North Macedonia

Part Balkan, part Mediterranean and rich in Greek, Roman and Ottoman heritage, North Macedonia has a fascinating past and a complex national identity.

Glittering Lake Ohrid and its historic town have etched out a place for North Macedonia on the tourist map, but there is a wealth of natural beauty in this small country.

Dramatic mountains have blissfully quiet walking trails, lakes and riding opportunities. The national parks of Mavrovo, Galičica and Pelister are cultivating some excellent cultural and culinary tourism initiatives; these gorgeous regions are as yet little explored, so if you want to get off the beaten track in Europe – this is the place. Tourist infrastructure is scant, but locals are unfailingly helpful.

Skopje's centre has suffered from a building spree of grotesque faux-neoclassical monuments, buildings and fountains, funded by the previous government. Luckily, its Ottoman old town and buzzing modern areas are untouched and remain charming and authentic.

Explore North Macedonia

Golem Grad
Adrift on Lake Prespa, Golem Grad was once the king's summer playground but is now home to wild tortoises, cormorants and pelicans, and perhaps a few…
Sveti Naum Monastery
Sveti Naum, 29km south of Ohrid, is an imposing sight on a bluff near the Albanian border and a popular day trip from Ohrid. Naum was a contemporary of St…
Ilinden Uprising Monument
This 1974 monument, commemorating the Ilinden Uprising from 1903, is a marvel of Yugoslav architecture and a fantastic example of abstract historic…
Sveti Jovan Bigorski Monastery
This revered 1020 Byzantine monastery is located, fittingly, up in the gods along a track of switchbacks off the Debar road, close to Janče village…
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Kokino Observatory
A Bronze Age, archaeo-astronomical site, this megalithic observatory sits atop a volcanic hill, at an elevation of 1013m; it's a truly marvellous place…
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Treskavec Monastery
The 13th-century Treskavec Monastery rises from Mt Zlato (1422m), a bare massif replete with imposing twisted rock formations. One doesn't know which is…
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Burial Mound of the Unbeaten
This magnificent monument to Prilep's Partisan soldiers who died in WWII is the 1961 work of one of the former Yugoslavia's most brilliant architects,…
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Ohrid Boardwalk & City Beach
Skimming the surface of the water along Ohrid's shore, snaking towards Kaneo fishing village and the town's most famous church, this over-water boardwalk…
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Painted Mosque
Tetovo's beautiful Painted Mosque is like something out of the Arabian Tales and quite unique in the Balkans. First built in the 15th century, it was…

Golem Grad
Adrift on Lake Prespa, Golem Grad was once the king's summer playground but is now home to wild tortoises, cormorants and pelicans, and perhaps a few…
Sveti Naum Monastery
Sveti Naum, 29km south of Ohrid, is an imposing sight on a bluff near the Albanian border and a popular day trip from Ohrid. Naum was a contemporary of St…
Ilinden Uprising Monument
This 1974 monument, commemorating the Ilinden Uprising from 1903, is a marvel of Yugoslav architecture and a fantastic example of abstract historic…
Sveti Jovan Bigorski Monastery
This revered 1020 Byzantine monastery is located, fittingly, up in the gods along a track of switchbacks off the Debar road, close to Janče village…
K
Kokino Observatory
A Bronze Age, archaeo-astronomical site, this megalithic observatory sits atop a volcanic hill, at an elevation of 1013m; it's a truly marvellous place…
T
Treskavec Monastery
The 13th-century Treskavec Monastery rises from Mt Zlato (1422m), a bare massif replete with imposing twisted rock formations. One doesn't know which is…
B
Burial Mound of the Unbeaten
This magnificent monument to Prilep's Partisan soldiers who died in WWII is the 1961 work of one of the former Yugoslavia's most brilliant architects,…
O
Ohrid Boardwalk & City Beach
Skimming the surface of the water along Ohrid's shore, snaking towards Kaneo fishing village and the town's most famous church, this over-water boardwalk…
P
Painted Mosque
Tetovo's beautiful Painted Mosque is like something out of the Arabian Tales and quite unique in the Balkans. First built in the 15th century, it was…

