North Macedonia / Република Северна Македонија / Republika e Maqedonisë së Veriut – Let’s explore here
What’s it like in North Macedonia?
North Macedonia is fantastic country, we love it! It’s a small landlocked country in the Balkans in southern Europe. Its central plain is surrounded on all sides by mountains, providing natural borders with its neighbours – Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, Greece and Bulgaria. The highest point is Mount Korab, in the west of the country, on the border with Albania, at 9,068 ft (2,764m) above sea level.
There are several large national parks, all of which contains some stunning scenery well worth visiting. It also has several large lakes, one of which, Ohrid, is considered to be one of the oldest lakes in the world.
North Macedonia sits entirely within the larger region of Macedonia, which also covers parts of northern Greece and parts of all of its neighbouring countries. It is only slightly larger than Wales, UK, and has a population of almost 2 million people (2023), about one third of which live in the capital, Skopje.
A bit about the history of North Macedonia
Early History and Ancient Kingdoms
The region now known as North Macedonia has been inhabited since prehistoric times. In ancient history, it was home to several civilisations, including the Paeonians and Illyrians. The most notable ancient kingdom in the area was the Kingdom of Paeonia. In the 4th century BC, the area became part of the Kingdom of Macedon, famously ruled by King Philip II and his son, Alexander the Great. Alexander’s conquests spread Greek culture throughout the region and beyond.
Roman and Byzantine Periods
After the death of Alexander the Great, the area fell under Roman control and became part of the Roman Empire. Following the fall of Rome, the region became part of the Byzantine Empire, and it remained a significant part of the Eastern Roman Empire for several centuries. During this period, the area became heavily influenced by Christian culture.
Ottoman Rule
In the late 14th century, the Ottoman Empire expanded into the Balkans, and North Macedonia became part of the empire. The region remained under Ottoman control for nearly five centuries, during which time it saw significant cultural, religious, and demographic changes. During the Ottoman era, many ethnic groups, including Slavs, Albanians and Turks, settled in the area.
National Movements and Balkan Wars
The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the rise of nationalist movements in the Balkans, including in North Macedonia. The region became a focal point during the Balkan Wars (1912-1913), when the Ottoman Empire was disintegrating. After the wars, the territory was divided between Serbia, Greece and Bulgaria, with the majority falling under Serbian control. The area became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia after World War I.
World War II and Post-War Yugoslavia
During World War II, North Macedonia was occupied by Bulgaria, a Nazi ally, and was part of the territory controlled by the Axis powers. After the war, the region became a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia under Josip Broz Tito. It was officially known as the People’s Republic of Macedonia and later the Socialist Republic of Macedonia.
Independence and Modern North Macedonia
In 1991, following the breakup of Yugoslavia, the Republic of Macedonia declared its independence. However, the country faced a significant challenge regarding its name, as Greece objected to the use of ‘Macedonia’, which is a region in Greece. This led to a prolonged dispute over the country’s name, which was resolved in 2019 with the signing of the Prespa Agreement. Under the agreement, the country officially became North Macedonia.
North Macedonia has since pursued closer ties with international organisations. It joined NATO in 2020 and has been in talks for European Union membership. Today, North Macedonia is a parliamentary republic, with a growing economy and a diverse population consisting mainly of ethnic Macedonians, Albanians, and other minorities.
North Macedonia road trip
Our North Macedonian road trip was part of a much larger European road trip.
The lakes
On our current road trip through North Macedonia, we travelled from south eastern Albania across the mountains towards lake Ohrid, one of the oldest lakes in the world. What an incredible change from Albania it is in North Macedonia! All around Ohrid there are so many wonderful places to stay and eat, and some simply magnificent views, just amazing! The lake itself is fantastic, and is one of the best places in the Balkans to visit.
However, we had some trouble entering the country due to not having an acceptable green card for our car, but all was resolved by travelling to another border point – you can read more about that in the driving section below.
A Roman town
After Ohrid, we travelled through Galičica national park, and over to Bitola and Heraclea, a fantastic Roman town! We gained free entry due to the lovely kindness of the gatekeeper 🙂 The mosaics in Heracles are excellent, and we were so happy that we’d visited the town.
A national park
From Bitola, we headed up to the fantastic Mavrovo national park, with its lakes, mountains, ski resorts and awesome ovan Bigorski monastery. This monastery was on a parr with Rila monastery in Bulgaria; absolutely fantastic, with a magnificent golden church.
The capital
We then visited the capital, Skopje, which is a sight to see. Our initial impression was mind bowing due to all of the huge statues in the city, the ancient markets and the sheer friendliness of its citizens. What a great city Skopje is! It’s really surprising that more people haven’t visited.
Not far from the capital is the brilliant Matka canyon, which provides for excellent walks, boating and hiking along its dammed lake and through the mountains of the area.
The south east
Having visited Kosovo, we headed south west through magnificent mountainous countryside to the lovely town of Strumica, where again we were given a lovely welcome and people seemed genuinely eager to meet and greet us 🙂
Finally, from Strumica we headed over to Bulgaria.
Map of our road trip through North Macedonia
We met some really interesting people, and visited some fantastic restaurants, particularly the Kaj Profesorot restaurant overlooking Lake Mavrovo 🙂
Our favourite places in North Macedonia
These are some of the best places that we explored on our road trip through North Macedonia. We’ve put them in alphabetical order.
