One of the most commonly taken bus routes in North Macedonia is the Skopje to Ohrid route. Lake Ohrid is one of Europe’s oldest and deepest lakes, and is only around 3-4 hours from the capital, Skopje. Here’s everything you need to know about the bus journey:
BOOKING TICKETS
There are many different companies that provide buses everyday from Skopje to Ohrid, especially in the summer. The easiest way to get tickets is to show up in person at the Skopje Main Bus Station and buy your tickets in person there.
Alternatively, some companies do sell tickets online. We booked our tickets online with Makedonija Soobrakaj, and they cost 14 USD/person. Makedonija Soobrakaj runs 3 buses per day: 7 am, 9 am, and 4 pm.
The travel duration is approximately 3 to 4 hours, depending on traffic and route variations.
The summer months are the busiest season, so make sure you book your tickets in advance if you’re on a tighter schedule.
THE RIDE
On the day of the trip, we arrived at the bus station approx. 30 minutes before our bus departed. Despite booking our tickets online, we each had to pay a 30 Denar (50 cents USD) terminal fee, and the bus company printed out a paper ticket for us.
Our bus had basic amenities such as air conditioning and window shades, but did not offer extras like wifi or charging ports. We stopped once at a rest stop for a bathroom break, which also had a little shop for snacks.
The route from Skopje to Ohrid was very scenic and we took in the beautiful views of the Macedonian countryside and rural landscapes.
ARRIVAL IN OHRID
The Ohrid Bus Station is about a mile outside of the city centre, so once you arrive at the bus station, you can walk or take a taxi to help you reach your accommodation or desired destination within Ohrid.
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