Places to visit in Skopje

• Matka canyon: it is located 15km south-west of Skopje and covers an area of roughly 5,000hectares. It is home to several medieval buildings and monasteries in addition to dozens of caves and a large number of endemic plants and animals. It is one of the most popular destinations in North Macedonia and offers its visitors the opportunity to engage in a range of activities such as alpine hiking, kayaking on the Treska River, fishing, hunting and swimming.

• The Old Bazaar (in Macedonian, Stara Charshija) in Skopje is the largest bazaar in the Balkans outside Istanbul. It is situated on the eastern bank of the Vardar River, stretching from the Stone Bridge to the Bit-Pazar and from the Skopje Fortress to the Serava River. Evidence exists of the existence of a merchant quarter on the bazaar's territory in the 12th century. During the Ottoman rule, the Bazaar became the city’s merchant center and home to around 30 mosques, and other Ottoman buildings and monuments. Most of those buildings were transformed into museums and galleries. The Museum of the Skopje Old Bazaar, situated in Suli Han, includes collections of artifacts that evidence the life within the bazaar, its development, and the crafts that were practiced during its history. Nowadays the modern bazaar includes several mosques, türbes, two churches and a clocktower, in addition to the buildings of the Museum of North Macedonia and the Museum of Modern Art.

• The Millennium Cross:  is a 66 metre-high cross built on the highest point of the Vodno Mountain in Skopje to serve as a memorial of 2,000 years of Christianity in North 
  Macedonia and the world. A chairlift was constructed to aid transfer of visitors to the region of the cross where a panoramic view of the city of Skopje can be seen. At night the cross shines down over the city.

• Memorial House of Mother Teresa: is a landmark located in the City Centre and is a modern representation of the house of Mother Teresa who was born on Skopje in 1910. She spent her early years in this place where once stood the Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic church where she was baptized. It cherishes and glorifies her life work, generosity, perseverance and dedication and is filled with relics of her time such as her birth certificate issued in 1928, her sari, hand written prayer book, the rosary and cross as well as several awards she won throughout her life.

Ohrid is a large town in southwestern North 
Macedonia on the shore of Lake Ohrid. Archaeological finds indicate that it is one of the oldest human settlements in Europe. Ohrid’s major attractions are all located among and above the narrow streets of the Old Town lined with restaurants and cafés perfectly suited for relaxing in the summer evenings. At the lake, full range of water sports, fishing and boating is available, and numerous churches alongside Ohrid’s lake shores make for fascinating side trips and walks. There are different natural beaches, usually the further from the city center the more scenic they become, and each offers a unique atmosphere. A town of vast history and heritage, it was made a UNESCO heritage site in 1980.

Travel information

• Ohrid has an international airport about 7 km away from the city center.
• The distance between Skopje and Ohrid is 174 km. From Skopje it can be reached via car or bus

Places to visit in Ohrid

• 1.St. Naum Church: located on a high, rocky outcropping over the lake, above deep forests and springs of the river Crn Drim.

• Bay of Bones: this is a Museum on Water - an archaeological complex, located in the Bay of Bones which is an  authentic reconstruction of a part of the pile-dwelling settlement, dating back between 1200 and 700 BC.

• Church "St. John at Kaneo": with views of the lake below, it is located on a cliff above a small fishing settlement, it is a combination of Byzantine and Armenian architectural styles and is considered one of the most beautiful churches in North 
  Macedonia as well as in the whole Balkan region.

• Ohrid Fortifications such as King Samoil Fortress: The whole old town is circled with walls, which are crowned with King Samoil fortress. Dated from the 3^rd and 5^th century BC and reinforced throughout history, King Samoil Fortress can be reached from a small path through the woods. It contains ancient graves, remains of a round tower and a cistern and offers great views over the lake and city of Ohrid.

Special Activities

Ohrid Swimming Marathon – held each year, in the second half of July, offers the swimming elite throughout the world the opportunity to swim a 30-km route, starting from the monastery St. Naum, and along the Lakeshore to the town harbour.  Since 1998 the Ohrid Swimming Marathon has entered in the World Swimming Club of the 12 worldwide held marathons under the patronage of FINA-The World Swimming Association.

Bitola, the second largest city and one of the oldest cities in the territory of the Republic of North 
 Macedonia, is located in the southwestern part of the country and is an administrative, cultural, industrial, commercial, and educational centre. Due to its strategic location as a junction connecting the south of the Adriatic Sea with the Aegean Sea and Central Europe, it has been known since the Ottoman period as "the city of the consuls", as many European countries have consulates in Bitola.

Travel Information

The distance between Bitola and the capital Skopje is 169 km. From Skopje it can be reached via car, bus or train.

Places to visit in Bitola

• Ancient town "Heraclea Lyncestis": famous for its dazzling mosaics, ancient theater and Roman baths, Heraclea is the most vividly preserved city from the surviving Ancient Macedonian Empire in the country.

• Museum of Bitola: originally built as a Military High School - Idadie in 1848, when Bitola had its biggest development, in 1900, this High School became a Military Academy - Harabie, where Mustafa Kemal Ataturk - the father of Modern Turkey, was educated. The building was adapted in 1983 into a Museum where the most valuable cultural and historical treasures from the region are kept, preserved and presented

• Pelister National Park: located 15 km from Bitola, where Mount Pelister- the third highest peak in the Republic of North 
  Macedonia is situated. Pelister is rugged and mountainous and is known for its two mountain lakes, which are called Pelister's Eyes. Pelister National Park is filled with exquisite flora and fauna.

Struga is a town and popular tourist destination situated in the south-western region of the Republic of North 
Macedonia. It lies on the shore of Lake Ohrid and also has a river called Crn Drim which flows gently through the town. It is considered quieter and more peaceful than Ohrid. The Struga Poetry Evenings are held every August at the Poetry Bridge when Struga is visited by poets, writers and artists from all around the world.

Berovo is a small town in the eastern part of North Macedonia. With its Bregalnica River, Berovo Lake and the forest of the Malesevo Mountains, it is an attractive tourist destination. It is considered the town with highest concentration of oxygen on the Balkan peninsula.

Mavrovo region is home to Mavrovo National Park and a winter sports center. It is considered a touristic attraction due to its location at Bistra Mountain and its lake “Mavrovo” and for being the most popular ski center in North Macedonia.

Krushevo is famous for its traditional architecture, cultural sites, and legacy as the site of the great 1903 Ilinden uprising against Ottoman domination. It is a prime winter sports destination due to its high elevation and offers cool and pure air during the summer.

Tetovo city is located in the foothills of “Shar”Mountain in the northwestern part of North Macedonia. After the arrival of the Ottoman rule in the 15th century, a lot of public and sacral buildings of Islamic culture were constructed in Tetovo: mosques, such as the Colorful Mosque, teke, public kitchens for the poor inhabitants, hammams (public baths) and fountains. Popova Shapka is a resort located in “Shar” Mountain. At 18 km distance from Tetovo, it is considered one of the most famous winter-recreational and ski resorts in North Macedonia.

For more information about tourism in North Macedonia, please visit:

www.macedonia-timeless.com