Tirana to Skopje: A Flexible Overland Itinerary via Kosovo (3 Capitals in 1 Week)

Travelling from Tirana to Skopje via Kosovo is one of the easiest and most rewarding overland trips in the Balkans. In the space of a week you can experience four cities, including three capitals, each with its own character and each leg of the journey is only around 3 hours by bus. You’ll find cable-car rides, ancient churches and mosques, atmospheric bazaars and quirkiness in spades. Whether you’re interested in exploring cities, UNESCO sites, hiking or ethical wildlife encounters (yes, there are bears) there’ll be plenty to entertain you.

I’ve spent time in all the cities on this route and, can highly recommend them. So read on to find out quite how, fun and affordable this trip could be.

Contents:

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Tirana to Skopje Itinerary Overview

Daily Schedule

• Day 1: Tirana city highlights and overnight in Tirana
• Day 2: A choice of daytrips from Tirana to see more of Albania and overnight in Tirana
• Day 3: Travel by bus to Prizren, city highlights of Prizren with sundown at the fortress and overnight in Prizren
• Day 4: Travel by bus to Pristina, city highlights and overnight in Pristina
• Day 5: Bear Sanctuary and Graçanica Monastery then travel by bus to Skopje and overnight in Skopje
• Day 6: Skopje city highlights and overnight in Skopje
• Day 7: Skopje day trip including Mount Vodna and Matka Canyon or Tetovo painted monastery

Finishing in Skopje offers fantastic possibilities for onward travel in the Balkans, whether you head North, South, East or West.

Where to Stay in Each Location

Here are suggestions for mid range hotels. There are plenty of lower cost hotels, serviced apartments, private rooms and hostels in each location.

• Tirana – 2 nights at Hotel Boka. Just off Skanderbeg Square so very central
• Prizren – 1 night at Hotel Denis. Close to the bus station for easy transfer – may offer free breakfast
• Pristina – 1 night at Hotel Emery. Central hotel – may offer free breakfast
• Skopje – 3 nights and some more eccentric options. For a splurge stay at Hotel Senigallia – the converted wooden galleon on the river, right in the centre. Or for a budget option stay in an apartment in a fake flatiron building.

Transport Information

Trains aren’t an option in this part of the world, but there are plenty of buses and the roads are good too. Buses on this route could be ultra modern full-sized coaches with on board toilets, or they may be smaller minibuses. I’ve marked the bus stops on a route map and as you can see there are no long or expensive travel days.

Leg	Duration	Approx. Price	Buying Tickets	Departure Point / Station Notes	Arrival Point
Tirana → Prizren	~3-3½ hrs	~€15 (via app)	Can be booked in advance on the Travelling App	Eastern/Regional Bus Terminal in Tirana (multiple stations exist – ensure the correct one)	Prizren Bus Station. Around a 15-20 minute walk into the centre of Prizren
Prizren → Pristina	~2-2½ hrs	~€4-5	Book at Prizren Station	Prizren Bus Station	Pristina Main Bus Station. Catch a no 7 bus or a taxi to save a long walk into the centre of Pristina
Pristina → Skopje	~2-2½ hrs	~€10-12	Some services bookable on the Travelling App, others need to booked at Pristina station	Pristina Main Bus Station.	Skopje Intercity Bus Station. Around a 20 minute walk to the centre of Skopje

Best Time of Year

This route is potentially possible all year but these are my suggestions.

• Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-early November) are the best times to go. Spring and autumn bring warm days, comfortable travel temperatures, and clear views across the mountains between Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia.
• Summer (June-August) is hot, with daytime highs often exceeding 30°C, especially in Tirana and Skopje.
• Winter (December-February) brings snow to some regions. Travel is still possible, but be prepared for potential transport disruption and fewer activities and services.

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Day 1: Tirana

Tirana is a lively capital with a creative, youthful feel. The food scene is excellent, with everything from traditional Albanian dishes to modern fusion spots. The city is easy to explore on foot thanks to its flat, compact centre, and it offers an intriguing mix of Ottoman, Italian, and communist-era architecture that gives it real character. Affordable, friendly, and energetic, especially in the evenings.

Here are some suggestions for things to see and do in Tirana.

Skanderbeg Square is the heart of Tirana. It’s a huge square with plenty to look at.

The Orthodox Cathedral and the Namazgah Mosque are definitely worth visiting.

Bunkart 2 is one of the more interesting and unusual museums and it’s right in the centre.

