North Macedonia is a small country with a difficult fate. It should not be confused with Macedonia, which is in Greece! North Macedonia achieved its independence after the collapse of Yugoslavia. This is a cozy, small country, a vacation in which can be both interesting and comfortable.
Skopje
The capital of North Macedonia has been literally rebuilt from the ashes four times: the city was destroyed during the war, the smallpox epidemic and the devastating earthquake in the 1950s. There are practically no historical buildings and monuments left, but thanks to the Skopje 2014 program, it was decided to build sculptures and other buildings in the neoclassical style, creating a single urban style.
Skopje is divided into two parts by the Vardar River: the new one has many restaurants, parks, and buildings in different styles, while the old one has mosques, markets, and more. The old market is one of the few places in the capital that survived the earthquake. Here it is worth visiting the Hammam of Daud Pasha, where various exhibitions are held, and the café "Destan", which has been delighting visitors since 1913. Then be sure to buy souvenirs and various delicacies at the market! Next, go to see the Mustafa Pasha Mosque, the Old Market Museum and the Skopje Fortress.
Matka Canyon
An hour's drive from the capital, there is an incredible place where you can visit the Verlo Cave and the Monastery of St. Andrew, which has been standing there since the XIV century. Then take a boat ride on the reservoir!
You can get to this place by bus 60: buy a Skopska travel card, as often bank cards and cash are not accepted.
Ohrid
People come here to swim in the oldest and incredibly clean Lake Ohrid, to admire the ancient monasteries.
Church of St. John in Kaneo
Incredible views of the lake open from here. The temple itself is closed, but its architecture is impressive even from the outside! Put on comfortable shoes and boldly climb to the observation deck.
Church of Saints Clement and Panteleimon
It is the oldest temple in the country and has an interesting history. It was founded in 863 by Clement of Ohrid in honor of St. Panteleimon, but in the XV century, during the time of the Ottoman rulers, the temple was rebuilt into a mosque. In 2002, the government decided to give the building its original appearance, so the architects recreated the church according to ancient drawings.
Not far from the temple stands the fortress of King Samuel - do not forget to visit it too.
Ohrid Ancient Theatre
In the Old Town lurks an incredible ancient theater, which was built in 200 BC: performances were shown here, gladiatorial fights took place, and sometimes public trials were held. This place was forgotten for a long time, buried - and discovered only in 1980. Now anyone can visit this ancient theater, carefully restored by historians.
Potpesh Beach Promenade
There are many beaches in the city, but the most beautiful is Potpesh, which is on the shores of Lake Ohrid. A great place to swim, admire Ohrid and then go to a seaside restaurant.
Bay of Bones
At the bottom of a lake near Ohrid in 1997, wooden piles, fishing gear and various tools, ceramic utensils and much more were found. It is believed that these things belonged to the Macedonian tribes of the Bruges, who lived here from 1200-700 BC.
Currently, a museum is open in the bay. Here they tried to build houses the way the Bruges once did: buildings are placed on piles on the shore. You can climb just above the bay to admire the magnificent panorama of the lake.
By the way, you can scuba dive here - take swimming trunks and a swimsuit.
We recommend arriving in Skopje in late spring and summer, when the temperature is comfortable: you can walk and swim everywhere in the lake. Another tip: rent daily accommodation, not hotels - the price is the same, and the conditions in the apartments are much better. It is better to come to the country for at least ten days to visit all the main attractions and relax calmly, without haste. It is better to get around the city by public transport or rent a car at a rental point.
