Last Updated on August 20, 2026 by Nadia Halfway

📜 Introduction.

The first time I visited North Macedonia was back in 2021, when I was an Erasmus student in Sofia. We were in the middle of the second Covid wave and, as it was a trip organised for international students, it wasn’t exactly the most culturally immersive experience.

And yet, the Republic of North Macedonia is an extraordinary country that offers incredible historic sites, breathtaking natural landscapes and excellent wines.

In this 4-day North Macedonia itinerary, I’m taking you with me to discover some of the country’s most beautiful places. This is the exact programme I planned and followed during my recent trip here with a group of friends. We hired a car and hit several unmissable stops, including Matka Canyon, the city of Tetovo and Lake Ohrid.

So, if you’re planning a group trip and looking for a destination that’s affordable but genuinely fascinating, this itinerary is perfect for you!

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📃 A Little Bit of History.

Before you set off, you need to know a little piece of North Macedonia’s history. Over the centuries, this country has been a true crossroads of cultures and civilisations. Since old times, this land has seen the passage of ancient Macedonians, Romans and Byzantines. However, it is the Ottoman Empire that has left the most visible mark. The Turks dominated the region for five centuries, leaving behind unique architecture and an oriental atmosphere you can still breathe in today with the presence of mosques and bazaars almost in every city and village.

In the twentieth century, the country became part of Yugoslavia, before gaining independence peacefully in 1991. It only adopted its current name in 2019, to resolve a long-standing dispute with Greece. It is precisely this incredible fusion of peoples and cultures that makes a trip to North Macedonia such an authentic and unforgettable experience.

Day 1: Matka Canyon and Skopje Tour

We arrived the night before, on a direct flight from Bari with Wizz Air. On arrival in Skopje, after a brief stroll around the centre, we went to bed relatively early so we could be well-rested for the hike at Matka Canyon the following day.

Matka Canyon (you can find the full guide here) is just 15 km from the centre of Skopje, yet the moment you arrive, you feel like you’ve stepped into a completely different world. The rocky cliffs reflected in the emerald-green lake water and the paths winding through the lush vegetation make this place an absolute paradise. The Matka area is perfect if you’re in the mood to explore. There’s the Vrelo Cave, reachable by boat or kayak directly from the canyon, numerous monasteries and ruins of ancient churches, and hiking trails for all levels of difficulty.

After the hike, we stopped for lunch at Restaurant Treska, right on the riverbank, with a beautiful garden and a view over the water.

In the afternoon, back in Skopje, we joined a free guided tour of the North Macedonian capital. Skopje is a surprising city: on one hand, it has a slightly kitsch aesthetic with its enormous statues and ornate bridges; on the other, it has an authentic and lively soul that reveals itself above all in the Ottoman quarter. The city’s highlights are undoubtedly Macedonia Square, the Macedonia Gate, the old railway station, the Mother Teresa Memorial House, the Stone Bridge, the Old Bazaar and Skopje Fortress.

We ended the day with a delicious traditional dinner at Cardak, a restaurant in Skopje’s bohemian neighbourhood (Debar Maalo). However, I would have preferred to eat at one of the little Turkish restaurants in the Old Bazaar area.

🕰️ Suggested Programme.

• H 09.00 – Hike through Matka Canyon trails
• H 11.30 – Boat or kayak trip to Vrelo Cave
• H 13.30 – Lunch with views over the River Treska
• H 15.00 – Return to Skopje
• H 17.00 – Free guided tour of the old town and Old Bazaar
  • Macedonia Square and Macedonia Gate
  • Woman Warrior Park
  • Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia
  • Old Railway Station
  • Mother Teresa Memorial House
  • Stone Bridge
  • Holocaust Memorial Centre
  • Old Bazaar
  • Daut Pasha Hamam (now the National Gallery of Macedonia)
  • Kapan Han
  • Orthodox Church of the Ascension of Jesus
  • Sunset at Skopje Fortress
• 20.30 – Dinner at the Old Bazaar or the Bohemian Quarter

Day 2: Coffee Break in Tetovo, Lunch at Mavrovo National Park and Visit to Bigorski Monastery

The second day was quite intense. From Skopje, we headed towards Ohrid, making three stops along the way.

