Macedonia Travel Guide

Overview

Capital:

Skopje.

Geography:

Roughly rectangular in shape, and on the strategic Vardar Valley north-south communications route, North Macedonia (FYR Macedonia) is landlocked, bordering Serbia to the north, Albania to the west, Greece to the south and Bulgaria to the east.

Getting There

Getting There By Air

Wizz (http://wizzair.com) operates direct flights to North Macedonia (FYR Macedonia) from London. The quickest route from the USA is via Vienna.

Departure Tax

None.

Flight Times

From London - 3 hours 10 minutes; New York - 12 hours (including stopover).

Getting There By Road

The international highway E-75 runs north to south from Serbia to Greece. There are also good road links to Bulgaria and Albania.

Getting Around

Getting Around By Air

There are no regularly scheduled domestic flights.

Bike

Cycling can be a great way of exploring the countryside, but watch out for careless drivers.

Car Hire

Available from international and local firms.

Coach

Buses connect Skopje with other towns and cities in North Macedonia (FYR Macedonia).

Documentation

A valid national driving licence or International Driving Permit is required. If bringing you own car, you must carry the car registration/ownership documents and an insurance policy valid in North Macedonia (FYR Macedonia).

Getting Around By Rail

Makedonski Zeleznici (tel: +389 2 511 7782; http://mztransportad.com.mk) operates rail links from Skopje to Kumanovo in the north, to Stip in the east, to Veles and Gevgelija in the south, and to Prilep and Bitola in the southwest.

Regulations

Seatbelts are compulsory. You must drive with dipped headlights at all times, including during the day. Speed limits are 130kph (81mph) on motorways, 110kph (68mph) on major highways, 90kph (56mph) on other non-urban roads and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. You must use winter tyres between 15 November and 15 March.

Getting Around By Road

Road conditions are variable and driving standards aren't always great. Some motorways have tolls, which you can pay in cash (Macedonian denars or Euros) or by credit card.

Side Of Road

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Taxi

Taxis are a cheap way of getting around cities and a good-value way of travelling between cities if you're in a group.

Travel Advice

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: 

• see general advice for women travellers
• read our guide on disability and travel abroad
• see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
• read about safety for solo and independent travel
• see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

About FCDO travel advice

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.

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This information is for people travelling on a full 'British citizen' passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government's understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel. 

The authorities in North Macedonia set and enforce entry rules. If you're not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Macedonian Embassy in the UK. 

Passport validity requirements

To enter North Macedonia, your passport must have an 'expiry date' at least 90 days after the date you arrive.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.  

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen. 

Visa requirements

You can visit North Macedonia for up to 3 months without a visa.

If you plan to stay for longer, contact the Macedonian Embassy. 

Travelling with children

Before you travel, ask your airline if you need to complete any forms for children travelling:

• alone
• with only one parent
• with an adult who is not their legal guardian

If you are travelling through (transiting) other countries, check travel advice for those countries for additional requirements.

UK refugee travel documents

If you hold a UK refugee travel document, you must have a visa to travel to North Macedonia. You also need a visa to travel through North Macedonia on your way to Kosovo. You can apply for a visa from the Macedonian Embassy in the UK.

Registering with the police

You must register with the local police in the town or city where you're staying within 48 hours of your arrival in North Macedonia. If you're staying in a hotel, staff will register you at check-in. 

Keep the registration document with you until you leave North Macedonia. If you have registered with the police directly, you must de-register 24 hours before you leave the country. You can register with the police online (in Macedonian).

If you do not register, you may face:

• a fine
• detention and a court hearing
• a restriction on returning to North Macedonia

Travelling to Serbia

Serbia has sometimes denied entry to people leaving North Macedonia with passport stamps from Kosovo.

Vaccine requirements

For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro's North Macedonia guide.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of North Macedonia. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking money into North Macedonia

Declare foreign currency if the value is 10,000 euros or more when you enter North Macedonia. If you do not, customs officers may detain you and seize the cash when you try to leave.

Terrorism

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.

