Kosovo Macedonia Pristina Prizren Skopje

Traveling to Kosovo via Skopje, Macedonia


Last Updated on March 28, 2018.

So you want to go to Kosovo. Then I highly recommend doing so via Skopje, Macedonia. Traveling between Skopje and Pristina or Skopje and Prizren by bus is extremely easy, cheap, and pretty comfortable.

From Skopje’s main bus station there are buses leaving every 20-30 minutes for Pristina. The ride usually takes around 2 hours – could be a little more or a little less depending on how long it takes to cross the border or traffic – and it costs 5 euros. The border is mellow but just keep in mind that once you get a Kosovo stamp in your passport, Serbia may look down on you a little. Perhaps even draw a line through it shall you ever attempt to enter after the fact. This is only what I’ve heard, I’ve yet to find out for myself though I hope to in the not so distant future.

Once you arrive in Pristina, you should know the main bus station is about a  15-20 minute walk from the center. A taxi shouldn’t cost more than 3 or 4 euros.

From Pristina buses are going back to Skopje every hour or so for the same price and taking the same amount of time. Getting to Prizren from Pristina is also easy – it takes about 2 hours, costs 5 euros, and they are going every 30 minutes.

Between Prizren and Skopje (Shkup) your options are a bit more limited.

Currently the only buses from Prizren to Skopje leave at 5:30 am and 9 am, and the only buses from Skopje to Prizren leave at 11:30 am and 4pm. That journey takes about 3 1/2 hours and let me tell you, the scenery gets BEAUTIFUL.

The good news is that if you miss any of these (which wouldn’t be hard to do, especially from Prizren), you can always go back through Pristina to get one of the more frequent buses. Obviously it will take a bit longer but in the end it all costs the same – 9 euros.

All these times and prices are of course subject to change – you are in the Balkans after all – but from what I’ve seen on the internet, they haven’t changed all that much in the past couple of years. The most important thing is to know that it is super easy and there’s absolutely nothing to be worried about, even if you are a lone female traveler such as myself. You hear that, Mom?!

Happy travels! <3

27 Comments

  • Reply
    Rob
    December 3, 2012 at 6:57 pm

    Bringing back some cool memories. I hope you got a photo with Bill.

    • Reply
      Larissa
      December 3, 2012 at 7:10 pm

      I only got a photo of Bill but a little video footage of me and Bill that I intend on using in my future rap video.

  • Reply
    A Lady in London
    December 3, 2012 at 6:57 pm

    Great post! I did this trip last year and I agree that it is really easy. The scenery is beautiful, too!

    • Reply
      Larissa
      December 3, 2012 at 7:08 pm

      That’s awesome, I will have to check out your posts! I really liked Kosovo and will be writing much more about it soon, just had to share at least this for now as I know lots of people still think it’s some kind of red zone on map of Europe. Couldn’t be further from the truth.

  • Reply
    Megan
    December 3, 2012 at 8:59 pm

    great information! ill definitely be using this when i finally make it there!

    and it certainly is prettier along that drive than i would have anticipated!

    • Reply
      Larissa
      December 3, 2012 at 9:07 pm

      Unfortunately there is a lot of trash along that drive, too much trash, but it is gorgeous so very easy to look past. Really hope they start working on cleaning up if they haven’t already though it sadly doesn’t seem to be a priority.

      • Reply
        Megan
        December 3, 2012 at 10:22 pm

        that sucks…but it will get there hopefully one of these days :)

        are you leaving sweden by the way?? read it in last comment you responded to…

        • Reply
          Larissa
          December 5, 2012 at 2:43 am

          Ahh, who really knows with this gypsy. I’d like to but no definite plans since I’m officially finished with school. Going back to California for Christmas and we shall see what happens after that! The suspense is killing me.