The first was Tetovo, an Albanian-majority city nestled in the mountains, about an hour’s drive from the capital, with a completely different atmosphere. Here we visited the Colourful Mosque (Šarena Džamija), a genuine gem from the fifteenth century, decorated with floral and geometric motifs covering every centimetre of its interior walls. From the outside it may seem simple, but it is one of the most beautiful mosques in the entire Balkans! We then explored the Arabati Baba Teqe complex, an eighteenth-century dervish tekke that blends Islamic and Ottoman elements within a peaceful, timeless garden. Finally, we treated ourselves to a well-earned coffee break at one of the little cafés near the mosque before hitting the road again.

After another hour’s drive, we reached Mavrovo National Park, the largest in North Macedonia. We didn’t venture deep into the park: we parked in front of Hotel Exclusive (a now-disused resort that still has a convenient staircase leading straight down to the lake) and had lunch at Gostilnica Dva Sokola, a place only serving burek, with a panoramic view. If you continue driving south along the lakeshore, you’ll also spot the suggestive Saint Nicholas Church (Old Mavrovo Church) which is partially submerged. Depending on the water level, you might even be able to walk right up to it!

The last stop of the day was Bigorski Monastery (Saint John the Baptist), hidden in the forests of Mount Bistra. It is one of the most important Orthodox monasteries in the country, renowned for its finely hand-carved wooden iconostasis.

After another two hours in the car, we finally arrived in the beautiful Ohrid. We checked in and ended the evening with dinner at a little restaurant in the Turkish quarter.

🕰️ Suggested Programme.

• H 09:00 – Departure from Skopje
• H 10:30 – Arrival in Tetovo
  • Visit to the Painted Mosque
  • Visit to Arabati Baba Teqe
• H 11:30 – Coffee break, then back on the road
• H 12:30 – Arrival at Mavrovo National Park
• H 13:30 – Lunch in Mavrovo
• H 15:30 – Visit to Bigorski Monastery
• H 17:00 – Departure for Ohrid
• H 19:00 – Arrival in Ohrid and check-in
• H 20:30 – Dinner

Day 3: Ohrid Tour, Wine Tasting and Boat Trip.

If there is one city in North Macedonia that will steal your heart, it’s Ohrid. A UNESCO World Heritage Site for both its historic centre and its eponymous lake, it was once known as the Jerusalem of the Balkans for its extraordinary concentration of religious buildings. Legend has it that it had 365 churches: one for every day of the year.

Its lake, which is over a million years old, is the oldest in Europe and is home to around 200 endemic species found nowhere else in the world, including the celebrated Ohrid trout. Despite its size, the lake boasts underwater visibility that can reach up to 22 metres in places, making it remarkably clear.

We spent the morning exploring Ohrid’s old town, wandering through cobbled alleyways, stone houses with wooden balconies and medieval churches that appear around every corner. The stops you absolutely cannot skip are the Church of Saint John the Theologian at Kaneo (with its iconic view over the lake), Plaoshnik (the archaeological complex with the early Christian basilica and Saint Clement’s university), and Samuel’s Fortress, which dominates the city from above.

For lunch, we did a wine tasting at a nearby vineyard, a highly recommended experience if you love wine. The tasting was supposed to last around two hours but we ended up finishing at around 5:30 PM which meant our plans to relax on the beach fell through. Ohrid isn’t exactly a beach destination in the traditional sense, but some spots like Mizo City Beach, Kaneo Beach and Potpesh Beach are perfectly swimmable.

Given the time, we headed back to our accommodation to get changed before the sunset boat trip on the lake. This mini cruise lasts about an hour and a half and includes a glass of prosecco or fruit juice. We then rounded off the evening with dinner at MoMir Tavern, a well-known restaurant right on the waterfront.

