Getting Around Ohrid

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I've only used the local taxi service once to get from the city centre out to the bus station and had no problems whatsoever. We picked up a taxi from the rank on the main square and the driver was happy to help load our luggage in his boot (trunk). The meter was switched on as soon as we set off and on arrival provided a detailed printout of the bill - just over 100 Denar including extras. The journey seemed to be by the most direct route (taking about ten minutes) and totally stress-free.

I gather that only official taxis, distinguishable by their blue and white livery, are allowed to use the ranks but if you require a pre-booked cab then it would probably be best to let your hotel (or a tourist office) make your booking and agree a price.

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Not having a train service getting to and from Ohrid by public transport can only be done by bus. There are regular services from Skopje (about 9 a day with a fastest journey time of about 3 hours), Bitola (about 7 a day and a journey time of about 2 hours) and from Struga (about which I have no details).

The bus station is located about 2 km out of town and has all the basic facilities you could require such as a cafe/bar, left luggage and a tourist information office.

When travelling from Ohrid (to Skopje) I found the ticket office staff friendly and helpful and out-of-season tickets can be purchased on the day. During the summer though it is advised that tickets (or return reservations) should be bought a day or two in advance and note that if you have a return ticket then there is a small charge for the reservation.

If arriving into Ohrid and you need to get to the centre you can either walk (allow about 30 minutes) or take a taxi (about 10 minutes). There's a taxi rank in front of the bus station and at the time of writing (Sept 2011) the fare should be about 100 Denar.

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Friday, May 27, 2011
As the Bus Station was out of the center of Ohrid and too far to walk, We took a taxi from the Diplomat Hotel to Ohrid Bus Station. (Taxi was 91.46 Denars - $2.10 CDN). We bought our tickets - 200 Denars each - $4.60 CDN. The Bus to Bitola was departing at 10:00 a.m. and it would be the bus at Post #4. There were quite a few people on the bus, including two men from our Diplomat hotel. The trip to Bitola took about 1 1/2 hours and made only one stop, so we got into Bitola Prilepska bus station about 11:30.
There was also a small Tourist Information Office at the bus station. I picked up a nice map of Ohrid,

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The bus station of Ohrid has been re-located to a location out of the center of Ohrid. It now is north-east of the old center of Ohrid, at the crossing of the streets Sedmi Noemvri and Pitu Guli.

You probably need to take a taxi if you want to go from the bus station to the old center, especially if you are carrying heavy luggage.

From here you can take buses to e.g. Skopje (about 600 Denars or 10 euros), Struga, Bitola, the Monastery of St Naum etc.

Also taxies are waiting here until they have a full car to go to another city such as Bitola. A good and not too expensive alternative for the bus!

Local people from Ohrid often wait at the bus station for the intercity buses and offer the passengers accomodation in Ohrid.

The taxi in Ohrid is very cheap. But beware of taxi drivers who don't turn the taximeter on. Always ask for the price before you enter the taxi. The best price is in blue-white taxi. I paid 100 Denars from the bus station to the old town Varos.

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The main Ohrid bus station is no longer in the center of town, as it is described in the Lonely Planet guide and on the out of date town maps you will find at the hotels and tourist offices. It's been moved to a bigger spot on the outskirts of town. You could walk it, but you can get a taxi there for just 100 Denar, so it's not really worth the effort.

From the main bus station you can get buses to towns and cities around Macedonia, including Bitola and Skopje. The bus for Sveti Naum leaves not from the station, but from the road leading up to it behind the ticket offices. The ticket offices are where you can buy your tickets, and on popular routes like Skopje in the summer, it is advisable to book in advance.

The bus to Skopje takes about 3 hours and costs less than ten euros. Get the bus that goes via Kicevo, as it is the quickest. That journey is also beautiful, as it passes through the mountainous Albanian part of the country, through the main ethnic Albanian city of Tetovo. On the left side of the bus you should get to see the magnificent Tito's peak towering over 2700 meters above sea level.

You can meet some interesting characters, like our new friend in the middle picture, who is leader of an Albanian political party.