Is North Macedonia Worth Visiting?
Is North Macedonia worth visiting? Here’s what you need to know!
North Macedonia, also simply known as Macedonia (it’s complicated — I’ll get into this more in a minute), is a landlocked country located in the Balkan region of Southeastern Europe. It shares a border with Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, Kosovo, and Albania. But many people have never even heard of it.
I’ve always loved geography, and when I was twelve years old, I was on a Caribbean cruise where I randomly met a group of Macedonians who were so thrilled I knew where their country was. I was always intrigued by North Macedonia and wanted to visit one day. Now I’ve actually been there twice!
My most recent trip firmly cemented my belief that North Macedonia is one of the few “hidden gems” left in Europe. If you want to get off the beaten path and discover an underrated destination, this is the place for you. One day things might change, but for now, North Macedonia is still relatively unknown.
And I think it’s absolutely worth visiting. Hopefully, you’ll agree with me and give this lesser-known country a chance. Because I truly think that you’ll have a great time if you choose to come here.
Here’s what you need to know about traveling to North Macedonia and deciding if it’s right for you.
Brief Background on North Macedonia
North Macedonia was formerly part of Yugoslavia, along with five other now-independent countries in the Balkans: Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Croatia, and Slovenia. The Communist country of Yugoslavia officially dissolved in 1991, and Macedonia gained its independence as the Republic of Macedonia.
But let’s back it up first. The ancient kingdom of Macedonia encompassed parts of present-day North Macedonia, Greece, and Bulgaria, united by Philip II and his son Alexander the Great. Later, present-day North Macedonia became part of the Byzantine Empire, and then many Slavic tribes settled there.
For over 500 years, from the late 14th century until the early 20th century, present-day North Macedonia was part of the Ottoman Empire. And after that, Yugoslavia was formed, which lasted for another 50 years until independence. So as you can see, it’s been a long and varied history for this country.
Why the name change from Macedonia to North Macedonia? Greece believes that it’s the only country with a claim to the name “Macedonia”. The country has a northern territory called Macedonia, and didn’t want a neighboring country using the same name. So after significant pressure from Greece, the country of Macedonia officially changed its name to North Macedonia in 2018. Most locals don’t call it this, though.
Macedonians simply refer to the country as Macedonia, and there’s still some tension between Greece and North Macedonia over the whole situation. It’s good to understand this before you go.
What Is North Macedonia Like?
North Macedonia is a landlocked country that is largely mountainous, making for beautiful views. One of the jewels of North Macedonia is Lake Ohrid, a picturesque lake with a charming historic town.
The capital, Skopje, is a very interesting place. The oldest parts of the city include Skopje Fortress, the 15th-century Stone Bridge, and the Ottoman-era bazaar. But much of the rest of the city was destroyed in an earthquake in 1963, only to be rebuilt in typical Communist style with lots of concrete afterwards.
In the early 2010s, the Macedonian government decided to give the capital a facelift, constructing many bizarre, opulent, Classical-style buildings and monuments, including hundreds of statues.
North Macedonia is a little rough around the edges, and it’s among the poorest countries in Europe. But it’s also very safe, and I didn’t find it to be a particularly challenging travel destination.
The prices in North Macedonia are also very affordable, and it makes my list of the cheapest countries in Europe for travelers. The currency is the Macedonian denar, but Euros are also widely accepted.
Nearly one-third of the population of North Macedonia is Albanian, and Albanian recently gained status as an official language of the country, along with Macedonian. Many people also speak English in North Macedonia. I honestly never had any trouble communicating with people while I was there.
Getting to North Macedonia
If you’re considering a trip to North Macedonia, you probably fall into one of two situations:
- You’re taking a larger trip across the Balkan region, and you’re coming from another country like Bulgaria, Albania, or Greece, and wondering if it’s worth visiting North Macedonia too.
- You’re coming from a European city and saw super-cheap flights to the capital, Skopje.
