Guide to Skopje, North Macedonia
Skopje is the capital and largest city of North Macedonia. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre. Skopje lies in the Skopje Basin. Scupi is attested for the first time in the second century AD as a city in Roman Dardania.
-Wikipedia-
Skopje came on to my radar late last year, and after having visited and loving other Eastern European and Balkan Countries, I was eager to visit. I had heard good things in terms of safety, affordability, and a mix of things to do and Skopje delivered on all of those. It was the perfect blend of city, food, history and nature.
Trip Details & Cost Breakdown
All bookings and local credit card purchases are in USD. Prices advertised and paid in cash are shown in Euro.
Flights I flew from Manchester to Skopje (with a self-transfer in Geneva) on Easy Jet with checked bag and seat selection $161.50
Airbnb: 16 nights in Skopje in a private duplex apartment $488.00
Parking: Unfortunately, the validation machine happened to not be working when I left the garage where I parked and I was overcharged by about 100% so parking set me back about € 11 for 11 hours (advertised rate was €.40/hr).
Transportation:
Taxi: I landed in Skopje just after the airport bus stopped running (8:00pm) to the city center. The public transit to my Airbnb was lengthy and ride share does not exist in Macedonia, so I opted to splurge on an overpriced taxi. This set me back 25€ (cash only).
Bus: While the city is well connected by bus, and is a great option to get around, I only took it once to Matka Canyon. I put 100MKD (approx $1.60) on a transit card to cover my trip to Matka with at least one more ride available.
Entrance fees/Activities:
Vodno cable car: €2
Food and drinks: I found eating out in Skopje very affordable. While I didn’t do any high end, or fine dining, I found “mid-range” dining options very budget friendly.
I indulged in one of my favorite foods, burek, for breakfast most days. A very generous portion was $1.25
Dinner at a local restaurant with a main course, large plate of grilled vegetables, beer and water was $15
A delicious veggie burger with fries, local beer and water ranged from $8-$14
An espresso at most cafes was around $1-$1.50 and an accompanying sweet or savory pastry was between $1 and $3.
Souvenirs: I picked up three magnets in the city center for €3
Currency Exchange
Skopje was a mix of places that took cards and were cash only, so I recommend having a bit of cash on hand. While some places will take Euro, it is technically illegal for them to do so, and the mark up is pretty significant.
MKD is the widely accepted currency.
I initially attempted to obtain cash via ATM withdrawal, but the fees were quite high (between $6-7USD, plus the $5 my bank changes) and your girl is on a budget. I had seen several currency places and asked a Bumble match if they were legit. He said they were, and all no fee and gave a fair exchange, so that is the route I took.
Admittedly, most of the currency exchange places look…. questionable… but I had a great experience at the two that I went to; one being a Western Union that appeared to be in someone’s house next to a gas station (I was really committed to saving on those fees).
They will exchange GBP, Euro, and USD and the current rates must be displayed. A receipt is also required to be provided.
Things to Do
Skopje is a relatively small capital city (though its statues are not), but there is plenty to do in and around the city to easily fill a few days of touring, sightseeing, and relaxing.
These were some of my favorites:
Macedonia Square/City Center
Macedonia Square is the main square of Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia. The square is the biggest in North Macedonia with a total extent of 18,500 m². It is located in the central part of the city, and it crosses the Vardar River.
-Wikipedia-
Macedonia Square is where you will find many restaurants, souvenir vendors, the iconic stone bridge, beautiful architecture, oh, and… statues, so many statues. While the statues remain a bit of a controversy (learn more about that here), the square still has beauty and historical meaning.
On the other side of the Stone Bridge (or any of the other many bridges over the Vardar River), you will find the Macedonian National Theatre (MNT), the Macedonian Philharmonic, and the National Opera and Ballet. I was hopeful to catch a performance on my visit, but due to holidays and scheduling, didn’t have the opportunity to.
This is a common meeting points for tours and is the perfect spot to start exploring the city from.
The Old Bazaar
The Old Bazaar also known as Turkish Bazaar is a bazaar located in Skopje, North Macedonia, situated on the eastern bank of the Vardar River, stretching from the Stone Bridge to the Bit-Pazar and from the Skopje Fortress to the Serava river
-Wikipedia-
🗺️MK, Skopje 1000, North Macedonia
The Old Bazaar is like teleporting to Turkiye. Lined with cafes, restaurants, shops, and Turkish coffee at every turn, this lively area is a great place to wander through, grab a bite or drink and take in all the sights and smells. There is also a large market with fresh fruits and veggies, spices, clothes, shoes and all kinds of trinkets and gadgets.
Skopje Fortress
The Skopje Fortress, commonly referred to as Kale, is a historic fortress located in the old town of Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia. It is located in Center municipality and situated on the highest point in the city overlooking the Vardar River.
