North Macedonia Travel Guide: The Perfect 6-Day Itinerary

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Are you looking for a North Macedonia travel guide? Then you have come to the right place because I’m about to share everything you need to know, so keep on reading.

North Macedonia is actually a place you need to add to your bucket list if you haven’t been already. I am really enjoying going to places that are not on everyone’s radar lately, and after travelling Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, and Serbia last year, I knew I was destined to explore more of the Balkans. The Balkan countries have become more and more of an underrated European gem for me, and when my friend said she wanted to travel, and I suggested North Macedonia, I was so ready for it.

What has been even more ironic or amusing is that I did a regular catch-up with my dentist at the beginning of this year and asked her where she was from, and she said “Macedonia”. This was literally the same week I had booked my flight. For me, it felt like God was directly ordaining my steps. What are the chances that my dentist is from the exact country that I am also going to, that I hadn’t really seen people go to?

I told my dentist I was going, and she was so surprised. She actually said, “But no one goes to my country.” Either way, she was so excited that she gave me so many good tips on what to do, and what can I say, North Macedonia is one of the most perfectly beautiful countries I’ve been to, and I’ve been to a lot of countries, 67, including Macedonia to be exact.

If you are looking for a North Macedonia travel guide that is women-friendly and more notably Black girl-friendly, then you already know that it is approved by a local and has been lived by me too.

In this North Macedonia travel guide, I will be sharing North Macedonian hotels I stayed in, what to eat, driving in North Macedonia, and a full 6 day itinerary for North Macedonia so you can experience this underrated European gem for yourself.

About Macedonia

North Macedonia, is one of many names, as it is also known as the Republic of North Macedonia, and by many locals as just Macedonia. It is a landlocked, mountainous country in Southeast Europe’s Balkan Peninsula, bordering countries like Kosovo, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Albania.

Skopje is the capital and largest city in North Macedonia and was formerly part of Yugoslavia, but achieved its independence in 1991. The official currency of North Macedonia is the Macedonian denar (MKD), introduced in 1992 following independence from Yugoslavia. The name North Macedonia was adopted its current name in 2019 to resolve a long-standing dispute with Greece.

The population in North Macedonia is around 1.83 million people, with ethnic Macedonians (58%) as the majority and Albanians (24%) as a significant minority.

The official languages are Macedonian and Albanian. They use the standard European Type C and Type F electrical plugs, a 230V voltage, and 50Hz frequency. Visitors from most of Europe can plug in directly, but those from the UK, US, or elsewhere will need a travel adapter for these two-round-pin sockets. Type F (grounded) is standard, while Type C is also compatible.

Is it Macedonia or North Macedonia?

You will notice that if you’ve seen my content on social media, I use both “Macedonia” and “North Macedonia” for the name of the country interchangeably, and that’s completely fine, as both are commonly used.

Officially, the country is known as North Macedonia, but while there, I noted that the locals and travellers often drop the “North” and just call it “Macedonia”. Either way, we’re talking about the same country, so you may see me use it interchangeably throughout this post.

Key Things to Know Before Going to Macedonia

Internet: You’ll definitely want internet while exploring the city. I usually use **Airalo for an eSIM**, which allows you to get mobile data as soon as you land.
Travel Insurance: I recommend that anyone travelling should have travel insurance, which you can get via SafetyWing here.
Payments: Most places in Macedonia accept card payments, so you rarely need to carry much cash.
The British Embassy: The Embassy is in Skopje. Here is the address: *Todor Aleksandrov 165, Skopje 1000, North Macedonia.* You can also check your country’s Embassy on Embassies.info. You should always do this before you travel, regardless.

Entry Requirements for North Macedonia

If you’re a British, American, or Canadian passport holder, entry to North Macedonia is very straightforward. You don’t need a visa for business and tourism for up to 90 days. I would highly advise that your passports are at least 3-6 months beyond your planned departure date. It is also worth noting that Macedonia is part of the Schengen Zone for travellers with these passports.

