How to Find the Best Things to Do in Skopje
On a recent expedition to the Balkans we decided to try our luck in North Macedonia and visit Skopje, the capital city. Whilst spending time in neighbouring Albania we had learned that there were so many interesting things to do in Skopje.
Visit Skopje by Bus from Lake Ohrid
Travelling by minibus, “furgon”, from Saranda, in Southern Albania, we stopped off at Lake Ohrid for the night. Here we enjoyed a peaceful sleep in a converted Monastery overlooking the vast lake before spending the day exploring the city of Ohrid. After a busy day we took our next bus from Ohrid to Skopje. The journey takes around 3 hours, our tickets cost €8 each and we booked them online with GETBYBUS.
Practical Tip
In the summer the temperatures climb to about 40C in the Balkans and most of the buses don’t have any air conditioning. Bring plenty of water and maybe a mini fan to keep yourself cool on the journey.
Things to do in Skopje at Night
Arriving after dark, there are still plenty of things to do in Skopje at night. From the bus station we decide to walk to our apartment in the imitation Flatiron building. You may have seen a similar design before…
After about 30 minutes of marvelling at the Flatiron’s impressive art deco style interior, we head towards the centre of Skopje. We walk along the still busy 11th October Street and pass a mixture of old Ottoman houses and bustling restaurants. We see large, sometimes derelict, Communist blocks, green parks filled with giant brightly lit statues, red London buses and grand buildings constructed in a neo-classical style. What is quite bizarre is the number of electronic casinos and betting shops we notice on our walk.
Things to Do in Skopje – Macedonia Square
Continuing in a search for food, we reach the main square through Gate Macedonia. The first thing of note in the square is how lively it is at 10pm on a week night. There are children playing in the fountains, businessmen and women catching a late dinner and revellers setting off for the night.
Second, is the contrast between the derelict, concrete structures and the grandeur of the sparkling new buildings surrounding the square and lining the Vardar river.
And third, is the enormous statue of a “Warrior on a Horse” (unofficially Alexander the Great) at the very centre of everything.
We eventually eat in the square at Kolektiv which has many great craft beers, cocktails and barbecued meats.
Skopje 2014
So what’s’ with the expensive architecture in Skopje’s centre? Further research reveals these extravagant buildings and monuments to be less than 10 years old. These are part of the “Skopje 2014 Project“. The theory behind this was to promote a sense of National pride and identity and to replace some of the buildings lost in the 1963 earthquake.
However, it is clear that the €500 million may have been put to better use. The buildings are clean and grand but lack soul and history, creating a feeling more like a mini Las Vegas. In trying to promote an identity it has come across as a city confused. But perhaps that will be part of its charm in the future?
Things to Do in Skopje – The Old Bazaar
The next morning we walk along the same road in the sunshine on our way to Skopje’s Old Bazaar. On arrival, this already feels like a more authentic place. Maybe because it dates back to the 12th century. We don’t make it 10m into the bazaar before stopping for an iced frappe in the baking heat. As we sit, we watch locals and tourists explore the narrow, cobbled streets lined with cafes, shops and restaurants. It smells of barbecued meats, spices, coffee and sweet baklava.
Anything can be found here, from jewellery to vegetables, without there being any pressure to buy. The small Ottoman era buildings with white facades and red roofs are full of charm and history. This part of town feels so much more authentic than the shining exteriors of the new creations. The heat in the summer is challenging but there are plenty of ice cream shops and cafes to help out. For us, this is one of the best things to do in Skopje.
We walk around the old lanes for a few hours exploring the old stalls. Whilst weaving in and out of the winding, cobbled streets a small BBQ joint called Kosmos Kebabchilnica appears. It’s set up like a fast food place but the meat is prepared at the counter in front of you. Noticing Cevapi on the menu, we order two. This traditional sausage is served with onions and fluffy white bread. The portions are huge (ordering two was a mistake) but the cevapi is delectable and the fight to finish is valiant.