For a coffee stop in the centre try Komiteti Kafe Museum, Mulliri Vjetër, or a neighbourhood espresso bar

If you prefer to wander with a guide, there’s a tour which covers most of the same things:

👉 2 Hour Guided Hidden Treasures Sightseeing Tour

Evening Dining in Tirana Castle or Pazari i Ri

Spend your evening where the locals go: the New Bazaar (Pazari i Ri) area for relaxed restaurants and traditional food, It’s a good option for dinner, especially for Albanian dishes. Tavë kosi (lamb and rice with creamy yoghurt and egg toping), grilled meats, stuffed peppers are popular.

Alternatively there’s plenty of food on street stalls and more restaurants within Tirana Castle. You can walk your food off by climbing the stairs at the Pyramid of Tirana

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Day 2: Day Trip from Tirana

A day trip adds a bit of variety without needing to change hotels and Tirana makes a great base for them. These tours from Tirana are keenly priced and offer central or hotel pickups and the services of a guide.

All of these options should be booked in advance.

• Berat UNESCO Heritage Site & Belshi Lake
• Bovilla Lake & Gamti Mountain Hiking Day Trip
• Kruja Castle, Old Bazaar & Sari Salltik View
• Saranda, Ksamil, Blue Eye Day Trip
• Albanian Alps and Theth Village
• Ohrid and St Naum

Berat. for me, is the standout: a UNESCO-listed hill town of white-washed houses, cobbled lanes, and Ottoman bridges. Kruge is also a good choice for history and a little closer. Or you could visit lakes and mountains at Bovilla Lake or Theth. Alternatively you could pop over the border to the stunning lakeside resort of Ohrid. It would be a very long day, but there’s an option included to spend a day exploring some of Albania’s top beach resorts including Saranda and Ksamil in the south of Albania. Of course, if you can’t decide, you could spend longer in Tirana and do more than one.

It’s possible to visit Berat or Kruge independently as a daytrip, but do factor in the extra time and cost of getting to the out-of-town bus stations. Personally, I’d take the tour and use your time efficiently with a guide and the bus will likely be more comfortable too. But here’s the Gjirafa Timetable if you want to DIY.

I’ll be sharing our trip around Albania, so do subscribe if you’d like to be notified when that gets published.

Evening in Blloku

Komiteti / Blloku Neighbourhood is Tirana’s former “forbidden zone” during communism. It’s now the centre for city nightlife, cafes and street art and not to be missed. For a colourful cafe with excellent craft ale and cocktails as well as coffee and food, I love Radio Bar.

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Day 3: Tirana to Prizren

Dajti Ekspres Cable Car

If you’re up early and you’ve booked a later bus to Prizren, start the morning with the Dajti Ekspres cable car for sweeping views of Tirana and the surrounding hills. Bunk’Art 1 is nearby if you want a final dose of Albanian history before moving on. Both can easily be skipped if you’d rather get to Prizren earlier or see some more of Tirana. Worth mentioning that there’s also an option to ride a cable car up Mount Vodno in Skopje and, out of the two, I would pick that one.

Bus From Tirana to Prizren

Buses to Prizren usually depart around 09:00, 12:00, and 13:00 from the East Terminal, close to TEG shopping centre, with later departures, if you need them. Tickets are €15 if bought in advance through the Travelling app. It’s about 7km from the centre of Tirana so you’ll need to take a taxi or catch a bus. Line 2 or line 8 will get you there. You can use the app Moovit or TEG Albanian bus app to navigate the bus system. Pay onboard (~40 LEK). Tirana traffic can be terrible, so allow yourself plenty of time.

Border Crossing: Tirana to Prizren

The border crossing on this route is straightforward. You’ll need your passport, and it may or may not be stamped on the Kosovo side. The stamp only becomes relevant if you later try to enter Serbia directly from Kosovo: Serbia does not recognise Kosovo’s border as an official entry point, so you’ll need to have entered Serbia from another country first in order to have the correct Serbian entry stamp. I mention it here in case you’re planning to deviate from this itinerary.

Expect to get off the bus twice, once on the Albanian side and once on the Kosovan side, to show your passport. Delays are possible but not inevitable; most crossings are routine and efficient. It should be nothing to fret about.

Arrival in Prizren

Check the bus times for Pristina for tomorrow at the bus station before getting on your way. It’s a 20 minute walk into the centre, or you can head straight to your accommodation if you prefer. Hotel Denis is a good choice if you want somewhere close to the bus station, so you can drop off your bags.

Prizren is one of the prettiest small cities in the Balkans. It’s a compact old town wrapped around a river, with mountain views, Ottoman mosques, and a hilltop fortress for sunset. It’s lively without being chaotic, traditional without feeling staged, and the kind of place you warm to instantly. Perfect for an overnight stop.

