🚍 From Durrës, Albania to Ohrid, North Macedonia: A Complete Travel Guide

Traveling between Albania and North Macedonia is one of the most scenic and rewarding routes in the Balkans. In this post, I’ll walk you through my full journey from Durrës to Ohrid, including buying bus tickets, currency exchange, border crossing, and first impressions of Ohrid. If you’re a digital nomad or budget traveler, this guide will help you plan every step.

🚌 Buying Your Bus Ticket in Durrës

I started at the Durrës bus station on a Sunday afternoon to buy my ticket for Monday. Important tip: you can only buy tickets one day before your trip—you can’t book a week in advance.

Two daily buses run to Struga (the transfer city for Ohrid):

• 8:00 AM – Morning departure

• 8:00 PM – Evening departure

  
  

The ride is advertised as 4–5 hours, but border delays can make it longer. Plan for a full day of travel.

📍 Bus Station Details

The Durrës bus station is easy to find—it’s next to the now-defunct train station. International buses are clearly marked. The ticket office staff spoke enough English to help me buy the right ticket.

💱 Currency Exchange Tips

Before leaving Albania, you’ll need euros—don’t bother exchanging directly to Macedonian denars, as rates are worse. I exchanged 15,300 ALL (Albanian lek) for €125 at a local exchange office and got almost the exact XE.com rate.

Budget Nomad Tip: Always carry a mix of euros or US dollars when traveling between Balkan countries. Smaller border towns often have limited ATMs or picky card machines.

🏠 Airbnb vs Hostel in Durrës

My original Airbnb was €350 for the month—spacious, decent Wi-Fi (10–15 Mbps), and clean, but it lacked air conditioning. For my last night, I switched to Hostel Durrës to avoid early-morning key hassles.

✅ Airbnb Pros

• Full kitchen and washing machine

• Secure locks and balcony with sunset views

• Reliable Wi-Fi for teaching online

❌ Airbnb Cons

• Far from the city center

• No air conditioning

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The hostel was quiet, with a communal kitchen and lockers under each bunk bed—ideal for backpackers, but not great for teaching online. For digital nomads, Airbnbs in Durrës are worth the extra money for privacy and Wi-Fi stability.

🍳 Early Morning in Durrës

Durrës mornings are chilly, especially outside summer. I checked out early, grabbed breakfast near the bus station (most cafes open around 7 AM), and walked over. The locals were friendly and helpful—even when the bus driver accidentally locked the keys inside the bus! After some prying and teamwork, we were on our way.

🚌 The Bus Journey: Durrës to Struga

The first leg takes you to Tirana’s Ring Center, which doubles as the city’s international bus hub. From there, the bus continues through stunning mountain scenery toward the border.

The ride itself was quiet—at one point, I was the only passenger on the bus. Bring snacks and water, as rest stops can be limited.

🌐 Crossing the Albania–North Macedonia Border

Border formalities were straightforward:

• Albania: Quick electronic passport check (no stamp).

• North Macedonia: Show your passport and COVID-19 vaccination certificate (if still required). The entire crossing took about 1 hour, including bag checks.

Budget Nomad Tip: Albanian SIM cards still work with data roaming in North Macedonia, so you’ll have internet at the border.

🚖 From Struga to Ohrid

The bus doesn’t go directly to Ohrid—it stops at Struga or a nearby petrol station. You have two options:

1. Local bus to Ohrid (cheaper, but infrequent).

2. Taxi from the petrol station (around 400 MKD ≈ €7–8).

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I chose the taxi for convenience—it was quick and hassle-free. Carry euros in case the ATM rejects your card (mine did initially). There’s also a currency exchange inside the petrol station.

🏘 Arriving in Ohrid: First Impressions

Ohrid greeted me with crisp mountain air and friendly locals. Even in April, temperatures are cold—pack warm layers outside of summer. The town center feels cozy, and my Airbnb was just a 10–15 minute walk from the Old Town, surrounded by shops and cafes.

ATM Tip: Avoid “TPK” ATMs—mine failed. Sparkasse Bank worked perfectly.

🏡 My Airbnb in Ohrid

The studio apartment I rented was small but well-equipped:

• Sofa bed (experimenting for my own future apartment)

• Large fridge and basic kitchenware

• Reliable Samsung digital-inverter air conditioning (hot/cold)

• Secure entry door and proper mailing address (useful for long stays)

  
  

The only downside? No washing machine. The host offered to wash clothes for me, which was a lifesaver.

Why a Sofa Bed?My own apartment is a similar size, so I wanted to test if a sofa bed would make better use of space than a permanent bed. It worked well—it takes seconds to fold out and leaves more living area during the day.

🌄 Final Thoughts and Travel Tips

Traveling from Albania to North Macedonia was smoother than I expected. Here are my top tips:

• Buy bus tickets one day in advance—they sell out.

• Exchange lek to euros in Albania for the best rates.

• Carry euros or dollars as backup for ATMs.

• Dress warmly outside summer—Ohrid is at a high altitude.

• Use Sparkasse ATMs in North Macedonia.

• Don’t panic about SIM cards—Albanian data still works for a while across the border.

• Taxis from the border are affordable if buses are sparse.

  
  

Ohrid itself is magical—an ancient lakeside town with a relaxed vibe, delicious food, and incredible views. Whether you’re passing through or planning a month-long stay, this route is a must for any Balkan itinerary.