Kulata

About the crossing

Kulata is a border crossing between Bulgaria and Greece, on route E79 through the Rupel Gorge — on the Greek side, part of the A25 motorway linking Thessaloniki with Sofia. On the Greek side the crossing is called Promachonas. It is a unified checkpoint, where border and customs checks are usually done just once rather than at two separate stops. Since 1 January 2025, when Bulgaria became a full Schengen member on its land borders too, there are no more routine checks here for travelers, since both Bulgaria and Greece now belong to the same Schengen area — though occasional targeted checks are still possible on the nearby motorway through the Struma valley. The crossing has traditionally been a popular choice for diaspora travelers heading to Greek beaches in summer, since it shortens the trip from western and southwestern Bulgaria compared with crossings further east. Kulata is also a settlement in its own right — a small border town with a railway station of the same name, known mainly for this crossing through the Belasitsa mountain range.