Terrorism in North Macedonia

Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners. Terrorists may target religious sites, including churches.

The authorities in North Macedonia have carried out raids against suspected terrorists. There's a risk of terrorist attacks inspired by extremist ideology in North Macedonia.

Political situation

Occasionally there are protests which can cause disruption. Check local media for the latest information, be vigilant and avoid large crowds and gatherings.

If there is civil disorder, stay indoors when possible, especially after dark, and avoid crowds and demonstrations.

Crime

Attacks against foreign nationals are extremely rare.

Organised crime groups are active, particularly in northern areas near the border with Kosovo.

There are occasional shooting incidents, including in Skopje, but they are not targeted at foreign nationals. People sometimes fire guns when celebrating.

Protecting your belongings

There have been several cases of pickpocketing by gangs of children and bag snatching in the main shopping and entertainment areas late at night. Foreign nationals appear to have been specifically targeted. Make sure your personal possessions are secure.

Keep your passport in a safe place and carry a copy of the photo page for identification. If it is lost or stolen, report it to the local police and cancel your passport immediately.

Laws and cultural differences

Using cameras in secure areas

It is illegal to take photographs of any military installation or site of government or strategic importance.

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex sexual relationships are legal, but people in North Macedonia are not particularly open about them. LGBT+ bars and restaurants are not common. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.

Money

British banks do not exchange Macedonian denars, so exchange any unwanted denars before you leave. You should only change money through banks or official exchanges and not through street dealers. You will not be able to exchange Scottish or Northern Irish banknotes.

Transport risks

Road travel

If you are planning to drive in North Macedonia, see information on driving abroad and check the rules of the road in the RAC's North Macedonia guide. The guide lists driving regulations and other legal requirements you need to be aware of. You can get fines for:

• not using side lights or dipped headlights, including during the day
• using a mobile phone while driving
• not wearing a seatbelt, as both a driver and a passenger
• not having all the required safety equipment, including snow chains where conditions require them

You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in North Macedonia. Unless you're driving a rental car or have a residence permit, you'll also need to have the 1968 version of the international driving permit (IDP). You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.  

Hire car companies often have stricter requirements for their customers, such as at least 2 years of driving experience and a higher minimum age.   

If you have an accident, do not move your vehicle until the police record the incident and allow you to move. In case of emergency, contact:

• police: 192
• ambulance: 194
• roadside assistance: 196

Drink-driving is a serious offence in North Macedonia. If you are tested and found to have 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood (England's limit is 80mg per 100ml), you may get a heavy fine and possible imprisonment. If you're a professional driver (for example, an HGV driver), any alcohol in your system can lead to arrest and a heavy fine.  

When travelling on major roads, you can pay the toll in Macedonian denars or in euros with cash or a credit card.

Driving standards

Driving standards and road conditions vary widely. Driving styles differ significantly from those in UK. Accidents are common. Always take care while driving or on foot.

Driving a British car in North Macedonia   

If you are taking your own car, you must have:

• vehicle registration
• ownership documents
• valid insurance to drive in North Macedonia

Check your insurance covers you to drive in North Macedonia and you are able to show proof to border officials. A green card might be helpful to demonstrate you have the correct cover.

Check if you need a UK sticker to drive your car outside the UK.

Delays for lorries at borders

Lorries crossing the North Macedonia border may be subject to long delays. Make sure you have the proper customs documentation before you arrive at the border.

Air travel

From November to February there can be thick fog in Skopje and surrounding areas. There can be flight delays and diversions if fog affects visibility at Skopje airport.

You can find flight information on the Skopje International Airport website.

Extreme weather and natural disasters

Find out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards. 

Wildfires

Wildfires are possible in North Macedonia from April to October due to the dry and hot weather.  Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. You should:

• take care when visiting or driving through countryside
• make sure cigarette ends are properly extinguished
• not light fires or barbecues except in designated and marked areas
• not leave any rubbish

If you see a wildfire, call the emergency services on 112. Follow any advice from the police or local authorities.

