Macedonia is a beautiful country in the heart of the Balkans in the east of Europe. There are some places you’ve heard little about, you know very little about, but when you step in there you realize that it’s different and it starts to attract you.. Here is one of them definitely Macedonia for me. A special geography that embraces people, welcomes them warmly and includes them in their own life.
It is much richer than expected with its nature, history and unique culture.. What made me feel different here, of course, was that we were similar with their historical and cultural characteristics.. Macedonia like one of us. I felt like I was among people I knew before as I toured their city.. A friendly land that I discovered without feeling like a stranger!
Places to Visit in Macedonia
I visited Macedonia in April. The weather was warm and suitable for walking.. I only came across the rain once in my 1 week trip.. Spring and summer are the best times to travel in my opinion.. They say that it is not very hot in summer, either.
There are many places to visit: cities, historical spots, churches, valleys, canyons… I went to many places by public transport without renting a car.. It’s not a very developed country, but it’s pretty good in public transport. Transportation costs are also low and do not shake the budget much.
You do not need a visa to go to Macedonia.. Maybe the fact that it is one of the few countries on the European continent where we can go without a visa makes this place a little more attractive in my opinion.. In my Visa-Free Balkan Countries blog, I wrote about other beautiful Balkan countries you can visit, if you wish.
It is a real freedom to put your passport in your bag and set off, I understood this much better when traveling to Macedonia.. If you don’t have a plan yet, if you don’t have enough patience to deal with visa issues, I think you should buy a ticket to Macedonia immediately.. Is it bad that you see a new country, new people?
Another plus is that you meet many Turkish speaking people. Yes, even if you do not know a foreign language in Macedonia, you will not have any problems, there are always people around, even Turkish.. What a lie, it made me feel good.
Especially in the Skopje bazaar, a 70-year-old couple who learned that we came from Turkey insisted so much on buying us a meal that we agreed to sweeten the business and have tea.
We started the conversation about the country’s issues, and we talked for 1 hour, “What will happen to this world?”. Uncle asked us if we had pocket money, while we were saying goodbye, we met such nice people.
Let’s talk about transportation.. Renting a car gives a great freedom here as everywhere else.. If you want to go on a mountain slope, rent a car as soon as you land in Skopje.. Distances between cities are not very far from each other, roads are also good.. Don’t expect the clean asphalt in Europe.
Make sure to draw your route and make your hotel reservations before you go.. There are many options in Skopje and Ohrid, but it can be a little difficult to find a hotel at the last minute for other cities.. If you have a long travel plan, you can add Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro to your route while you are here, because they are very close to each other.
1. Skopje
Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, is built on both banks of the Vardar River.. The city, a historical Ottoman settlement, is called Skopje in Macedonian. The center of the city, which was built on both banks of the Vardar River, is decorated with many statues.. Most of them were made recently and they spent a significant amount of money on the sculptures.
The starting route of Macedonian tours is Skopje, the symbol of the city with 13 arches Stone Bridge and Old Bazaar (Turkish Bazaar) are among the important places.. Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Kurşunlu Han, Sulu Han, Davut Pasha Bath, which are located in the bazaar that has been under Ottoman rule for more than 500 years, will attract the attention of those who love historical places. Add Skopje Castle to your route. Easy to walk from the bazaar. The lush Matka Canyon, which is only 15 km away from the city center, and the Vodna Mountain Observation Terrace, the most beautiful spot where you can watch the city, should be on your list.
2. Ohrid
Ohrid is one of the most beautiful cities of the Balkans in my opinion. Macedonia’s favorite city, built on the shores of Lake Ohrid with the same name, is a small place with original architecture for a day trip.
It is nice to walk in its peaceful streets. Although it is a touristic city, there is no disturbing crowd. All the places to visit are 2-3 km away from each other.. You can easily visit the whole center without using any public transport.
Czar Samuel Castle, UNESCO World Heritage historical old town, Ali Pasha Mosque, Halveti Lodge are among the places to see in Ohrid.. It is said that there were 365 churches around Ohrid, which is among Macedonian touristic places.
The oldest Slavic monastery in the world Sveti Naum and other important churches of Saint Pantelejmon and St.. Jovan Kaneo Church is one of the must-see religious buildings.. It is located 3.5 hours from Skopje.
3. Struga
Struga, a new city built on the shore of Lake Ohrid, is northwest of Ohrid. Struga is known for its art nights and poetry festivals.. On the shore of Ohrid, the wooden bridge over the point where the Dirim River emerges and the two sides connected by the bridge are used as a poetry festival center. To leave. If the water is not hot enough to enter, rent a canoe and take a little tour.
Although the city center is small, it has a clean bazaar and streets.. Marshal Tito Street is the busiest place in the city, shops where you can shop, cafes and restaurants are also around here.
Since Struga is a university city, the streets and cafes are full of young people.. Buses run between Struga and Ohrid and the journey takes about 20 minutes.. If you have plans in Ohrid, spend half a day in Struga as well.
4. Bitola
Bitola, with its Turkish name Monastery. Standing out with its multicultural structure, Macedonia’s second largest city. Don’t mind what I said the biggest, of course, the city looks like a big town with its population approaching a hundred thousand.. The monastery is a very calm, cute and clean city, away from the chaos of urbanization.
Some of its streets have been the venue for Turkish TV series for a long time.. Ottoman in time 3. It is quite developed compared to other Macedonian cities because it is the center of its army.. This is also the place where Atatürk came to study at the military high school in 1896.. The first city he lived in after Thessaloniki was Monastery.. The school is in the city center, at a location that can be easily found.
