One-Way Car Rental Skopje to Ohrid: Fees & How It Works

Yes — one-way car rental from Skopje to Ohrid is available. Pick up in Skopje and drop off in Ohrid (or the reverse) for a one-way fee of €100–€110, depending on which pickup and drop-off points you choose. The fee is charged per leg and shown before you confirm the booking, so there's no surprise at handover.

One-way service is only available between our six locations: Skopje Airport (SKP), Skopje City Centre, Ohrid Airport (OHD), Ohrid City Centre, Prishtina Airport (PRN), and Thessaloniki Airport (SKG). Here is everything you need to know about the Skopje–Ohrid one-way route, the exact fees, and how to book it — plus a round-trip alternative if you'd rather bring the car back yourself.

The Skopje–Ohrid Route

Distance: 170 km by road Driving time: 2.5–3 hours (A2 highway via Tetovo and Gostivar) Road quality: Excellent on the A2 motorway section (Skopje–Gostivar), good paved road from Kičevo to Ohrid with mountain section Fuel cost (economy car): approximately €14 one way

The drive itself is one of North Macedonia's best — the A2 cuts through the Šar Mountains and the Mavrovo region before descending into the valley above Lake Ohrid. Many travellers make planned stops along the way to turn the transfer into part of the holiday.

Recommended Stops on the Skopje–Ohrid Drive

Tetovo (45 min from Skopje) — The Colourful Mosque (Šarena Džamija) is one of the Balkans' most striking examples of Ottoman architecture. Stop for 20 minutes and continue.

Mavrovo Lake Viewpoint (90 min from Skopje) — The artificial lake with its partially submerged church of St. Nicholas is a classic North Macedonia photograph. Short detour from the main road.

Duf Waterfall, Mavrovo (100 min from Skopje) — 30-minute walk through forest to a scenic waterfall. Best in spring and early summer.

Kičevo town — The last significant fuel stop before the mountain descent to Ohrid. Fill up here if below half a tank.

Ohrid descent viewpoint — The road drops dramatically toward the lake with views that stop most drivers in their tracks. Park safely and take it in.

The Four Skopje–Ohrid One-Way Combinations

Each of our six locations charges its own fee per leg. A one-way rental adds the pickup location's fee to the drop-off location's fee. For Skopje–Ohrid specifically:

The same table works in reverse — Ohrid to Skopje costs the same as Skopje to Ohrid, since the fee is per leg regardless of direction. Skopje City Centre is the cheaper pickup point (€0 leg fee) since it carries no surcharge; Skopje Airport adds €10. Ohrid's leg fee is €100 whether you pick up or drop off at the airport or the city centre.

This is on top of the vehicle's daily rental rate — the one-way fee only covers the relocation, not the days you drive.

How One-Way Booking Works

1. Choose your pickup and drop-off locations separately when booking — select Skopje (Airport or City Centre) as pickup and Ohrid (Airport or City Centre) as drop-off, or the reverse.
2. The one-way fee is calculated automatically from the table above and shown in your quote total before you confirm.
3. Pick up as normal — meet-and-greet at Skopje Airport, or hotel/office handover at Skopje City Centre.
4. Drive the 170 km route to Ohrid on unlimited mileage — no restriction on how you get there.
5. Drop off at the Ohrid location you selected — we or our local partner handle the vehicle from there; you don't need to drive it back.

Returning outside business hours: We can arrange a key-drop procedure if you are dropping off the vehicle late at night. This is commonly used by travellers with early morning flights out of Ohrid.

Ohrid Airport (OHD)

Ohrid Airport (near Struga, 12 km from Ohrid town) operates seasonal flights, primarily in summer. If your trip ends at Ohrid Airport, select it as your drop-off location — the €100 Ohrid leg fee applies the same as Ohrid City Centre.

See our Ohrid Airport car rental guide for the full seasonal flight schedule and pickup arrangements at OHD.

Round-Trip Alternative

If you'd rather avoid the one-way fee entirely, a round trip works too: rent in Skopje, drive to Ohrid and back (or the reverse) on unlimited mileage, and return the car to the same location you collected it from — no relocation fee at all. This suits travellers whose flights land and depart from the same city.

Round-Trip Itinerary Ideas

Skopje-based, with an Ohrid excursion:

• Day 1–2: Skopje (arrive SKP, pick up car)
• Day 3: Drive to Ohrid via Mavrovo National Park
• Day 4–6: Ohrid, Lake Ohrid, St. Naum
• Day 7: Drive back to Skopje via the same route, return the car, fly out from SKP

Ohrid-based trip:

• Arrive at Ohrid Airport (summer) or drive in from Skopje
• Pick up the car at an Ohrid location
• Explore Ohrid, Lake Ohrid, and Galičica National Park at your own pace
• Return the car at the same Ohrid location before departure

Extended Balkan loop (returns to origin):

• Pick up in Skopje
• Drive south via Bitola, Prespa Lake, Ohrid
• Continue to Albania if you like (with a Green Card) and loop back
• Drive back to Skopje and return the car where you started

Pricing for the Skopje–Ohrid Route

Vehicle rental rate: the same daily/weekly pricing calendar applies regardless of how far you drive — rates start from €22/day for the cheapest category in low season. Longer bookings work out cheaper per day: for example, the Rifter starts at €80/day for a single day but drops to around €50/day on a 30-day rental.

