Holiday in Skopje
City in Nordmazedonien — tips, highlights & best time to visit
Country
Nordmazedonien
Type
City
Best time to travel
May to October (20-32 °C). September/October has milder weather. Summer can get very hot (38 °C+).
Budget/day
35-70 €
Getting there from Germany
Flight to Skopje (SKP, approx. 2-3 hours with Wizz Air from several German cities). No visa required for Germans for up to 90 days.
Deals for Skopje:
What makes Skopje special as a destination?
Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, is a city that polarizes. The Skopje 2014 project has transformed the city center with neoclassical facades, dozens of bronze statues, and marble bridges into a kind of Balkan Disneyland — kitschy for some, photogenic for others. However, behind the new facades lies one of the oldest cities in the Balkans with a rich Ottoman past. The Old Bazaar (Stara Charshija) is the largest bazaar in the Balkans outside Istanbul: a labyrinth of artisan alleys, mosques, caravanserais, and tea houses that has existed since the 12th century. The Stone Bridge (Kamen Most) over the Vardar connects the Ottoman Old Bazaar with the new city center. The Kale Fortress above the city offers panoramic views, and the Mother Teresa Memorial House commemorates Skopje's most famous daughter (Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu was born here in 1910). The Matka Canyon, just 15 km to the west, offers kayaking through a spectacular gorge with caves and emerald green water. Skopje's culinary scene is a Balkan dream: Cevapcici, Tavce Gravce (beans in a clay pot), Burek, and the sweet Tulumba dessert — all for a fraction of Western European prices.
What are the top highlights in Skopje?
The top highlights in Skopje include Old Bazaar (Stara Charshija), Skopje 2014 & Ploshtad Makedonija, Matka Canyon, Kale Fortress, Mother Teresa Memorial House.
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Old Bazaar (Stara Charshija)
Largest bazaar in the Balkans outside Istanbul: artisans, mosques, tea houses, and caravanserais since the 12th century.
Skopje 2014 & Ploshtad Makedonija
Neoclassical redesign with bronze statues and the huge statue of Alexander: polarizing but photogenic.
Matka Canyon
Emerald green gorge 15 km to the west: kayaking, caves, and hiking trails — Skopje's green jewel.
Kale Fortress
Byzantine fortress above the city with panoramic views over the Vardar and both halves of the city.
Mother Teresa Memorial House
Birthplace of the saint (1910): museum and chapel at the site of her parents' house.
Hotels in Skopje
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Reise-SIM für Skopje
Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
When is the best time to visit Skopje?
The best time to visit Skopje is May to October (20-32 °C). September/October has milder weather. Summer can get very hot (38 °C+).. 28-38 °C, hot and dry, occasionally humid In winter: 0-8 °C, cold and foggy, occasionally snow
Recommended travel time
May to October (20-32 °C). September/October has milder weather. Summer can get very hot (38 °C+).
Summer
28-38 °C, hot and dry, occasionally humid
Winter
0-8 °C, cold and foggy, occasionally snow
How much does a holiday in Skopje cost?
Budget travellers: 15-30 €/day, mid-range: 35-70 €/day, luxury: 80-180 €/day.
Average costs per person per day
Budget
15-30 €
Hostel, Street food, Public transport
Mid-range
35-70 €
Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions
Luxury
80-180 €
Boutique hotel, Fine dining
How do I get from Germany to Skopje?
Flight to Skopje (SKP, approx. 2-3 hours with Wizz Air from several German cities). No visa required for Germans for up to 90 days.
Book a package holiday to Skopje
Compare thousands of package holidays to Skopje and find the best deals with flight & hotel.
Compare package holidays nowWhat travel tips are there for Skopje?
Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.
No visa required — Germans can enter visa-free for 90 days. Cheap Wizz Air direct flights.
Denar is cheap — 1 € ≈ 61 MKD. Cevapcici portion for 3 €, taxi around the city for 2 €.
Matka Canyon as a half-day trip — boat and kayak at the canyon, Vodno mountain by cable car. Both doable in one day.
Ohrid as a day trip — the UNESCO Ohrid Lake is 3 hours away, perfect for a weekend getaway.
Try Tavce Gravce — beans in a clay pot, North Macedonia's national dish, available in every restaurant at the Old Bazaar.
What should you eat in Skopje?
Typical specialities in Skopje: Tavce Gravce — white beans in a clay pot with paprika and onions: North Macedonia's national dish, simple and delicious., Cevapcici — grilled minced meat rolls with kajmak and flatbread: Balkan classic, found on every corner in Skopje., Burek — pastry with cheese or minced meat: breakfast at the bazaar, served with ayran (yogurt drink)., Shopska Salata — tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and grated white cheese: refreshing and ubiquitous., Tulumba — fried dough pieces in sugar syrup: sweet, sticky, and the most popular dessert at the bazaar..
These specialties you must try!
