North Macedonia travel guide

Getting there

Skopje International Airport and Ohrid St Paul the Apostle Airport handle international flights; buses and roads connect with Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Greece and Bulgaria.

Best time to visit: May–Jun and Sep – warm weather; Jul–Aug for swimming in Lake Ohrid.

Tougher months: November to February – cold and grey in Skopje with occasional air pollution; mountain areas are snowy, which suits skiers.

Weather by month in Skopje

• 4°J●
• 8°F●
• 13°M●
• 18°A●
• 24°M●●
• 28°J●
• 31°J●
• 31°A
• 26°S●
• 19°O●
• 11°N●
• 5°D●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Europe/Belgrade. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 80 of 198 other passports can enter North Macedonia without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 118 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of North Macedonia (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-09-10). Read the advisory.

Source and more: North Macedonia travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to North Macedonia are based around Ohrid, Skopje or Matka Canyon. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$25–40 for a backpacker and US$60–110 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun North Macedonia page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: C, F. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +389.

Mobile data: read the eSIM for Europe before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Ohrid (Southwest · UNESCO lake town): A beautiful lakeside town of churches, frescoes and beaches, the country's top destination.
• Skopje (North · capital): A quirky capital where an Ottoman bazaar meets grand statues, modernist buildings and lively cafés.
• Matka Canyon (Near Skopje · canyon & caves): A green canyon with kayaking, hiking and underwater caves.
• Bitola (South · elegant city): A refined city with Ottoman and 19th-century architecture near the ruins of Heraclea Lynkestis.
• Mavrovo National Park (West · mountains): Mountains, a lake with a half-submerged church and the remote village of Galičnik.
• Galičica National Park (Between Ohrid and Prespa · mountain park): Scenic ridges, wild flowers and quiet beaches between two lakes.
• Kratovo (Northeast · old town): A town built in a volcanic crater, crossed by stone bridges and medieval towers.
• Lake Prespa (South · lake): A tranquil lake shared with Albania and Greece, known for birdlife and apple orchards.

Things to do

• Explore Ohrid's old town. Wander cobbled lanes to the clifftop Church of St John at Kaneo, perched above the lake.
• Swim or boat on Lake Ohrid. Take a boat across one of Europe's oldest lakes to the monastery of Sveti Naum and its spring-fed waters.
• Kayak Matka Canyon. Paddle between sheer cliffs and medieval monasteries just outside Skopje.
• Get lost in Skopje's Old Bazaar. Browse craft shops, sip Turkish coffee and see Ottoman mosques and caravanserais.
• Hike Galičica National Park. Climb the ridge between Lakes Ohrid and Prespa for views over both.
• Taste Tikveš wines. Visit vineyards in the country's main wine region and try local Vranec reds.
• Visit the Painted Mosque in Tetovo. Admire the colourful floral decoration covering the walls of this unique mosque.
• Stroll Bitola's Širok Sokak. Join the evening promenade on a pedestrian street lined with 19th-century consular houses.

Source: full North Macedonia guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Tavče gravče – baked beans in a clay pot
• Ajvar – roasted red pepper relish
• Pastrmajlija – boat-shaped bread topped with meat
• Shopska salad – tomato, cucumber and grated white cheese

Source: RoamSun North Macedonia guide

Money and safety

Currency: Macedonian denar (MKD). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Around 10% in restaurants.

Emergency numbers: 112 general · 192 police · 194 ambulance · 193 fire.

• The currency is the Macedonian denar; euros are sometimes accepted in tourist areas but you get change in denars.
• ATMs are widely available in towns and cards are accepted in many restaurants and hotels.
• The country is generally safe, with low crime against tourists; keep an eye on belongings in crowded areas.
• Winter air pollution in Skopje can be high – check air-quality apps if you have respiratory issues.

Source: RoamSun North Macedonia facts