North Macedonia & Kosovo Tour From Tirana: A 2-Day Review
So, the thought of covering two countries in just two days from Tirana sounds pretty exciting, right? I mean, North Macedonia and Kosovo are right there, so close, yet they feel like completely different worlds in a way. We were honestly curious if a short tour like this could really give you a feel for these places or if it would just be a big rush. As a matter of fact, we decided to find out for ourselves what this quick-fire tour is all about. Basically, this isn’t just a schedule; it’s our honest take on the experience, filled with little things we noticed along the way. You know, we wanted to share a genuine look at what to expect, from the early morning start to the very long ride home. It’s pretty much for anyone wondering if squeezing so much into 48 hours is a brilliant idea or just a little too much, you know.
Day 1: The Drive to Ohrid and Its Lakeside Charm
Alright, so you have to be ready for an early start from Tirana, like, really early. The minivan usually shows up when the city is still kind of sleepy and quiet, which is actually a nice way to begin. The drive itself is sort of a cool part of the experience, honestly. You see, the Albanian scenery slowly changes as you get closer to the border, with mountains that just seem to pop up out of nowhere. Actually, the border crossing into North Macedonia was surprisingly simple and quick for us. You just hand over your passport, get a new stamp, and like that, you are in another country. It’s a bit of a surreal feeling, to be honest. Then, you continue the drive for a little while longer through some more pretty amazing landscapes.
Well, the moment you first catch sight of Lake Ohrid is really something special. It’s this massive body of deep blue water, surrounded by hills, and it just kind of takes you by surprise, you know. Our guide, a really friendly local guy, took us straight to the old town, a place with these incredible cobblestone streets that are sort of a workout for your ankles. We spent the afternoon just walking around. We went up to Samuel’s Fortress, which is more or less a big collection of old walls, but the view from the top is absolutely worth the climb. From up there, you can literally see the whole town and the giant lake spreading out below. It’s like a postcard, seriously. You can see all the little houses with their unique red roofs and the famous Church of St. John at Kaneo, which just sits on a cliff overlooking the water. It’s pretty much one of the most photographed spots in the country, and for good reason.
As evening came, the whole atmosphere of the town changed, you know. The lakeside promenade got a little busier with families and couples just out for a walk. We basically found a small restaurant by the water and had some local fish, which was extremely fresh and tasty. There is a very relaxed feeling to Ohrid, in a way that makes you wish you had a bit more time.
Seriously, you could probably spend a whole week just relaxing by this lake and not get bored. At the end of the day, it’s a place that just invites you to slow down.
The overnight stay was in a small, family-run hotel that was simple but very clean and welcoming. Honestly, falling asleep with the window open and hearing the faint sounds from the lake was a perfect end to the first day of the trip.
Day 2 Morning: Skopje’s Unique and Grandiose Center
So, the next morning was another early one, as you might expect on a tour like this. We left Ohrid pretty much right after breakfast for the drive to Skopje, North Macedonia’s capital. The journey itself takes a few hours, but the roads are decent and you pass through some more really interesting countryside. I mean, you can just sit back and watch the world go by. Arriving in Skopje is a slightly jarring experience, to be honest. You go from quiet countryside to this city that has a very, very unusual look. The government, a while back, started this project to build hundreds of statues and huge, new-classical buildings all over the city center, and the result is… well, it’s a lot to take in.
Our guide gave us a quick walking tour, which is basically the only way to do it with limited time. We started at the massive Macedonia Square, where there’s this gigantic statue of Alexander the Great on his horse that you really can’t miss. From there, you just see statues everywhere—heroes, saints, and historical figures, some of them are huge, and others are just sort of tucked into corners. It’s almost like an open-air museum, in a way. We then walked across the old Stone Bridge, which has been there for centuries and feels like a connection to the city’s real past. On the other side is the Old Bazaar, and it’s like stepping into a completely different place. It has this fantastic Ottoman character, with narrow lanes, little shops selling crafts, and cafes where old men sit and drink strong coffee. The smells of grilling meat and spices are everywhere, you know. We pretty much had only enough time to grab a quick and delicious kebab for lunch before we had to get back on the road.
