Overland Travel Across Borders: A Tale of Two Frontiers
Röszke-Horgoš Motorway Chokepoint with High-Tech Fence
The border between Hungary and Serbia is a predominantly flat, straight line drawn across the Great Hungarian Plain. As an external frontier of both the European Union and the Schengen Area, it is a strictly controlled and highly monitored boundary. There are nine official crossing points connecting the two countries. The busiest by a significant margin is the Röszke-Horgoš crossing on the main M5/A1 motorway, the direct route between Budapest and Belgrade. This crossing often sees extremely long queues, with wait times that can stretch for many hours, especially during summer and holiday periods when guest workers and tourists transit the region.
Migration Route Realities in Flat Plain Congestion
Other crossings, like Tompa-Kelebija, offer alternatives but can also be congested. In recent years, this border gained international attention as a major migration route, which led to the construction of a prominent, high-tech border fence along its entire length by Hungary. This physical barrier, complete with patrol roads, sensors, and cameras, is a stark visual reminder of the border’s status as a key entry point into the European Union and a focal point of its immigration policies. It is a frontier where modern political issues are visibly inscribed on the landscape.