🕰️ Suggested Programme.

• H 09:00 – Visit to the old town
  • Chinar Tree
  • Old Bazaar
  • St. Clement of Ohrid City Square
  • Robevci Family House
  • Church of Saint Jovan the Theologian at Kaneo
  • Plaoshnik Archaeological Site and St. Klement University
  • Church of Saints Clement of Ohrid and Panteleimon
  • Samuel’s Fortress
  • Ancient Macedonian Theatre of Lychnidos
  • Varosh (Old Town Viewpoint)
  • Church of the Virgin Mary (Čelnička)
• H 13:00 – Wine tasting with lunch included
• H 17:30 – Relax at the lake:
  • Mizo City Beach
  • Kaneo Beach
  • Potpesh Beach
• H 19:00 – Sunset Lake Cruise
• H 21.00 – Dinner with lake views

Day 4: Bay of Bones, Bitola, Stobi and Return to Skopje.

That morning, I would have loved to visit Saint Naum Monastery which sits on the opposite side of the lake from Ohrid, about 40 minutes by road. It’s built on a cliff above the water and surrounded by magnificent peacocks roaming freely around the courtyard. Nearby, you’ll also find the Bay of Bones, a fascinating open-air museum on the water that features a reconstruction of a Bronze Age stilt village. Since we were in a group and I wasn’t driving, I couldn’t make this detour (though luckily I had visited Saint Naum during my Erasmus trip).

We then headed to Bitola, the second-largest city in North Macedonia, starting with the archaeological site of Heraclea Lyncestis, dating back to the Roman era and home to mosaics in an exceptional state of preservation. It’s also well worth stopping at the NI Institute & Museum Bitola, before taking a stroll through the beautiful town centre, particularly Magnolia Square, the Clock Tower and Ishak Çelebi Mosque.

If time allows (it didn’t for us), there’s one last stop not to be missed: the ruins of Stobi, an important Roman-early Christian site along the road back to Skopje, with the option of dinner at the nearby Lazar Winery.

And that was it for our adventure: we boarded our flight at Skopje Airport at 21:00 and headed home.

🕰️ Suggested Programme.

• H 08:30 – Saint Naum Monastery
• H 10:30 – Visit to the Bay of Bones
• H 12:00 – Explore Heraclea Lyncestis archaeological site
• H 13:30 – Lunch
• H 15.00 – Bitola town centre
  • NI Institute & Museum Bitola
  • Magnolia Square
  • Clock Tower
  • Ishak Çelebi Mosque
• H 17:30 – Stobi ruins
• H 20:00 – Dinner at Lazar Winery

🛏️ Where to Stay in North Macedonia.

Since we were a group of six, we went for entire apartments.

In Skopje, we stayed at City Center Panorama Suite. We paid €160 in total, split between six (roughly €26 each). The flat had two bathrooms, a separate bedroom with two single beds, a one-and-a-half bed in the living room (hidden behind a partition), a sofa bed and a kitchen. I’d recommend this place for a group trip if you want a nightclub literally on your doorstep, so you can stumble straight home at the end of the night. I wouldn’t recommend it, however, if you’re travelling solo or if you’re after a quieter stay.

In Ohrid, we stayed at Villa Mishe for €200, again split between six (€33 per person). It’s a block of flats that rents out various rooms with en-suite bathrooms. We stayed in two rooms: one with a double bed, the other with a double bed plus a room with two single beds. The rooms are extremely comfortable, the location is excellent and the price is good.

Although we booked through a third-party website, payment in cash (euros or Macedonian dinars) is actually required on arrival in most stays. I would therefore advise you to check your booking carefully and, if necessary, withdraw enough cash only after confirming the final price (particularly the exchange rate from euros to dinars).

Nevertheless, if you are looking for something different, Booking.com has a brilliant variety of stays tailored to every budget and travel style.

