Skopje, Macedonia is a city I didn’t know much about before I visited. It’s the capital of the country and there’s more to see here than you might expect. From memorials to one of Skopje’s most famous residents to a fantastic Holocaust Museum to views of the city and plenty of history, there’s something for everyone in the city of Skopje.
For those with limited time, I’ve put together a one day itinerary that covers all of my favorite things to do in Skopje, North Macedonia.
One Day in Skopje, North Macedonia
This is not the only way to spend one day in Skopje, but it’s what I would recommend to first time visitors. I spent three days in Skopje (with two days spent in the city and one day spent on a day trip to the Matka Canyon) and took the best from that time and arranged it into this one day itinerary.
Morning – Mother Teresa Memorial House and Statues Around Skopje
Later this morning, we’ll take a walking tour to learn more about the city of Skopje, but the tour I recommend doesn’t start until 10:00 am. That gives you a little time for sightseeing prior to your tour. So what do I recommend you do before the tour?
Take a quick stroll through the Mother Teresa Memorial House. Mother Teresa may be famous for her work in Kolkata, India, but she was born here in Skopje. The memorial house is small and doesn’t take long to visit, but since Mother Teresa is arguably the most famous person to be born in Skopje (and the only person from what is now Macedonia to win a Nobel Prize), she’s definitely a point of pride for the city.
Stroll the city and see some of the statues. Specifically, I’d recommend visiting the Bridge of Art and the Bridge of Civilizations near the National Museum of Archaeology. The bridge is lined with statues and with the Archaeology Museum right behind you, it makes for a picturesque location. Plus you can get nice views of the Stone Bridge.
Lastly, I’d recommend popping into the Church of Saints Constantine and Helena. This Orthodox Church is right next to the Mother Teresa Memorial House and it’s a very nice interior. It’s free to visit, so step inside and admire the iconography.
Mid-Morning – Skopje Walking Tour
I don’t know about you, but I didn’t know a lot about Macedonia before my visit. It’s just not a country we talked much about when I was in school, so I joined a walking tour to learn more. As I’ve traveled, I’ve had some great guides and some who were just ok. My guide in Skopje was one of my favorites anywhere in the world because he was so passionate about his city.
Starting from the Alexander the Great Statue we looped through a few sights on the southern side of the Vardar River before crossing the Stone Bridge to the Old Bazaar. We looped through a few sights on this side of the river as we learned more about history in both Macedonia and the city of Skopje. My guide, Dino, was incredibly passionate and I’d highly recommend his tour. The tour is tips based, so you can pay what you feel that it’s worth at the end of your tour.
As a side note, if you have Dino for a tour guide and are planning any other travel within Macedonia, he’s a fantastic resource. Most tour guides will give additional recommendations for their city but Dino sat with a handful of us after the tour to give us recommendations for other cities within Macedonia (Ohrid being the most popular option).
Here’s the exact walking tour I took.
Of course, if you don’t want to take a guided walking tour, you can explore on your own. I’d recommend spending some time exploring the various statues from the Skopje 2014 Project (a project that was meant to “beautify” the city and entice tourists) and wander through the Old Bazaar.
Lunch
Take a break from sightseeing and get some lunch. While I’m not one to typically give restaurant recommendations, I’m going to make a suggestion here (though not for anywhere too specific).
If you took the same walking tour that I did, you’ll finish near the Old Bazaar. I’d recommend grabbing something to eat here. There’s a handful of delicious restaurants serving traditional food and they are great. If your guide was like mine, he should have pointed out the famous bean dish from this region. Near where he pointed this out (here on GoogleMaps if your guide doesn’t) is where I’d recommend looking for lunch. It doesn’t have to be this exact restaurant (I didn’t eat here), but somewhere in this general area will get you some delicious food for a very good price.
Early Afternoon – Skopje Fortress
After lunch (or before, if you prefer), take a stroll over tot he Skopje Fortress. Much of the original fortress was destroyed, but there are some fragments that still remain.
In my opinion, you don’t visit the Skopje Fortress to learn about history or see the ruins, but rather for the amazing view of the city of Skopje. Walk along the walls and take in views of this city from all directions. It’s really fun if you can spot the Alexander the Great Statue, which is where the walking tour started this morning.
Mid Afternoon – National Holocaust Memorial
There are several museums you can visit in Skopje, but I’m recommending that you visit Holocaust Memorial Center. This museum tells the story of the Jewish people in Europe as they were expelled from Spain and moved across the region. You’ll of course learn about those moves, but also will learn about daily life during these times.
As the name of the museum suggests, there is a large focus on the Holocaust and World War 2. The museum focuses heavily on the Jewish people from what is now known as Macedonia and tells the story of how they were captured and sent off to concentration camps. Many of these prisoners were taken to Treblinka, Poland where they were murdered in the gas chambers.
This museum was very well put together and one of the best museums I visited in Skopje (though of course I didn’t have time to visit all of them). It costs just 100 MKD for entry and I feel that price is worth it.
Of course, this is not the only museum you could visit. You can also substitute this museum with the Museum of the Macedonia Struggle or the Archaeological Museum.
Evening – Traveler’s Choice
In the evening, it’s traveler’s choice. Stroll through the Old Bazaar, find a place to watch the sunset, or enjoy a drink in a cafe. The choice is yours.
An Important Note About this Itinerary
If you’re planning on visiting Skopje on a Monday, note that almost all of the museums in the city are closed and that will absolutely have a big effect on your sightseeing. So, if you have more than one day in Skopje, plan to take a day trip on Monday. I went to the Matka Canyon and avoided all of the closures within the city.
Is One Day in Skopje, Macedonia Enough?
I think one day in Skopje is enough to see the city of Skopje. However, nearby Skopje, you’ll find the Matka Canyon which is a gorgeous slice of nature and I’d highly recommend including a visit on your trip to Macedonia. So, at minimum, I’d recommend giving yourself at least two days in Skopje.
How to Get Around Skopje, Macedonia
I found Skopje to be pretty walkable, but you may need to prepare for some longer walks if you’re trying to reach the main bus station. Most of the sights I’ve included in this itinerary are clustered near the Vardar River between the Old Train Station and the Old Bazaar. If you find accommodation near this region, you can get around on foot with ease. The only exception is getting to and from the bus station or airport.
Buses run throughout the city and can help you with some of the longer connections. You can also take buses all the way out to the Matka Canyon, but I found it easier to just pay 20 euros for a guided tour that included the Matka Canyon and some views on Mount Vondo.
How to Get to Skopje, Macedonia
Thanks to an initiative by the government, you can find more and more flights to Skopje. For those already in Europe, this can be great news. For people coming from closer destinations, there are loads of buses arriving from (and departing to) destinations across Macedonia and Europe.
I arrived on a bus from Nis, Serbia, but there were buses from all over Europe. To find buses departing from Skopje’s main bus terminal, you can check this website for timetables. Note that the site is only in Macedonian so you’ll likely have to translate your destination before using it. For example, if you want timetables for Pristina, Kosovo, you’d want to search for Приштина.
Final Thoughts
As mentioned earlier, I found Skopje to be an unexpectedly fun place to visit. I didn’t have many expectations and was mostly visiting because I was in the region and it seemed silly to skip it. Thankfully I did it, because Macedonia definitely became one of my favorite countries in this region and I can thank my introduction in Skopje for that. Even with just one day in Skopje, I’m hopeful you will enjoy the city as much as I did.
