A small country with a large identity dispute — the UNESCO lakeside town of Ohrid, Skopje's bizarre Baroque makeover, Alexander the Great mythology, and food influenced by Ottoman and Balkan traditions.
- Capital
- Skopje
- Population
- 1,826,247
- Area
- 25,333 km²
- Languages
- Macedonian
- Currency
- Macedonian Denar (MKD)
- GDP
- $17,885M
Good to know
Driving side
Right
National dish
Tavče Gravče
Annual visitors
118,000 (2020)
Safety
Low (1.53/100k)
Avg temp
10.8°C
Religion
Christianity
Coast
Landlocked
☎ Police 192 · Ambulance 194 · Fire 193
Travel guide
The Republic of North Macedonia (Macedonian: Северна Македонија, Severna Makedonija), mostly still referred to as simply Macedonia by its residents, is a landlocked country in the heart of the Balkans. The country has an ethnically diverse population (a Macedonian Slav majority, with minority populations of Albanians, Turks, Romani, and others) sharing an often ruggedly beautiful landscape. Architecture from the bygone eras of the Ottoman Empire and socialist Yugoslavia remains and now contrasts with the modern structures of independent Macedonia. Relative to other European nations, Macedonia is off the beaten path, and tourist infrastructure is underdeveloped and occasionally challenging to navigate.
© Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA)
Explore North Macedonia
Best time to visit
April–October is the best period. Lake Ohrid is perfect for swimming and sightseeing June–September. Skopje is pleasant April–October. Mavrovo National Park for hiking in summer and skiing December–March.
Visa
Citizens of US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and most Western countries receive 90 days visa-free in North Macedonia.
Public holidays
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (5)
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