Skopje Public Transport – How to Get Around by Bus

Getting around Skopje by public transport is relatively straightforward once you understand how the system works – but that wasn’t necessarily how it felt when I first arrived!

When I visited Skopje in 2017, we used the local buses to get around the city and to visit two of the most popular attractions outside the centre – Matka Canyon and the Millennium Cross.

The buses themselves were easy enough to use, but working out where to buy tickets, which bus we needed and where it left from took a little more effort.

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Thankfully, things have become easier since then, particularly with the introduction of the SkopjeBus app.

While my personal experience of using Skopje public transport comes from that 2017 trip, I’ve updated this guide with current information for 2026, including how to pay for buses, where to find current timetables and how to get to Matka Canyon and the Millennium Cross.

Routes, fares and timetables can change, so I recommend checking the official Skopje public transport information before travelling.

How Public Transport Works in Skopje

Public transport in Skopje is primarily based around buses, operated by JSP Skopje. There’s no metro or tram system, so for most visitors wanting to travel beyond the city centre, buses are the main public transport option.

Many of Skopje’s central sights are within walking distance of each other, so you may not need to use public transport much while sightseeing in the centre. Where the buses become particularly useful for visitors is getting to places further out, including Matka Canyon and the Millennium Cross.

The main Transport Centre, next to Skopje Railway Station, is an important starting point for many routes and is where we caught buses during our visit.

How to Pay for Skopje Buses

When I visited Skopje, working out how to pay for the bus was probably the most confusing part of using public transport. We knew we needed a transport card, but finding somewhere to buy one took some effort.

Thankfully, it’s easier now.

SkopjeBus App

For most visitors, the easiest option is likely to be the SkopjeBus app. You can buy tickets in the app using a debit or credit card and receive a QR code, which you scan on the validator when you board the bus.

The current SkopjeBus app was introduced in 2024, replacing the older Skopska app, so make sure you download the correct one.

Skopje Smart Card

You can also use a reusable Skopje public transport Smart Card. These can be purchased and topped up at JSP Skopje sales locations around the city.

This was how we travelled when we visited in 2017. At the time, simply finding somewhere to buy the card was an adventure in itself! We eventually bought ours from a small booth near the centre after unsuccessfully trying several other places.

For a short visit to Skopje, I’d try the app first rather than spending time looking for somewhere to buy a physical card.

Can You Pay on the Bus?

There are mobile phone payment options available, but these aren’t necessarily the most convenient choice for international visitors.

I wouldn’t rely on being able to simply board a bus and pay the driver with cash. Have your ticket or payment method sorted before you travel, particularly if you’re heading out to Matka Canyon or another attraction outside central Skopje.

How Much Does Public Transport Cost in Skopje?

Public transport in Skopje is inexpensive. At the time of writing, a single bus journey costs 40 MKD – less than AUD $1.

There are also other ticket and pass options available, particularly if you’re going to be using the buses regularly during your stay.

Rather than relying on prices listed here, I recommend checking the current fares in the SkopjeBus app or on the JSP Skopje website before your trip.

For most visitors who are only using the bus occasionally, a single-ride ticket will probably be all you need.

Getting from Skopje Airport to the City by Bus

If you’re arriving at Skopje International Airport, there is a dedicated airport shuttle bus connecting the airport with several stops in Skopje.

This is separate from the regular JSP Skopje bus network. At the time of writing, a one-way ticket costs 199 MKD (around AUD $6).

The shuttle timetable is arranged around arriving and departing flights rather than running to a simple regular schedule, so check the current timetable before you travel.

The service stops at several key locations in Skopje, making it a useful and inexpensive way to get between the airport and the city without taking a taxi.

For your return journey, check the airport shuttle timetable in advance and allow plenty of time to reach the airport, rather than relying on the regular city bus information in the SkopjeBus app.

Using the SkopjeBus App and Finding Your Bus

The SkopjeBus app is useful for more than just buying tickets. It also includes a journey planner to help you work out which bus to catch and where to board.

Search for your destination and the app will show you possible routes, with the quickest options listed first. You can also select individual bus stops to see which routes use them and save stops you use regularly as favourites.

You don’t need to create an account to use the journey planner, although you will need one if you want to buy tickets through the app.

Current timetables are also available on the JSP Skopje website. I recommend checking them on the day you’re travelling rather than relying on a timetable you’ve found elsewhere online – particularly for less frequent routes.