Mustafa Pasha Mosque
The 6th Century Skopje Fortress and Mustafa Pasha’s Mosque are also in this area and worth a visit. We climb up the hill to the Fortress to have a look around and enjoy the panorama over the capital city. With no shade, the scorching heat is too much so we head towards the Mustafa Pasha Mosque, about a 5 minute walk away. We don’t go in, but from the outside we can appreciate the beautiful Ottoman architecture dating back to the 1400s.
Practical Tip
If you would like to go in, ladies, we must cover our hair. From what we were told, scarves are provided at the door. But, unfortunately, we ran out of time and didn’t go in so cannot be sure.
Ramstore Mall
We couldn’t visit Skopje without perusing one of the malls and after a quick search we find one nearby. Ramstore Mall is central and has a good variety of shops and restaurants. It is also great to get out of the summer sun for a while and we really appreciate the air conditioning!
Before leaving we visit the Supermarket to pick up some local snacks to try on our walk back to the apartment.
Skopje to Vranje Bus
The Serbian border is not far from Skopje. A day trip to the small city of Vranje is quite possible (under two hours by bus) and gets you another stamp on your passport, literally. The ticket cost us about €3.80 each way and we bought it from the bus station before boarding.
Vranje is a quaint town where people go about their daily lives and tourists are an unusual sight. Visiting here is a great insight into modern Serbian life. There is not much in the way of attractions but take time to enjoy the food and soak up the atmosphere with a coffee in one of the many cafes.
Skopje to Nis Bus
If you have more time you might continue by bus to the Serbian city of Nis, or further to Belgrade, for a more cosmopolitan vibe. We were advised to avoid the Preševo Valley region (near the North Macedonian border) as there may still be lingering tensions between Serbs and ethnic Albanians and possibly some unexploded mines in the countryside.
Another option is to take the bus from Skopje to Pristina, Kosovo, one of the world’s newest countries. However, on this occasion we were defeated by the thought of another long, sweaty bus journey in the summer heat.
Why you MUST visit Skopje
With the multiple gambling outlets, faux neo-classical buildings and monuments and with two very distinct halves to the city, Skopje certainly draws parallels with Las Vegas. The complex history of this new country is evident throughout Skopje and the contrasting architecture, lively streets and friendly people make it an intriguing place to visit. I would say we definitely hit the jackpot with this trip.
More Info
Where to go next
From Skopje, it is easy to travel to Kosovo or Serbia by bus. Pristina, Kosovo’s capital is only a two hour journey as is the small city of Vranje in Serbia. Both can be done as a day trip or as another stop on your tour. For an amazing day in Priština, check out this fantastic post on JOURNICATION.
ALBANIA also borders North Macedonia and there are travel links to Saranda, in the south, and the capital, TIRANA.
Final note: Things change in the Balkans all the time and there is not much information online in English. We would definitely advise checking with a local where possible. We found people to be really friendly and super helpful.
Have you visited Skopje? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!
Weived Skopje. This post makes me want to visit again!
Me neither! When we can, make sure to visit Skopje!
I had no idea that Mother Theresa was born here! Skopje looks so pretty to walk around – I can’t wait to be able to travel more again!
Each picture I thought “that reminds me of insert place here (Madrid, Rome, Albania, etc), so even though the as Vegas parallel is pulled because of the casinos and building style, I also see the pull from many places! I’m not a gambler at all, but everything else seems very intriguing 🙂
Skopje looks like a fascinating city! I love all the architecture and the vibe of the Old Bazaar. Thanks for the inspiration. Will definitely add to my wishlist!
Amazing! You got me very excited to visit Skopje. I would love to go there one day!
Detailed, informative guide. Thank you.
I had never heard of Skopje before, but now it is definitely on my list for whenever I am able to visit the Balkans! Looks like such a beautiful, clean and vibrant city! Thanks for all of the great info 🙂
Wow, Skopje has so much to offer and it looks beautiful! Will have to add it to my bucket list!
Never been to the Balkans at all, would love to do a Balkan road trip and Skopje is definitely on the list. Love your ideas on things to do & see!