Start in Shadervan Square and wander the narrow streets and riverside area including the picturesque old bridge’

The best spot in town for sunset views across the rooftops and river valley is Kalaja Fortress. A perfect finale to the day and a gentle introduction to Kosovo. You’ll find Bar Aca on route for refreshment. Look out for the tumbledown church of the holy saviour, also en route.

For a complete run down of the main things to do in Prizren, I’ve written a full guide:

👉 10 Things to Do in Prizren, Kosovo – Why It Deserves a Spot on Your Balkan Itinerary

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Day 4: Prizren to Pristina

League of Prizren Museum

A good choice If you have time in the morning, before you head to Pristina.

Bus from Prizren to Pristina

The bus from Prizren to Pristina takes around 1½–2 hours, depending on traffic and stops. There’s up to 4 per hour during peak times, with the service fizzling out in the evening. I wouldn’t leave it too late so you have plenty of time to see Pristina in the afternoon and evening.

There are several operators running the service and with such a frequent service there should be no issues if you buy on the day. There are timetables shown on Balkan Viator, but be aware, they aren’t always accurate. The timetables in the stations should be. Be prepared to pay for your ticket in cash. You may also be asked to pay a small platform fee to access the bus (quite common in the Balkans).

The journey from Prizren to Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, winds through scenic hill country and ending in Pristina.

Arrival in Pristina

When you arrive in Pristina, it’s worth checking Skopje bus times and, if possible, secure a ticket before leaving the bus station.

There’s about a 15 minute walk to meet Bill Clinton who will be waving at you with some rather oversized hands in front of the Kurrizi Housing estate. You’ll also see plenty of street art.

It’s another 40 minutes or so further on to the centre. You could catch the number 7 bus to the centre from the bus stop or take a taxi direct to your hotel.

When you get to the centre, you’ll be ready for a coffee or maybe something stronger. Don’t miss Soma Book Station, my favourite place in Pristina. Once you’re refreshed, it will be time to see the main sites.

Pristina divides opinion, and that’s half its charm. It’s rough around the edges, full of contemporary art, bold sculptures, coffee culture, and buildings that spark debate. What it lacks in conventional beauty it makes up for in personality, energy, and friendliness. It’s a young capital looking forward, not back and surprisingly fun to explore.

For a more detailed run down of the main things to do in Pristina, I’ve written a full guide:

👉 Why You Should Visit Pristina: Kosovo’s Surprising Coffee-Fuelled Capital

For a traditional Kosovan evening meal, I would recommend Liburnia and if you want to head to a bar I suggest MIQT pub where you’ll find local craft ale and lager, plus raki and plenty more to drink. There’s also bar food if you’d prefer International dining, rather than traditional Kosovan food.

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Day 5: Pristina To Skopje

Bear Sanctuary and Graçanica Monastery

Do consider visiting the bear sanctuary and Graçanica Monastery which is close by. You’ll need to arrange this directly with the bear sanctuary.. They run scheduled tours where you’ll hear the bears’ rescue stories and learn about the sanctuary and their work. There’s no public transport to the sanctuary, so you’ll need to book a taxi. You could get your hotel to do this or use the E-taxi app (no Bolt or Uber but it works in the same way).

Your taxi driver could also take you to Graçanica Monastery, which is very close to the bear sanctuary. The 14th-century Serbian Orthodox monastery and UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most significant examples of Byzantine architecture in the Balkans.

Bus From Pristina to Skopje

If you take your bags with you, the taxi can drop you off at the bus stop, ready for your journey to Skopje.

Border Crossing Kosovo to North Macedonia

It’s a similar procedure as for your crossing into Kosovo.

Arrival in Skopje

If you’re arriving late, you may want to head straight for your hotel. If not, you could start sight-seeing. Checking out the statues and the areas either side of the river is a good place to start.

If you’d like a Macedonian feast, I thoroughly recommend Kuka. The entrance is down a shabby side street and you may wonder if it’s open and if I’m mad sending you here, but honestly, when you get inside, you’ll understand why I suggested it.

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Day 6: Skopje

Skopje is unforgettable in the best possible way: part Ottoman old town, part riverside cafés, part baroque-meets-Vegas surrealism with hundreds of statues. It’s quirky, confident, and far more interesting than first impressions suggest. Stay a few days. It rewards you once you scratch beneath the surface.

For a full rundown of the main things to do in Skopje, I’ve written a full guide:

👉 Best Things to Do in Skopje: Your Comprehensive Travel Guide to Europe’s Most Kitsch Capital

If you would like a guided walking tour, here are two options

• Skopje Old Town and Food Tasting
• Walking in Skopje

Evening in the Old Bazaar

The bazaar area is a great place to end the day, with many restaurants and bars. The Old Town Brewery is a popular spot to visit in the evening.

