Queues: North Macedonia–Albania border today

About the border: North Macedonia–Albania border

The Macedonian-Albanian border runs through the mountains of western North Macedonia and cuts across two large lakes, Ohrid and Prespa. Both countries remain outside the EU and the Schengen area, so the crossings have full passport and customs checks on both sides. The Lake Ohrid region, a UNESCO World Heritage site on both sides of the border, draws tourists who often combine a stay in Ohrid or Struga with a trip into Albania.

The page covers a single crossing: Ćafasan–Qafë Thanë, on a pass west of Lake Ohrid. On the Macedonian side the road leads towards Struga and Ohrid; on the Albanian side it descends towards Elbasan and Tirana, and also towards Pogradec on the lake's southern shore. It is the main road crossing between the two countries and the natural choice for most travellers going from North Macedonia to central Albania; there are other, smaller crossings on this border that our overview does not include.

Our estimates for this crossing usually stay at a low, even level and do not precisely reflect the real queue at a given hour. Expect the most traffic in summer, especially at weekends, and around holidays, when the diaspora from Western Europe visits family. Traffic also picks up during the summer festivals in Ohrid and Struga, which draw visitors from Albania as well.

Before travelling, check whether an ID card is enough for your nationality or a passport is needed, and whether your insurance covers both countries (for example a green card). North Macedonia's currency is the denar, Albania's the lek. The road over the pass is a mountain road, so in winter check conditions before setting off.

When to go

Border queues are usually shortest at night, roughly between 01:00 and 05:00, and longest in the evening and at weekends. In the holiday season the Balkan-route peak falls on Saturdays. Check the live figures above before setting off.