How to get to North Macedonia: airports, flights and border crossings

For a first trip, book into Skopje (SKP). It has the widest choice of flights and sits on the road and rail line that links the country north to south. Ohrid (OHD) is the better landing point only if your whole trip is the lake and you are travelling in the summer season.

From Skopje, most travellers go straight on to Ohrid by bus, about 2.5–3 hours. If you are coming overland from Greece, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania or Bulgaria, you enter by bus, car or, on some routes, train.

Use this to pick your entry point before you look at schedules. Times are planning estimates; confirm fares and timetables with the operator.

Step 1: decide your first base. Skopje and Ohrid are the two anchors of a first trip, so choose the airport that matches your plan. If you want both, fly into Skopje and bus south.

Step 2: check flights. Skopje has the most routes, including low-cost carriers from across Europe. Ohrid is smaller and more seasonal. From the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand you will almost always connect through a European hub such as Istanbul, Vienna, Frankfurt, Zurich, Belgrade or Athens.

Step 3: book the onward leg. Buses between Skopje and Ohrid run several times a day; buy at the station or online where the operator allows. Trains inside the country are cheap but slower and less frequent than buses.

Step 4: sort your entry paperwork. Check your passport's visa status for North Macedonia before booking anything non-refundable. Many Western passports get short visa-free stays; rules differ by nationality.

Step 5: plan money and connectivity. The currency is the denar; euros are sometimes accepted at tourist spots but the rate is poor. Buy a local SIM or eSIM on arrival or before you fly.

Airport transfer prices, bus timetables and seasonal flight routes change often. Treat every time and fare on this page as a planning estimate and confirm with the operator before you travel.

If you arrive late into Skopje, a taxi is the simplest option; if you arrive in daylight, the bus is cheaper. At Ohrid, the airport is close to the lake but seasonal, so check that your dates match the route.

Land borders can be slow at weekends and in summer, especially the Greek and Serbian crossings. Allow extra time if you are connecting to a flight.

Travel insurance is worth arranging before you leave, particularly if you plan to hike in the mountains or drive.

We last checked this page in September 2026. Airport, border and timetable details are marked check where we could not confirm them from an official source; always verify with the airline, bus operator or border authority before you travel.