We also did a quick stop at the Mother Teresa Memorial House, which is built on the site of the church where she was baptized. It’s a very unique building, sort of a mix of modern and traditional styles. Inside, it’s a quiet and simple museum dedicated to her life and work. At the end of the day, Skopje is a city of wild contrasts. You have this brand-new, almost fantasy-like center sitting right next to a historic bazaar that feels ancient. Honestly, you need more than a couple of hours to process it all, but you definitely get a powerful first impression.
Day 2 Afternoon: Prizren, Kosovo’s Cultural Heart
Okay, so after the whirlwind tour of Skopje, it was back in the minivan for the next leg of the trip. The drive to the Kosovo border was fairly short, and again, the crossing was more or less straightforward. I mean, seeing the signs change and getting yet another passport stamp is kind of a thrill. Our final stop for the day was Prizren, which our guide said was the cultural capital of Kosovo. And honestly, as soon as we arrived, we could sort of see why. Unlike the grand, theatrical feel of Skopje, Prizren just feels more authentic and lived-in. It’s an extremely charming town, with a river running right through its center and a beautiful old stone bridge connecting both sides.
The town is full of beautiful mosques, like the Sinan Pasha Mosque, which you can see from almost anywhere in the old town. The call to prayer echoing through the valley was a very powerful sound, actually. We spent our time there just walking along the river, looking at the little shops, and soaking up the atmosphere. It’s a very youthful place, in a way. The cafes were packed with young people just chatting and enjoying the afternoon. The main thing to do here, if you have the energy left, is to make the steep walk up the hill to the Prizren Fortress. It’s a bit of a climb, for sure, but the panoramic view from the top is totally worth it. You can see the whole city, the river winding through it, and the mountains that surround the valley. It’s a perfect spot to take it all in.
By this point in the day, you’re definitely starting to feel the fast pace of the tour. We grabbed a quick coffee in one of the busy cafes, which was a nice little break. To be honest, Prizren felt like a place where you could easily spend a couple of days just exploring its hidden corners and enjoying its relaxed vibe. It has a charm that is really hard to describe. But, as with the other stops, our time was short. As the sun began to set, we knew we had a very, very long drive back to Tirana ahead of us, so we had to say goodbye to this lovely town.
An Honest Look: Is This 2-Day Tour Right for You?
So, after two long days and a lot of driving, we finally got back to Tirana late at night, feeling pretty tired but also like we had seen a lot. The big question is, was it worth it? And the honest answer is, well, it depends on what you’re looking for. This tour is pretty much an amazing highlights reel. It gives you a small taste of three incredible places—Ohrid, Skopje, and Prizren—that you would probably not see otherwise on a short trip to Albania. You know, you get the passport stamps, you take the photos, and you can say you have been to North Macedonia and Kosovo. It’s incredibly efficient in that way.
On the other hand, you have to be really clear about what this tour is not. It’s not a deep exploration of these cultures. You will spend a significant amount of your time sitting in a vehicle. Actually, the travel time between places is a big part of the experience. You only get a few hours in each city, which is just enough to see the main sights and get a general feeling for the place. You won’t really have time for long, leisurely meals or for just getting lost in the backstreets, you know. It’s very much a “point and shoot” kind of trip—you get there, you see the main attractions, and then you move on. So, you have to be prepared for that fast pace.
Here’s a simple way to think about it, basically:
- You’ll probably love this tour if: You are really short on time but want to see as much as possible. You enjoy road trips and seeing changing landscapes. You just want a quick introduction to these countries to see if you’d like to come back for a longer visit one day. Honestly, it’s perfect for ticking boxes.
- You might want to skip it if: You are a traveler who likes to take things slow and really soak in a place. You hate long car rides. You want the freedom to explore on your own schedule and discover things spontaneously. In that case, you might be better off just picking one of these places and spending a few days there.
At the end of the day, we were glad we did it. It was a whirlwind adventure that gave us some really great memories and a new appreciation for this part of the Balkans. It’s just important to go in with the right expectations, you know.
Read our full review: North Macedonia and Kosovo Tour Full Review and Details
See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Balkan 2 Day Tour)
