I went to Skopje for three days but I finished going around the city in two… So I spent a day in the surrounding area. I visited a magnificent canyon, had the opportunity to look down on the city from the mountain and gained a deeper understanding of North Macedonia’s topography. In short, you can visit Skopje for two days, but three is also worth it. If you spend five days, you’ll also get to visit Ohrid.
Chapter #1 – Museums
I arrived in Skopje on a rainy day, so I decided to visit the museums first. My main goal was Archaeological Museum of North Macedonia It’s not the greatest museum; besides most of the Macedonian treasures are in Greece. But it does have some unique goddess idols. I’ve witnessed the bulding-based female goddess only here.
Another museum nearby was Museum of Independence of North Macedonia I went here partly to shelter from the rain and to understand the modern history of the country. Most of it consists of giant oil paintings and recreations, but there are some beautiful pieces.
I wasn’t too keen on the other museums. I tried another one, but it was closed anyway because the leaking roof.
Chapter #2 – Old Skopje
Skopje Bazaar is the most visited place… The inns, bathhouses, and old buildings, many of which have been renovated and some remain in their original state. Some of these inns and bathhouses have become galleries, art workshops, shops. The most beautiful ones are:
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/KnRhK1dnSYSVwgBF7
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/mrFsAzCrkpjQGqAG7
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/d2LL7YCDcJxaHePB6
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/E3A9QsYfvo2CRHWWA
- Kurşunlu Han is closed but you can look at it from outside https://maps.app.goo.gl/SeeLzCYKaAPTm8eb9
Flea Market & Green BazaarI are at the northern end of the market, but frankly, there’s nothing particularly noteworthy. It’s like a smaller version of Tahtakale, with fewer and more eclectic options. I think it’s better to eat, drink, and enjoy a coffee in the market instead.
In the Skopje Fortress there’s not much to see other than the beautiful city view. However, day tours generally depart from the castle parking lot. If you’ve booked an extra day tour like me, you can arrive an hour or 45 minutes early to visit the castle too. That would be enough.
The other side of the river is a bit more modern. On the main street the house of Mother Teresa stands. I haven’t been inside, but it’s beautiful from the outside. The modern church next to it is perfect for a walk in. Besides, this street is perfect for walking & shopping. You can take the Stone Bridge (Route south of the Archaeological Museum) to the Alexander Monument and from here you can visit the street.
Part #2 – Matka Canyon and Vodno Mountain
Ohrid is actually one of the most popular destinations in North Macedonia. However, because I wanted to visit Ohrid separately and explore Skopje in detail, I didn’t include it in my three-day plan. However, since I finished the city in two days, I chose a plan from GetYourGuide, a comparative travel app I’ve used in other cities before.
One of the most popular natural wonders of the region is the Matka Canyon This tour, which included a cable car ride to the summit of Mount Vodno overlooking Skopje, took about 5-5.5 hours. The canyon is truly worth seeing. Even the dam, dating back to the turn of the century, has a unique retro aesthetic. Once inside, you can take a boat tour, which I highly recommend. The hiking route isn’t a roundtrip one; it’s a bit of a walk. It’s a 20-minute boat ride to the cave at the end of the route with a breathtaking view of the water, a visit to the cave, and a return by boat. Be warned: in the summer, locals come here for a cool-down swim, and we are told it gets very crowded.
Our way to the Vodno climb we saw St. Panteleimon -a small old Byzantine church and the Macedonian Village This is a newly built settlement called “City of Macedonian Architecture,” where they attempted to exemplify traditional Macedonian buildings. Clearly built for tourism, it is not very impressive. However, the antique, handicraft, and design shops inside are beautiful and have unique collections.
In the middle of the way to Mount Vodno, from the Cable Car Station we went up. At the top of the mountain stands the Millennium Cross It was amazing to see the geography of North Macedonia from the summit, where I learned that 80% of the country is mountainous,
Chapter #2 – Food and Drink
Pelister is a famous restaurant right in front of the Alexander Monument. Both the place and the food are delicious; it’s not overly expensive. I had a breakfast plate called “Palenta” made with corn flakes. Even though I was very hungry, I couldn’t finish the whole plate, mind you, but it was delicious.
Kuka is a delightful little restaurant where you can sample local specialties, and it’s also affordable. Tucked away in the middle of construction, the place itself is nothing special, just the flavor and price are optimal.
I couldn’t pronounce the name of the restaurant but it is here This has a much better space with local flavors.
I’ve only eaten at the three places above. But there were two other recommended places:
These are both bars and live music venues, I couldn’t go 🥴
I went in for coffee:
I also had breakfast at a small restaurant:
There are famous meatball restaurants in the market, but I did not try them.
Chapter #2 – Shopping
There are a few nice shops on the street which runs south from the Alexander Monument. I bought shoes/slippers from one of them—ergonomic slippers, somewhere between Birkenstock and Sabo slippers. It was a Serbian brand: :https://maps.app.goo.gl/2NTn34qxv9uzeZYL8
On the daily tour, in Ecovillage, which masquerades as a Macedonian village, there was a shop called Esnaf… They had wonderful handmade and designer items, the most unique items. I bought a pair of earrings.
There are antique shops in the market, but I didn’t go to these. There are plenty of silver and gold shops too. The city is famous for the silverwork, like filigree, and silver plated stones.
