North Macedonia by bus
Traveling by bus in North Macedonia is definitely one of the safest and cheapest ways of traveling while ensuring at the same time that you don't miss out on the beautiful natural landscapes around the country. Thanks to the well connected bus network between North Macedonia cities it is easy to reach the majority of the most popular destinations within the country in a day.Table Of Contents
Intercity buses in North Macedonia
In North Macedonia intercity buses are available on more than 65 travel combinations, while traveling with an average speed of 38 km/h. Of course, intercity bus routes via highway have a higher average speed. The majority of the North Macedonia intercity buses are comfortable long distance coaches, but older vehicles might be used on busier travel days.
The timetable for popular intercity bus routes like Ohrid - Skopje or Skopje - Ohrid can be found online, but for some shorter intercity bus routes you might have to go to the bus station. Tickets are sold both online and on the spot, but after the COVID-19 pandemic an increasing number of travellers prefer buying their tickets online.
Domestic routes
As mentioned above there are more than 65 domestic intercity bus travel combinations in North Macedonia. Below you will find some of the most popular North Macedonia travel routes with minimal or no stops along the way:
International routes
From North Macedonia there are international bus routes to neighboring countries such as Bulgaria, Serbia, and Greece, as well as to other countries such as Croatia, Montenegro, and Turkey.
The majority of these international bus lines are daily departures, that are operated by various North Macedonia bus companies.
Most of the International bus departures drive from Skopje and Ohrid. Of course, there are also some international bus departures from other cities throughout the country.
Below we have listed the most popular international bus routes:
Airport buses in North Macedonia
If you are flying to North Macedonia you will land in one of 2 airports located throughout the country. From the majority of North Macedonia airports you have a bus shuttle to the nearest largest city and in some cases even intercity buses to other cities in the region. Click on the airport name below and read more about getting to and from the airport.
International airports:
Ohrid (Airport)
Bus companies in North Macedonia
There are over 26 bus companies operating in North Macedonia. 24 companies offer intercity bus lines, 0 companies drive airport shuttles, 0 companies operate regional and local lines, 4 bus companies offer bus rental and 2 companies offer bus tours. The bus companies are located in 8 cities throughout the country. The majority of companies can be found in Skopje and Tetovo.
24 intercity bus companies operating in North Macedonia are very different in size. The largest North Macedonia company WTransporter connects more than 2 cities, whereas the smallest intercity bus company Ganić Exclusive only has service to 7 cities.
Below we have listed some of the most popular bus companies in North Macedonia. Full list of bus companies in North Macedonia can be found here.
Bus stations in North Macedonia
In most cities there is a dedicated bus station, in smaller cities the bus station might be a parking lot with a shelter or a section on the road marked for multiple buses. In some cities buses also stop at public road bus stops or at gas stations and hotel parking lots. In larger cities you will find bus stations with amenities like toilets, luggage storage, kiosks, fast food restaurants and other useful services for travellers. In North Macedonia there is a total of 25 bus stations, below we have listed 12 of the most popular bus stations, for a full list of bus stations in North Macedonia click here.
Hire a coach in North Macedonia
North Macedonia bus rental companies offer coaches for any kind of group trip, whether it’s a transfer from the airport to your hotel, or single and multi day excursions to the many sights in North Macedonia. Rest assured you will be able to find a suitable partner. If you are travelling during the high season, it is advisable to book your bus in advance to secure one of the best vehicles for your group.
Here you can see a list of some companies offering bus rental in North Macedonia:
Public transportation in North Macedonia
In the majority of larger North Macedonia cities, public transportation is available, in the cities like you have an extensive network of buses connecting all suburbs to the centre of the town.
Buying tickets for public transportation varies from city to city, sometimes they are bought at dedicated sales points and other times they are bought on the bus for example, so be sure to check which options are available for the city you are travelling in.
Here is a list of some North Macedonia companies operating both local and suburban bus lines.
What to see in North Macedonia
As a visitor of North Macedonia, you have lots of great North Macedonia sights to visit. Some of the most popular sights are . That said, there are a lot of other sights in North Macedonia worth visiting! Some of the sights do not have an entrance fee, whilst others charge for entrance. Below you will find a list of the most popular sights in North Macedonia:
[[POPULAR_SIGHTS_PLACEHOLDER]]