Heraclea [Heraclea Lyncestis]
Heraclea was an ancient city founded by Phillip II in the 4th century BC, and later occupied by the Romans. It’s located close to the modern city of Bitola.
Matka canyon
Matka canyon is a beautiful canyon just west of the capital, Skopje. Easily accessible, there are walks, hikes and boating all around the lakes and to the caves. It’s definitely worth a visit.
Mavrovo National Park
The Mavrovo National Park is the most beautiful and largest national park in North Macedonia, at 300 square miles (780 square km). It’s located in the North west of the country, and only some areas are open to the public, for ecological reasons.
Lake Ohrid
Ohrid is a beautiful, large lake that sits on the border of North Macedonia and Albania. It’s almost 20 miles (30km) long and 9 miles (15km) wide. As one of the oldest lakes in the world, it’s about 3-5 million years old. Both sides of the lake are very different, with the North Macedonian side having been set up very much to cater for tourism, with many restaurants, cafés and lots of accommodation options. The town of Ohrid is rich in history, beautiful and well worth visiting.
Lake Prespa
Lake Prespa is shared between North Macedonia, Greece and Albania. It is located close to Lake Ohrid, although is not developed in the same way, and much of it has been left to nature.
Saint Jovan Bigorski Monastery
Saint Jovan Bigorski Monastery is a stunning working monastery near to Lake Mavrovo in the Mavrovo National Park. The monastery is dedicated to St. John the Baptist and was built in the 11th century.
Skopje
Skopje is a small but vibrant city, housing over half a million people (2021). There are an enormous amount of statues and monuments in the city centre, so much so that it almost represents a living museum. In actuality, almost all of the statues in the city centre are faux-classical, patriotic sculptures that didn’t exist prior to the turn of the millennium! That said, we fund them to be really interesting, and served to give the capital an extravagant feel.
What’s it like to drive in North Macedonia?
As with almost everywhere on the continent of Europe, they drive on the right hand side of the road in North Macedonia.
Driving in North Macedonia is mostly a leisurley affair, as outside of the capital there are few cars. Drivers are mostly polite and travel at low speeds. The capital, Skopje, is busy, but not by UK city standards.
Do you require an international driving permit in North Macedonia?
We’ve created a dedicated page to driving abroad, which answers this question, and more, which you might find helpful.
Can you use your UK driving license when driving through North Macedonia?
We’ve created a dedicated page to driving abroad, which answers this question, and more, which you might find helpful.
Do I need a carnet de passages to drive in North Macedonia?
We’ve created a dedicated page to driving abroad, which answers this question, and more, which you might find helpful.
What are the speed limits in North Macedonia?
The speed limits for cars in North Macedonia are:
- 30 mph (50 km/h) for urban driving
- 50 mph (80 km/h) outside of built up areas
- 70 mph (110 km/h) on dual carriageways
- 80 mph (130 km/h) on motorways
Car insurance for North Macedonia
Obtaining car insurance at the border is not a simple affair. Only some borders have the facility to provide insurance, and you will be redirected to another border if necessary. Insurance is available at the Qafe Thane/Kafasan border on Lake Ohrid, and costs €50. You will be directed to either an office or a car by the border police to obtain the insurance, and your passport will be held until it is presented back to the border guards. Insurance is not available at the Tushemisht – St. Naum border on Lake Ohrid, and the border police will not accept any insurance other than North Macedonian issued insurance.
What currency do they use in North Macedonia?
In North Macedonia they use the Macedonian denar. The use of credit / debit cards is now widespread, although not guaranteed – have some cash just in case, particularly in cafés and restaurants. Travellers cheques are accepted in major cities. There are lots of ATMs.
You should make yourself aware of the amount that your bank charges you for using credit and debit cards abroad. Often credit cards are cheaper for purchasing items directly, and for withdrawing cash from ATMs.
What language do they speak in North Macedonia?
They speak Macedonian and Albanian in North Macedonia, although English is also widely spoken, in particular amongst the younger generations.
What time zone is North Macedonia in?
Remember, when you’re planning your next trip to take a look at what time zone it’s in.
Do I need a visa to visit North Macedonia?
We’ve created a dedicated, more comprehensive page on visas, which you should find helpful. Check it out!
Is wild camping legal in North Macedonia?
No, wild camping is illegal in North Macedonia, although it is well tolerated.
What plug / socket type do they use in North Macedonia?
In North Macedonia they use plug / socket type F.
Health issues in North Macedonia
Is it safe to drink water in North Macedonia?
Yes, it is safe to drink tap water in North Macedonia. Bottled water is also readily available across the country.
What vaccinations are required for North Macedonia?
This NHS website is kept up to date with all relevant information on vaccinations in North Macedonia.
Phones in North Macedonia
What is the country calling code for North Macedonia?
The country calling code for North Macedonia is +389
What are the emergency phone numbers in Finland?
- The emergency number for police in North Macedonia is: 112 / 192
- In North Macedonia, the emergency number for ambulance is: 112 / 194North Macedonia
- The emergency number for fire in North Macedonia is: 112 / 193
If you’ve got some useful info that you’d like to share, let us know!
And don’t forget to check out all the other pictures!