Skopje is the capital and largest city of North Macedonia.
The tiny city is ideal for a day trip, as you can get around the whole city in a couple of hours. You can combine it with other places such as Sofia in Bulgaria and Pristina.
Skopje is definitely not one of the most well-known travel destinations, and in recent years it has been mostly known for its political issues.
The city has a unique architecture. In fact, it looks as if it is in two countries at the same time.
Skopje is built on either side of the Vardari (Axios) River and the river divides the city into two parts. On one side, Skopje resembles a classical European city with churches and imposing buildings. It is mainly inhabited by Christian Skopjeans.
On the other side of the river live mainly Muslims, Albanians and Turks. There you will find the big bazaar, frescoes with the history of Albania, mosques and in general a completely different aesthetics. I could say that it reminds a lot of a neighborhood of Istanbul.
Transportation in Skopje
There are buses to get around Skopje, but the city is so small that you can walk the whole thing in a few hours.
You can buy your ticket directly from the bus driver. You can pay directly with your mobile phone, you don’t need cash.
In addition, you can rent a bike or electric scooter to explore Skopje.
Attractions in Skopje
Mother Theresa Memorial House
Museum is dedicated to Mother Theresa, and there is a chapel on the upper floor.
The museum has free admission and there you will find personal items that belonged to Mother Theresa, snapshots from her life, and her birth certificate, as she was born in Skopje.
The building was built on the site of the Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, where Mother Teresa was baptised.
North Macedonia Gate
The huge gate is filled with sculptures depicting the history of the region.
North Macedonia Square
Located by the river, the square is surrounded by large impressive buildings, shops and statues.
Of course, there you will find the Alexander the Great monument, the most famous attraction in Skopje.
The statue represents Alexander the Great on his horse and is located in the centre of a fountain.
Officially, the statue is called Voin na konj, “the Warrior on Horseback” because of the political dispute with Greece over the names, but everyone knows that the statue depicts Alexander the Great.
It was unveiled on 8 September 2011, the 20th anniversary of independence from Yugoslavia.
Stone bridge
The stone arched bridge was built in the 15th century and is a famous landmark of the city. It connects the centre of Skopje with the old town, passing over the Axios River.
The bridge has suffered a lot over the years, especially in the 1555 earthquake which severely damaged the four columns of the bridge.
In fact, in 1944 the Germans placed explosives on the bridge, but ultimately no damage was caused.
Under the stone bridge, there is a statue of a swimmer, which is there as a reminder that once the water was so clean that people used to bathe in the river.
Art Bridge
An impressive bridge in Skopje is the Art Bridge. It is full of statues of artists, such as poets, etc. and leads to the building that houses the Primary Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic.
Archaeological Museum of North Macedonia
The museum is full of archaeological relics, such as coins and statues. In my opinion, you don’t need to go inside. More impressive is the exterior.
Museum of the Independence of North Macedonia
The museum displays works from the Slavo-Macedonian revolution for the independence of the country.
The museum is arranged in chronological order from the beginning of the struggles for independence to their independence.
Monument to Saints Cyril and Methodius
The monument is a bronze statue depicting Saints Cyril and Methodius. The statues are dressed in Byzantine clothing and hold books in their hands.
Behind the statues is a wall depicting letters of the Slavic alphabet.
The statue is dedicated to Saints Cyril and Methodius, who are considered the creators of the Slavic alphabet and the originators of Slavic languages and cultures.
Fountain of Olympia, the mother of Alexander the Great
The fountain depicts Alexander the Great’s mother with him in many phases of his life. In her pregnancy, with Alexander the Great in her arms as a baby, and with Alexander as a grown child.
Statue of Philip II
Behind the fountain, there is also a statue of Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great.
The bronze reliefs around it date back to World War II, and it depicts important scenes from his life.
National Gallery of the Republic of North Macedonia Daut Pasha Hammam
The hammam built by the vizier Daut Pasha now serves as a gallery with art exhibitions.
The historical building of the Ottoman period was built in the 15th century and is one of the best preserved examples of baths in the city.
Fortress of Skopje
The Skopje Fortress, also known as Fortress Kale, is located on the highest point of the city, overlooking the Vardar River.
You can visit it for free, although the truth is that it is quite abandoned.
Mustafa Pasha Mosque
This huge 15th century mosque is built on a hill above the Old Bazaar. Near the mosque is a sarcophagus where Mustafa Pasha, vizier to Sultan Selim I, is buried.
The mosque is surrounded by rose bushes and is the largest mosques in North Macedonia.
Old Bazaar
The Old Bazaar is one of the most famous places in Skopje and is even the largest in the Balkans!
In its cobbled streets you will find dozens of shops, colourful cafes and of course restaurants serving delicious kebabs and other local flavours.
It’s a Muslim quarter, so you’ll find mosques there and on Fridays they roll out carpets in the streets for the long prayer.
If you want to eat and shop at the Old Bazaar make sure you bring cash (either dinars or euros) as they do not accept card payments.
Church of St. Ascension of the Savior
The small Orthodox church is the only church you pay an entrance fee to enter (€2). You can go to the gardens for free, though.
There is the tomb of national hero Gotse Delchev there, and other gravestones in the garden.
The interior of the church is hidden two metres below the ground, because at the time it was built, churches couldn’t be taller than a mosque.
Food in Skopje
In Skopje you will find restaurants serving all cuisines. Their local dishes are dishes that dominate Balkan cuisine, such as kebabs, pies, soups, pork and beans.
In Skopje I visited a restaurant serving local dishes, Destan, and had kebabs, potatoes and tzatziki. In total I paid only 5€ for a portion of potatoes, a plate of kebabs, tzatziki and bread.
What you need to know before your trip to Skopje
- The currency of North Macedonia is the dinar. 1€ is approximately 61 dinars.
- You can only travel to North Macedonia with a Greek ID card, no passport or VISA required.
- Mobile data is not available for roaming in North Macedonia. I bought eSim from the Airalo app. Use the code ELENI4690 to get a 3€ discount on the package you choose.
- About 4 hours is enough to explore Skopje.
If you want to see more about my trip in Skopje, visit my Instagram profile.
