FAQ about border with Turkey

🟢 Turkey has the CHEAPEST fuel in Europe!

Prices (December 2025):

Comparison with EU:

• 🔴 Austria: €1.50/L — twice as expensive!
• 🟡 Bulgaria: €1.25/L — 50% more expensive
• 🟢 Turkey: €0.78/L — cheapest!

Recommendation: Fill up in Turkey — significant savings!

Gas station chains: Turpet, BP, Shell, Aral (every 80–120 km on motorways)

Speed limits in Turkey:

Tolerance:

• 🏙️ In cities: 5 km/h
• 🛣️ Outside cities: 10 km/h
• 🚗 Motorways: 10 km/h

⚠️ Warning: Many cameras on motorways, especially on E80 from Bulgaria to Istanbul!

Turkey is the most complicated entry for Europeans for several reasons:

1. No Direct Border with Ukraine

• Route must go through Bulgaria or Greece
• Two border queues instead of one!
• 35-40 hours driving from Kyiv

2. World's Busiest Border Crossing

• Kapikule–Kapitan Andreevo: 1-5+ hours queue
• Second only to Tijuana–San Diego
• Trucks: 4-12 hours waiting!

3. Turkey is Not in EU/Schengen

• Stricter document checks
• Separate visa system (for some countries)

4. HGS Mandatory on Motorways

• Fine 500-1,400 EUR without the system!
• Complicated for foreigners

5. Complex Route Planning

• Need to pass through 2-3 countries
• Different traffic rules
• Different currencies (BGN → TRY)

Recommendations:

• Use alternative crossings (Hamzabeyli, Dereköy, Ipsala)
• Cross early morning (6:00-8:00)
• Avoid weekends and holidays

Contacts for Turkey border crossing assistance:

Turkey (Official Authorities):

• Ministry of Internal Affairs: goc.gov.tr
• Embassy of Ukraine in Ankara: +90 (312) 446-9074
• Consulate General of Ukraine in Istanbul: +90 (212) 282-0300

Bulgaria (for Kapitan Andreevo crossing):

• Emergency services: 112
• Border service: +359 (31) 630-850

Greece (for Ipsala–Kipi crossing):

• Police: 100
• Tourist information Alexandroupolis: +30 (255) 102-8000

Nakordoni.eu for queue monitoring:

• Turkey — live queues
• Kapikule–Kapitan Andreevo

Speeding fines in Turkey (2025):

1 EUR ≈ 36 TRY

Other fines:

• 🚦 Red light: 2,168 TRY (€60)
• 📱 Mobile phone: 2,168 TRY (€60)
• 🚗 No seatbelt: 2,168 TRY (€60)
• 🍺 Alcohol 0.05–0.08%: 9,268 TRY (€257)
• 🍺 Alcohol 0.08%+: 26,557 TRY (€737) + license suspension

⚠️ 2025: Fines increased by 43.93% due to inflation!

No! Citizens of USA, Canada, and UK enjoy visa-free access to Turkey.

Entry Conditions:

• Visa-free regime: 90 days within any 180-day period
• Passport: valid 150+ days after entry date
• No EES required: Turkey is not in Schengen/EU

Advantages:

• Fast border control processing
• Rarely asked for additional documents
• Simple entry process

Recommendations:

• Always carry proof of return ticket
• Travel insurance recommended
• Proof of finances (recommended: 45 USD/day)

Ipsala–Kipi — alternative with shorter queues!

Basic information:

Advantages of this route:

• ✅ Much shorter queues than Kapikule
• ✅ Fewer trucks, more tourists
• ✅ Good roads (Egnatia Odos)

Best times to cross:

• 🟢 Morning 6:00–8:00: 15–30 min
• 🟡 Lunch/Evening: 30–60 min
• 🟡 Summer holidays: 60–120 min

Recommendation: If coming from Greece or flying to Athens — use this route!

Yes, Russian citizens require a visa to enter Turkey.

