4 days in North Macedonia

Waiting to take off to North Macedonia. Honestly I didn’t have much expectations from this little country but trust me I was totally blown away. You will see why too 😍😍

We landed in Skopje in the evening 😍 Unfortunately the buses from the airport to the city are very limited and there was none available in the evening, so we had to take a taxi to the hotel which costed 25€. It’s almost an hour drive from the airport to Skopje city.

We stayed at this boutique hotel in Skopje. The location is very ideal as it just a 10 minute walk to Skopje city centre as well as the old bazaar.

After checking in we took a stroll in the old bazaar and grabbed some dinner with some local beer and wine 😍 all in all it was around 18€ for 2 people

We started our day by having our breakfast at the hotel. The breakfast was 6,5€ pp and honestly not worth it. I would recommend to grab something from a local cafe instead.

We then headed out to Matka canyon; one of the must visit places when in North Macedonia!! It is quite easy to reach this place by public transport. Just head out to the main bus station. You can buy the ticket at this cute ticket shop which is actually inside a yellow bus 🚌. The day ticket costs 120 Denar (~2€ pp) and it takes around 40-50 minutes depending on traffic. Once you reach here you will be in complete awe of this place. Also I highly recommend kayaking in the canyon so capture the beauty of it. The Kayak was around 5€ pp.

After a long day at the Matka canyon, we were back in Skopje city for dinner. This restaurant is just amazing with beautiful interiors and the view of one of the most beautiful bridges of Skopje.

It was time to go to one of the most beautiful towns of the country. It is easily accessible by bus. It takes around 3 hours by public bus to reach Lake Ohrid from Skopje. I highly recommend to book tickets in advance as there are limited buses and they get full quickly.

We stayed at this apartment hotel in the old town of Ohrid. The views were to die for. However I wouldn’t recommend it in case you are a cleanliness freak like me. It was not quite clean! However manageable for a night.

Things to do in Ohrid 👉🏻 1 Walk to the church of St. John of Kaneo for THE typical Ohrid postcard motif 2 Take a boat trip across Lake Ohrid – change of perspective! 3 Visit the monastery Sveti Naum – interesting frescos and real peacocks on the site 4 Go on a discovery tour of the historic old town – with its fortress, amphitheatre and other sights 5 Had enough walking? Relax with a view over the turquoise blue lake (e.g. in the beach bar Kaneo Beach) Ohrid – top Photo spots 📸 - Photo from above the church of St. John of Kaneo over the lake – THE photo motif of Northern Macedonia - From the towers of Samuil Fortress over the old town and the lake - From a boat with a view of the fishing district and the church of St. John of Kaneo - From the wall in front of the church of St. Mary across the roofs of the old town with a view of the fortress - The monastery Sveti Naum from all imaginable perspectives

Stayed at this beautiful apartment in Skopje. It is around 2 kms from the city centre but perfectly connected by bus. It is also close to the airport bus station, from where you can take the direct bus to the airport.

Free Walking Tour. Like any European city, a free walking tour is the best way to kick off your stay in Skopje. Learn about the city’s history, things to see and do, and get some tips on where to eat. If you’re planning on doing some serious city travel in Skopje and exploring all its neighborhoods, a walking tour is a great way to get your bearings.

Crossing the Stone Bridge (built in the 15th century) into the Old Bazaar, Restaurant Pivnica An is a great place to start your North Macedonian food journey

Acting as the leading trade and commerce center of Skopje since at least the 12th century, the Old Bazaar is the perfect place to wander away the rest of your afternoon. Bordering the Old Bazaar on a hill is Kale Fortress. The fact that this fortress has its roots in the 5th century is reason enough to visit. However, at first glance, the fortress may seem a little lackluster to the first-time visitor. But it offers exceptional views of Skopje city 😍

End your day in Skopje on a high note by finding a spot to relax under the city’s most eye-catching statue: Warrior on a Horse (Alexander the Great). This is easily one of the most Instagrammable places in Skopje! As the night darkens, Skopje’s square lights up. Have some ice cream (several vendors nearby), and if it’s hot enough, have a run through the fountains 🤌🏻 And that’s how we commenced our trip to the most beautiful North Macedonia, covering all the important places to visit 😍😍 I must say this country has totally blown me away and I am definitely looking forward to visiting again someday !!