Skopje Flights

Reaching Skopje by a plane is still not an easy task. No low-cost companies are flying out to Skopje (except for SkyWings, but I don't know just how safe and organized they are).
I can suggest a flight through Zagreb, Belgrade, Ljubljana and there are some direct ones from cities like Vienna, Budapest or Prague.
The airport is currently undergoing some serious changes (here's hoping) and it is supposed to be improved, because at the moment it doesn't really offer the best of impressions.

There's a daily train leaving from Ljubljana at about 9:00 pm, or something like that, and that arrives here the following day at about 4:00 pm. But it is tiring, and the trains aren't the cleanest things you'd see... :-)

Buses... there are buses coming from Belgrade and also from Sofia (Bulgaria) - daily.

Skopje has an international airport, which may be small in size, but not so small in the number of flights. At least 16 international destinations can be reached by direct flight.
It is important to remember this when you plan the timing of your outbound flights. In fact the locals repeated to us that it was not necessary to get there very early "The airport is small, you'll get through check-in and control in no time!".
Maybe it was that particular day, or maybe it was a time of the day with many flights, but when we got to the airport we found a big crowd at the check-in and at the security check, so we made it just on time.
So if you fly to and from Skopje, remember it is an airport with serious traffic.

I love the Greeks. I have many Greek friends who I think very fondly of and care for a great deal. I think it's a wonderful, proud nation with an amazing and unique history... but I still love it when little Macedonia sticks it to them by naming its airport after Alexander the Great.

The Greeks get all upset about Macedonia's name, force them to use the ridiculous title of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYRM), and make life as difficult as they can for the new nation. They refuse to ratify Macedonia's accession to the EU unless the "naming issue" is resolved.

The Macedonians happily share Mother Teresa with Albania and Kosovo, even though they are Muslim nations and she was born in Skopje. But she was ethnic Albanian, so who cares. Everyone associates Alexander the Great with Greece and Macedonia, so who cares if this tiny nation steals a little of that glory. It's not like Greece hasn't got plenty of history already. Share it about a bit and stop being so petty. Or we'll keep the Elgin marbles (just kidding).

Anyway...Skopje's newly ordained Alexander the Great airport is totally unbefitting of such a great man. It's tiny. It's setting, however, is fantastic, and really dramatic when the storm clouds roll in. I snapped a picture of the sleek Alitalia Embraer on the tarmac and it looks great with the mountainous backdrop and the broody, bruising clouds on the horizon.

As the airport is small, not that many airlines serve it. There's a host of former East European airlines that fly here, like Hungary's Malev and Czech Airlines. All the main Balkan airlines fly here too, as do Austrian Airlines and Alitalia. Macedonia's flag carrier, MAT Airlines, flies to most of the major destinations.

Getting to and from the airport is by taxi only, and this should cost you no more than about 15 euros. Heading from the airport such a price is apparently difficult, as the taxi drivers seek to overcharge you. Ask your hotel to send a taxi to pick you up. Getting to the airport by taxi is less problematic.

In addition to the airlines others have mentioned, Skopje is now served by the extensive and efficient Czech Airlines network, via Prague. They don't fly every day but prices can be quite reasonable; for example London - Skopje around $330 return (everything included) in summer 2005.

Swiss International is formally codesharing with MAT -- Macedonian Airlines. This simplifies check-in, boarding passes and a host of other issues for Skopje-bound passengers -- at a price!! THe better deals are usuallt through Amsterdam with MAT/KLM.
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Note: If you are flying MAT/Swiss combination FROM Skopje you get your MAT boarding pass in the usual line then go to a special window to get your onward Swiss boarding pass.

The easiest, but the most expensive, way to get to Skopje is by air. Among the airlines that currently serve Petrovec Airport are Swiss, Malev, Austrian Airlines & Adria Airways. There is also a Macedonian carrier -- MAT. There is a once a day train from Thessaloniki and regular bus service to Belgrade.

There are public buses running though the city, but I recommend taxi as it is pretty cheap, faster and more comfortable. A taxi ride from the Continental Hotel to the center, which takes you about 5 minutes is 50 Denar or about 80 cents. All interesting spots can then be visited by walking and no transportation is required. If you come by plane you can also easily catch a cab to the town for about 10 – 15 bucks.

By bus, rent a car or else...