As Nigerians, you will need a visa, which you can read about more here. As always, entry requirements can change, so it’s best to double-check the official government travel advice before you fly. As a UK passport holder, I often use the FCDO Travel Advice for peace of mind.

How to Get Around North Macedonia

Getting around North Macedonia is easier than you might think, but it is worth knowing your options before you go ahead and book.

Car Rental

This, in my opinion, is the best and most easiest way to explore North Macedonia, especially if you want to get to places like Matka Canyon, Ohrid and beyond. We picked up our hire car on arrival, and it gave us so much freedom throughout the trip.

If you are from the UK, you can drive in North Macedonia on your UK licence. The roads are generally in good condition, and driving between cities like Skopje and Ohrid is straightforward and scenic. If you are looking for car rentals, then you can book here.

Taxi

There is no Uber in North Macedonia, so you will need to rely on local taxis, which are widely available in Skopje and are a good option for shorter journeys around the city. We were told by a local to use Wiss Taxi, but the app didn’t always work for us. And please always agree on a price before you get in, or make sure the meter is running.

Bus

There are also local buses, which are a great budget option. If you want to get to Matka Canyon from Skopje, Bus 60 will take you there directly.

Places to Stay in Macedonia

The North Macedonia hotels are actually really nice. I stayed in three hotels while in North Macedonia. Below are the hotels I stayed in:

There are a number of accommodation options for your North Macedonia hotels that are actually very nice. I have added a map below, which you can click on for other hotels in Macedonia.

Where to Eat in Macedonia

North Macedonia’s food scene wasn’t a huge surprise for me, as I have been around many other Balkan countries and just knew I was about to devour fresh bread, fresh meats with chillies and seasoning and lots of cheese!

And I did indeed enjoy a week of fresh salads, slow-cooked meats, and cheese and the flavours here are bold and incredibly satisfying. Here are some highlights from my trip:

At MEDO I ordered – Kilo Tava is a hearty dish of tomatoes, peppers and beef, with Shopska Salad, a Balkan classic of fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and white goat cheese and freshly cooked bread.
At Restaurant Kaneo in Ohrid (where I spent most of my trip), I ordered Trout with potatoes and a potato salad, and it was so fresh and wholesome. The restaurant is right by the lake and has an amazing view.
At Restaurant Damar, I ordered the Grandmah Pan, which was literally a few different types of pork. The bacon even had bone on it, that’s how fresh it was. I also had different types of veg, and I also got a Macedonian salad. And I only chose this restaurant because it had a beautiful view of Ohrid.
At M House in Gastivar (on my way back to Skopje), I ordered a freshly made pick-me-up juice with a brownie and cream.
Back in Skopje, I wanted to have some more local dishes, so we headed to the Old Bazaar, and I got myself some Ćevapi with local beans, which I would say is a must-try in Skopje’s Old Bazaar, eaten just like the locals do.
I was craving a burger (very unusual of me), so I did a solo trip to Fat Kitchen Bistro where I ordered the cinkle fries and a chees burger, and it was soo good. If you are not adventurous with your food, then this would be a good place to eat.
At Restaurant Old House, I ordered their lamb leg, which came with mash and veg, and it was such a heartwarming dish, as I recall it was raining that day. For dessert, I had a black pancake and the Old House Strudel with ice cream, absolutely calorific, but super delicious.
At Restaurant Kolektiv, I ordered Pork Pastrmajlija, which is sort of like a pizza bread with meat (photo below). It had chillies, and the pork was seasoned, so the dish was super filling for me.

Is Macedonia Safe for Black Travellers? And Is North Macedonia Worth Visiting?

Yes, Macedonia is safe for Black travellers from my experience. People, the locals don’t even bother you in Macedonia; there are no weird, disgusting stares, and people are generally very helpful and friendly.

In terms of travelling to Macedonia solo, I wasn’t in North Macedonia by myself for the entire trip, but I did have moments where I was able to explore alone, and I loved every second of it.

The locals mind their business, which, for me, is honestly the perfect environment for me. I never felt uncomfortable or out of place. If you do have specific questions, please do not hesitate to email me info@mybreakingviews.com or just DM me via Instagram or TikTok.

