Macedonia

Quick Facts

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Capital

Skopje

Population

2,063,000

Government

Parliamentary Democracy

Religions

Christianity (Orthodox), Islam

Languages

Macedonian, Albanian

Calling Code

+389

Nationality

Macedonian

Local name

Makedonija

Currency

Denar

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Introduction

Emotional landscapes near Mavrovo skiing resort

© All Rights Reserved roberts

Commonly referred to as Macedonia, the Republic of Macedonia (or FYROM ^[1]) is an impressive place to visit: old Oriental bazaars, ancient Roman ruins, as well as a hearty sprinkling of mosques and Orthodox churches amplify Macedonia's role as a gateway between Europe and Asia.

Mementos of Macedonia's rich history are set against a landscape that at times is breathtaking, such as at Lake Ohrid. Laid out amidst stunning mountains, the lake, which is Europe's deepest, affords fantastic views; in the town, dozens of uncovered Roman remains are the cherry on the cake: Ohrid is Macedonia's top tourist spot.

Macedonia shares international borders with Bulgaria, Greece, Albania and Serbia.

Brief History

Geography

Regions

Macedonia is organised into 85 municipalities. For the travellers' benefit, it is better to think of the country in terms of the following geographic regions.

• Northwestern Macedonia borders Kosovo in Serbia and includes the Sar Planina Mountain and the winter sports region of Mavrovo.
• Northeastern Macedonia borders Bulgaria and includes the peaceful city of Štip.
• Southwestern Macedonia includes the beautiful Lake Ohrid, the Prespa Lakes and Baba Mountain.
• Southeastern Macedonia, bordering Greece and Albania, includes Dojran, Gevgelija, Banjsko.
• Central Macedonia includes the historic town of Kruševo and the capital Skopje

Cities

• Skopje is the country's capital
• Bitola
• Dojran
• Kumanovo
• Kruševo
• Ohrid is a lakeside resort town in the country's southwest.
• Prilep
• Štip
• Struga
• Tetovo

Sights and Activities

Ohrid

City of Ohrid

© All Rights Reserved micko_v

The natural and cultural heritage of the Ohrid region is placed on the Unesco World Heritage List. It is probably the most visited town and region in Macedonia and its lakeside location only adds to the charm of this historical place. It is situated on the shores of Lake Ohrid and is one of the oldest human settlements in Europe, mainly built mainly between the 7th and 19th centuries. The town is dotted with many churches, including the St. Sophia Church, St.Bogorodica Perivlepta and St.Jovan Kaneo church. Further south along the lake is St.Naum monastery. An antic theatre and fortifications are also places to visit and just walking around the town and the old bazaar is a very pleasant way of spending the day.

Mavrovo National Park

Emotional landscapes near Mavrovo skiing resort

© All Rights Reserved roberts

The Mavrovo National Park is the largest national park in Macedonia and includes Golem Korab, the largest mountain in the country located on the border with Albania. Mavrovo Lake is great for swimming, fishing and boat trips in the summer months. In winter, you can go skiing at the Zare Lazareski Ski Center starting at almost 2000 meters above sea level.

Wineries

Demir Kapija in the east of Macedonia is the wine centre of the country. The city is home to the royal winery and vineyards of the former Yugoslavian King Alexandar Karadjordjevic and another winery is close to the town at the top of Popova Kula, which represents a fort tower from Turkish period. There are several tours available to all wineries.

Other sights and activities

A villager in Dolneni, Prilep, Central Macedonia

© All Rights Reserved roberts

• Stobi - a large ancient Greek Macedonian city
• Pelister National Park
• Prilep - A town with nearby tobacco fields and medieval monasteries

Events and Festivals

Weather

Macedonia has hot and dry summers, with temperatures well over 30 degrees Celcius on most days, even rising to 45 degrees on some days. Night temperatures still are around 20 degrees or slightly lower. In the mountains, it is a bit cooler of course and in winter there is snowfall in the higher parts, enabling visitors to go skiing. Most rain falls during the winter and early spring, when temperatures can drop below zero but are above in most places.

Getting there

Plane

MAT Macedonian Airlines is the national airline of Macedonia and is based at Skopje Alexander the Great Airport (SKP) near the capital. Destinations include Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Istanbul, Rome, Vienna and Zürich. Ljubljana, Sarajevo, Sofia, Tirana, Zagreb, Prague, Cologne, Belgrade and Budapeast are other cities served by mostly their respective national airlines. In summer, charter airlines fly to and from Lake Ohrid directly from a number of European countries.

By Train

There are direct trains between the capital Skopje and the capital of Serbia, Belgrado.

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Getting around

Plane

MAT Macedonian Airlines flies between Skopje and Ohrid.

By Train

Travelling by train is cheap but slow. But on the positive side: the landscape is stunning. The main lines run from Skopje to Bitola and Skopje to Gevgelia. Stip, Veles and Prilep are other major towns served by train.
Check Makedonski Zeleznici for more information about schedules and prices.

By Car

Most roads are in a good condition, but can be difficult to travel in winter, when snow is prevalent. You can rent cars in Skopje, Ohrid and the respective airports. Traffic drives on the right and your national driver's licence is valid, an international driving permit is recommended as well.

By Bus

Buses are abundant and main destinations include Skopje, Bitola, Tetovo and Ohrid, with many smaller towns being served as well at least daily.

By Boat

Other than renting a boat to go out on Lake Ohrid, there are no other useful services for passengers.

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