North Macedonia is absolutely worth a stop on your Balkans itinerary if you are coming from a neighboring country. Traveling by bus is the best way to get here. Here’s a look at some travel times:
- Sofia, Bulgaria to Skopje, North Macedonia: 3.5-hour drive
- Thessaloniki, Greece to Skopje, North Macedonia: 3-hour drive
- Tirana, Albania to Ohrid, North Macedonia: 2.5-hour drive
- Tirana, Albania to Skopje, North Macedonia: 4-hour drive
If you’re coming from outside the Balkans, flying is your best bet for getting to North Macedonia. There are nonstop flights to Skopje from more than 45 cities around Europe, mainly on low-cost carriers.
There has been a big initiative from the Macedonian government to boost tourism, and a big strategy was partnerships with budget airlines in Europe. So you’ll see lots of cheap flights to Skopje.
How Much Time to Spend in North Macedonia
Although North Macedonia is a fairly small country, you don’t want to rush here!
I would recommend at least four days in North Macedonia, although you could spend longer here. I’d split your time between Ohrid and Skopje, although you could also just base yourself in Skopje.
Ohrid is feasible as a day trip from Skopje (although it’s a bit far at two hours and 45 minutes away by car), and there are other, closer day trips from Skopje. Highlights include Matka Canyon (just 30 minutes away and super beautiful) and Kosovo (one of the newest countries in the world and only 1.5 hours away.)
On my most recent trip to North Macedonia, I spent three days there. I had already been to Ohrid on a previous trip coming from Albania, so I didn’t revisit that part of the country. Instead, I spent one day in Skopje and used my other two days for day trips to Matka Canyon and to Kosovo, which was perfect.
- This is the tour I took to Matka Canyon (plus a couple of other places!)
- This is the tour I took to Kosovo.
- Here’s a good option if you want to take a day trip to Lake Ohrid.
I’d recommend an extra day or two from Ohrid, and you could even spend more time in North Macedonia if you want to visit other destinations like the city of Bitola or Mavrovo National Park.
Other Things to Know About Visiting North Macedonia
Here are a few more things to know about visiting North Macedonia before you go.
When should you visit? Spring or fall are great times to visit North Macedonia. My first trip was in May, and my second trip was in April, and the weather both times was very nice. (I did have one rainy day on this most recent trip, though.) I would avoid summer because it can be unbearably hot here!
North Macedonia uses the Cyrillic alphabet. Like neighboring Bulgaria and Serbia, North Macedonia uses the Cyrillic alphabet. Many signs are written in Macedonian and English, though (plus Albanian.)
Public transportation is interesting. Although it exists, public transportation might not be what you’re used to in other parts of Europe — this is the Balkans! There are buses and trains connecting different destinations in North Macedonia, but just know that they aren’t always on time, comfortable, or efficient.
Have some cash on hand. Many places accept credit cards in North Macedonia, but I did encounter a few things that were cash only (like taking a boat ride in Matka Canyon.) You can withdraw Macedonian denars from ATMs around the country. Euros are also widely accepted as a second currency here.
North Macedonia is not part of the EU. Although a couple of its neighbors (Bulgaria and Greece) are part of the EU, North Macedonia is not. Many people want to join, but it’s still probably a long way off.
It’s a very safe country. Many people hear “former Yugoslavia” and still associate it with the wars and other conflicts of the 1990s. First of all, North Macedonia gained its independence peacefully, so it was never at war back then. Secondly, that was a long time ago — the Balkans are overall quite safe now.
Is North Macedonia Worth It?
Hopefully this guide gave you some insight into North Macedonia and could help you to decide if you should travel there. I personally believe that North Macedonia is worth visiting. It’s a great destination!
Like I said earlier, I think it’s a rare, true “hidden gem” in Europe and the perfect place to go if you want to escape the tourist crowds. Despite the fact that few people visit North Macedonia, it’s a country that is totally ready for tourism. I could see it becoming a major hotspot in the next decade, like Croatia.
This is the perfect time to visit, while it’s still under the radar. You won’t regret it!
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