What To Do in Macedonia? 15+ BEST PLACES YOU MUST VISIT
The first question, What to do in Macedonia? This overview of the best places to visit in Macedonia shows where to find the cultural, historic and natural attractions.
A land of rock and stone, medieval fortresses and monasteries, green hills, majestic mountains, deep caves and friendly people.
A country where culture lovers will transported to the past while walking through the villages and towns.
Place where every outdoor lover will be amazed by the stunning landscapes of the mountains and where every traveler will experience the incredible hospitality of the people and will be treated to a feast of delicious food and wine.
Let’s have a look at the best places to visit in Macedonia.
What to do in Macedonia?
These are the BEST Places to visit in Macedonia
OHRID
When you ask a traveler, what to do in Macedonia, the first thing on their mind will be visiting Ohrid.
Ohrid is a small town on the hilly shores of Lake Ohrid in the southwest of the Republic of Macedonia. In the city’s compact old town, medieval churches, monasteries and open-air ruins stand alongside traditional houses with red-tiled roofs.It is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Macedonia and one of the oldest human settlements in Europe. Built mainly between the 7th and 19th centuries, it has the oldest Slav monastery (St Pantelejmon). Ohrid is home to more than 800 Byzantine-style icons that are dating from the 11th to the end of the 14th century.
After the collection in Tretiakov Gallery, the Ohrid collection is the most important in the world.
- If you want to do a day trip from Skopje to Ohrid trough Mavrovo with a private driver/guide, click here
GALICNIK VILLAGE & MAVROVO NATIONAL PARK
One of the most amazing places to visit in Macedonia are located in the Mavrovo National park. Saint Nicolas Church submerged when the Mavrovo Lake was created but after many droughts it can be seen again. The Duf Waterfall, Saint Jovan Bigorski Monastery, the Mijak villages with the most famous among them, Galicnik Village.
The road to Galicnik runs through Lake Mavrovo dam, 14km uphill Mt. Bistra, at 1,450m above sea level. It passes by Toni voda, the Macedonian steppe. The village has large, robust houses and is virtually deserted. Yet, it gets crowded during the summer and then again desolate after September.
The best time to visit is on Petrovden (St. Peter’s Day), 12 July. When Galicnik and its inhabitants are hosts to the only festival of this type, the traditional Galicnik Wedding, echoing the sounds of drums, zurlas, and pipes and displaying the most beautiful and ornate folk costumes of Macedonia.
SAINT GEORGE CHURCH
Recently when some of our guests are asking us what to do in Macedonia besides visiting Ohrid and the Mavrovo national park, we are sending them to the North East of the country to visit some amazing Monasteries & Nature formations. The Monastery bellow is a place you must visit in Macedonia if you love Orthodox architecture.
Located in the village of Staro Negoricane, the Church of Saint George is definitely one of the most beautiful Orthodox churches in the country and deserves its spot in the places to visit in Macedonia list. The Church is founded in 1071 by Stefan Uros II from Serbia.
KRUSHEVO
Krushevo is the highest town in Macedonia (1350m above sea level) and the richest with national history. The city of Krushevo also was the birth place of the most famous Macedonian singer Toshe Proeski, who died in a car accident in 2007. Krushevo is famous for its “lokum“, a sweet with Ottoman origins, rich history and its beautiful mountains.
The Paeonia Ancient city STOBI
Stobi was an ancient Paeonian town, afterwards part of the Macedon empire and in the end capital of the Roman province of Macedonia.
Stobi is the most important archaeological site in Macedonia.
SAR MOUNTAINS
What to do in Macedonia if you are adventurer? GO TREKKING!
Sar Mountains (Sar Planina) are near Tetovo and just 50km from Skopje. Beautiful nature with a few lakes, lots of springs and more than 25 peaks that are over 2000m, with 15 of them being over 2500m. The Sar Mountains are the most popular for trekking amongst Macedonians.
- Read more for trekking in Macedonia
OSOGOVO MONASTERY
Established in the 12 century and dedicated to Saint Joachim & Saint Mary, the Osogovo Monastery is one of the most beautiful places in Macedonia. Just 10km from the Bulgarian border, the Monastery is overlooking the Kriva Palanka valley from the Osogovo Mountain.
KUKLICA – The Stone City
Kuklica is a small village near Kratovo, in the Republic of Macedonia. The formations are known for the hundreds of naturally formed stone pillars that resemble humans. The name Kuklica which means dolls. The stone formations are over 50000 years old.
KOKINO
What to do in Macedonia if you love the astronomy & astrophotography? VISIT KOKINO!
Kokino is is a Bronze Age archaeological site, an ancient megalithic observatory. Method of stationary observation was used, marking positions of the Sun at the winter and summer solstice, as well as the equinox.
Since few years ago Kokino has become very popular among astronomers from the world, therefore putting it in the TOP 5 most popular places to visit in Macedonia.
SKOPJE CITY, VODNO, MATKA CANYON & AQUEDUCT
Some of the most popular places to visit in Macedonia are located in the Skopje Valley. Beautiful monasteries, nature, bridges and ancient ruins are just small part of them.
Skopje the capital of Macedonia is the gateway to a valley surrounded by 3 mountains, a luscious area where culture, traditions, gourmet food and drink is part of daily life.
Matka Canyon, only a half-hour drive away from Skopje and it is a popular destination among locals at the weekends. With the beautiful green water, it is one of the most beautiful gorges in the region. There is a small church and a cave in the canyon to see.
You can rent Kayaks on the spot and also there are boat trips to visit the cave. – In case you need info on how to get to Matka ⬅ Click.
- See also: One day in Skopje – Walking map included
The Skopje aqueduct is an archaeological site located in the village of Vizbegovo, 2 km (1.2 mi) northwest of Skopje. The Skopje Aqueduct is the only one in Macedonia, and one of three largest and well preserved in the former Yugoslavia.
Mount Vodno is the heart of Skopje. Decorated with massive cross that is placed on the Krstovar peak (1066m), mount Vodno is the most popular weekend escape for most Skopjans. You can hike up to the top, or get a bus that will drive you to the middle of the mountain from where you can get a cable car that will take you up to the cross.
- Info on how to get to the Millennium Cross.
MOUNT JASEN & LAKE KOZJAK
The Jasen Mount with Kozjak Lake is very beautiful and much less visited than Matka Canyon, so mostly locals go there because it is only possible by car. After a short hike you can have this beautiful view and a gorgeous sunset/sunrise from the top overlooking the lake. It is a perfect picnic spot as well.
In case you have more time to spend in the country, then you should definetly put Bitola, Snake Island and Strumica in the Places to visit in Macedonia list.