North Macedonia
Europe · Skopje · MK
North Macedonia is the small landlocked country of the southern Balkan heart, a mountainous nation of the deep lakes, the old towns and the mingled layers of the Slavic, the Ottoman and the classical history that has long been the quiet crossroads of the region. The lake of the Ohrid, a world heritage of the natural and the cultural kind, holds the medieval churches and the old town of its shore, and the capital of the Skopje, the ancient city of the river, spreads its rebuilt centre and its Ottoman old town beside the mountains of the Sharr. The country's landscapes, from the dark canyons and the monasteries of the interior to the wine hills and the hot springs of the east, pack a surprising variety into its small borders. Friendly, inexpensive and genuinely unspoiled, North Macedonia is the underrated delight of the peninsula.
Overview
North Macedonia is a country in Europe. Its capital is Skopje and the international dialling code is +389. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include Macedonian and Albanian. Local currency is the Macedonian Denar (MKD). We also list 1 city in North Macedonia: Skopje.
The Lake of the Ohrid and the Town of the Churches
The lake of the Ohrid, the deep, clear water that the mountains of the border hold between the country and the neighbouring Albania, is among the oldest and the deepest of the European lakes, and its shores carry one of the richest concentrations of the medieval art in the Balkan world. The town of the Ohrid, the historic city of the lake, spreads its churches, its amphitheatre and its cobbled lanes across the promontory above the water, and the interiors of the churches of the town, above all the wonderful frescoes of the church of the Saint Sophia and the churches of the Kanjo, are the great artistic treasure of the country. The lake life, the boats, the beaches and the fish restaurants of the shore, and the monasteries of the eastern shore across the border, complete the picture of one of the most beautiful inland settings of the continent.
The Capital of the Skopje and the Bridge of the Stone
The capital of the country, the city of the Skopje, spreads along the river of the Vardar between the mountains that frame the plain, and its centre, rebuilt after the earthquake that destroyed it in the 1960s, now throngs the squares with the statues, the fountains and the monumental facades of the recent reconstruction. The old town of the river, the Ottoman quarter beyond the stone bridge, holds the caravanserai, the mosques, the bazaar of the city and the fortress hill above it, and the two worlds, the old bazaar and the new baroque centre, face each other across the water. The museums of the country, in the old railway buildings and the renovated quarters, hold the archaeology of the region, and the hills around the city, from the canyon of the Matka to the mountain of the trail, reach into the wild immediately beyond the suburbs.
The Canyon of the Matka and the Monasteries of the Cliffs
The canyon of the Matka, the deep gorge that the river of the Treska cuts through the mountains a short drive from the capital, is the great natural escape of the country, and its cliffs, its caves and its clear green water hold the boating, the kayaking and the hiking of the region. The canyon is dotted with the medieval churches and the monasteries of the middle ages, and the church of the Saint Andrew, set on its rock above the water, is the most dramatic of them, while the larger monastery complex of the Saint Naum, on the lake of the Ohrid, is the greatest of the monastic foundations of the country with its church, its courtyards and its peacocks. The combination of the water, the rock and the frescoes of the canyon makes the day trip from the capital one of the best in the region.
The Mountains of the Sharr and the Peaks of the Border
The mountain chains of the country, the borders of the Sharr in the west and the massifs of the Pelister and the Korab elsewhere, hold some of the wildest and the least visited high country of the southern Balkans. The national park of the Pelister, with its ancient forests of the Balkan pine, its glacial lakes and its views over the lake of the Prespa, is the classic walking country of the region, and the peaks of the border above the lakes and the valleys give the serious trekkers the high routes of the south. The winter turns the ski resorts of the country, from the mountain of the Sharr to the slopes of the centre, into the small, friendly ski world of the region. The mountains hold the real wildness of the country, far from the valleys and the cities of the plain.
The Wines of the Tikvesh and the Tables of the Country
The wine country of the east, the region of the Tikvesh around the town of the Kavadarci, is the vine heart of the country, and the red wines of the tannat and the local varieties of the region have been the pride of the land since the classical era. The wineries of the region run the tastings and the cellar tours, and the wine festivals of the autumn weeks fill the towns with the stalls and the grapes of the harvest. The table of the country is the generous, hearty cooking of the Balkan kitchen, the grilled meats and the peppers, the white cheeses and the local pastries, and the famous tulumba and the coffee keep the cafes busy through the afternoons. The hospitality of the country, warm and unhurried, is among the most genuine of the region.
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- Capital
- Skopje
- Currency
- Macedonian Denar (MKD)
- Languages
- Macedonian, Albanian
- Calling code
- +389
- Internet TLD
- mk
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter North Macedonia.
Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of North Macedonia?
Skopje is the capital of North Macedonia, and the country sits in Europe.
What currency is used in North Macedonia?
You pay with Macedonian Denar (MKD) in North Macedonia. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in North Macedonia?
The languages we list for North Macedonia are Macedonian and Albanian. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for North Macedonia?
The dialling code for North Macedonia is +389 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which cities in North Macedonia do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for North Macedonia: Skopje (capital).