When you land at Skopje Alexander the Great Airport, the question is simple: rent a car, or rely on taxis? The answer depends on what you plan to do, how many people are travelling, and how much your time is worth. This guide runs the real numbers for a typical 7-day trip to North Macedonia.
The Baseline Comparison
Most travellers staying in Skopje for a week will make some combination of these trips:
- Airport to city hotel (17 km each way)
- Two or three dinners outside the city center
- A day trip to Ohrid (175 km each way)
- A day trip to Mavrovo or Matka Canyon (50–70 km each way)
- General city transport
Let us put costs to each of these.
Taxi Costs for a Week in Skopje
Airport transfers
A standard metered taxi from Skopje Airport to the city center costs 1,200–1,800 MKD (€20–30) depending on traffic and the driver. Round trip: €40–60.
App-based services (InDriver, Bolt) occasionally undercut this by 15–25%, but pickup at the airport is not always smooth — the designated app pickup point is not well signed.
City taxis
Within Skopje, short hops (2–5 km) cost €2–4. Longer rides across the city (8–10 km) run €5–8. For three days of evening use and a few afternoon rides, budget €30–50.
Day trip to Ohrid
This is where taxis become impractical. The drive is 175 km each way. A taxi for this round trip will cost €120–180 depending on waiting time. Shared minibuses (kombi) run for around €8–10 each way but depart on fixed schedules and drop you at Ohrid bus station, not your lakeside destination.
Day trip to Mavrovo or Matka
A taxi from Skopje to Matka Canyon costs around €15–20 one way. A return trip with 2–3 hours waiting time will cost €50–70. For Mavrovo (70 km), expect €80–120 return with waiting.
Total taxi cost estimate for a 7-day trip
| Journey | Cost |
|---|---|
| Airport return transfers | €50 |
| City taxis (3 days, multiple rides) | €40 |
| Ohrid day trip | €150 |
| Mavrovo or Matka | €70 |
| Total | €310 |
This is a conservative estimate. With any additional rides or a second day trip, costs climb past €400.
Car Rental Costs for a Week in Skopje
Vehicle rental
An economy car (Seat Ibiza, VW Polo, or similar) with Relax Rent a Car starts from €55 per day. For 7 days, that is €385 before any discounts. Online bookings receive a 10% discount, bringing the total to €346.50.
A weekly package rate further reduces this. Economy weekly rate: €280 total — that is 40% less than daily billing.
Fuel
North Macedonia uses 95-octane petrol at around €1.30–1.40 per litre as of 2026. A small economy car (5–6 l/100 km) covering 600 km over the week uses around 33–36 litres — approximately €45–50 in fuel.
Motorway tolls
The A1 motorway from the airport has one toll: 40 MKD (€0.65). The toll from Skopje to Ohrid via the A2/A3 motorway is around €3.50 each way — €7 return. Total for the week: roughly €10.
Parking
City center parking in Skopje is €0.30–0.50 per hour in metered zones. Expect to pay €5–8 over the week for parking during city visits. Most hotels and restaurants outside the immediate center have free parking.
Car rental total estimate for a 7-day trip
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Weekly economy rental | €280 |
| Fuel (600 km, economy car) | €48 |
| Motorway tolls | €10 |
| City parking | €8 |
| Total | €346 |
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Taxi | Car Rental | |
|---|---|---|
| 7-day total cost | ~€310–400+ | ~€346 |
| Airport transfer | €50 | Included (drive yourself) |
| Ohrid day trip | €150 | €20 in fuel |
| Mavrovo/Matka | €70 | €15 in fuel |
| Flexibility | Low | Full |
| Late-night availability | Unreliable | 24/7 |
| Luggage handling | Depending on driver | Your own boot |
The headline numbers look similar, but the taxi estimate assumes you find taxis efficiently for every trip. The rental estimate assumes you book in advance and use the weekly rate.
Where Car Rental Clearly Wins
If you visit Ohrid
This is the deciding factor for most travellers. An Ohrid day trip by taxi will cost €120–180 for a single passenger and barely less for two. The same trip in a rental car costs about €20 in fuel. The rental pays for itself on this trip alone.
If you travel with family or a group
A taxi holds 4 passengers, maximum. A 7-seater van rental from Relax Rent a Car is €75–85 per day — less than the cost of one group taxi to Ohrid. Split between 5–7 people, the per-person cost is negligible.
If you have an early morning flight or a late arrival
Taxis are available 24/7 at Skopje Airport, but at peak hours the queue is long, and drivers occasionally refuse short rides. A rental car is waiting for you the moment you land, regardless of time.
If you want to explore beyond the main routes
Matka Canyon, Popova Sapka ski resort, Pelister National Park, the Tikves wine region, the Via Egnatia archaeological sites — none of these are practical by taxi. A car opens North Macedonia properly.
Where Taxi or Public Transport Makes Sense
Short city breaks (1–2 nights, Skopje only)
If you are in Skopje for one or two nights, staying near the center, and have no plans to leave the city, a car creates more logistical overhead than it saves. Park in the right zone, drive unfamiliar streets, navigate one-way systems — for 36 hours, it may not be worth it. Taxis and Bolt are the better choice.
Business trips
A single traveller on a tight itinerary — hotel, meeting, hotel, airport — is usually better served by a private transfer or taxi. No need to navigate an unfamiliar city in rental car.
Practical Advice Before You Decide
Book the rental in advance. Last-minute availability at the airport is not guaranteed, especially in July and August when the fleet is typically 80–90% occupied. Reserve your car online and the vehicle will be waiting at the arrivals hall.
Check what insurance is included. Our standard rate includes third-party liability. CDW (collision damage waiver) with a €200 excess is €7/day extra. Full zero-excess coverage is €15/day. Factor this into your cost comparison.
Driving in North Macedonia is straightforward. The main roads are in good condition. Traffic outside Skopje is light. Speed limits are posted in km/h and GPS navigation works reliably throughout the country. The complete rules are covered in our North Macedonia driving guide.
An international driving licence is not required for EU and UK licence holders. A standard full driving licence is accepted. For requirements by country, see our driving licence guide.
The Verdict
For any trip longer than 2 nights that includes even one excursion outside Skopje, car rental is cheaper than taxis and significantly more convenient. The break-even point is roughly the cost of a return Ohrid taxi — a single day trip by rental car reclaims the entire week's rental fee in taxi savings.
The only scenario where taxis consistently win is a pure city stay of 1–2 nights with no planned excursions. In every other configuration, renting a car at Skopje Airport is the financially rational choice — and the one that gives you actual freedom to explore North Macedonia.
