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How to take the bus from Tirana, Albania across the border to Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia
Updated: Nov 6
In this post (with video), we're going to show you how to take the bus from Tirana, Albania to Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia by border crossing. This is a great way to see the beautiful Lake Ohrid and the Macedonian countryside! If you're looking for a budget-friendly way to travel in this region, then this is the post for you.
So let's take a closer look at how we got through the Albanian / Macedonian border crossing into to Ohrid! Oh and by the way, we highly recommend a visit to Lake Ohrid if you are in the Albania area! It truly is spectacular!
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Our journey
Border crossings can be daunting at the best of times and this was only the second time we have taken a land border crossing in Eastern Europe as we typically fly. Previously we took a cab and walked across the border between Georgia and Türkiye which was equally as easy. This one was even better though as the bus company literally took care of everything; we only had to get out of the bus once to get our passports checked and that was on the way into Macedonia. Other than that, it was literally an enjoy-the-view situation.
It was a pretty smooth process all around really, including the online booking process. The hardest part was actually finding Tirana Bus Station believe it or not! GPS was not entirely helpful so we have added a pin drop here to help you out.
It is easy to get a little bit spooked when you haven't done a border crossing before as you do not get a lot (if any) information from the driver or at the border. But here you do not really need it... the driver takes care of everything and it went really well for us. Speaking to other passengers it seems that the process is normally the same so we hope you will have the same experience!
Crossing the Albania / North Macedonia land border
Here are a few pointers that should help you have a smooth journey!
⪢ Make sure you are allowed in the country (sounds obvious but always double check Visa Requirements to be on the safe side).
⪢ Check your visa requirements and how long you can stay as a visitor.
⪢ Only use reputable bus or coach companies (always read reviews).
⪢ Be prepared that bus trips may be longer than expected; delays are always possible so if you arrange any transport for the other side give yourself some wriggle room.
⪢ Bring a paper copy of your tickets if possible - not all companies accept digital versions on a phone.
⪢ It is unlikely that you will have WiFi on the bus / coach (even though they may advertise this). If you need to contact anyone on in your forwarding country be sure to do it prior to getting to the border, organize roaming, or use an e-sim.
⪢ Bring cash in both currencies, this is always helpful as stop off's may only be at very local places that will not take electronic payments.
⪢ You will also be charged a Tourist Tax at the bus station on leaving, which is calculated at 40 Macedonian Denar per day per person. We stayed for 5 days so between the two of us this came to around $7 USD.
⪢ Bring toilet paper or wipes as public bathrooms do not always have it. They also tend to charge a small fee for usage.
Feel free to let us know of anything else (in the comments) you think we could add here to help fellow travelers!
How to find Tirana Bus Station
As we mention in the video, it can be a little tricky to find the Tirana Bus Station. It is not highlighted well in the area as it is an open air station. There are not really any official signs, or even obvious ticket offices, so do check the terrain map to get a better idea of the surroundings. It is the best way to recognise it on arrival!
⪢ Explore nearby hotels
Utilize our interactive map to find the best hotels nearby from the likes of Booking, Vrbo, Expedia, Get Your Guide and Hotels.com.
How to book tickets (with EuroBus)
EuroBus is a Macedonian international bus company that provides regular and charter bus services between North Macedonia and several European countries, including Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Albania. The company was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Struga, North Macedonia.
EuroBus operates a fleet of modern and comfortable buses, all of which are equipped with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and reclining seats. The company also offers a variety of amenities on board including snacks, drinks, and a bathroom. They are experienced at handling border crossings smoothly too.
We paid 34 euros for return tickets for 2 adults (at time of writing). We felt this was very reasonable and the bus was very comfortable and well maintained as advertised. The booking process through the website is super easy and you can use e-tickets on arrival.
⪢ Book Your Tickets with 12Go
12Go is an online travel booking platform that specializes in transportation options in Southeast Asia and Europe. It offers a wide range of travel choices including trains, buses, ferries, and even flights. Known for its user-friendly interface, you can easily compare prices, schedules, and book tickets for your desired journey.
Our Tirana to Ohrid YouTube video
In this video, we're going to show you how to take the bus from Tirana, Albania to Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia by border crossing. This is a great way to see the beautiful Lake Ohrid and the Macedonian countryside!
If you're looking for a budget-friendly way to see the Macedonian countryside, then this is the video for you! We show you on video how to take the bus from Tirana through the border crossing and onto Ohrid. This is a great way to travel to North Macedonia!
If you enjoy our video and would like to follow along with our content why not subscribe? It is completely free and it means YouTube will notify you of our latest videos so you do not have to go searching! Plus we would really appreciate it!
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Your FREE interactive map of Albania
Check out all of the places we visited in Albania courtesy of this interactive map from Wanderlog. Tap any of the numbers for more information including directions, our blog posts, links to reviews and much more.
Wanderlog is a free travel planning app for iOS and Android devices that allows users to create trip itineraries, organize flights, hotel and car reservations, view places to visit on a map, and collaborate with friends. It is super handy and has made a big impact on our travel planning. It saves time and is super easy to use!
Your GUIDES to visiting Albania & North Macedonia
Check out our comprehensive Country Guides with all you need to know including our latest posts, must-see places, and key information about health & safety, transport, local customs, connectivity, visa information, useful links and much more!
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