🔽 Ready to travel? You can search for your next accommodation directly in the bar below! 🔽

🍜 What to Eat in North Macedonia.

North Macedonian cuisine is a wonderful fusion of Balkan flavours and Ottoman influences. Expect rich, spiced and outrageously generous portions, like seriously large. One starter and one main per person is more than enough.

In Skopje, you absolutely have to lose yourself in the Old Bazaar, which is full of wonderful little Turkish restaurants. Order a generous portion of kebapi (spiced meat sausages) or a crispy burek filled with cheese. Alternatively, head to the bohemian neighbourhood of Debar Maalo, which is packed with traditional Macedonian restaurants. Our tour guide told us to go there and pick any restaurant at random as they’re all excellent and frequented by locals. If you do, don’t miss the tavče gravče (a bean stew slow-cooked in terracotta pots, namely the true national dish) and the ajvar, a delicious roasted red pepper relish to spread on bread.

As you head south, the food in Ohrid changes completely. Here, the undisputed star is freshwater fish. Sit down at a little restaurant with a view over the water and order the famous Ohrid trout (pastrmka) or a traditional fish soup. Pair it with a well-chilled glass of local white wine and prepare yourself for a genuine explosion of flavour! Ohrid also has its own Old Bazaar, where you can sample delicious Turkish dishes.

Recommended Restaurants and Bars.

Matka.

• Matka Canyon Hotel & Restaurant. The most popular option, located right in the heart of the canyon.
• Monastery Cave Restaurant. Carved into the rock near one of the ancient monasteries, it is located right at the canyon entrance.
• Restaurant Treska. Placed along the road towards Skopje, directly on the banks of the River Treska. I had lunch here and everything was excellent! I highly recommend the Treska Table for 4 people and their incredible tomahawk steak.

Skopje.

• Onur Bey Restoran.Located in the Turkish quarter (look for the Cyrillic sign: Ресторан „Онур-беј”). Incredibly affordable prices and a full 5-star rating on Google.
• TURKOS Rice & Chicken. A no-frills Turkish eatery serving mainly rice and proteins (chicken, beef, pulses). Ideal if you want to eat cheaply and keep it light.
• Vavilon Restaurant. Also in the Old Bazaar, inside the Kapan Han (an ancient Ottoman caravanserai). Worth a visit for the setting alone.
• Skopski Merak. Recommended by our guide, this is a fairly well-known Macedonian restaurant in the Debar Maalo area. Serves traditional, extremely hearty dishes.
• Chardac. Another lovely traditional Macedonian restaurant in the Bohemian Quarter, also suggested by our guide. Excellent food with enormous portions which I’d particularly recommend the stuffed fried peppers and the pastrmajlija. We ate here and everything was delicious.

Tetovo.

• Driada Restaurant. A short distance from the centre, with a beautiful setting and excellent traditional Macedonian cuisine.
• Restaurant Bakal. Located in the nearby village of Brvenica, this is another very well-kept restaurant with a fantastic location.

Mavroro.

• Restaurant Panorama. Along the scenic road towards Mavrovo National Park, you will find this beautiful spot with mountain views.
• Gostilnica Dva Sokola. Right next to Hotel Exclusive in Mavrovo, with a spectacular view of the lake, this small place is specialised in breakfasts and serves exclusively burek and Turkish or Balkan pastries.

Ohrid.

• Su rooftop restaurant. An elegant restaurant with a stunning panoramic terrace overlooking the lake.
• Restaurant Tino. A fairly simple place but with a wide selection of grilled meats and fish. You can find Ohrid trout here at a reasonable price.
• MoMir. Located near the harbour, buthonestly it’s overpriced by Macedonian standards. They also serve Ohrid trout, but it costs twice as much as at Restaurant Tino! I’d only suggest it for a special occasion, otherwise, you can skip it entirely.

Bitola.

• Villa Oskar. This is actually a beautiful guesthouse just outside Bitola with a lovely restaurant.
• PIONERSKI Book Bar. A charming book bar serving excellent food, with particularly good starters and lighter dishes like sandwiches, club sandwiches and burgers. We ate here and ordered two sharing boards: one of cured meats and one of cheeses. Service is a bit slow.