Earthquakes

Earthquakes occur occasionally. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake.

Before you travel check that:

• your destination can provide the healthcare you may need
• you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation

This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.

Emergency medical number

Dial 194 and ask for an ambulance.

Contact your insurance or medical assistance company quickly if you're referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Vaccine recommendations and health risks

At least 8 weeks before your trip check:

• the latest information on vaccinations and health risks in TravelHealthPro's North Macedonia guide
• where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the NHS travel vaccinations page

See what health risks you'll face in North Macedonia, including: 

• West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases
• air pollution

Altitude sickness is a risk in parts of North Macedonia. Read more about altitude sickness on TravelHealthPro. 

Medication

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.

Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.

Healthcare in North Macedonia

There is a reciprocal healthcare agreement for British nationals, which entitles you to free emergency treatment in North Macedonia.

Make sure you have adequate insurance. You may need to pay before getting some treatment. Familiarise yourself with your travel insurance policy and what it covers.

FCDO has a list of medical providers in North Macedonia where some staff will speak English. 

Travel and mental health

Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.

Emergency services in North Macedonia

Ambulance: 194

Police: 192

Roadside assistance: 196

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

Refunds and changes to travel

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim

Support from FCDO

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:

• finding English-speaking lawyers, funeral directors and translators and interpreters in North Macedonia
• dealing with a death in North Macedonia
• being arrested in North Macedonia
• getting help if you're a victim of crime
• what to do if you're in hospital
• if you're affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack

Contacting FCDO 

Help abroad  

See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency. 

Help in the UK  

You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.  

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)  

Find out about call charges

Get travel advice updates  

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.  

Follow and contact FCDO: 

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

Risk information for British companies

The Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating in North Macedonia on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.

Vaccinations

Overview:

Prescribed medicines must be paid for. There is a reciprocal health agreement with the UK. Health insurance with emergency repatriation is strongly recommended for all nationals (including UK nationals).

Food Drink:

Mains water is normally chlorinated and, whilst relatively safe, may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of the stay. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat.

Other Risks:

Vaccination against hepatitis B and tuberculosis is sometimes advised.

Currency Information:

Macedonian Denar (MKD; symbol ден) = 100 deni. Notes are in denominations of ден5,000, 1,000, 500, 100, 50 and 10. Coins are in denominations of ден5, 2 and 1, and 50 deni.

Credit Cards:

Limited acceptance outside the bigger cities.

Travellers Cheques:

To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take cheques in US Dollars or Euros.

Banking Hours:

Mon-Fri 0700-1900; Sat 0700-1300.

Currency Restrictions:

There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency. Sums equivalent or exceeding the amount of €10,000 need to be declared when imported. Foreign currencies can be exported up to the amount declared on the import. 

Currency Exchange:

All major currencies may be exchanged, but Euros are easiest to exchange.

Currencies

Exchange Rates

Language

Macedonian (a slavonic language using the Cyrillic script) is the most widely used language. Albanian, Turkish and Serbo-Croat are also used by ethnic groups. English, French and German are widely spoken.

Overview:

Public holidays are listed here.

List Of Public Holidays

Note:

Holidays falling on the weekend are usually observed on a different day.

Overview:

The following goods may be imported into North Macedonia (FYR Macedonia) by travellers over 18 years old without incurring customs duty:

• 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco.
• 1L of spirits over 22% volume or 2L of alcoholic drinks under 22% volume.
• 2L of wine.
• 50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette.
• Other goods to the value of €350.

Banned Imports:

Unauthorised firearms and ammunition, unlicensed drugs, and counterfeit or pirated goods. 

You must obtain a permit to import animals, plants or their products.

Telephone:

All telecommunications services are generally working normally.

Mobile Telephone:

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is mostly good.

Internet:

There are a few Internet cafes in the main towns.

Post

Services work normally.

Media:

The constitution guarantees freedom of speech and access to information.

