Skopje essentials

Money and cards

The currency is the denar (MKD). Its rate to the euro has been very stable for many years, at roughly 61–62 denars to €1. Euros are sometimes accepted in tourist places, but you will get a better deal paying in denars.

Cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops in Skopje; carry cash for the Old Bazaar, markets, small cafés, kebapi grills, taxis and the countryside. ATMs are easy to find.

Borders and entry rules

North Macedonia is not in the European Union or the Schengen area, so expect passport checks at its borders. Citizens of the EU, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; check the current rules for your nationality before you travel. Carry travel medical insurance, which can be requested on entry.

Foreign visitors must be registered with the police shortly after arrival; hotels and registered accommodation do this for you. If you stay privately, ask your host to register you. To take a hire car across a border, you need the rental company’s permission and green card insurance.

Arriving

Skopje International Airport (SKP) is near Petrovec, about 20 km east of the centre. The Vardar Express airport bus runs to the centre, timed to flights, with a stop near Macedonia Square; taxis take about 25–40 minutes. Check the airport website for the day’s bus times.

Long-distance buses and trains arrive at the Transport Centre, about 1.5 km east of Macedonia Square: a short taxi ride or a 20-minute walk.

Getting around

The centre, the Old Bazaar and Debar Maalo are easy to explore on foot. City buses, many of them red double-deckers, run across the city and out to Vodno and Matka; fares are paid with rechargeable cards from kiosks. Taxis are cheap and plentiful: use registered taxis and check the meter.

Buses run from the Transport Centre to Ohrid, Bitola and the rest of the country. Domestic trains are slow; international passenger trains have been suspended since 2020. For Mavrovo, the wineries and the mountains, a hire car or a tour is the easiest option.

Practical tips

The general emergency number is 112; police 192, ambulance 194 and fire 193. Plugs are types C and F, at 230 V. The official language is Macedonian, written in Cyrillic; Albanian is also an official language. English is widely spoken by younger people and in hotels.

Dress modestly to visit mosques, churches and monasteries, and remove your shoes in mosques. Smoking is still common on café terraces. Tap water in Skopje is generally considered safe to drink.

When to go

April to June and September to October are ideal: warm, green and comfortable for walking. July and August are very hot in Skopje; it is the best time for Lake Ohrid and the mountains.

Winter is cold, with snow on Vodno and skiing at Mavrovo from about December. Air quality in the valley can be poor on still winter days.

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