Stobi and Veles

• Lazar Winery. A lovely family-run restaurant with guesthouse vibes. It offers excellent wine tastings, slightly above average pricing for North Macedonia but still very reasonable (ranging from €35 to €60 depending on the number of courses and glasses). It’s one of the best food and wine experiences in the entire country!
• Chateau Sopot Makedonija. Between Stobi and Skopje, this beautiful vineyard has a restaurant where you can do a wine tasting with views over the hills. The menu spans fish, burgers, salads and various traditional starters.

If you don’t fancy driving after a wine tasting in North Macedonia, or simply haven’t hired a car, you can book a fantastic food and wine tour on GetYourGuide with convenient pick-up and drop-off in Skopje. This organised excursion will take you to both Lazar Winery and Chateau Sopot, so it is perfect for relaxing, toasting with friends and enjoying the whole experience without any stress! You can check the availability directly using the widget below.

🎫 Where to Buy Tickets.

Entry to almost all the places mentioned in this itinerary is free or costs next to nothing (€3-5), and tickets can be purchased on the spot. Below is a handy list of the various prices.

• Matka Canyon = free
• 30-minute boat trip = 400 MKD
• Entry to various churches = free or up to 200 MKD
• Skopje Archaeological Museum = 400 MKD (for foreign visitors)
• Šarena Džamija Mosque in Tetovo = free
• Arabati Baba Teqe = free
• Mavrovo National Park = free
• Bigorski Monastery = free
• Plaoshnik Archaeological Site = 150 MKD
• Bay of Bones = 150 MKD
• Heraclea Lyncestis = 200 MKD
• Stobi Ruins = 300 MKD

Even though entrance tickets are bought on the day, I’d recommend booking any experiences and tours in advance in North Macedonia.

For classic free walking tours, I suggest searching on GuruWalk for Bitola, Ohrid and Skopje. We only did the Skopje one, booking through this link. It lasts about two and a half hours and is genuinely thorough. Our guide was highly professional and gave us brilliant recommendations for restaurants and other places to visit in North Macedonia.

For activities, we used Viator which tends to have slightly lower prices than other platforms offering the same experiences.

If you don’t have a car and need to get around by public transport, I’d recommend these GetYourGuide tours to follow roughly the same itinerary, but keep in mind that prices are higher.

If you’re feeling adventurous, know that Lake Ohrid in particular offers a huge range of experiences, including paragliding. Here are a few I wish I’d done:

💡 Travel Tips.

🛡️ Is North Macedonia Safe?

Absolutely yes. We didn’t have a single moment of tension or unease throughout the entire trip. It’s a destination you can visit with complete peace of mind.

North Macedonia is also safe for women travelling solo or with friends, too. Of course, the golden rule of any trip applies here as well: always use common sense and avoid venturing alone into peripheral, isolated or poorly lit areas late at night. We were a mixed group and walked around without any issues, even at night in the city centres.

On that note, bars and clubs close around at 1am. You won’t find much open at night apart from the occasional 24/7 shop.

💰 How Much Does North Macedonia Cost?

For this itinerary, including flights and car hire, we spent roughly €300 each, eating out every day (including in well-regarded restaurants) and doing various excursions and activities. We found return flights from Bari to Skopje for just €70, which is pretty remarkable. However, the price will naturally vary depending on your city of departure and airline.

Food is very affordable despite the generous portions: depending on the restaurant and what you order, you could easily get away with spending €10 or less. Glasses of wine, cocktails and beers are all very cheap too. Interestingly, coffees, cappuccinos and breakfasts in general are actually more expensive than main dishes and alcoholic drinks.

Accommodation ranges widely, you can find hostel dorms from €12 per night or hotel rooms at €100, depending on the area, your travel style and the property itself.