Application Options:

• E-Visa: available online at evisa.gov.tr
• Consular visa: through the embassy (longer process)

E-Visa (faster option):

1. Fill out form at evisa.gov.tr
2. Upload photo and passport scan
3. Pay online (~165 USD)
4. Receive within 15 minutes (automatic)

Consular Visa:

• Processing time: 45+ days
• Cost: higher than e-visa

General Requirements:

• Passport valid 150+ days
• Proof of financial means

Ukrainian citizens enjoy visa-free access to Turkey!

• Visa-free regime: 90 days within any 180-day period
• Biometric passport: valid 150+ days after entry date
• No EES required: Turkey is not in Schengen
• No visa needed: completely visa-free entry

Recommended Routes:

1. Via Bulgaria: Kyiv/Lviv → Warsaw → Sofia → Kapikule → Istanbul (35-40 hours, queue 2-5 hours)
2. Via Greece: Fly to Athens → Alexandroupolis → Ipsala-Kipi (faster, queue 30-90 min)

Recommendation: For faster travel — fly to Athens + drive through Greece!

Kapikule–Kapitan Andreevo — the busiest border in the world!

Basic information:

Best times to cross:

• 🟢 Morning 6:00–8:00: 30–60 min
• 🟡 Lunch 12:00–14:00: 1–2 hours
• 🔴 Evening 17:00–21:00: 2–5+ hours — AVOID!
• 🔴 Weekends: +100% waiting time

Alternatives (fewer queues):

• ✅ Lesovo–Hamzabeyli: 30–90 min
• ✅ Malko Tarnovo–Dereköy: 20–60 min (mountain)

Visa requirements depend on your nationality:

🟢 Visa-free regime (90/180 days):

• 🇺🇦 Ukraine — VISA-FREE!
• 🇪🇺 EU/EEA/Switzerland (31 countries)
• 🇺🇸 USA, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
• 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇰🇷 South Korea
• 🇬🇪 Georgia, 🇲🇩 Moldova

Requirements for visa-free entry:

• ✅ Passport valid 150+ days after arrival
• ✅ At least 1 blank page for stamp
• ✅ Proof of finances (45 USD/day recommended)

🔴 Visa required:

• 🇷🇺 Russia — e-Visa or consular (165 USD)
• 🇧🇾 Belarus — e-Visa
• 🇨🇳 China, 🇮🇳 India — e-Visa

❌ EES/ETIAS NOT required — Turkey is not in Schengen!

⚠️ CRITICAL: HGS is MANDATORY on all Turkish motorways!

HGS (Hızlı Geçiş Sistemi) — electronic toll payment system.

Fine without HGS: 🔴 18,000–50,000 TRY (€500–€1,400!)

Tolls (Sofia → Istanbul, ~360 km):

Special Istanbul bridges:

• 🌉 Eurasia Tunnel: 225 TRY day / 112 TRY night (~€6/€3)
• 🌉 15 Temmuz Bridge: 265 TRY (~€7.40)

How to get HGS:

• ✅ Rental car: HGS already installed!
• 🏦 Own car: Banks (Garanti, İşbank), TOP offices, gas stations
• 🌐 Online: hgs.com.tr

🔴 NO! There is NO direct land border between Ukraine and Turkey!

Routes to Turkey:

1. Via Bulgaria (most popular):

• 🚗 Ukraine → Moldova/Romania → Bulgaria → Turkey
• 📍 Crossing: Kapikule–Kapitan Andreevo
• ⏰ Queue: 1–5+ hours (busiest border in the world!)
• 📏 Distance Kyiv → Istanbul: ~1,800 km (35–40 hours driving)

2. Via Greece (fewer queues):

• 🚗 Ukraine → Bulgaria → Greece → Turkey
• 📍 Crossing: Ipsala–Kipi
• ⏰ Queue: 30–90 min (much shorter!)

⚠️ Important: Both routes require crossing 2–3 borders!