How to Spend a Weekend in Skopje, North Macedonia

Are you looking for a holiday in Europe with nice weather, off the beaten path from tourists, and highly affordable? Well, I have a small hidden gem to share with you! North Macedonia is a small country landlocked in the Balkans with many great attributes. Although it is not as dreamy as a location like the Amalfi Coast, it is worth stopping by if you have the time and want to escape the European crowds. They are one of the least visited countries in Europe. I went on this trip with no expectations. I did not know anyone who had seen this city before. The open mindset worked out to my benefit!   

Where is North Macedonia? 

This may be one of the most challenging countries to find without a labeled map. The Republic of North Macedonia gained its independence in 1991 during the fall of Yugoslavia. It has since faced multiple name changes over the years. North Macedonia is located north of Greece and surrounded by other Balkan countries like Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, and Kosovo. The largest city is Skopje, with about 600,000 people.

How to get there? 

Now that you know where it is at, lets get there –

Fly: Skopje is your best bet if you are looking to fly into the country. They renovated their airport in 2011. The airport was small but very clean and organized. They even have a lounge if you have the Priority Pass! They have discounted airlines such as Wizz Air flying into the city regularly. I found a round-trip ticket from Memmigen (Munich) for €55. I love looking for flights on Skyscanner    

The city center is about a 25-minute taxi ride. We booked an airport transfer through our hotel since we arrived late at night, €25. I had also read that it’s a 50/50 chance that the taxi driver will try to scam you because you are a tourist, so I opted to have this set in advance. 

You can also take a public shuttle that departs every two hours for €3 or 180 MKD. The schedule is limited to 9 am-4:30 pm by the company WTransporter. 

Bus: If you are in a surrounding Balkan country, you can also look into the option of taking a bus into the city. This is a very cost-affordable option. Ask your hotel for more information or show up and purchase a ticket at the station directly.  

Quick history of Skopje, North Macedonia

Due to its long history, Skopje has been ruled by many kingdoms and civilizations, all leaving parts of its history. The city is multicultural, with different styles of buildings and statues around every corner. You pass Roman, Ottoman, and Soviet-era-styled buildings on one street. A tragic earthquake in 1963 destroyed 80% of the city. Putting their differences aside, the world unified to help rebuild the city. You will see street names and buildings named after many countries that contributed to the rebuild. 

That being said, in 2014, the country poured more than €200 million into the infrastructure of this city, most specifically statues. The town is filled with over 200 of them! The idea was to bring more tourism, which looks like it is working! 

The weather in Skopje, North Macedonia

North Macedonia sees about 280 days of sunshine a year, hence why they have a large sun on their national flag. We visited in the middle of February during President’s Day Weekend. The holiday aligned with my Friday off: four free days off work! The weather was perfect. We had sunshine and a light jacket and were very happy with that. In the winter, the average temperature is in the 40’s°F (5°C), and summer gets to about mid 80’s °F (27°C) 

What is the best time of year to visit? 

Knowing this now, the best months to visit Skopje, North Macedonia, would be May-July. The weather will be warm and sunny, and you will avoid the hottest month of the year, August. 

Where to stay in Skopje? 

We stayed at Bushi Resort and Spa – I was offered a free room upgrade through Booking. I always look on this platform for great deals! We decided to spend a little more to enjoy the spa facilities (which were excellent, by the way). They had an indoor pool, hot tub, saunas, and Turkish bath, all free with guest access. The heated tile spa chairs are a game-changer!

Now the fun part…what to do in Skopje, North Macedonia? 

Free Walking Tour: My favorite thing to do in a new city is to go on a free walking tour. I love that we can walk around, get a city layout, learn essential history, and gain insight from a local. Vasko was our tour guide, and he was awesome! He is very passionate and has a depth of knowledge about his city. I highly recommend it. For those who don’t know, a free walking tour is tipped-based, and you can provide what you feel is appropriate for the service provided 

Admire Macedonia Square: I must say this square is magnificent. I visited in the winter, and the fountains were not running. Still, I cannot imagine the beauty it radiates in the summer. The fountain hosts a 78ft (24 meters) high statue of Alexander the Great on a rearing horse. You can sit in the square, and people watch all day. This is one of my favorite past times on a trip. 

Cross the Stone Bridge: You cannot miss the large bridge connecting Skopje’s modern and historical parts. This is the oldest bridge in the country, built in the 1400s by the Ottomans. Today it is a lively place in the city. 