5. Tetova
Tetova, Macedonia’s 3rd. the largest city is in the northwest of the country.. Known as Tetovo, the city was one of the most important centers in the Balkans during the Ottoman Period.
Tetova, whose population is mostly Muslim, is located in Macedonia, at the foot of the Sar Mountains, by the Pena River. Alaca Mosque in Kalkandelen, Among the religious buildings in Macedonia, it has a special position in terms of both its architectural and ornamental features.
Sersem Ali Baba‘s dervish lodge, which was founded in 1526 and is named after him, can be seen.. Popova ski resort is one of the highlights of the city.. There are slopes for both amateurs and professionals in the ski resort, which is 18 km from the center.. Tetova, half an hour from Skopje, should stay in a corner for a list of places to visit in Macedonia.
6. Mavrovo
Mavrovo is a charming town located just 1.5 hours from Macedonia’s capital, Skopje.. Very photographic with forests, mountains and lakes under the snow. The town, which is located in a valley on the edge of Mavrovo Lake, created by the accumulation of rain water in the Mavrovo Valley, consists of small villages and houses spread around the lake. Ski lovers should take note of Mavrovo Ski Center.
Mavrovo National Park, covered with pine forests, covers a wide area with 52 peaks above 2000 meters, where the Shara Mountain and Pind Mountains stand out.. It can be a great route for nature and trekking lovers.
7. Galichnik
Galichnik (Galičnik) is located in the heart of Miyak region, 17 km from Mavrovo on the outskirts of Bistra.. The historical village architecture has been preserved, and at an altitude of 1400 meters, Galiçnik is known for its weddings, which are held in traditional clothes and in accordance with traditional customs.
8. Gostivar
Gostivar is located in Upper Polog in Western Macedonia. Lying on the left side of the Vardar river, this stream, which adds movement and fertility to the country, originates in the village of Vrutok near Gostivar.. The source of the biggest river in Macedonia is Vrutok.
The village of Vrutok, which is approximately 5 kilometers away from Gostivar and at an altitude of 683 meters, is not only the birthplace of the Vardar River, but also with its magnificent nature. also known. Gönovitsa Cave (Beautiful) is among the places to visit. Also worth seeing is the small bronze statue Menada (The Fairy of Bacus).
Monastery St.. Jovan Bigorski is located on the main road from Gostivar to Debar, near the village of Rostusa. Its population is predominantly Albanian and the city borders Albania and Kosovo.. Skopje, Tetovo and Kirçova are connected by the railway passing through the city center.
9. Resne
Resne a Macedonian city famous for its apples. I bought some of their yummy apples while I was passing by.. 14. century, between 1385 and 1913, it was a part of the Ottoman Empire.. Resne bazaar, built in the 12th century in Kurbinovo, Sv. George Monastery and Ahmet Niyazi Bey Palace are some of the places to see.
Resne Ceramic Colony works gallery, which is one of the 10 largest ceramic colonies in the world under the auspices of UNESCO, should be seen.. Tirana-Ohrid-Monastery-Gradsko road passes through Resne, located in the southwest of Macedonia.
What to eat in Macedonia
Dishes, which are an important part of Macedonian culture, are actually Turkish cuisine and most of them resembling the ground. For this reason, I can make a note here with peace of mind that you will not have any problems with eating and drinking.
If you are going to stop by Skopje, stop by the meatballs while wandering around the Turkish Bazaar.. Destan is the most popular of the meatball shops, but when we saw that the tables were full, we sat at a restaurant right across from it and were very pleased.. I guess there is no possibility of eating bad meatballs in this city!
The answer is similar to our kebabs, one of the most popular Macedonian dishes in terms of presentation and taste.. Made from minced sheep or beef. It is served with yoghurt, spicy paste and lavash bread.
My favorite traditional dish in Kachamak. The name is cute and catchy.. It is made from corn flour and butter.
Ajvar made from roasted red peppers, onions, spices and garlic, and Pindzur, the eggplant version of Ajvar, is a delicious delicacy that I brought to Istanbul with a few boxes.. A taste to be consumed at every meal. You can also find Ajvar in Turkey, Balkan immigrant families make it at home.
I bought an extra so I wouldn’t return from Macedonia empty-handed, as a gift to friends and family.. If you want to buy something as a gift, keep Ajvar and Pindzur in the back of your mind.
How to get to Macedonia
The Republic of Macedonia is located on the Balkan Peninsula and in the south is Greece, It is bordered by Bulgaria in the east, Albania in the west, Serbia and Kosovo in the north.
It is 151 km from Albania, 148 km from Bulgaria, 246 km from Greece and 221 km from Serbia.. Skopje has a small but modern airport. It is operated by TAV.
The city center is 30 minutes from the airport.. You can reach Skopje city center from the airport with Vardar Express buses.. It takes you to the city center by taxis that provide 24/7 service at the airport for 20 €.
Turkish Airlines and Pegasus offer flights to Skopje at very cheap rates, especially in winter.. Buses also depart from the bus station in Istanbul or you can reach Macedonia with a 12-hour journey by car.. Onur Airlines organizes scheduled flights to and from Ohrid city on Sunday during the summer period.
One of the visa-free countries, Macedonia is one of my favorite countries.. This is a country that I recommend to be seen among the Balkans tour, especially to Ohrid.