Hehe thanks Courtney 😆 the food is ace! The ottoman streets are so great to explore too.
Hey Samantha, I hope you do visit! There’s loads to do and it had a really nice vibe about it. Great spot to explore the rest of the Balkans too.
Hey Emma, the summer heat in the Balkans is intense! But the great ice cream really helps 😆
Yes, it’s such an amazing city, Elina! Loads to explore and really nice people
Thanks Krista, glad it was useful ❤️
Thanks Vaisakhi! Put it to the top of your post covid list! ☺️
This was such a beautiful and refreshing post! Macedonia is such an underrated place of Europe. Loved learning about Skopje from your post and can’t wait to visit the place now!
Wow you’ve made some really great points and helpful tips here!
I would love to visit Spopje! There seem to be so many interesting activities!
I’ve never heard of Skopje either! Such an interesting place, I think we’d enjoy exploring it. Love strong summer heat too!
I absolutely loved reading this! I’m super interested in traveling in this region and I think Macedonia is the country I know least about so thanks for sharing. I definitely want to visit Skopje now!
You just inspired me to add another city to my travel wish list! The Old Bazaar is calling my name! “It smells of barbecued meats, spices, coffee and sweet baklava.” – That was the sentence that convinced me. So many of my favorite scents all in one place. Love it!
I have never heard of Skopje before – thank you for writing about this destination 🙂 It looks awesome and I would love to visit one day!
Great post, I went to Skopje a few years ago and it was an interesting city but I didn’t spend long enough there!
I went to Skopje a few years ago and LOVED it! There were hardly any tourists when I went and the locals are very friendly. Plus, the food is soo good too! This post makes me miss Skopje!
I’ve heard of Skopje ut have never. I’ll skip the gambling though but would love to see that architecture. Great post!
Skopje sounds super cool! Also kind of crazy that it’s like Las Vegas. i had no idea.
After covid, I would highly recommend a visit! ☺️
I love your posts about places I’ve never even heard of! I love the architecture and that street with the umbrellas is so charming! It never ceases to amaze me how inexpensive public transit it. I’m going to have to remember that!
I love that picture with the umbrellas! I’m looking forward to wandering around Skopje one day!
Stunning! I had no idea this existed in the Balkans. Now more than ever, I really want to go there 🙂
Thanks Catherine! I’m sure you would really love this quirky capital!
Exploring the Balkans is on my list and I do love a capital city
Thanks Paula. I hope you do visit, it’s a really cool place!
What a great destination, and I didn’t even know about it. Thanks for sharing such a detailed guide about Skopje, and I would love to visit now. I love your infographic too.
Such an interesting destination! It’s the first time that I read about Skopje! I like the cheat sheet you made at the end, a good summary!
Yes definitely! There’s so much character to the old buildings. The whole area is really charming
I think I prefer the look of the Old Bazaar. It decongestant seems more authentic and genuinely interesting. I like some of the other buildings but you’re right, there’s not as much soul to them
Skopje looks so beautiful! I definitely want to visit Macedonia when I eventually get to the Balkans. It looks so peaceful. 🙂
Yes, you’ll love it! Do let us know how you get on
I was going to visit Skopje this summer if Covid hadn’t happened, and I’m sure I’ll be rearranging. This is a great guide, and sounds like there’s a big variety of things to do there!
I think that’s my favourite thing about Skopje. The Ottoman architecture and the coffee!
I had no idea there was so much to do in Skopje! It looks like a really fun place 🙂
Plenty to explore in Skopje! Great guide and information.
Isn’t it!? Such a great city and I can’t wait to return.
Let me know if you make it! You will absolutely love it!
I hope you visit one day! It’s really a great city
Great guide to Skopje! I spent a week there last summer and loved it – especially the Old Bazaar area. Such an underrated city and a must-see in the Balkans 🙂
I would really love to visit Skopje and Macedonia one day. It looks like a great place.
I didn’t know Skopje had so much to offer! Would love to visit it one day 🙂 Will save this post for this moment then.