Visit North Macedonia: Ohrid, Skopje and itinerary

A small mountainous country with no coastline, North Macedonia makes up for it with its lakes: Ohrid and its churches with Byzantine frescoes, Prespa and its wild shores. Add Skopje's Ottoman bazaar, Matka Canyon and Tikveš wines for a trip off the beaten track.

Why visit North Macedonia?

North Macedonia is home to Lake Ohrid, one of the oldest lakes in Europe, UNESCO-listed for both its nature and its medieval religious heritage. The country can be explored in a week, with short distances and prices among the lowest in Europe.

What to discover in North Macedonia?

Skopje and its surroundings

Rebuilt after the 1963 earthquake, the capital juxtaposes the monumental statues of the Skopje 2014 project with one of the largest old bazaars in the Balkans, the Čaršija, linked to the centre by the Stone Bridge. Kale Fortress and the Memorial House of Mother Teresa, born here in 1910, complete the visit. Fifteen kilometres away, Matka Canyon is explored by boat or kayak. Two nights are enough, and the city is a base for reaching neighbouring Kosovo, whose capital is about an hour and a half away by road.

Ohrid and the Macedonian lakeshore

About three hours' drive south-west of Skopje, Ohrid is the country's tourist heart. Its terraced old town gathers the ancient theatre, Samuel's Fortress and the Church of St John at Kaneo above the water. The lake, shared with Albania, can be followed south to St Naum Monastery, 30 kilometres away, reachable by boat in summer. July and August are crowded and expensive: aim for June or September, when the water is still fine for swimming. Allow three nights for the town and the shore.

Bitola, Prespa and the south

The country's second city, Bitola keeps the Širok Sokak pedestrian street lined with 19th-century consular facades and, two kilometres away, the ancient site of Heraclea Lyncestis and its mosaics. The city lies about fifteen kilometres from the Greek border. Between Bitola and Ohrid, the road crosses Galičica National Park, whose pass offers a simultaneous view of Lakes Ohrid and Prespa. Prespa, wilder and little developed, mainly attracts birdwatchers. Allow one to two days for the area.

Mavrovo, Tikveš and the interior

In the west, Mavrovo National Park combines forests, a ski resort and the reservoir where St Nicholas Church partly emerges depending on the water level. Bigorski Monastery, on the road to Debar, keeps a remarkable carved wooden iconostasis. In the centre, the Tikveš region, around Kavadarci and Negotino, is the country's main wine area: cellars can be visited all year round, and the harvest livens up September. The ancient site of Stobi, close to the motorway, can be visited in an hour.

Cities to visit in North Macedonia

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Must-sees in North Macedonia

Seven places that sum up North Macedonia, from the shores of Ohrid to the mountains of Mavrovo.

Church of St John at Kaneo

A small Byzantine church perched on a promontory above Lake Ohrid, one of the most photographed views in the country.

St Naum Monastery

A monastery founded in the 10th century at the southern end of the lake, near clear springs explored by rowing boat.

Matka Canyon

A deep gorge on the Treska fifteen kilometres from Skopje, with a reservoir, medieval chapels and Vrelo Cave.

Old Bazaar of Skopje

A maze of Ottoman lanes, caravanserais and mosques, where craftspeople, cafés and small kebapi restaurants animate the quarter.

Širok Sokak Street

Bitola's pedestrian artery lined with colourful neoclassical facades, the heart of café terraces and evening life.

Heraclea Lyncestis

An ancient city founded by Philip II of Macedon, famous for its early Christian mosaics and small Roman theatre.

Mavrovo Submerged Church

St Nicholas Church, flooded when the reservoir was created, whose bell tower and nave reappear when the water drops.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get from Skopje to Ohrid?
About three hours by car for 170 kilometres, and a little longer by bus, with several daily departures from Skopje bus station. The road via Kičevo crosses mountain scenery, while the alternative via Bitola and Resen is slightly longer.
Can you drive around Lake Ohrid via Albania?
Yes, the loop of about 120 kilometres takes a day by car, through the border crossing near St Naum, Pogradec on the Albanian side and then Struga. Check that your insurance covers Albania and expect some waiting time at the border in summer.
How do you visit Matka Canyon from Skopje?
The canyon is about 40 minutes by city bus or around twenty minutes by taxi. On site, boats take about twenty minutes to reach Vrelo Cave, and kayaks can be rented. A path also follows the shore for a hike of a few hours.
When can you swim in Lake Ohrid?
From late June to mid-September, when the water becomes pleasant. The quietest beaches are to the south, towards St Naum. In July and August, the shore near town is packed: September offers a good balance between temperature and calm.
Can you see the submerged church of Mavrovo?
It depends on the lake level. The bell tower usually remains visible, but most of the building only appears after dry periods, in late summer or autumn. In very dry years, you can even walk up to it on the exposed lakebed.
What are the Skopje 2014 statues?
Launched in the early 2010s, this urban project covered central Skopje with monumental statues, fountains and neoclassical facades. It remains debated in the country, but it is now part of the landscape and can be discovered on a walk along both banks of the Vardar.
Where can you taste Tikveš wines?
Around Kavadarci and Negotino, about an hour and a half from Skopje, several wineries offer tours and tastings, often by appointment. The local vranec and smederevka grapes dominate. September is the liveliest time, with the harvest and wine festivals.

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