Overview

Türkiye has land borders with 8 countries: Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Azerbaijan. Of these, there are 12 land border crossing points that allow for the crossing of people and vehicles between Europe and Türkiye. 

Kapıkule: is the busiest land border crossing point in Europe, with over 4 million people and 400,000 vehicles crossing each year. It is located in Edirne Province, Türkiye, and connects to the Bulgarian border crossing point of Kapitan Andreevo. Kapıkule is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Hamzabeyli: is the second busiest land border crossing point between Türkiye and Europe. It is located in Edirne Province, Türkiye, and connects to the Bulgarian border crossing point of Lesovo. Hamzabeyli is open from 6am to 10pm, 7 days a week. 

Dereköy: is a smaller land border crossing point located in Edirne Province, Türkiye. It connects to the Bulgarian border crossing point of Trnovo.  

İpsala: is a land border crossing point located in Edirne Province, Türkiye. It connects to the Greek border crossing point of Kipoi. 

Edirne-Keşan: is a land border crossing point located in Edirne Province, Türkiye. It connects to the Greek border crossing point of Feres.  

Meriç: is a land border crossing point located in Edirne Province, Türkiye. It connects to the Greek border crossing point of Ormenio.  

Edirne-Pehlivanköy: is a land border crossing point located in Edirne Province, Türkiye. It connects to the Bulgarian border crossing point of Malko Tarnovo.  

When crossing the border between Türkiye and Europe, it is important to have the correct documentation. For citizens of most European countries, a valid passport or national identity card will be sufficient. However, some countries may require a visa, so it is always best to check with the Turkish embassy or consulate in your home country before traveling. 

The Kapıkule border crossing between Türkiye and Bulgaria has more truck movement than any other border crossing between Türkiye and Europe. In 2021, the Kapıkule border crossing handled an average of 1,800 trucks per day. The next busiest border crossing between Türkiye and Europe is the Hamzabeyli border crossing between Türkiye and Bulgaria, which handled an average of 1,500 trucks per day in 2021. 

The Kapıkule border crossing is located in the European part of Türkiye, near the city of Edirne. It is the main land route for trade between Türkiye and Europe. The Hamzabeyli border crossing is also located in the European part of Türkiye, near the city of Edirne. It is the second busiest land route for trade between Türkiye and Europe. 

The increased truck movement at the Kapıkule border crossing is due to several factors. First, the Turkish government has been investing in infrastructure improvements at the crossing in recent years. This has made it easier and faster for trucks to cross the border. Second, the European Union has been working to improve security in the region. This has made it more attractive for businesses to trade between Türkiye and Europe. 

Main challenges with cross-border inland (From/to Europe): 

Permits: Turkish trucks need permits to enter destination countries. There is a limited number of permits available (quota for Turkish trucks is imposed by some European countries), so Turkish trucks may have to wait, use longer routes or pay a fine if they cross a country without a permit. 

Visas: Drivers also need visas to enter destination countries. This can be a challenge, as the visa process can be time-consuming. 

Balance between Türkiye and Europe: There is a shortage of trucks in Europe, which makes it difficult for Turkish trucks to find return shipments. 

Border operations: The borders are mostly operational 24/7, but there are often long queues, which can lead to delays in crossing the border.