In North Macedonia I visited Skopje and Ohrid. I spent a few days there. I have very mixed feelings about North Macedonia.
Basic Information
Capital: Skopje
Language: Macedonian
Alphabet: Cyrillic
Currency: Denar
Not in the European Union nor Schengen zone.
Skopje
I saw two faces of North Macedonia. Skopje at the first sight looks quite poor and not very well taken care of. There was a lot of trash and it’s true that the city was quite dirty and some places were a bit sad. Some buildings close to the center were abandoned. But, on the other side, there were also very nice buildings and bridges. There was a beautiful square and markets where you could immerse yourself in the culture.
Things to do
Visit the fortress
I liked this fortress a lot. It is just above the city so you can enjoy an amazing view. This fortress is very old but in a good condition. It is open to the public and it’s free. Under the fortress there is a small park. When I was there, there were horses in that park together with people living there in tents. It reminded me of the traveling gypsies from all of the stories.
Buy souvenirs on the markets
The old market is definitely a place you can’t miss. The vibe, little shops and stands, food stands and the sellers. It’s very authentical. In many of those shops you can negotiate about anything.
Note: If you know some basics in Macedonian, it can help you with negotiation.
Story: When I was checking a souvenir there was a seller talking to other people in front of me. I heard them talking about the prices. Because I speak Slovak I understood the price he told them. When I asked the price in English it doubled. Be careful to not get scammed.
Walk in the center
The city center is nice. There are many beautiful buildings, bridges and several statues. Walking by the river Vardar you can see a museum and some government buildings. The Bridges in Skopje center are amazing. The bridge of art and the bridge of civilization are beautiful and decorated with many statues. The Stone bridge is an old bridge connecting two parts of the city. There are also many restaurants, cafes and bars. Believers can also visit a memorial house of mother Teresa.
Explore the city
There are many other things to see in the city. Just walk wherever your feet take you. You can visit a park, there’s a Zoo close, churches and mosques, shopping malls and much more.
Story: The muslim culture is big in North Macedonia. I experienced some disrespect from a seller. He had some nasty comments towards me as a woman. In general I didn’t feel unsafe but I also wasn’t alone. If you are a woman traveling alone, be safe.
Ohrid
This city is more touristic. The lake and the little church of St. John at Kaneo are very popular. This city is on the other hand very nice and very well taken care of. There were many tourists and it had a lovely atmosphere.
Things to do
Visit the church of St. John at Kaneo
This little church is one of the landmarks of North Macedonia. It is an orthodox church standing on a cliff overlooking lake Ohrid. It is a place you can’t miss. The church is cute and the view is stunning. There’s a path leading there from the city. Walking there takes around 30 minutes and while walking you can enjoy the view on the lake. The church is open and the entrance fee is 100MKD. There were many guided tours around but it was not crowded.
Walk by the lake
Lake Ohrid is big. Seeing it for the first time, it reminded me of the sea. Walking around it is not possible. Part of the lake is in Albania. You can walk next to the shore and enjoy the view. You can sit and people watch. It was very nice to see the locals living their life. Relaxing by the water, going for a swim and fishing. At sunset it’s stunning. The sun is setting over the lake, there are birds flying, swans on the lake and people enjoying the view.
Go on a boat trip
There are many boats and sellers. They always try to get you on. I recommend taking a boat ride. There are many. You can pick your route and even a theme. The price differs from what adventure you decide to take.
Walk in the streets
Ohrid is not a big city but it offers a lot. Walking in the center you can find many souvenirs, cafes and restaurants. There are small shops selling different things. You can also find a local market selling a lot of clothes and household goods. You can also find many churches and mosques. Walking further can lead you to the old theater and the city walls. That leads us to the next point.
Visit the fortress
The fortress is above the little church. It’s called the Samuel’s fortress and it is in a very good condition. The fortress is very old and it was a part of the First Bulgarian Empire. There is a small entrance fee. Under the fortress is a cafe with an amazing view. Walking further under the fortress you come to the Upper Gate, City Walls and you can also walk to the Ancient Theatre. The theater is very nice and the view as well.
Notes:
- Have some cash on you. They don’t accept cards in many places.
- Bus station fees. Both in Skopje and Ohrid I had to pay a fee to get on the station even tho you already have a bus ticket.
- I didn’t have a problem with the language barrier. In every souvenir shop or accommodation they spoke really good English.
- North Macedonia has a really beautiful nature, it was just sad to see the amount of dirt there.
- The muslim influence is big in North Macedonia. There are many mosques and Turkish shops. Also many tourists from Türkiye.
North Macedonia surprised me in many ways. I had many mixed feelings. I liked the country and I think it would look and be amazing, it just needs a little more effort. It is sad to see that the tourist places are well taken care of while the rest of the country is stagnating.
I’ll give this trip ⭐⭐⭐⭐
How would you rate this trip?