  • Reply
    Andrea
    May 28, 2013 at 1:06 am

    Hi, i really apprechiate your post and your way of writing. I use to travel across Balkans and this summer i will move from Italy till Caucasus area crossing Balkans and turkey. I will go to Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia and i find your diary very helpful

    • Reply
      Larissa
      May 28, 2013 at 10:51 am

      Thank you, I appreciate the compliment. Safe travels and do let me know if you have any questions on anything!

  • Reply
    bouba
    July 30, 2013 at 12:54 am

    je suis francais je veux visiter kosovo et skopje comment est le trajet kosovo skopje il ya t’il des taxe a paye visa ou bien

    • Reply
      Larissa
      July 31, 2013 at 5:29 am

      I’m sorry, I don’t read/speak French :(

  • Reply
    Kamil
    February 11, 2015 at 3:51 am

    Hey Larissa! Thanks a lot for this post! :)
    After reading it I decided to go to Kosovo and Skopje as well, actually I’m still in Skopje right now, writing this while waiting for my airport bus :) Anyway just wanted you to know that in some way it influenced me and helped me with organizing my trip,
    P.S. it turned out that we have stayed in the same hostel in Pristhina – Hostel Han, there’s still your card hanging on the board there ;)
    Great job and keep the good stuff coming! ;)
    Kamil

    • Reply
      Larissa
      February 12, 2015 at 11:08 pm

      Hi Kamil, so glad to hear this! Hope you enjoyed those parts as much as I do, I can’t wait to go back myself. And yes…my homies at Hostel Han. Hope they took good care of you – I’m sure they did :) Happy travels!

  • Reply
    Leo Zhi Wei
    July 11, 2015 at 12:01 am

    Thank you so much for this very helpful information! I am currently in Skopje and thinking of heading to Kosovo- couldn’t find any online information quite as comprehensive as yours!

    • Reply
      Larissa
      August 12, 2015 at 8:44 am

      Love hearing that I helped somehow! Hope you had a great trip.

  • Reply
    Rhys
    September 1, 2015 at 3:31 am

    Hi,
    Good to know it’s fairly easy to be between countries.
    Can you book in advance? And if so, what’s the name of the website?
    Thanks

    • Reply
      Larissa
      September 1, 2015 at 9:24 am

      No, it’s better to purchase your ticket at the bus station.

  • Reply
    Jordi
    September 3, 2015 at 11:07 am

    Im on my way to Kosovo today !!!! :))

    • Reply
      Larissa
      September 18, 2015 at 2:18 pm

      Awesome, Jordi – hope you had a great time!

  • Reply
    Cristina
    September 25, 2015 at 4:55 pm

    Hello!

    I’m planning a little travel to Skopje and I would love to visit Prizren. I’m wondering if I had to stay a night on Prizren if I want to visit it because if the bus leave Skopje at 11 or 16 and only returns at 5am or 9am… isnt there another bus company or something?

    • Reply
      Larissa
      September 30, 2015 at 10:33 am

      Not that I am aware of. You can always catch a bus to Prishtina and then Prishtina to Skopje. A bit out of the way but I think last bus from there is about 6 or so.

    • Reply
      Larissa
      September 30, 2015 at 10:33 am

      Not that I am aware of. You can always catch a bus to Prishtina from Prizren and then Prishtina to Skopje. A bit out of the way but I think last bus from Prishtina to Skopje is in the early evening.

  • Reply
    Oriana Rose
    April 6, 2016 at 6:05 pm

    Great blog! I love following solo female travelers, often being one myself. Rock on girl!

    • Reply
      Larissa
      April 20, 2016 at 9:12 pm

      Thank you, girl! You too and enjoy Montenegro – she’s beautiful :)

  • Reply
    Rizwan
    August 25, 2016 at 2:47 pm

    Hi

    It is great info. I am planning to do balkans in January. Planning to drive. Would you have any idea about the road accessibility during winters?

  • Reply
    Nellie
    May 15, 2018 at 6:24 am

    Thanks to my father who stated to me concerning this blog, this
    website is really awesome.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.