-Wikipedia-
🗺️Samoilova 1000, Hattusa 1000, North Macedonia
🕰️7a-5p daily
💶Free
The Skopje Fortress offers stunning views of the city, Vardar River, and all the way to Vodno Mountain and the Millennium Cross. It is a bit of an uphill hike to get to the fortress, but the views are well worth it. There is a small parking lot at the Fortress as well if you choose to drive.
Millennium Cross Cable Car
🗺️1000, North Macedonia
🕰️Tues-Sat 10a-5pm, Sun-closed (see photo for operating hours)
💶120 MKD/€2 Round trip
The cable car runs from Middle Vodno, then ascends to the top of the 1,066M top of Vodno. Middle Vodno is accessible by car, bus, or hiking from the base of Vodno.
🚌Bus: Take Bus #25 from Skopje Center up to Middle Vodno. It is a short walk to the cable car from the bus stop.
🚗Drive: There is a parking lot at Middle Vodno with a good amount of parking. The park and cable car and just a few minute walk from the parking lot.
🚕Taxi: You can take a taxi from the city center for a just a few dollars. Getting a taxi on the return may be difficult - I didn’t see any taxis at the top when I was leaving, but this may be different during peak season.
🥾Hike: There are several trails from the base of Vodno that will take you up to middle Vodno where you can catch the cable car the rest of the way up. I opted for hike and took approximately an hour to reach middle Vodno.
🚐Tour: Vodno mountain and the cable car are included in many Skopje tours and can be combined with Matka Canyon
Middle Vodno has a few shops with snacks, drinks, beer, ice cream, etc, as well as a bathroom (though not glamorous), and a small cafe. There is a picnic area and children’s play area as well.
The cable car ride is approximately 8 minutes and offers stunning views of the city and mountain. At the top, there is a cafe and bathrooms, as well as several picnic areas for a picnic with an unbelievable view. There are also many hiking, walking, and mountain biking trails.
And, of course, there is the Millennium Cross, which can be seen all the way from the city center.
The Millennium Cross is a 66-metre tall cross situated on the top of Vodno Mountain in North Macedonia above the capital city of Skopje. Built in 2002, it is one of the tallest crosses worldwide.
-Wikipedia-
You could easily spend 10 minutes or several hours at the top.
Vodno Mountain
Vodno is a mountain in North Macedonia. It is located in the northern part of the country, to the southwest of the capital city Skopje. The highest point of the mountain is at Krstovar peak, on 1066 meters and the submontane is on 337 meters
-Wikipedia-
I love cities that have a city feel, but also have accessible nature, hiking and views and Skopje delivers on that. Vodno is just a few minutes’ drive, short bus ride via the No 25, or a solid walk from the city and delivers on all of these things. Even if you skip the Millennium Cross cable car, the park alone is worth visiting.
There are numerous hiking trails ranging from easy to moderate that offer incredible views and an escape from the city, as well as parking lots up the winding mountain to stop and take in the views or have a picnic at one of the many picnic tables. The sunset views are also quite remarkable.
The trails are also well outlined in Google Maps walking instructions.
Church of Saint Clement of Ohrid
The Church of Saint Clement of Ohrid often called simply Soborna Crkva, located in Skopje, North Macedonia is the largest cathedral of the Macedonian Orthodox Church today.
🗺️Blvd. Partizanski Odredi 17, Skopje 1000, North Macedonia
🕰️Open to visitors: Mon-Fri 6a-8p, Sat 6a-5p, Sun 6a-12p
Even if you take out the religious and historical aspects of this striking building, the architecture and art are worth the visit alone. Even from across the street, Soborna Crkva is a sight to behold, but then once you get inside the ornate and intricate detail is truly breathtaking.
Skopje City Park
Skopje’s Central Park is a beautiful little oasis right in the city. With waking paths, streams, open fields, and vendors with cotton candy, ice cream and other treats, it is a great place to take walk or sit and relax on a sunny day.
A nice walk along the Vardar River will take you from the city center to the City Park, which also house the Skopje Zoo.
Day Trip to Matka Canyon
One of the highlights of trip to Skopje was the day I spent at Matka Canyon. For information on how to get to Matka Canyon and what to do there, click here:
Skopje Restaurants
Skopje has a robust food scene, offering everything from classic Macedonian and Balkan dishes to fusion fare, some great pizza, vegan and vegetarian options, kebab shops, open air markets, and so much more.
I had a few hiccups in my food journey in Skopje. The biggest being that there were three holidays while I was in the city, and nearly everything closed, which derailed a few food plans.
I, admittedly, was also in a weird food mood and really wanted veggie burgers, lots of veggie burgers so I ended up inadvertently doing a bit of a veggie burger tour in Skopje.
While my foodie venture wasn’t exactly what I planned (other than copious amounts of Burek), I was not disappointed by a single thing that I ate and happily recommend everywhere I went.
Bakeries
Pastries and sweets may not be the first thing that come to mind when thinking of the Balkans, but some of the best savory pastries I have ever had have been in the Balkans. The sweet ones very rarely disappoint.
