Old Bazaar
A large Ottoman-era market quarter of cobbled lanes, craft workshops, traditional cafes, mosques and old inns. It is the most atmospheric part of the capital, and a good place for coffee and sweets.
Skopje
Matka Canyon is close to the capital, whose mix includes many statues, a medieval fortress and an Ottoman old bazaar.
Attractive locations
Skopje Fortress (Kale)
A hilltop fortress above the river Vardar, with thick stone walls, towers and open ground inside. The ramparts give wide views of the old town and the modern centre.
Matka Canyon
A deep, green gorge on the Treska River west of the city, with a lake, small caves and medieval monasteries tucked into the rock. Visitors walk the paths or paddle on the water.
Millennium Cross
A very large cross standing on the summit of Mount Vodno, above the city. Visitors reach the area by cable car or on foot, and the ridge offers wide views over Skopje and the valley.
Mother Teresa Memorial House
A memorial museum in the city of her birth, devoted to the life of Mother Teresa. Photographs, documents and personal belongings tell the story of her early years and later work.
Macedonia Square
Skopje's central plaza, crowded with statues, fountains and grand new buildings. A large warrior-on-horseback monument stands in the middle, close to the Stone Bridge.
Kuršumli An
A stone Ottoman inn in the Old Bazaar, built in the 16th century, with a courtyard of old arches. It once sheltered merchants and travellers and is now part of the city's heritage sites.
Airports
Skopje International Airport SKP
It is about 16 km in a straight line from Skopje.
Ohrid St. Paul the Apostle Airport OHD
It is about 107 km in a straight line from Skopje.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the North Macedonia page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan-1.3 °C77 mm
- Feb0.5 °C68 mm
- Mar4.7 °C73 mm
- Apr9.5 °C66 mm
- May14.6 °C76 mm
- Jun19.2 °C57 mm
- Jul22.7 °C37 mm
- Aug23.1 °C39 mm
- Sep17.5 °C68 mm
- Oct11.8 °C88 mm
- Nov6.0 °C97 mm
- Dec0.2 °C85 mm
Driest months: Jun, Jul, Aug. Wettest months: Oct, Nov, Dec.
Costs
Prices here are about 37% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
112. Police 192. Fire 193. Ambulance 194.
local government
Crisis Management Centre (CUK) - emergency 112
Helps with: North Macedonia's crisis management centre. Its page presents 112 as the emergency number, reachable round the clock and free of charge from all mobile operators.
Who qualifies: Anyone in North Macedonia facing an emergency or crisis.
Phone: +389 (0)2 3249 101
Email: cuk.mail@cuk.gov.mk
Address: Dimche Mirchev 9, P.O. Box 372, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia
local government
Ministry of Interior of North Macedonia
Helps with: The ministry responsible for the national police. Its English site lists a Skopje head office with phone and email, and an online service for registering foreigners' stays.
Who qualifies: Anyone in North Macedonia, including visitors, with a police matter.
Phone: +389 (0)2 3 117 222
Email: kontakt@moi.gov.mk
Address: Dimche Mirchev 9, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia
ngo
Red Cross of North Macedonia
Helps with: The national Red Cross society. Its site lists first aid, an urgent-assistance service, disaster preparedness and response, psychosocial support and blood donation.
Who qualifies: People in North Macedonia who need its first aid, urgent assistance or disaster services.
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) North Macedonia
Helps with: The UN migration agency. Its Skopje office handles migration matters for the country.
Who qualifies: Migrants and others on the move. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +389 2 30 88 100
Email: iomskopje@iom.int
Address: Str. Oslo 6, 1000 Skopje
local government
Police emergency number 192
Helps with: Reaches the police. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 192
local government
Ambulance emergency number 194
Helps with: Reaches the ambulance service. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 194