Macedonia Travel Guide

Social Conventions

Handshaking is the common practice on introduction. Local business protocol is fairly informal, but things go very slowly or not at all owing to the local bureaucracy and the more recent general socio-economic collapse in the Republic.

International Travel

Getting There By Air

The national airline is Macedonian Airlines (MAT) (IN) (website: www.mat.com.mk).

Departure Tax

None.

Main Airports

Skopje (SKP) (website: www.airports.com.mk) is 17km (10.2 miles) from the city. To/from the airport: Taxis are available to the city center (journey time – 25 to 30 minutes). There is no airport shuttle bus. Facilities: Include duty-free shop, bar and restaurant, bank/bureau de change, baggage facilities, post office and car hire.

There is also an airport at Ohrid.

Getting There By Rail

Intercity trains operate between Skopje and Llubljana (Slovenia) and Belgrade (Serbia) via Niš. Trains also run between Skopje and Thessaloniki (Greece). An east to west railway is being constructed that will connect Macedonia with Bulgaria.

Rail Passes

InterRail: offers unlimited first- or second-class travel in up to 30 European countries for European residents of over six months with two pass options. The Global Pass allows travel for 22 days, one month, five days in 10 days or 10 days in 22 days across all countries. The One-Country Pass offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month in any of the countries except Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro. Travel is not allowed in the passenger’s country of residence. Travelers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children’s tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe (website: www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).

Getting There By Road

Car: The international highway E-75 runs north to south from Serbia to Greece. There are also good road links to Bulgaria and Albania.

Bus: The international bus station in Skopje serves buses destined for Tirana (Albania), Sofia (Bulgaria), Belgrade (Serbia) and Istanbul (Turkey), and buses to Germany. A number of bus lines that are frequent and relatively inexpensive connect Macedonia with its neighboring countries and other European cities.

Duty Free

Overview

The following goods may be imported into Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic) without incurring customs duty:

• One box of cigarettes.
• One bottle of alcohol.
• Gifts to the value of €30.70.

Internal Travel

Getting Around By Air

There are no regularly scheduled domestic flights - however, there are occasional flights between Ohrid and Skopje.

Getting Around By Rail

Makedonski Zeleznici (tel: (2) 3118 177; website: http://www.mz.com.mk/) operates rail links from Skopje to Kumanovo in the north, to Stip in the east, to Veles and Gevgelija in the south, and to Prilep and Bitola in the southwest .

Rail Passes

InterRail One-Country Pass: offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic). Travel is not allowed in the passenger’s country of residence. Travelers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children’s tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe (website: www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).

Getting Around By Road

Buses: The bus network in Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic) is well developed with frequent services from Skopje to Ohrid and Bitola. Long-distance buses need to be booked well in advance.