Informational: Getting Between Kotor, Tirana, and Ohrid

This is an informational post: To get from Kotor to Tirana: So much simpler once you are doing it: At Kotor, took the 8:55am bus to Bar, then got on a bus right away to Ulcinj then waited 1 hour for the bus at 12:30 that was supposed to go all the way to Tirana which would have been awesome. but the bus was a little bit broken so we had to change (to a minibus) in Shkodra but it was easy and we got here at like 4:30. So not terrible at all! The whole thing was about 19 euros.

But, if you get the chance, stay in Ulcinj (FYI they were pronouncing it Ool-scene if that helps) then that would probably be the easiest! the 12:30 bus goes every day except Sunday and then you should get here at about 4:30.

When I got to Tirana I got a cab to my hostel (Tirana is not the most map-friendly place)


Tirana to Ohrid: There are two options, one is long but pretty straightforward. The second is more adventurous, but faster and better scenery (I took the second option).

 Option one:

Bus to Struga (But you have to go through Durres) then bus to Ohrid. It's through a company though Pollogu. There is a 9 AM, 9 PM, 4 PM, and 7:30 PM. They all leave from different places so you'll have to ask around about it. This route should take about 5 or 6 hours.

 Option two:

Minibus to Pogradec...It leaves the South West of Tirana and will probably be in a violet mini-bus. Once again you'll have to ask for where it leaves specifically. And talk to the taxi driver that takes you there (he only spoke Albanian, but he made sure I was getting taken to Pogradec). At Pogradec, ask your minibus driver where you should pick up a bus to Tushemisht (Su. Naum Macedonia boarder).

Get the minibus to the Su. Naum boarder. This is where it becomes 'an adventure.' Walk across both boarder checkpoints (about 1 Km apart). From here you can hitchhike to Ohrid, or you can (theoretically) walk for about 25 minutes to the Monastery. I was planning on picking up a taxi or minibus from there and it should have been less then 5 euro's, but a car with a family stopped and asked me if I wanted a ride.

We passed the Monastery and I couldn't tell if there were taxi's around, but I think there probably were. In total it was about 4 1/2 hours. Anyway... bottom line is, it is possible, don't let the internet nay-sayers tell you otherwise :)

 Good Luck!