Latest Stories from North Macedonia

Architecture North Macedonia: how to explore this little-known gem
Sep 5, 2019 • 6 min read
With its diverse metropolis capital, historic and protected lakes, hiking trails, national parks and ancient, old-world culture, North Macedonia is a true gem…
Wildlife & Nature Jasen nature reserve: North Macedonia’s secret getaway
Feb 10, 2019 • 4 min read
Deep in the Balkans, this grandiosely named nature reserve might just be the best-kept secret among Europe’s national parks. Home to the rare Balkan…
Art Skopje behind the statues: North Macedonia’s capital
Feb 10, 2019 • 5 min read
Skopje has been through a lot lately. Whether it wanted it or not, in recent years the capital of North Macedonia has undergone an incredibly costly – and…
Food Spotlight on: Bitola, North Macedonia’s ‘city of consuls’
Feb 10, 2019 • 5 min read
With visitors to North Macedonia making a beeline for Lake Ohrid and the capital Skopje, Bitola is still waiting for its moment in the spotlight. But this…
Hiking Remote contentment: hiking across North Macedonia
Feb 10, 2019 • 5 min read
At 3:30am, on the fifth day of an expedition along North Macedonia’s mountainous western edge, we traded our trekking poles for reins and mounted horses…
Food North Macedonia’s top five foodie destinations
Feb 10, 2019 • 5 min read
Ask any Macedonian to elaborate on the goings-on at local festivities and they’re likely to begin by reeling off the delicious dishes that accompany the…
Wildlife & Nature Hike through Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia on a new long-distance trail
Sep 19, 2018 • 1 min read
For lovers of the great outdoors, there is a new long-distance, multi-country hiking trail in the Balkans region. Called the High Scardus Trail, the 495km…
Art The power of art: epic Yugoslav monuments in the Balkans
Jun 15, 2018 • 5 min read
Every year more travellers make the journey to the Balkans to explore the countries of the former Yugoslavia. Some come for adventure, many for history…
Food A wine tour of the Balkans
Nov 7, 2016 • 5 min read
If wine needs a story, then the story of Balkan wine is a dog-eared, multi-volume series. The southeastern European peninsula may not immediately spring…
Food A perfect weekend at Lake Ohrid
Aug 23, 2016 • 6 min read
Macedonians will proudly reel off to visitors that Ohrid once had 365 churches – one for every day of the year. Yet in truth, the church spires and their…
Story Dubrovnik to Ohrid: cycling into the heart of the Western Balkans
Aug 16, 2016 • 5 min read
Our peloton of 12 cyclists snaked through a tangle of alleys past the walls of Dubrovnik. The city was full of morning innocence and rare silence. Buses,…
Hiking The Via Dinarica hiking trail: a cultural corridor across the Balkans
Jul 16, 2016 • 5 min read
Waves of fog battled patches of blue sky as the Via Dinarica hiking trail inclined sharply to the junction between Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo. At the…
Road Trips Western Balkans: time-tripping in southeastern Europe
Oct 24, 2014 • 11 min read
The Balkans have attracted adventurers for centuries – literary bigwigs Lord Byron and Rebecca West penned romantic accounts of journeys through these,…
Hiking Western Balkans: Europe’s new adventure playground
Oct 24, 2014 • 10 min read
Outdoors aficionados and adrenaline junkies, take note: there are still uncharted grounds to conquer only a few hours’ flight away from London, Paris or…

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout North Macedonia.

See
Golem Grad
Adrift on Lake Prespa, Golem Grad was once the king's summer playground but is now home to wild tortoises, cormorants and pelicans, and perhaps a few…
See
Sveti Naum Monastery
Sveti Naum, 29km south of Ohrid, is an imposing sight on a bluff near the Albanian border and a popular day trip from Ohrid. Naum was a contemporary of St…
See
Ilinden Uprising Monument
This 1974 monument, commemorating the Ilinden Uprising from 1903, is a marvel of Yugoslav architecture and a fantastic example of abstract historic…
See
Sveti Jovan Bigorski Monastery
This revered 1020 Byzantine monastery is located, fittingly, up in the gods along a track of switchbacks off the Debar road, close to Janče village…
See
Kokino Observatory
A Bronze Age, archaeo-astronomical site, this megalithic observatory sits atop a volcanic hill, at an elevation of 1013m; it's a truly marvellous place…
See
Treskavec Monastery
The 13th-century Treskavec Monastery rises from Mt Zlato (1422m), a bare massif replete with imposing twisted rock formations. One doesn't know which is…
See
Burial Mound of the Unbeaten
This magnificent monument to Prilep's Partisan soldiers who died in WWII is the 1961 work of one of the former Yugoslavia's most brilliant architects,…
See
Ohrid Boardwalk & City Beach
Skimming the surface of the water along Ohrid's shore, snaking towards Kaneo fishing village and the town's most famous church, this over-water boardwalk…
See
Painted Mosque
Tetovo's beautiful Painted Mosque is like something out of the Arabian Tales and quite unique in the Balkans. First built in the 15th century, it was…

Guidebooks

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