Make for the Museum of Contemporary Art

Founded following the earthquake in 1963, the Museum of Contemporary Art houses one of the finest collections of art in the country. Perched above the city, the building is an excellent example of late modernism architecture. Works by Pablo Picasso, Hans Hartung and Robert Jacobsen give the light-drenched exhibition space an international feel.

Discover the delights of Ohrid, the former capital

With its lakeside location, Ohrid is possibly the most attractive town in the FYR Macedonia. The site of the first Slav university, it was the Macedonian capital under leader Tsar Samuil. From his reign between 977 and 997 AD, the fortress walls survive and now provide a venue for summer concerts. Worthy of attention too are the number of ancient churches, particularly the cathedral of St Sophia.

See Skopje's stone landmarks

Skopje's Stone Bridge is a city landmark and even features on its coat of arms. Crossing the Vardar River, the bridge was originally built by the Romans and connects Macedonia Square with the Old Town. Kale Fortress is an imposing 6th-century castle overlooking the river. Stroll up to its ramparts for exceptional views and see various archaeological finds inside.

Catch the cable car to one of the world's biggest crosses

Standing proudly atop Vodno Mountain, the Millennium Cross was erected to celebrate 2,000 years of Christianity in Macedonia. At 66m-high (217ft), the cross is one of the largest in the world and can be seen from Skopje city centre. Visitors can hike or take the Ropewalk cable car to the monument.

Explore North Macedonia’s (FYR Macedonia’s) mosques and monasteries

North Macedonia (FYR Macedonia) boasts many mosques dating from the Ottoman period, but among the best is the 15th-century Mustafa Pasha Mosque in Skopje’s Old Bazaar. Just outside the capital, the Nerezi Monastery and its 12th-century Church of St Panteleimon will also delight with its neat domes and magnificent Byzantine frescoes.

Take in Skopje’s Old Town sights

Visit the Church of the Holy Saviour in Skopje's Old Town. Unassuming from the outside, its interior contains an intricately carved iconostasis. Nearby, two former caravanserais (roadside inns), the 15th century Suli An and 16-century Kursumli An, retain their wonderful archways, whilst the distinctive domed Daut Pasha Baths now houses an art gallery.

Explore the new and old in Skopje

Much of Macedonia's capital, Skopje, is new following an earthquake in 1963. This includes several new statues and the Memorial House of Mother Teresa, which were erected in 2014 as a government drive to make the city more classical. There is plenty of (actual) history in the Old Bazaar area and the attractive quarter is full of charming Ottoman touches.

See the sunken church of Mavrovo Lake

Southwest of Skopje is Mavrovo National Park. A vast 780 sq km (300 sq miles) region of deep canyons, snowy peaks and dense forest, it is ideal for hiking. Walk to Mavrovo Lake, it freezes during winter but during summer offers great boating and swimming opportunities. In its centre sits a half-submerged church.

Unearth history at the National Archaeological Museum

The National Archaeological Museum (as the vast exterior columns attest) was borne out of the government's drive to make Skopje appear more classical. With artefacts dating back to the Neolithic period, the vast museum is worthy of an afternoon's exploration. The exhibitions are overwhelming in places, so a guided tour is recommended.

Be sure not to miss Bitola's Byzantine ruins

Surrounded by the hills and forest of Pelister National Park, pretty Bitola is the second-largest town in North Macedonia (FYR Macedonia). Located 18km (11 miles) from the Greek border, it was an important centre of Ottoman rule. Nearby, the ruins of the ancient it of Heraclea Lyncestis are well-preserved. Walk the remains of its Byzantine basilica with excellent mosaics.

Overview

Opening Hours

Mon-Fri 0800-2000 and Sat 0800-1500.

Overview

Macedonian cuisine is a hybrid style, blending Balkan and Mediterranean flavours and traditions with delicious results. Turkish influences inherited from centuries of Ottoman rule are also evident.

During summer, markets are well-stocked with fresh tomatoes, carrots, lettuce and onions as well as watermelons, apricots and peaches. To make the summer bounty last through the harsher continental winter, veg is often pickled (turšija) or jarred into tasty spreads.

