One of the cheapest and easiest ways to get around the Balkans is via bus. After a fun few days in Bulgaria, we took the ~5 hour bus journey from Sofia, Bulgaria to Skopje, North Macedonia. Here’s everything you need to know!
BOOKING TICKETS
Several bus companies operate routes between Sofia and Skopje. Check schedules and prices online or at the bus station in Sofia to find the option that best suits your preferences and travel dates. Some reputable companies include Union Ivkoni, Matpu, and Eurolines.
We booked our tickets online using the BusExpress website. We rode with Matpu, and the tickets cost 25 euros per person.
DEPARTURE
Buses to North Macedonia depart from the Serdika Bus Station (Avtogara Serdika) in Sofia. We booked a taxi from our Airbnb to the station using the local Bulgarian version of Uber, the Yellow taxi app.
The bus journey from Sofia to Skopje takes approximately 4 to 5 hours, depending on traffic conditions and the specific route taken by the bus.
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 our journey, we arrived at the bus station approx. 30 minutes before our bus departed. There are some vendors selling some basic snacks and drinks, and a bathroom at the station as well.
Our bus had basic amenities such as air conditioning, reclining seats, and window shades, but did not offer extras like wifi or charging ports. We stopped twice at rest stops for a bathroom break, which also had a little shop for snacks.
THE BORDER CROSSING
Bulgaria is the EU and North Macedonia is not, so we needed to have our passports and any visas necessary prepared for the border crossing.
When we arrived at the Bulgarian border, we were instructed to leave our luggage on the bus, and line up at the immigration counter. One by one, the border patrol agent stamped us out of Bulgaria. We waited in the “no mans land” buffer zone between borders until everybody on our bus was stamped out of Bulgaria, and then boarded the bus for a 10 second ride to the North Macedonian border.
Again, we were instructed to leave our luggage on board and line up again to be stamped into N. Macedonia. While we were waiting for everybody to finish up, a customs guard did briefly board the bus and inspect the luggage hold to make sure we didn’t have any stowaways.
The entire process at the border took less than 30 minutes, and we re-boarded the bus to continue on our journey. Keep in mind that border procedures can vary, so be patient and follow the instructions of the bus staff.
ARRIVAL IN SKOPJE
The bus arrived at Skopje’s central bus station. There were plenty of taxis waiting for passengers who needed a ride. We opted to walk to our accomodation, as the Skopje central bus station is very close to the main tourist attractions of Skopje.
To read more about what we got up to in Skopje, click here!
Overall, the journey went very smoothly and easily. Taking the bus is fairly comfortable, and is definitely the most economical way to get from Bulgaria to North Macedonia!
To check out our full Sofia gallery, click here!