Skopje to Bay of Bones transfer

The drive from Skopje

The car travels through Tetovo, Gostivar and Kičevo on the A2 motorway, then on toward Ohrid, where part of the new road link is still being finished. From Ohrid, a local road runs south along the lake toward Peštani and Trpejca — right along that stretch, on the left, is the entrance to the museum.

The road is flat and well paved, and there's a large car park right in front of the museum, so the car stops just a few steps from the wooden walkway leading out over the water.

The Museum on Water

The Bay of Bones is a reconstruction of a Late Bronze and Iron Age pile-dwelling settlement, built on a wooden platform over the shallow lake shore. A walkway leads you out over the water past several rebuilt stilt houses, while a protected section lets you see the remains of the original wooden piles found during underwater excavations that began in 1997.

A small museum on the shore displays finds from the dig and explains what daily life in the settlement looked like — worth a stop before heading out onto the platform itself.

The beach and surroundings

The bay sits on the Gradište peninsula, next to a popular beach and campsite, with the villages of Peštani and Trpejca a short drive in either direction, each with more beaches and lakeside fish restaurants. It's a good spot for a longer stop, not just a quick look at the museum.

Plan your visit

Opening hours are usually shorter in winter and longer through summer — check current hours before you go. The entrance fee is modest, a few hundred denars per adult. An hour or two is enough for the museum itself.

The road passes right by St. Naum Monastery, so many visitors combine the two in one day, with a short stop here on the way to or from the monastery.

Taxi vs boat and bus

There's no direct bus route from Skopje to the Bay of Bones. In season, tourist boats from Ohrid to St. Naum often stop here too, but on a fixed schedule and priced per passenger.

A private transfer from Skopje is direct, with no changeovers, and a fixed price per vehicle regardless of group size — more practical for families and groups who want to set their own pace for the day.

The return trip

Book the return to Skopje for the same day - the driver can wait up to 6 hours, the first hour free and each further started hour billed, with the return leg itself discounted; the booking form shows the exact total. A later return is booked as a separate one-way transfer at the normal price. If you're continuing on to St. Naum or Ohrid before heading back, mention it when booking — the driver adjusts the schedule.

What's included

• Private car or van — just your group
• Car for 1–3, van for 4–8 passengers
• Room for your luggage
• Any time, day or night
• Pay cash or via PayPal
• Driver's name and phone before pickup
• Book for a guest or colleague
• Same-day return at a reduced price

Where you'll go

Skopje → Bay of Bones · ≈ 187 km · ≈ 3 h 25 min

Prices and rules

Things to know