"Te Sakam Macedonia!" Top 5 Page for this destination FYR of Macedonia by Pijlmans

FYR of Macedonia Travel Guide: 3,220 reviews and 11,637 photos

Pelister National Park - FYR of Macedonia

I love Macedonia!

My girlfriend is from Skopje, Macedonia; I am Dutch and we live near Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

After falling in love with her, I fell in love with Macedonia. What a beautiful country!

Macedonia is located in the Balkan and borders Serbia and Kosovo in the north, Bulgaria in the east, Greece in the south and Albania in the west.

We both love to hike in the mountains, and as there are no mountains in the Netherlands, we frequently go to Macedonia to visit the family and go out into the nature.

In the "Reviews" section below you find some highlights of Macedonia in general. The same tips, supplemented with local information, you will find in the sections per city. Therefore, the best way to browse my pages is to use the links below to the individual cities and villages.

The links in bold refer to pages and sights that in my opinion are extra worthwhile.

Information about Hiking in Macedonia .

Skopje, the capital of Macedonia and the artificial Lake Matka.

The east side of Lake Ohrid: Ohrid, Leskoec, Velgosti, Ramne, Velestovo, Konjsko, Pestani and Trpejca.

The west side of Lake Ohrid: Struga, Kalista, Radozda, Oktisi, Vevcani, Visni and Gorna Belica.

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The west side of Lake Prespa (Stenje), Konjsko and the uninhabited island Golem Grad.

The east side of Lake Prespa: Podmocani, Kurbinovo, Slivnica, Nakolec, Ljubojno and Brajcino.

When you travel by car from Skopje to Ohrid, you can take the direct road via Kichevo, or a more scenic route through Mavrovo National Park via Debar. Here are some suggestions for stops along both routes:

Along the direct road from Skopje to Ohrid: Tetovo, Lesok, Gostivar, Tajmiste, Kicevo, Vrbjani, Lesani, Velmej, Meseista, Volino and Orovnik.

Along the scenic road from Skopje to Ohrid (also via Tetovo): Mavrovo National Park: Galicnik, and Debar.

South-west Macedonia: Prilep, Krusevo, Resen, Bitola and Maloviste.

North-east Macedonia: Kumanovo, Staro Nagoricane, Kriva Palanka, Kratovo, Lesnovo, Kocani, Vinica, Morodvis, Veles, Stip and Berovo.

South-east Macedonia: Negotino, Kavadarci, Demir Kapija, Strumica, Valandovo, Staro Dojran and Gevgelija.

Other interesting sights:

Mountains near Prilep

Macedonia has several archeological sites, such as:

Heraclea Lyncestis near Bitola, Stobi near the village Gradsko, Bargala near Stip, Golemo Gradiste near Kratovo, Plaosnik in Ohrid, Roman Baths at Bansko, Skupi near Skopje, Antigona near Negotino, Isar Marvinci near Valandovo, Vardarski Rid near Gevgelija.

Fortresses: Kale Fortress in Skopje, Tsar Samoil’s Fortress and Gradiste Fortress near Ohrid, Towers of Marko near Prilep, Ottoman Fortress above Tetovo, Vinica Fortress above Vinica, Isar Fortress in Stip, Tsar’s Towers at Strumica, Kale ruins near Veles and Castle at the Pcinja River between Skopje and Veles.

The ancient observatories Kokino near Kumanovo and Cocev Kamen (Tsotse’s Stone) near Kratovo.

The natural rarity The Stone Dolls near Kratovo and the Volcano Duvalo near Ohrid.

Caves: Vrelo Cave at Lake Matka, Bela Voda Cave near Demir Kapija, Kup Cave and Ajducka Cave near Stip, Pesna Cave and ruins of a fortress near Prilep and the Jaorec Cave near Velmej.

Last visit to FYR of Macedonia: Aug 2012
Intro Updated Nov 26, 2012
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Reviews (108)

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Warnings and Dangers (3)
See All Health Insurance
Local Customs (2)
See All Holidays
Hotels (2)
See All Mountain hut near Mavrovo National Park
Sports & Outdoors (1)
Ski Center Mavrovo

Transportation (1)
Website of the Skopje bus station
Shopping (2)
See All Market in Ohrid
Nightlife (1)
Irish Pub St. Patrick, Skopje
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Comments (8)

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Trekki Sep 26, 2010 at 2:29 AM

Wow, Dennis, what a wealth of information about your beloved second home country :-)) I love your off path tips especially, with all the marvellous hiking possibilities! Makes me curious and want to go one day :-)
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Arkeolog Mar 26, 2009 at 3:15 AM

great page here. I loved the tips. congrats.
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CudlleB Mar 16, 2009 at 2:56 PM

I just LOVE your site!! You've done a really good job. Can you tell me if I can find a tourist map of Macedonia on line, with roads and important places to visit? Not a book, just a map. Thank you
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angel-eyes Oct 26, 2008 at 1:20 AM

I nearly went here - I lke the nature
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unaS Aug 27, 2008 at 12:35 PM

Thanks have just ordered the Bradt and a Skopje map, but can't seem to find a phrase book...any idea on that? The free language download is MARVELOUS!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
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JessH Apr 6, 2008 at 6:00 AM

Hi Dennis. Very interesting and elaborate page here with great photos! I must return to read more, but my ratings are definitely with you! Greetings from Dubai / Jess :-)
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Karolina01 May 15, 2007 at 4:38 PM

Very good tips, very impressive.
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Kajser-MK Apr 14, 2007 at 1:35 AM

lovely pages for my country !. So you are "Makedonski Zet" ? :o)