One-way fee: €100–€110 for Skopje–Ohrid, depending on the exact pickup/drop-off combination (see the table above) — charged once, on top of the vehicle rate. Round trip instead: no drop-off or relocation fee at all, since the car is returned to its pickup location; unlimited mileage is included either way.

Extras — GPS, child seat, and insurance upgrades are priced the same regardless of your route. If you plan to continue into Albania, a Green Card is required: €50/rental for Zone 1 or €80/rental for Zone 2, depending on coverage.

Practical Tips for This Route

1. Decide between one-way and round trip before booking If your flights land in one city and leave from another, book one-way (Skopje pickup, Ohrid drop-off, or the reverse) and pay the €100–€110 fee. If you're flying in and out of the same city, book a round trip instead and skip the fee entirely — just plan your driving days around getting the car back to its starting point in time.

2. Fuel up before you return the car Our full-to-full fuel policy applies. Fill up at a station near your return location before handing back the keys. The Makpetrol on the main road into Ohrid works well if you're returning there.

3. Plan for the mountain section The Kičevo–Ohrid stretch climbs through a mountain pass before descending sharply to the lake. Allow extra time here compared to the motorway section. In winter, check road conditions before departure — the pass can have snow or ice even when Skopje and Ohrid are clear. See our winter driving guide for winter-specific tips.

4. Cross-border side trips are fine — just come back If your itinerary includes a cross-border detour — for example, Skopje → Ohrid → Albania — inform us when booking so Green Card documentation is in the rental papers. The car still needs to return to its original North Macedonia pickup point. See our cross-border driving guide.

5. Document the vehicle at pickup and return Take photos of the vehicle when you collect it and again when you bring it back. This protects both parties in the event of any dispute about pre-existing damage.

Skopje Airport to Ohrid: The Drive

For travellers starting at Skopje Airport:

1. Land at SKP — arrivals hall, collect luggage
2. Meet our driver — we wait in the arrivals hall with a name sign, or meet at the designated parking area
3. Vehicle handover — inspect together, sign rental agreement (10 minutes)
4. Drive A1 south to Veles (40 min), then A2 west toward Tetovo
5. Continue A2 through Tetovo–Gostivar — good motorway, speed limit 130 km/h
6. Kičevo — optional fuel stop, then begin the mountain section
7. Descent to Lake Ohrid — follow signs to Ohrid via Struga
8. Arrive Ohrid (2.5–3 hours total depending on stops)

When your stay is over, either drop the car off at your chosen Ohrid location (one-way, €100–€110 fee) or retrace the same route back to Skopje and return the car where you picked it up (round trip, no fee).

Getting to Ohrid: Your Options

For any stay of 3+ days, a car rental wins on total value and flexibility — especially for groups where the car cost is shared, since you set your own schedule for stops along the route. Round trip if your flights match; one-way if they don't.

Contact us with questions, or use the booking form to get a quote for your dates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Relax Rent a Car offer one-way rentals between Skopje and Ohrid? Yes. Pick up in Skopje (Airport or City Centre) and drop off in Ohrid (Airport or City Centre), or the reverse. The one-way fee is €100–€110 depending on the combination — see the fee table above.

Can I still drive from Skopje to Ohrid and explore both areas on a round trip? Yes. Unlimited mileage is included on every rental, so you can drive the full 170 km route, stop at Tetovo, Mavrovo, and the Ohrid descent viewpoint along the way, and spend as long as you like at the lake — bring the car back to where you picked it up and pay no relocation fee.

Can I pick up the car in Ohrid instead of Skopje? Yes. Rent directly at an Ohrid location (Ohrid City Centre or Ohrid Airport in summer) and either return it there (no fee) or drop it off in Skopje one-way (€100–€110).

Is there an extra charge for driving the full route to Ohrid and back on a round trip? No. Rental rates are the same regardless of how far you drive, mileage is unlimited, and the only route-related cost is fuel. The one-way fee only applies if pickup and drop-off are different locations.

Can I cross into Albania during my Ohrid stay? Yes, with a Green Card (€50/rental for Zone 1, €80/rental for Zone 2, depending on coverage) arranged in advance. The car still needs to come back to your original North Macedonia pickup point at the end of the rental.

Ready to book? Reserve online for the published rate, or view our fleet to choose your vehicle.

Related: Ohrid Airport car rental guide | Skopje Airport pickup guide | Best time to visit Ohrid | Lake Ohrid road trip itinerary | Cross-border driving guide