Diaspora summer guide

Every summer thousands of families drive home from Germany, Switzerland and the rest of Europe. Here is what the official sources say about routes, borders and paperwork.

🛣️ Routes from Germany and Switzerland

The German automobile club ADAC describes the main Balkan transit corridors, which are also the usual ways home:

Northern route: via Vienna (or Czechia and Slovakia) to Budapest, then Belgrade. From southern Serbia (Niš) the road continues towards Kosovo's Merdarë crossing.
Southern route: through Austria and Slovenia to Zagreb, then on to Belgrade, joining the northern route. Coming from Switzerland, this is the natural line through Austria.
By ferry: ADAC also points to Adriatic ferries from Italy to Durrës in Albania, which avoids the overland borders.
Kosovo ↔ Albania: the Rruga e Kombit highway, crossing at Vërmicë/Morinë.

Serbia warning: Serbia does not accept Kosovo's crossings as international entry points. If you entered Kosovo from Albania or North Macedonia, return through those countries or Montenegro rather than straight into Serbia (GOV.UK).

⏳ When borders get busy

ADAC names the Serbia–Hungary and Serbia–Croatia borders among those with the longest summer waits, and says smaller crossings can be worth it.
The big waves follow school holidays. German holiday dates differ by state: check the official KMK holiday calendar, and your canton's dates in Switzerland. The first and last weekends of a region's holidays are the busiest.
Check live waits before you set off: the Kosovo Ministry of Internal Affairs publishes current waiting times at Kosovo's crossings.

📄 Paperwork for the car

Kosovo doesn't recognise the Green Card, so you need BKS border insurance (minimum 15 days). From July 1, 2026, BKS gave diaspora passenger cars a free one-month policy at border points; see essentials for the details.
Carry your passport or ID, licence, registration and insurance papers for every country you cross.

📅 What to book early

Ferries from Italy in July and August, especially with a car.
Flights for July–August and the December holidays (see flights).
Rental cars at PRN and TIA, and coastal accommodation in Albania for July and August.
Car places on the Lake Koman ferry, which the operator says should be booked ahead.

Sources

Checked October 15, 2026. Rules change; always confirm with the official source before you travel.