What to See in North Macedonia

last edited Dec 11, 2019

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Location Map of North Macedonia

North Macedonia Open the interactive map

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

North Macedonia has one site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list:

Ohrid (1979)
On the shores of the lake of the same name, this is the country's tourist capital. With its beautiful landscapes, historic centre, numerous churches and monasteries, fortress, and beaches, it truly attracts visitors. Both the town and the lake are UNESCO-listed as part of the "Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid Region".

Cities and Cultural Heritage

Bitola
It's a large city in the south with a rich architectural blend of Ottoman and 19th-century Central European styles. On its outskirts, you can also visit the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Heraclea Lyncestis.

Brajcino
This is the most visited traditional village in the Lake Ohrid region. It offers beautiful landscapes, "typical" architecture, a monastery and churches, plus hiking trails in the surrounding area.

Demir Kapija
This town, surrounded by vineyards, has built a reputation for outdoor activities thanks to the nearby Demir Gorge. You can go kayaking, climbing, hiking, mountain biking, caving, and birdwatching in the area.

Dojran
Located on the Greek border, by the lake of the same name, the town (divided into two districts) is quite touristy and popular for fishing and swimming.

Galichnik
A small mountain village in the northwest of the country, one of the best-preserved in terms of traditional architecture.

Kokino
This is an archaeological and megalithic site functioning as an observatory, located at the northeastern border of the country.

Kruševo
A charming town with restored traditional architecture, designed to be a "museum city". Kruševo is also a winter sports resort and a hiking destination.

Matka
This village, about a dozen kilometres southwest of Skopje, is a tourist spot with several churches and monasteries in the surrounding area (St. Andrew, St. Nicholas, etc.), and especially the beautiful Treska Gorge leading to Lake Matka. You can enjoy water activities and climbing here.

Saint Naum Monastery
On the edge of Lake Ohrid, this 10th-century medieval monastery is one of the most visited sites in Macedonia.

Veljusa Monastery
One of the country’s most beautiful monasteries, located in the eponymous municipality. Nearby, another interesting monastery is Vodoca.

Ohrid
On the shores of the lake of the same name, this is the country's tourist capital. With its beautiful landscapes, historic centre, numerous churches and monasteries, fortress, and beaches, it truly attracts visitors. Both the town and the lake are UNESCO-listed as part of the "Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid Region".

Prilep
A city locally known for the remains of its fortress ("Marko’s Towers"), its small old town centre, and several nearby monasteries, including those of Zrze and especially Treskavets.

Radovis
A small town in eastern Macedonia with a beautiful and vast new Orthodox church. Hiking is possible in the surrounding area.

Skopje
The capital of North Macedonia has a small old centre, a medieval fortress, and a reconstructed Neolithic village ("Toumba Madjari"). There are also many Orthodox churches and monasteries in its surroundings, particularly towards Matka and in the Skopska Crna Gora mountain range.

Stobi
These are the ruins of a Roman city and the most important archaeological site in the country.

Struga
A fairly touristy town on the shores of Lake Ohrid, with beaches, some well-preserved old buildings, and troglodyte churches in the surrounding area (Kalishta, St. Atanasie, St. Mihail...).

Tetovo
The city at the foot of the Šar Mountains has an old centre but is primarily a base for exploring this mountainous northwest region, with hiking and skiing opportunities at the Popova Šapka resort.

Natural Heritage

Lake Ohrid
Straddling Albania and North Macedonia, this lake offers swimming, fishing, and various water activities. On the Macedonian side, it is home to several monasteries and villages along its shores. It is surrounded by the Galicica and Pelister parks and is a UNESCO site under the "Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid Region".

Lake Prespa
A large lake shared by Albania, North Macedonia, and Greece, where it is designated a national park. Several Byzantine churches and abandoned villages dot its shores. The lake is home to significant bird colonies, including pelicans.

Mount Korab
This region of the Šar Mountains, straddling Albania and North Macedonia, includes Mavrovo National Park. It’s an area for hiking and other outdoor activities like skiing at the Zare Lazarevski and Popova Sapka resorts. You can also see the Korab Waterfall, the tallest in the Balkans, and several scenic lakes such as Lake Mavrovo.

Galicica National Park
This mountainous park lies between Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa and is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna (bears, wolves, lynx, birds, etc.). You can hike or mountain bike here.

Pelister National Park
Located behind Lake Ohrid, and like the neighboring Galicica Park, it is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna (bears, wolves, chamois, birds, etc.). Hiking is possible here.