North Macedonia Travel Guide

There is a lot to do in North Macedonia, but in hindsight, I think you only really need 4 full days in North Macedonia. Here is my North Macedonia travel guide that you can use below:

Day 1: Arrival in Skopje – We picked up our hire car on arrival. Car rental is widely available and one of the best ways to get around the country. We checked into our hotel and headed out to a nearby restaurant called MEDO for our first Macedonian meal. We ordered Kilo Tava, freshly cooked bread and Shopska Salad. We then finished the night walking around the city, and it was super safe even at night.
Day 2: Drive to Matka Canyon & Ohrid – We started early with a visit to Matka Canyon, just 30-45 minutes from Skopje. It is completely free to enter, and for around £4/$6 you can hop on a boat ride that lasts about 30-40 minutes through the most breathtaking scenery. You can also go kayaking if that’s your thing. Read: Matka Canyon, Macedonia: Everything You Need to Know For This Beautiful Gem. After Matka, we made our way to Ohrid, which is about a two to three hour drive from Skopje. We checked into the Inex Hotel with a lake view, which is absolutely stunning. As it was still fairly low season, it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. In the evening, we ate at Restaurant Kaneo, where I ordered the trout with potatoes.
Day 3: Exploring Ohrid by Boat – Another early start, where we spent the day out on the water. Honestly, after this day trip, I was like no more water! The boat took us around Lake Ohrid, stopping at a number of beautiful spots, including Trpejca, Bay of Bones Museum, and the Monastery of St. Bogorodica Zahumka along the way. Lake Ohrid is one of Europe’s oldest and deepest lakes, and seeing it from the water is something else entirely. If you would like to book the same tour you can book with Amar directly at +38976986758. For dinner, we ate at Restaurant Damar. I ordered the Grandmah Pan.
Day 4: Ohrid & Tetovo– We explored more of Ohrid, including the famous church St. Jovan the Theologian at Kaneo. We then relaxed at the hotel where we were staying, called Inex Olgica Hotel & Spa. On the way back to Skopje, we stopped to see the waterfall in Leshnica near Tetovo, which gave a broader taste of the country. We also stopped in M House for a quick snack. I had a brownie and a pick-me-up juice.
Day 5: Back in the capital Skopje– Being back in the capital, we returned the car and checked into the Marriott Hotel Skopje for the last few days. In the afternoon, we headed to the Old Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest bazaars in the Balkans and had the famous ćevapi with local beans, eaten just as the locals do.
Day 6: Last Day & Night Flight- Our final day in Macedonia. We made the most of the time by using the spa facilities at the Marriott hotel before we had to leave and explore the city one last time. I got myself a cheesburger at Fat Kitchen Bistro and then had a late lunch at Restaurant Old House before heading to the Skopje International Airport for our flights.

More Travel Tools & Tips for North Macedonia

My Instagram and TikTok have quick snap videos on the specifics of my visit to North Macedonia, and DM me if you have any questions about your trip.
Before going to any of these countries, I recommend visiting the Foreign Advice Page for U.K. travellers. Check if you need visas here.
Book with Viator or Get Your Guide if you want specific tours for North Macedonia. Please read the reviews before booking!
Get travel insurance. I recommend that anyone travelling should have travel insurance, which you can get via SafetyWing here.
I used Airlo, an e-SIM card, for data. You can purchase it here and use the code ADEBOL5279 for a discount.

Final Views on North Macedonia

North Macedonia, or Macedonia, completely exceeded every expectation I had. And not surprise at all because after exploring so many Balkan countries over the last year or so, I knew it was going to be amazing!

Macedonia has the dramatic mountain landscapes, the turquoise waters of Lake Ohrid, the warmth of the locals and the incredible food; this country has it all. It is a criminally underrated country, and I genuinely believe it is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. If you are on the fence, let this be your sign to go.

What do you think have I convinced you to visit North Macedonia? Let’s talk in the comments.

Speak soon,

MBV x

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