smaller roads to get there.

Leaving Greece

Greece's border with Türkiye is an external border of the Schengen area, so you pass passport control when you leave. The EU's Entry/Exit System has been running fully since April 2026. Non-EU travellers are registered in it at the border, which the UK government says may add a few minutes per person. It has caused longer queues at the Evros crossings.

Do not photograph or film around the border. Greece requires a special permit for photography in border regions, and photographing military sites is illegal.

Entering Türkiye

On the Turkish side you deal with passport control and customs, where your bike is registered to you. Have these ready:

• Passport, plus a visa or e-Visa if your nationality needs one (see our visa guide). Check that the officer stamps and dates your passport.
• The bike's registration document. If the bike is not yours, a power of attorney from the owner.
• Your driving licence.
• Insurance valid in Türkiye. If your Green Card does not cover Türkiye, or you have none, a Turkish policy can be issued at the customs office. See our insurance guide.

Customs records the bike under your name with an end date. Without a residence permit you may keep it in Türkiye for up to 90 days in any 180. You can look up the end date in the customs system. When you leave, the record is closed.

Two rules to keep in mind during your stay: friends may not ride the bike on their own, and unpaid traffic fines or tolls can stop you leaving. The full rules are in our checklist for riding into Türkiye.

Onward from the border

From İpsala the D110 continues east into Turkish Thrace. From Pazarkule you reach Edirne in minutes. The O-3 toll motorway runs from Edirne to Istanbul, a distance of roughly 230 to 245 km.

Avoiding trouble

• Avoid holiday peaks. The return from Turkish public holidays brings long queues at Kipoi and İpsala.
• Watch for strikes in Greece. In December 2025 a farmers' protest stopped truck traffic at Kipoi and İpsala. Check the news the day before you cross.
• Cross early in the day. If something is wrong with your papers, you want time to sort it out before dark.

Quick checklist

• Crossing chosen: Kipoi–İpsala from the Egnatia motorway, Kastanies–Pazarkule for Edirne and quieter queues
• Passport valid long enough, plus visa or e-Visa if needed
• Registration document, licence, and power of attorney if the bike is not yours
• Green Card covering Türkiye, or money to buy a policy at customs
• No photos or video at the border
• Passport stamped and the bike's end date noted before you ride off