This is one area where getting around Skopje has become much easier since my visit. In 2017, we did quite a bit of searching online and asking around to work out exactly where our buses departed from.

Skopje to Matka Canyon by Bus

One of the most useful bus routes for visitors to Skopje is bus 60, which runs between the Transport Centre and Matka Canyon.

This is the bus we used when we visited Matka Canyon, and it made for a very inexpensive day trip from Skopje without needing to book a tour or organise a taxi.

We caught the bus from the Transport Centre near the railway station. The journey took us out through the suburbs and surrounding countryside before arriving at Matka.

Bus 60 doesn’t run as frequently as many of the city buses, so this is one trip where I would definitely plan ahead. Check the current timetable on the JSP Skopje website or in the SkopjeBus app before leaving, and take particular note of the return buses from Matka.

When we visited, we caught an early bus out to Matka and had plenty of time to explore before returning to Skopje later in the day. Matka Canyon is well worth allowing several hours for, especially if you want to walk along the canyon or take one of the boat trips.

Tip: Check the return timetable before you start exploring Matka Canyon. With relatively long gaps between some services, missing the bus you planned to catch could mean quite a wait for the next one.

Prefer a tour? Click here for a Matka Canyon tour including transfers and boat ride.

Getting to the Millennium Cross by Bus from Skopje

Another useful route for visitors is bus 25, which runs from the Transport Centre to Sredno Vodno (Middle Vodno), on the slopes of Mount Vodno.

This is the bus we used when we visited the Millennium Cross. From Sredno Vodno, the usual way to continue to the top of the mountain is by cable car.

The bus ride itself was straightforward, and the stop at Sredno Vodno is also a starting point for walking trails on Mount Vodno.

A Note About the Vodno Cable Car

The Vodno cable car has experienced a number of closures for maintenance and technical work during 2026. If you’re planning to use it to reach the Millennium Cross, check its current operating status with JSP Skopje before setting out.

Even when operating normally, the cable car closes for regular maintenance on Mondays and on the last Tuesday of each month, and operating hours vary during the year.

Bus 25 can still get you as far as Sredno Vodno, but don’t assume the cable car will be running when you arrive.

Tip: Check both the bus 25 timetable and the cable car status on the day you plan to visit.

Changed your mind about taking the bus? If you’d prefer someone else to organise the transport, this Matka Canyon and Mount Vodno tour visits both without having to work out the buses yourself.

Other Places to Visit by Bus in Skopje

Matka Canyon and Mount Vodno are probably the two places visitors are most likely to use public transport to reach, but they aren’t the only reasons to jump on a bus.

You could also head out to Šuto Orizari (Šutka), a predominantly Roma municipality known for its large market and very different feel from central Skopje.

f you’re interested in architecture, buses can also help you explore some of Skopje’s distinctive brutalist buildings, many of which sit outside the compact tourist centre.

Skopje’s buses also make it possible to explore residential neighbourhoods and parts of the city most visitors never see.

Rather than listing individual routes here, use the SkopjeBus journey planner to find the best option from wherever you’re staying, as routes and timetables can change.

Tips for Using Public Transport in Skopje

If you’re planning to use the buses while you’re in Skopje, these are the main things to know:

• Download the SkopjeBus app – you can use it to plan journeys and buy tickets.
• Check timetables before you leave – particularly for less frequent services such as bus 60 to Matka Canyon.
• Check your return bus too – don’t arrive at Matka and only then discover there’s a long wait for the next bus back.
• Don’t rely on paying the driver with cash – have your ticket or payment method sorted before boarding.
• Use the Transport Centre as a reference point – both bus 60 to Matka and bus 25 to Sredno Vodno leave from here.
• Check the Vodno cable car separately – bus 25 may be running even when the cable car to the Millennium Cross isn’t.
• Allow some flexibility – routes, timetables and operating conditions can change, so check the latest information on the day you’re travelling.

Is Skopje Public Transport Easy to Use?

Skopje’s public transport system can seem a little confusing at first, but once you’ve worked out how to pay and which bus you need, getting around is relatively straightforward.

You may not need the buses much while exploring central Skopje, but they are particularly useful for getting further afield.

We used them to visit both Matka Canyon and the Millennium Cross, and they were an inexpensive way to see more without needing a car or joining a tour.

With the SkopjeBus app now making it easier to plan routes and buy tickets, using public transport should be simpler than it was when I visited.

Just remember to check the latest timetable before setting out – particularly if you’re heading somewhere with less frequent services – and Skopje’s buses can be a very useful part of your visit.

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