ALEXANDROUPOLIS, Greece — Every month, Istanbul businessman Cihan Çıtak makes the four-hour drive to this northern Greek city — not for vacation, but to stock up on groceries.
“Olive oil here is €10 per liter. In Turkey? Double,” the 48-year-old told Bloomberg. “I fill my car with cheese, wine, meat — everything costs up to two-thirds less.”
He’s far from alone.
6% of Turkish Visitors to Greece in 2025 Came Only to Shop
Highest rate since 2012
— Turkish Statistics Agency
The New Normal: Cross-Border Bargain Hunts
- Supermarket aisles packed with Turkish shoppers
- Carts overflowing with pasta, yogurt, chocolates, sausages
- Local restaurants buzzing with Turkish conversations
- Social media flooded with price-comparison videos
Economic Policy Shift Fuels Trend
Turkey’s pivot under Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek (2023) ended President Erdoğan’s unorthodox low-interest policies. The lira strengthened, inflation cooled — but grocery prices remain sky-high.
“The rich invest in stocks. The rest of us live month to month.”
— Local Turkish shopper
Shopping Tours Now a Business
Travel agencies offer €50 day trips from Istanbul, Bursa, and Çanakkale.
Itinerary:
- Cross border
- Shop at major Greek supermarkets
- Lunch: affordable seafood in Alexandroupolis
- Return with full trunks and bags
“Everyone leaves loaded,” a tour operator said.
Only Catch: The Border Wait
Return lines now stretch up to 3 hours at passport control.
“Worth it,” Çıtak says. He’s already planning his next trip.
Alexandroupolis: From Port City to Turkish Shopping Haven
Once a quiet transit point, the city on the Thracian coast has become a symbol of economic disparity — and a lifeline for Turkish consumers seeking affordable, quality food.
18 Greek Lighthouses to Open for International Lighthouse Day
Tags:
Alexandroupolis, border wait, cross-border, Economic policy, Erdoğan, Greece, inflation, Lira, Mehmet Şimşek, olive oil, Shopping, supermarket, travel agencies, Turkey