Public transport is cheap, as are taxis, though I can’t give you a precise figure as we had a car. Petrol costs around €1.30 per litre.

As mentioned in the tickets section, entry fees are often free or very low. Some places charge slightly higher prices for foreign visitors. Organised tours or experiences booked through travel platforms can be considerably more expensive.

Cigarettes are indeed very cheap here. However, if you are a smoker, I suggest you only buy one carton of cigarettes at the airport duty-free. There is a limit of 200 cigarettes, and your luggage will be checked again when you land on your return.

💵 Cash or Card?

Cash is still very much in demand, and restaurants and bars in particular often don’t accept cards. So, always carry some cash with you. If you have Revolut, you can withdraw from bank branches (not ATMs) without paying commission or exchange fees, unless you withdraw on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday.

Also worth remembering: 100 MKD is roughly €1.60.

🚌 Getting Around.

For getting between cities, buses connect the main destinations with fairly regular frequency. Within Skopje, the JSP Skopje public transport service is available, with tickets purchased at kiosks around the city.

Trains are quite limited as the rail network is slow and mainly connects Skopje with Bitola, Kičevo and Kočani.

Taxis are affordable, but be careful: there are no apps like Uber or Bolt here. I’d recommend asking the staff at your accommodation to call a trusted driver. Alternatively, always agree on the fare with the taxi driver before you get in!

🚗 Renting a Car.

Since our itinerary was fairly packed and we were a group of six, we decided to hire a small van.

After comparing prices across several rental companies, we went with QEEC which was the most affordable option, at least for vans. Our car was a Dacia Lodgy with 7 seats, with full coverage, roadside assistance and driver and passenger protection. In total we paid €368 plus €12 for an additional driver, payable at collection. Split between six was only €65 each for 5 days. The deposit was €750, which was returned within a week of dropping off the car.

As of June 2026, you can currently apply the following promo code on QEEQ for an extra 8% discount:

IG2026

One important thing to note: speed limits are very low here, so even a 15 km journey (like the Skopje-Matka route) can take 40-45 minutes depending on traffic. The authorities are known to hand out fines, so do respect the limits.

At motorway toll booths you can pay by card or cash, and they usually cost around €1.50.

📲 eSim.

Although North Macedonia is in Europe, roaming doesn’t apply here. You’ll need an eSIM to use the internet freely without any nasty surprises on your bill.

After comparing the best eSIM providers on the market, my group and I went with Yesim. Here’s how it works:

1. Go to the Yesim website by clicking qui
2. Sign up and confirm your registration via email (if necessary, enter the 4-digit code you’ll receive in your email)
3. Without leaving the site, click on your account icon at the top, select “redeem” and enter this code: UKUO6728
4. You should receive €5 to use when purchasing your eSIM
5. Choose your eSIM for ‘North Macedonia’
6. Select ‘Prepaid Plans’ and choose your data allowance
7. Proceed to checkout and claim the €5 referral bonus (if you haven’t completed step 3, you can copy and paste the code into the ‘Promo Code’ box at the time of purchase)

🎁 Use the referral code below to register on Yesim and unlock your €5 discount 🎁

UKUO6728

❓ FAQ.

🎈 Conclusion.

North Macedonia is an exceptional country. Authentic, incredibly affordable and full of landscapes that genuinely take your breath away.

Here you’ll find a capital city that is elegant and modern yet surrounded by ancient ruins and multicultural influences. You can explore national parks, mountains and turquoise lakes, as well as charming towns and villages. You can savour Eastern food and taste exceptional wines. North Macedonia is a blend of different cultures that coexist in perfect harmony.

So, if you’re looking for an authentic destination that’s still well off the beaten track, or want to organise a low-cost group trip, this 4-day North Macedonia itinerary is exactly what you need. If, on the other hand, you’d like to extend your stay in Ohrid, this article is full of ideas for places to visit and things to do.

💬And you? Are you planning a trip to North Macedonia soon, or have you already visited some of these wonderful places? Let me know in the comments below!

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