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Navigating the Bus from from Sofia to Skopje

So you want to add another unique European country to your travels? No problem! We’re here to share our exact experience on how to take the bus from Sofia to Skopje. Luckily the bus between Sofia and Skopje is painless and a very direct process so we definitely recommend adding a trip to the unique North Macedonia capital after you’re travels in Sofia!

taking the bus from sofia to skopje is very affordable and easy! If you walk directly straight from the sofia bus station, you'll arrive at the iconic lions bridge shown here. Large marble statues of lions frame grand posts with lantern tops along a cobblestone road.

Sofia to Skopje Distance

Fortunately, the distance between Sofia ( the capital of Bulgaria) an Skopje ( the capital of North Macedonia) is relatively close making these two cities great additions to your Balkan adventures. By road the two cities are only 240 kilometers ( about 150 miles) apart.

Typically it takes between 4-6 hours by bus or car to travel between Sofia and Skopje.

Both cities are well connected by paved highways so overall it’s a painless journey.

How to Get from Sofia to Skopje: by bus

By Bus: Taking a bus is the most popular and convenient way to travel from Sofia to Skopje and the way we decided to travel between the capital cities. There are several reliable bus companies that operate services multiple times a day- many with online bookable services like Flixbus which allow you to book a ticket before your departure date.

Central Bus Station in Sofia

The bus to Skopje departs from the Central Bus Station in Sofia which is conveniently located near the city center. We stayed at two different accommodations in Sofia and both are within a 20 minute walk from the bus station. If you are staying a bit further out from the city center, there’s also a tram system that runs to the bus/train terminal.

If you are traveling by metro/tram to the bus station, you simply follow the Red line ( Line 1) to the bus station.

take the bus from sofia to skopje. sofia to skopje distance is around 240 km. passengers wait outside to board the grey couch bus from sofia to skopje

Buying Bus Tickets in Sofia

You can buy your bus ticket from Sofia to Skopje a few different ways.

Online: This is always our preference for buying bus tickets when it’s an option ( and its the way we purchased our ticket from Sofia to Skopje). We like using Busbud because it’ll search multiple companies at the same time so you know your time table and pricing options!
At the Bus Station: While buying bus tickets online and ahead of time is easier, the reality is you are almost always paying slightly more money for the convenience. If you wanted to give yourself a nice challenge, you could attempt to buy a bus ticket at the counters that line the main hall at the bus station. In our brief interactions at the bus station, you’ll find most signs for destinations labeled in English and a few of the staff also speak English- though don’t count on it!

A one way ticket from Sofia to Skopje will cost between $10-$20 USD ( 20-40 BGN). We purchased our ticket online through Flixbus and paid $12 USD which seems like a fare price.

Bus schedules :The bus runs quite frequently from Sofia to Skopje. Most busses do depart by 6:00pm so don’t count on a night bus. Typically the bus route takes between 4-5 hours.

While the bus station in Sofia is relatively small, we still recommend arriving about 30 minutes before your departure to make sure you know what gate you’re departing from. The gate departures will be displayed overhead, but we also asked an ” information” desk staff member and they pointed us in the right direction.

At the bus station, there are a few cafes and convenience stores if you want to pick up any last minute snacks. Per usual, the prices are slightly higher then all of the shops right outside the station as you’re paying for the convenience. We walked to the station at 6:30 am and there were several shops open right nearby so we picked up some barista ( our favorite Bulgarian pastry) for only $1 each. Inside the bus station, we purchased an ” emergency croissant” incase the bus was delayed and ended up paying almost $3 for that one pastry.

Service and Comfort on the Bus from Sofia to Skopje

Busses between Sofia and Skopje are overall comfortable! Flixbus offers air conditioning, large windows, reclining seats, and even a bathroom- oh the bus luxuries!

The bus from Sofia to Skopje offers scenic views as you travel through the Bulgarian countryside into Macedonia. Our bus trip was in November and we even saw snow for 30 minutes when we were in a mountainous valley.

How to take a Taxi from Sofia to Skopje

Taking a taxi from Sofia to Skopje will take you around the same time as the bus- between 4 and 5 hours. Both your taxi and the bus companies are likely to follow the same route so your trip time and distance won’t differ.

Expect to pay between $100-$150 USD ( 200-300 BGN) for a taxi ride.

Since the distance is the same for the bus, we don’t recommend the taxi in this case as the cost is 10X that of the bus for the same travel time- it doesn’t seem worth it!

Obviously the higher price point of the taxi ride does come with its advantages: privacy and convenience. You ultimately need to decide what works best for you and your group.

What to Expect at the Border Crossing: Sofia to Skopje

Regardless if you arrive by bus or taxi, you’ll need to cross the border between Bulgaria and Macedonia. The border crossings takes between 30 minutes and 1 hour so I wouldn’t say it’s an efficient system. Our crossing took a full 60 minutes though I was really impressed that we still arrived in Skopje on time ( bus companies certainly factor in the lengthy stop into their time tables- shout out to you , Flixbus!).

At the border crossing, a representative from the Bulgarian side first came onto the bus and collected our passports. The passports are then taken and stamped ( “out” by Bulgaria and “in” by Macedonia). After everyone’s passport is collected, they have everyone get off the bus and wait for a bus inspection. While you stand outside ( luckily under an overhang but it was still cold and snowy!), a few border patrol staff members searched through a few bags and went on and off the bus. The border crossing isn’t an intimidating experience, but it is time consuming and bit of a horse and pony show in our opinion, but it’s all part of overland travel!

Now that you’ve sorted out the logistics for your bus from Sofia to Skopje, you may be wondering a few more logistical questions.

North Macedonians love their large statues!

Planning Your Bus trip from Sofia to Skopje

Sofia to Skopje day trip?

An adventurous and bold traveler may attempt traveling from Sofia to Skopje as a day trip! It is a 4 hour bus ( though a direct and easy to navigate one). So yes, technically a day trip is possible ( it’ll just eat up 8 hours of your day). Do we personally recommend the two cities as a day trip- no! Skopje on it’s own right has so much to offer and it’s worth spending at least 1 night ( we spent 5) in Skopje to explore all the uniqueness ( read that as over 200 statues…) Skopje has to offer!

How do I get from Sofia to Skopje?

We think it’s best to take the bus from Sofia to Skopje. The bus is affordable ( around $10 USD each way), direct, safe, and clean. The busses also run frequently and you’re able to purchase your bus ticked both online and in person at the Central Bus Station in Sofia.

How much is a taxi from Sofia to Skopje?

A taxi from Sofia to Skopje will run on average between $100-$150 USD one way. Since the taxi takes the same route as the bus, your journey will still take 4-5 hours.

How do I purchase a bus ticket in Sofia?

In Sofia, it’s possible to purchase your bus ticket right at the counter at the Central Bus Station. You can also buy your bus ticket online.

Other popular destinations from Sofia?

Before heading to Skopje, we actually took a few days to explore Europe’s oldest city: Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Plovdiv is only a two hour, direct bus ride from Sofia so it’s an easy addition to your Balkan itinerary. Plovdiv offers access to well-preserved Roman ruins right in the city center ( for free!), museums, an Old Town with traditional Bulgarian houses, and a modern city center.

We hope you see that it’s both easy and cost effective to take the bus from Sofia to Skopje! We are so glad that we made the last minute decision to add Skopje to our travels- it ended up an unexpected addition to our favorite European capitals!

If you’re looking for more inspiration for your trip to Bulgaria, check out:

Ready to explore more in North Macedonia?