Everyone is looking at nearly seven-kilometer-long queue at Serbian border: Tourists wait in 38-degree heat

The tourist changeover is underway, and Serbia is a major transit route for travelers from Europe and Croatia heading toward holiday destinations in the south.

Drivers returning to Serbia from Croatia or passing through the country en route south have encountered major congestion on the A3 motorway. Due to the high volume of vehicles, a queue several kilometers long has formed in front of the Bajakovo border crossing.

Congestion on the Croatian side, traffic flowing in Serbia

The main issue at the moment is not the Serbian border itself, but the approach to the crossing. On the Croatian A3 motorway, in the direction of Bajakovo, the line of cars and trucks is around 6.5 kilometers long and continues to grow.

Surveillance cameras operated by the Croatian Auto Club (HAK) are recording heavy congestion on the scorching asphalt, where temperatures reached 35 degrees Celsius before noon.

On the other side of the border, the situation at Serbia’s Batrovci crossing is significantly better. Cameras show that traffic lanes on the Serbian side remain relatively clear.

Printskrin/m.hak.hr/kamera

How to avoid problems while waiting

If you are currently on this route or are planning your trip, a few tips may help:

When you encounter a queue on the A3 motorway near Bajakovo, traffic moves slowly in two lanes. Speed is limited, so it is important to drive carefully, avoid sudden braking, and remain patient.

Passing through the approximately 6.5-kilometer queue on the Croatian side may take around an hour or longer, with additional time required for the actual border crossing. After that, according to information from the Automobile and Motorcycle Association of Serbia (AMSS), shorter delays are possible at the Batrovci crossing.

Due to high temperatures, which are reaching up to 38 degrees Celsius at the border, drivers should check that they have enough water in the vehicle for all passengers, especially if traveling with children or elderly people.

The Batrovci border crossing operates 24 hours a day. If there is flexibility in travel times, it is recommended to pass through late at night or in the early morning hours to avoid waiting in extreme heat.

The large number of tourists during the summer season causes increased traffic on the main routes toward southern Europe every year, and the crossings between Croatia and Serbia are among the busiest during weekends and tourist changeover periods.