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Day 7: Skopje

Visit the Millennium Cross and Matka Canyon or Tetovo

Today is a good time to explore beyond the city. Taking a trip to the top of Mount Vodno to visit the Millennium Cross, the huge cross towering over Skopje, is a must. If you don’t want to walk there’s a cable car. I have written a full guide on how to do this by public bus.

👉 Visit the Millennium Cross and Mount Vodno from Skopje by Public Bus

Alternatively, you could take a guided tour and combine with a trip to the beautiful Matka Canyon and Etno village.

👉 Matka Canyon, Millennium Cross and Etno Village Tour

Another option is Tetovo and the stunning painted mosque. It’s a city on a picturesque river, with more than a few similarities with Prizren. They are both in the foothills of the Shaar mountains, but on the opposite side of the mountain range.

I have written a full guide:

👉 Visit the Painted Mosque in Tetovo From Skopje by Public Bus

Or alternatively you could take an organised to trip to Ohrid.

• Ohrid UNESCO Heritage: Full-Day Guided Tour from Skopje

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Budget Overview

Here are some approximate budget costs. I’ve excluded activity costs as these will very much depend on your individual choices.

Category	Details / Example Costs (per person)
🚌 Transport (Bus Fares)	• Tirana → Prizren – €15 (m-ticket) • Prizren → Pristina – €5 • Pristina → Skopje – €10 – €12 Total: ~€30 – €35 for the full route
🏨 Accommodation (Budget – Mid-range)	• Tirana: €25 – €50/night • Pristina: €20 – €45/night • Skopje: €25 – €55/night 1 week total: ~€150 – €300 depending on comfort level
🍽 Meals	• 3-course meal with wine or beer – €12 – €20 per person • Local cafés and bakeries – €3 – €5 for lunch or snack • Coffee – €1-2
🎟 Activities	Priced separately
✈️ Getting There / Flights	Airfares excluded. Both Tirana and Skopje are connected to London and major European cities by low-cost carriers (Wizz Air, Ryanair, etc.). Prices from ~£20 each way if flying personal-item only.

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How to Extend This Trip

Finishing in Skopje puts you right in the centre of the Balkans, with excellent onward connections in every direction. Here are a few easy ways to keep travelling – or to plan your next module in a longer Balkan adventure.

▶️ Head West – via Ohrid to Albania

• Take the bus from Skopje to Ohrid (around 3 hours).
• Ohrid is a beautiful lakeside town in North Macedonia, close to the Albanian border, perfect for a night or two.
• From there, cross back into Albania, returning to Tirana, or continue south to:
  • Berat and Gjirokastër – two UNESCO-listed towns with Ottoman charm.
  • The Albanian Riviera – beaches at Ksamil, Himarë, and Dhermi.
  • Ferry to Corfu (Greece) from Sarandë.
• Alternatively, travel north from Tirana to Shkodër and onwards into Montenegro, continuing up the Adriatic coast through Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Slovenia, and even Italy.

▶️ Head East – Bulgaria and Beyond

• Buses from Skopje to Sofia take around 4–5 hours.
• From Sofia you can loop through Bulgaria, visiting:
  • Plovdiv – colourful, creative, and full of Roman ruins.
  • Veliko Tarnovo – dramatic hilltop fortress and historic streets.
• This route connects easily to Romania via Ruse or Bucharest.

▶️ Head North – Into Serbia

• Buses to Niš take about 4 hours, and onward services continue to Belgrade.
• From Belgrade, it’s simple to reach Sarajevo, Mostar, or Banja Luka in Bosnia & Herzegovina, a great next step if you’re building a “Balkan loop” itinerary.

▶️ Head South – Greece

• Buses from Skopje to Thessaloniki take roughly 4 hours.
• From Thessaloniki you can continue to Athens, stopping at Meteora for its cliff-top monasteries, one of the most extraordinary sights in Greece and, in my opinion, the whole of Europe.

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Travelling from Tirana to Skopje via Kosovo is one of the easiest ways to experience three very different Balkan capitals in a single week, without rushing, without lengthy or expensive transport, and without complicated logistics. The route works beautifully for solo travellers, first-timers, and anyone curious about the region.

Each city offers something distinct: Tirana’s colour and creativity, Prizren’s postcard charm, Pristina’s coffee-fuelled buzz, and Skopje’s irresistible quirkiness. And because the distances are short, you spend more time exploring and less time sitting on buses.

Whether you use this itinerary exactly as written or adapt it into a longer Balkan loop, I hope it helps you plan a memorable trip. If you’d like more route ideas, packing tips, or overland itineraries, you’ll find plenty more on the blog. And you’re always welcome to subscribe for updates.

Safe travels, and enjoy the adventure.

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