Silbo
🗺️Majakovski 3, Skopje 1000, North Macedonia
🕰️Mon-Sat Open 24 hours
💶€
This bakery was located dangerously close to my Aribnb and I became a very quick regular. Everything in this bakery is beautiful, but the real star of the show (for me) was the burke. The portion sizes where huge, it was always fresh, and was the ultimate “cheap eats” at 70MKD ($1.25) per portion.
Bakery La Delicious
🗺️Majakovski 3, Skopje 1000, North Macedonia
🕰️ Open 24 hours daily
💶€ (cash only)
This appropriately named bakery, just down the street from Silbo, also features delicious sweet and savory treats, though on a much smaller scale. There is often a line, but it does move quickly. Be sure to have cash as they don’t accept cards.
Fat Kitchen Bistro
🗺️Vladimir Polezhinovski 23, Skopje 1000, North Macedonia
🕰️ Mon-Fri 9a-10:30p, Sat 101-10:30p, Sun-closed
💶€€
🌈LGBTQAI+ friendly
Fat Kitchen Bistro is a cute little spot with a few outdoor tables and a fun and funky menu, which happens to feature one of the best veggie burgers I have ever had. The staff is fun and helpful, and I ran in to the owner when I went back to get my jacket I left behind who took the time to chat about his menu inspiration and his love of food. Highly recommend for a casual bite or take away.
Vegan Kitchen 365
🗺️St. Clement of Ohrid Blvd Skopje MK, 1000, North Macedonia
🕰️Mon-Fri 9a-6:30pm, Sat 11-6:30, Sun-closed
💶€–€€ (cash only)
🥬Vegan
This little family owned and operated vegan bistro is adorable and serves up some amazing freshly made vegan sandwiches, burgers and other sweet treats. Very affordably priced, especially for the quality, and a great options for eat in or take away. Be sure to have cash on hand, as they don’t accept cards.
Rock Kafana Rustikana
🗺️Boulevard Ilinden 94, Skopje 1000, North Macedonia
🕰️ Mon-Thurs 11a-11:30p, Fri-Sat 11a-1a, Sun 12p-8p
💶€€
This fun restaurant almost feels like a venue with its music themed decor and small stage area, where life music takes place several nights a week. Think “Hard Rock Cafe” without the over commercialized and cheesy feel, but with a local vibe. The menu features everything from steak platters to salads to burgers, so there is something for everyone.
Дрен - DREN vegetarian restaurant
🗺️New Delhi Rd 13, Skopje 1000, North Macedonia
🕰️M-F 9a-12a, Sat-Sun 9a-6p
💶€€-€€€
🥬Vegetarian (Vegan options available)
🌐DREN
This higher end Vegetarian restaurant serves up some beautiful dishes from classic breakfast to elevated salads and launch and dinner dishes. The space is chic without being stuffy and the dishes and the service was friendly and helpful. I originally went for a late brunch, but was given the option to order off any of the menus and had a light, but filling and tasty lunch off the dinner menu.
Restaurant Kantina
🗺️Radnjanska 6, Skopje 1000, North Macedonia
🕰️Sun-Thurs 8a-12a, Fri-Sat 8a-1a
💶€€–€€€
🥬Vegetarian friendly
I found Restaurant Kantina on a bit of an accident as I was trying to find a different place I had bookmarked, but the upbeat and cool vibe, as well as the looks of the drinks at the outdoors tables, drew me in. Unfortunately, there was no outdoor seating available when I arrived, but I had had enough sun that day, so an indoor seat was just fine, even though the patio definitely had a livelier tone. The service was great, the food was yummy, and my cocktail was perfect; all at a very reasonable price.
Matto Napoletano
🗺️Debarca 2a, Skopje 1000, North Macedonia
🕰️Daily 9a-11:30p
💶€€–€€€
I passed Matto Napoleano several times and made a note to go back or to order take out before I left Skopje, but kept getting distracted or forgetting. But then the stars aligned close to the end of my trip, I went on a Bumble date and he ended up getting take away from here for our Vodno Mountainside picnic. Being a NY’er, I am pretty critical of pizza, but Matto really nails it. The pizza was some of the best I have ever had (outside of NYC, of course). If you like a good wood fired pizza, this is absolutely the place to go.
Beer Garden Skopje
🗺️Zhivko Chingo br.5, Skopje 1000, North Macedonia
🕰️Daily 10a-1a
💶€€–€€€
Located in a pretty touristy area, the Beer Garden wasn’t on my radar for my Skopje visit, but towards the end of my stay, much of the city was closed due to an election day, but the touristy spots were not. I am glad I ended up at the Beer Garden, even if it was by default of it being open, because the beer was great, the food was good, and the service was friendly.
I sat outside in the sun, but did pop inside which was much bigger than I expected and had a really cool vibe to it. While I didn’t initially intend to go here, I wouldn’t hesitate to go back.
