North Macedonia

Untapped by the tourism industry, the city of Skopje is a hidden cultural centre of Macedonia, and its exquisite galleries, museums, restaurants, and vibrant cafe culture make it one of the best places in Macedonia for people-to-people interaction. Earthquakes, fires, and time have taken their toll, but the old bazaar is still an intriguing, culturally rich section of their capital, Skopje, which is worth exploring.

In fact, stone bridges connect the newer side of Skopje, the Macedonian Square, with the older side, The Old Bazaar. Crossing the Vardar river, Skopje’s Stone Bridge was initially built by Romans, connecting the Macedonia Square to the Old City.

The Stone Bridge links the square with Old Bazaar Street, crossing this bridge is one of the most mind-bending experiences to have in Skopje. At 66m, Millennium Bridge is one of the largest crosses in the world, visible from Skopje’s city centre. The cross, which stands 66m high, was built in 2002 in honour of 2000 years of Christianity in North Macedonia and is so big it can be seen from any part of Skopje.

The citadel at Kahle has stood guard over Skopje since the sixth century, when the Emperor Justinian, built it. Dating back to the sixth century AD, Skopje’s fortress, also called Kale Fortress, is one of Skopje’s most recognisable structures. Walking around the perimeter of the Skopje Fortress gives an insight into the strategic importance Skopje has had over its history.

Kale Fortress is located on the highest point of Skopje, the Old Town, so from its summit, you get spectacular views of the city and Vardar river. Old Bazaar street is located at the highest point in the city, and you can get amazing views of Vardar bank and city centre. As you can see, Skopje is a fascinating and amazing city, with more places to visit than those mentioned in this article. As you walk through the centre of the city, there are results from the government’s 2014 project, "Skopje" all over.

The best-known destinations are Skopje, the capital, and Ohrid, the stunning lake near Albania. On the Macedonian side of the Lake Mavrovo, you will find Struga, the largest town, and its namesake, Ohrid.

The city of Ohrid is easy to get around and you could spend hours roaming its cobblestone streets, walking along its banks, or diving into Matka Lake. Ohrid is a wonderful place to spend several days while exploring the Old Town sites, Lake Ohrid, and surrounding monasteries. From the winding paved alleys and picturesque restaurants in the Old Town, to the orange-roofed houses and turquoise waters of enchanting Lake Ohrid, the core settlement is a picture-perfect neighbourhood brimming with things to do and places to see.

A 30-minute drive from Ohrid takes you to Saint Naums. Following the coastal route out of the capital city across the Bone Bay, you will arrive at St. Naums’ magnificent monastery complex. Further down, on the painted mosque of Tetovo, twenty miles away from Ohrid, you will find Saint Naum, one of the oldest and richest monasteries in North Macedonia.

There are a few monasteries dotted on the map, some of which you must visit, if the architecture of Orthodox churches impresses you. If you are not planning to spend any time in Mavrovo city, you may want to stop and check out a monastery as you are driving between Skopje and Ohrid. Strumica is famous for its beautiful Byzantine monastery located right outside of town, located on the eastern side of Macedonia.

Much of the capital Macedonia includes several new statues, as well as Mother Teresas memorial house, erected in 2014 in the governments push to make Skopje more classic. At the same time, the Old Bazaar has been built over with two museums, the Museum of the Republic of North Macedonia, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, adding to its charm.