The land of lakes, wines and bombastic architecture. With Skopje as its capital, North Macedonia showcases a striking image. The neo-classical buildings along the Vardar River impress with their grandeur. While many Dutch travelers know the country mainly from Lake Ohrid, the 30 mountain peaks above 2,000 meters are attracting more and more visitors. In short: a country full of discoveries.
The Republic of North Macedonia is home to just over 2 million people. The official language is Macedonian, and the local currency is the denar. Macedonian, a Slavic language closely related to Bulgarian, is written in a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet. The capital and largest city is Skopje, with about 595,000 residents. Het land wordt omringd door bergtoppenThe country is surrounded by mountain peaks. Almost all of its borders are defined by mountains over 2,000 meters high. In the Sharr Mountains in particular, the slopes are well used for outdoor tourism, offering ski resorts and cat-skiing operations..
“I’d love to take you on a journey through North Macedonia. It’s a land of rugged mountains, deep lakes and authentic villages. From the crystal-clear waters of Lake Ohrid to the peaks of the Sharr and Babadag Mountains, you’ll find nature everywhere inviting you to hike, ski, mountain bike and enjoy other outdoor adventures. As a guide, I also share stories about its complex history and identity — how North Macedonia spent years in a name dispute with Greece, and how that issue has now officially been resolved”.
Everywhere, the seasoned traveler can recognize a variety of cultural influences. The country spent centuries under Ottoman rule, became part of the Serbian Empire, was governed by Bulgaria during the First and Second World Wars, and from 1945 to 1991 was a constituent republic of communist Yugoslavia. In 1991, Macedonia declared independence. And in 1993, it joined the United Nations as North Macedonia. Unlike many neighboring regions, the country escaped the violent conflicts that tore apart the rest of former Yugoslavia. Still, like most fairytales, its history has darker chapters.
In 1998, war broke out in neighboring Kosovo. In North Macedonia, a nationalist Orthodox government under Prime Minister Georgievski rose to power. Many ethnic Albanian Kosovars fled into the country, joining an already significant Albanian minority. This sparked the rise of a guerrilla army, the UÇK-M; aka the Macedonian National Liberation Army, which fought for independence. Although the armed conflict was short-lived, this was not without any war crimes.
With just over two million residents, North Macedonia feels much larger than its numbers suggest. Ethnic Macedonians make up the majority, but there are also significant Albanian communities, along with Turks, Roma, Serbs, Bosniaks, and Vlachs. This vibrant mix is visible not just in faces, but in the languages you hear on the street, the music drifting from windows, and the scents escaping from kitchens. While traces of past tensions remain, daily life is a lesson in coexistence. In the morning, you sip coffee in a bar buzzing with Macedonian and Albanian chatter, and in the evening, you enjoy burek from a baker who inherited the recipe from his Turkish grandfather. The country thrives on its diversity—sometimes chaotic, but always beautiful.
North Macedonia is a landlocked country in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula. It borders Serbia to the northeast, Kosovo to the northwest, Albania to the west, Greece to the south, and Bulgaria to the east. While it lacks a coastline, it makes up for it with countless lakes and rivers. The most famous is Lake Ohrid, one of Europe’s oldest and deepest lakes, and the longest river is the Vardar. If the names sound like they belong in The Lord of the Rings, the landscapes fit the part as well. There are moe than sixteen peaks above 2,000 meters, dramatic canyons and ravines, and wildlife like brown bears, wolves, and jackals. North Macedonia is truly a land from a fairytale!
Visiting North Macedonia means discovering a country untouched by mass tourism. Here, there is no rush for the perfect Instagram spot, but space to genuinely get lost—in cobblestone streets, in mountain villages where time stands still, and in bustling markets where bargaining is still a must. Hikers wander ancient shepherd trails, kayakers glide past steep cliffs, and food lovers lose themselves in endless lunches where glasses are never empty. And the cuisine? At the heart of it all is tavče gravče, a traditional bean dish that tastes far more exciting than it sounds. Add to that gjomleze, makalo, hearty breads slathered with ajvar, spicy sausages, rich cheeses, and local wines—and of course, a bottle of rakija in the middle of the table. North Macedonia is building its tourism story slowly, in its own way: unhurried, heartfelt, and just a little chaotic—exactly as it should be.
In the center of the Balkans, a ski adventure Serbia and Kosovo awaits you. A crazy journey to two regions that have a love-hate relationship with each other. The trip begins in Skopje, the capital of northern Macedonia. In Serbia,
