Skopje is generally very walkable, especially the area around the town's historic center and the areas to the west, northwest, and north, about a mile or two out from the famous bridges connecting both sides of the Vardar River.

Many of Skopje's major sights, like Macedonia Square, the Stone Bridge, the Old Bazaar, and Skopje Fortress (Kale), are clustered within or adjacent to the city center, making it easy for tourists to move between them on foot. Macedonia Square and the surrounding areas have broad pedestrian walkways and are often bustling with locals and tourists, giving it a lively atmosphere with cafés, statues, and fountains along the way.

Note: The path to Skopje Fortress (Kale) can be steep, so those who have some issues with ascending or descending inclines might wish to see these sights in the presence of others who will be able to help if you need assistance. Also, outside of these touristed zones (to the north and west of Macedonia Park for example), traffic flow can be alarming to a first-time or even seasoned visitor. We recommend sticking to safer areas like the ones just outlined for walking, and to use public or private transport for traversing longer distances or to high-traffic areas like the Skopje City Mall.

Buses are the main public transportation option in Skopje, operated by the company JSP Skopje (www.jsp.com.mk). Across the network, there are 39 bus lines, of which a few will be of note for visitors. Buses are red in color, with bus lines like 5 and 15, which go through the historic center, running double-decker stock similar to London. These buses are domed and allow tourists and locals to enjoy the scenery with a 360-degree view as it passes by.

Buses run from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., with the schedule starting at 5:30 a.m. on Sundays. Four bus routes run overnight, including #5, one of the routes that will be of use to tourists. Your best bet will be to purchase a Skopska card, which can be refilled at kiosks or through the JSP - On the Go app. The card costs about 150 denari (approx. $2.50-$3) and includes three rides to start, discounted to 35 denari per ride. (The normal ticket price without this reloadable card is 40 denari during the day and 50 denari overnight.) When reloading, Skopska cardholders will get discounted rates per ride, including nighttime, discounted to 40 denari from 50. If you only want a day pass, that particular card can be purchased for 120 denari, or about $2.50.

Bus Routes of Note for Visitors:

Route 5: Route 5 stops at six different places within the historic center, leaving you within blocks of any sight in this area. Stops include Macedonia Square, Green Market, Boulevard Kocho Racin, and Skopje train station. This is also one of four routes in the network that run a limited overnight service.
Route 15: Route 15 has a different route and fewer stops but also runs within the historic center. Boulevard Kuzman Josifovski Pitu, on the other side of the Vero Shopping Center moving north-south from Novo Lisiche (the residential area that is the terminus of both Routes 5 and 15).
Route 25: Route 25 connects the city center with Sredno Vodno, a popular starting point for the cable car to the Millennium Cross.
Route 60: Route 60 runs to Matka Canyon, a must-see natural attraction outside the city, though some tourists might prefer a taxi or Bolt for direct access.

Unlike other cities, the taxi industry is not heavily regulated. All taxis must conduct their rides using meters and have credentials placed on the windshield for passengers to clearly see, but companies are not beholden to charging a set amount across the board, nor do they have to paint their liveries a certain color (both white and yellow are used here). While more loosely regulated than other places, you can tell a real taxi in Skopje by the yellow-and-black light on their roof that says TAXI. Only regulated cabs are allowed to operate using those lights.

Global Taxi (+389 70 515 180, www.taxiglobal.mk) and Wizi MK (+389 2 277 6800, formerly called Cammeo) come highly recommended for those who need to get around Skopje safely and quickly. Flagfall is around 50 denari or even slightly higher (around $1), with each kilometer priced around 30 or 40 denari (approx. $0.60-$0.70). Waiting time is significantly more expensive, but still affordable by Western standards: you can pay as much as 500 denari for an hour of time a taxi waits for you, but this is still under €10 (approx. $11) with the exchange rate. Expect marginal increases from taxi companies for trips at night or on public holidays.

Since the industry as a whole is loosely regulated, paying by credit or debit card is considered a courtesy versus a requirement for cab drivers, so be sure to have the local currency (the Macedonian denar) on hand to pay, to agree on the estimated fare before departing, and to use the meter, as drivers are required by law to do so.

Bolt is the only one of the major ridesharing apps that operates in North Macedonia at the moment, so don't bother firing up Uber or Lyft here. Bolt is popular with locals and functions much like the more popular U.S. apps do, with all payment occurring within the app. Like with the more popular North American apps, surge pricing is not uncommon at busy times.

Part of Skopje's recent master redevelopment plan included dedicated paths and lanes for cyclists. City Park and the area nearby along the Vardar River both have kiosks (both manned and self-service) where you can rent bicycles for a nice day of leisure. Skopje's municipal parking authority, Gradski Parking, offers bike rentals from four areas in the city center for 10 denari per hour (less than 25 cents) but with a membership fee (a safeguard against damage) of 1500 denari (about $25). This is a monthly fee, charged if and when you decide to use a bike, so visitors who would be there less than one month would only be charged the once. For more information, visit www.gradskiparking.com.mk/rent-a-bike.nspx.