There’s a quiet thrill in discovering a country most people can’t point to on a map. North Macedonia, in the heart of the Balkans, rarely tops the average travel list, yet it’s the kind of place that you won't forget your visit to. You’ll find centuries-old monasteries, sprawling Ottoman bazaars, brutalist monuments, and cities that feel like open-air museums. It’s a place where Byzantine mosaics share space with socialist-era concrete sculptures, and where the food, thankfully, is as good as the views. Here's our guide to visiting one of Europe's best kept secrets.
Some history
Having only recently gained independence in 1991 with a peaceful breakup from Yugoslavia, our featured country more often than not flies under people’s radar when talking about the various nations of Europe.
This is in part due to the tumultuous changes the name of the place itself has undergone. Starting off as the ‘Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’ following its independence, due to Greece taking umbrage with Macedonia’s use of ‘Macedonia’.
The United States didn’t begin referring to Macedonia by its constitutional name, ‘Republic of Macedonia’ until 2004. Macedonia and Greece only settled their disputes over the name as recently as June 2018 with the signing of the Prespa Accord, before they officially changed their name to the Republic of North Macedonia 8 months later, in 2019.
With less than a year going by between its most recent name change and the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic (which obviously limited travel options for everyone), the country has been allowed barely any time to breathe as a travel destination under its new designation.
However, we like to say there is no time like the present to look to hidden gems like North Macedonia for a unique getaway where overcrowding is scarce and attractions are plentiful.
Like its other Balkan relatives, North Macedonia would fit well in a list of cheaper European destinations and city breaks.
Skopje – the capital city
The capital city, Skopje, is usually the first stop on most North Macedonia travel itineraries. It’s a city that tends to divide opinion, which is part of its appeal. Some love its strange blend of styles, others find it overwhelming, but no one forgets it.
Skopje was almost completely rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1963. Then came the "Skopje 2014" project, a controversial makeover that added a hefty dose of neoclassical facades, oversized statues, and fountains with flashing lights.
The result is a kind of theme park aesthetic. There’s a giant statue of Alexander the Great (officially called "Warrior on a Horse" for political reasons), flanked by fountains and surrounded by lions.
Across the bridges and riverbanks, you’ll find baroque-style buildings that were completed in 2014 but look like they were plucked from another century.
But dig beneath that surface and you’ll find genuine architectural wonders. The Old Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest marketplaces in the Balkans, dates back to Ottoman times and still pulses with life. Mosques, hammams, and caravanserais mix with tea shops and craft stalls.
Then there's the Kale Fortress, perched on a hill with views across the city, and the Church of the Holy Savior, which houses an intricately carved wooden iconostasis that’s nothing short of a masterpiece.
City of Bitola
Bitola is often overlooked in favour of Skopje and Ohrid, but it deserves a place on any serious North Macedonia travel plan. This city has been a cultural crossroads for centuries. Known during the Ottoman era as the "City of Consuls," Bitola has a refined atmosphere with wide boulevards, elegant architecture, and old-world charm.
The highlight here is Shirok Sokak, a pedestrian street lined with cafés, shops, and 19th-century buildings. The architecture reflects a mix of influences – Ottoman, Balkan, and European.
At one end of the street, you’ll find the Clock Tower and the Ishak Chelebi Mosque, which dates back to 1506. At the other, there’s the ancient city of Heraclea Lyncestis, founded by Philip II of Macedon. Its Roman mosaics and well-preserved theatre are among the best archaeological sites in the region.
About the architecture
Some of the biggest draws to North Macedonia are its stunning structures and religious roots, both of which tend to be intrinsically linked across the nation.
It may be a small part of the Balkan Peninsula, but the country still manages to be teeming with Ottoman and Roman history wherever you go.
It's home to around 1000 churches and monasteries, so the connection to Christianity can be felt nationwide, especially when three of the monasteries are believed to include parts of the cross Jesus Christ was crucified on.
One of the most picturesque of these resides in Ohrid, one of Europe’s oldest settlements, this being the Church of Saint John at Kaneo, beautifully built on the edge of Lake Ohrid overlooking the glistening waters.
Dating back to before the 13th century, the church features elaborately carved woodwork throughout and makes for a beautiful piece of religious architecture with some seriously impressive scenery to boot.
Christianity isn’t the only religion that’s been given the red carpet treatment when it comes to architecture.
Lying nestled in the humble town of Tetovo, just under an hour away from the capital, Skopje, hides the Painted Mosque of Tetovo. This place of worship boasts an entirely unique presentation for its ilk, benign entirely original compared to almost any other mosque in the world.
As the name suggests, the building is covered head to toe in vivid colours and eye-catching patterns. The exterior tantalises visitors with lattice windows framed in brightly coloured rectangles, before they are treated to sensory overload in the form of cavalcades of beautiful arabesque patterns that twist and wrap together to create a canvas that covers the entire interior of this stunning structure.
The mosque came about in the 15th century before being razed to the ground in the 17th and rebuilt in the 19th, since then it has stood out as a unique attraction that is a must-see for anyone at all interested in unique interior designs.
Food, transport and border crossings
If you’re wondering what to expect from North Macedonian food, the short answer is: carbs, meat, and more carbs.
There's grilled meats (kebapi), shopska salad (made with cucumbers, tomatoes, and a generous amount of cheese), and flaky pastries like burek. Tavče gravče, a traditional bean dish cooked in a clay pot, is a staple and easy to find even if you're on a tight backpacker budget.
Travelling around is surprisingly straightforward. Buses are reliable, cheap, and go just about everywhere. Don’t expect luxury, but you’ll get where you need to go. Skopje also has a budget airline connection or two, which can make flying in and out of the country quite convenient.
🚗 Driving is also a good option if you're comfortable with Balkan roads and the occasional creative overtaking manoeuvre.
Crossing borders is easy, especially if you’re heading to neighbouring Albania, Kosovo, or Bulgaria. North Macedonia travel can easily be combined with a broader Balkan itinerary, making it ideal for travellers with a few weeks and a flexible schedule.
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