North Macedonia Custom Tour Packages

We recommend visiting between mid-March and late May, or from late September to late October. North Macedonia's summers are long hot, and dry, while winters are short, but fairly cold and wet (although snow rarely lasts for more than a few days outside of the mountains). If visiting in the summer, the very best place to be in North Macedonia is Lake Ohrid.

North Macedonia's cuisine reflects its location near the Mediterranean and Middle East. While it shares many of the foods of its neighbors, it's known for its dairy and wine. The ubiquitous national dish is Tavce Gravce, a simple dish of beans, onions, and spices that are boiled, then baked in a traditional clay pot. Grilled meats are the (often literal) backbone of North Macedonian cuisine, although the country is also known for its dairy. If you find yourself in Ohrid, be sure to try local fish, especially the trout.

A popular aperitif is Mastika, a liqueur seasoned with the resin of the evergreen mastic tree. North Macedonians can rightfully boast about their wines, especially the reds, but are also fond of their Rakija, a strong grape brandy. It’s generally best to drink bottled water.

"Macedonia" refers to a historic region that has vague boundaries that can include Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Serbia. The word also refers to Macedon, Alexander the Great's ancient Greek kingdom. Long after Alexander the Great's death, Slavic people related to the Serbs, Croats, and other neighboring peoples moved to the area, and eventually formed their own "Macedonian" culture. When Yugoslavia was founded after World War I, what is now the country of North Macedonia was formed, as one of Yugoslavia's six parts. After Yugoslavia broke up, it became its own country, the Republic of Macedonia.

Greek nationalists consider themselves to be the descendants of Alexander the Great and Macedon, and see Macedonia as a threat to this legacy, as the country’s name could be seen as implying that the modern country of Macedonia is Alexander’s modern heir. Greeks also feared that Macedonia could try to claim the neighboring territory of “Greek Macedonia,” which sits within Greece. As absurd as this may seem, the Macedonian government did not help things by building a grand neoclassical downtown in Skopje, complete with a giant statue of Alexander the Great! Macedonia found a compromise by officially calling itself the awkward term "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (FYROM). This term was used everywhere from the UN to the EU and NATO.

In 2018, Macedonia and Greece came to an agreement: Macedonia would change its name, and Greece would finally let the former start the process of joining NATO. Thanks to this treaty, as of February 2019, Macedonia is now the Republic of North Macedonia. North Macedonians still use “Macedonia” in conversation, and this remains a bad topic to bring up in Greece.

North Macedonia is a safe country, although you should take the usual precautions against pickpockets in crowded areas.

As a mountainous country with many poor roads (although the highway network is being expanded and modernized), we recommend against driving on your own. North Macedonian trains are slow, and do not run to Ohrid. Buses are common, and fairly reliable, if slow and often old. If departing Skopje's main bus station, keep in mind that you have to have a pre-purchased ticket validated from one of the ticket booths before entering the bus area. We recommend traveling via private transfer, which is the fastest and most reliable means of travel, and lets you visit scenic vistas and destinations en route.

The easiest and safest way to get MKD (Macedonia Denars) is to withdraw cash from bank ATMs.

Most museums are open from 10 am - 6 pm, and are closed on Mondays, or for a time in the early afternoon. Most shops, especially grocery stores, bazaars, and small souvenir shops are open daily, generally from 7-8 am to 8-10 pm, with shorter hours on Sundays. Some grocery stores stay open 24/7.