Statue Sightseeing: Skopje has over 200 statues throughout the city. Get lost and see how many different ones you can spot! From speaking to locals, some of the statues are up for interpretation of what their meaning is behind them. I received very different answers to descriptions for the same sculpture. The locals may complain that their tax money was spent unfairly by creating all these statues. Still, it does add some unique characteristics to the city!  

Walk Through the Old Bazaar: The best part of the city to me is the Old Bazaar. If you cross the stone bridge into the east side of the town, you will walk right into it. Walking through, you can instantly feel the Ottoman and Turkish influence on the city. It is one of the oldest and largest marketplaces in the Balkans. There is endless shopping and delicious food to try. Recommended by a local, we tested the kebab and beans cooked in a clay pot for €3. 

Visit the Memorial House of Mother Teresa: Did you know Mother Teresa was born in Skopje? Her parents moved from Albania, and you can still see the remains of the house she was born in. Unfortunately, there is not much left. Not too far from this is a memorial dedicated to her life. The architecture and style do not make sense with its unique details on the outside, but it is free to visit inside. The first level has significant milestones in her life as well as trinkets and letters written by her. Upstairs you can find a lovely small chapel. 

Walk Under the Triumphal Arch in Skopje: One of the significant masterpieces the city built in 2014 is a smaller version of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. This is to symbolize the country’s independence struggle. There is a door inside that will lead to an observation deck.

Walk to the Kale Fortress: Also known as the Skopje Fortress – take a pleasant stroll to the top of the hill and walk through an old 6th-century fortress. I recommend you come at sunset for a nice picnic and enjoy the calm breeze. 

Visit the Beautiful Mustafa Paša: On your walk up (or down) to the fortress, stop at Mustafa Paša. The mosque can be reached through the Old Bazaar. It is the largest mosque in the city, and it radiates with beauty. If no prayer is in session, you may walk the grounds and step inside. We stayed at Bushi Hotel & Spa, right behind the mosque, and I could catch a beautiful moment with it at sunset.  

Are you looking for museums in Skopje? 

There is plenty of museums here in the city for you to explore. Check some of these out if you have time! 

• Archeological Museum of Macedonia
• Holocaust Memorial Center 
• Museum of Macedonian Struggle 
• Contemporary Art Museum of North Macedonia 
• Macedonian Museum of Natural History 

Do you have more time in North Macedonia? 

Check out these other excursions outside the city center 

Millennium Cross: Take a trip up to the millennium cross and see a panoramic view of the city. You can use a tour company or public transportation. The bus is free on the weekends, and it only costs 120 denars (€2) for a round-trip cable car ticket.

Matka Canyons: This is a perfect day trip location. We chose not to visit this time because we will save it for better weather, but the pictures look amazing. Only about a 30-minute drive out of town, and you are surrounded by beautiful fjords. You can use public transportation, but Vasko, our tour guide, said the buses would not show up sometimes, and you will be forced to purchase a taxi. A tour is always an option. 

Lake Ohrid: A gem of Eastern Europe. I recommend staying there for a day or two if possible. 

Day Trip To Kosovo: We chose to take a day trip to Kosovo during our stay. We booked through Viator and thoroughly enjoyed our time with Valdo Veljanoski! The timing was impeccable because we arrived in Kosovo on its independence day. There was a parade in Pristina and a large celebration on the streets in Prizen. If I had to choose to visit only one of the cities for the day, I would select Prizen. I prefer smaller towns over large cities.      

The food you need to try while in North Macedonia

• Zelnik – This pastry is a traditional drunk meal after a crazy night out! 
• Pastrmajlija – Pizza…but with a North Macedonian twist  
• Ajvar – A spread made from red peppers. Perfect with bread and cheese, A nice souvenir if you want to take something home to remember 
• Shopska Salad –   A classic Balkan  salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, and sirene cheese   
• Kebapcinja (Kebab) – This is all over the Old Bazaar. On the side, you will have chopped onion and hot peppers to add for taste. Throw it on some warm homemade bread…you have a winner.

Skopje is a lovely city with Eastern European charm. If you can, I recommend stopping by and taking in some of the beautiful tributes Eastern Europe offers. Have you been to Skopje yet? Or maybe it is on your Balkan tour? Let me know in the comments below!