Meze, a selection of small, creamy vegetable spreads, is usually served with bread to start and is often followed by a main dish of grilled chicken or pork, freshwater fish, stuffed pastry or stew. When it comes to drink, sugared Turkish coffee is the order of the day, though milky, Italian-style coffees, such as cappuccino and lattes are becoming increasingly popular.

Regional Specialities

Drinking Age

18.

Hotels

North Macedonia (FYR Macedonia) has two 5-star hotels in Skopje, as well as other 3-star and 4-star hotels in the capital and in the Lake Ohrid tourist area on the border with Albania and Greece.

History

An ancient, strategically important and much-contested territory, the historical region known as Macedonia was variously controlled by the Greeks, Romans, Bulgarians, Byzantines, Serbs and the marauding Ottoman Turks, who conquered the area in 1371, and kept it until the beginning of the 20th century. Then, as Turkish power declined, Macedonia once again became a bone of contention between its various neighbours and their respective superpower allies.

In 1912 and 1913, the Balkan Wars drove the Turks out of the area, and the territory was carved up between Serbia and Greece, with Bulgaria retaining a small part. Vardar Macedonia became part of the new 'Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes' in 1918, becoming Yugoslavia from 1929.

However, this caused much anti-Serbian resentment locally. In 1945, the area became a constituent republic of the new communist Yugoslav federation, which the Serbs opposed. Thereafter a new 'Macedonian' nation was created, but this was never accepted as legitimate by any of the republic's neighbours.

In 1990, following the collapse of communism in Yugoslavia (now Serbia and Montenegro), Macedonia held its first multi-party elections. North Macedonia’s (FYR Macedonia’s) quest for international recognition ran up against objections from Greece, which felt that Skopje's use of the title 'Macedonia' implies a territorial claim against Aegean Macedonia in Greece, given that it corresponds with the northern Greek province of the same name.

The Greeks agreed to a compromise name, 'The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia', under which it joined the United Nations in 1993. In 1997, simmering ethnic tensions between the majority Slavic population and the country's Albanian minority – who make up roughly 20% of the population – turned violent. The conflict was closely related to that in the Yugoslav province of Kosovo to the north.

The situation deteriorated until, in 1998, the flight of thousands of refugees from Kosovo persuaded the Macedonian government to close the border. The crisis passed but erupted again in 2001 after a series of clashes between Macedonian security forces and ethnic Albanian guerrillas. Urgent international diplomacy brought about the Ohrid Agreement that same year guaranteeing political and cultural rights for the Albanian population.

While the Greek government called its northern neighbour by its interim name 'The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’ for over two decades, some 140 countries, including the US and China, referred to it as 'The Republic of Macedonia'. Negotiations with Greece to resolve the name issue continued until June 2018, when Greece and Macedonia struck a deal on the name change.

On 25 January 2019, the Greek parliament ratified an accord allowing the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to officially change it’s name to the Republic of North Macedonia, or North Macedonia for short).

Did you know?
• Mother Teresa was born in North Macedonia’s capital, Skopje.
• Macedonia was the first country in the world to provide wireless broadband coverage to virtually all of its population.
• The French mixed fruit salad, macédoine, was so-named because of Macedonia’s ethnic diversity.

Religion

67% of the population are Eastern Orthodox Macedonians and around 23% are Muslim Albanians. There are also Muslim Turks and Serbian Orthodox minorities. As elsewhere in the former Yugoslav federation, local politics are now strongly divided along national religious lines.

Social Conventions

Handshaking is the common practice on introduction. Local business protocol is fairly informal, but things go very slowly or not at all owing to the local bureaucracy and the more recent general socio-economic collapse in North Macedonia (FYR Macedonia).

Best Time To Visit:

As a landlocked country, North Macedonia (FYR Macedonia) has a pronounced continental climate, with very cold winters and hot summers.

Required Clothing

Mediumweight clothing and very warm overcoats in winter; lightweight clothing and raincoats required for the summer.

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Population:

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Main emergency number