LOTUS EATERS TRAVEL

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OUR NORTH MACEDONIA ITINERARY FOR ONE WEEK.

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North Macedonia is probably one of Europe’s best kept secrets. As a destination for travellers, it offers so much – from the delightful shore of Lake Ohrid, to the vibrant nightlife of Skopje and the decadence of sampling wine in a vineyard.

It is somewhat of a cliche, but on our month long journey through North Macedonia we were so frequently surprised by just how beautiful the country is. The food in North Macedonia is also a highlight – suffice to say, prepare to return a few pounds heavier than we you arrived.

With seven days you won’t see everything in North Macedonia, but you can make a good effort to see the highlights. This blog post sets out an ideal itinerary for anyone who wants to see the different facets of the country, from city to countryside and all in-between.

Don’t have time to read this full blog post?

Is North Macedonia worth visiting?

North Macedonia is a great destination to visit. It is a country that would suit adventurous travellers as well as anyone looking to travel on a budget. There’s a real variety of tourism experience, from boat trips to wine tasting and museums and historical sites.

As a couple travelling in North Macedonia, we really enjoyed the mix of city and nature, and found so many opportunities for enjoyable nightlife too. But we also think that families would really like North Macedonia, which feels like a safe and welcoming country.

How many days do you need in North Macedonia?

A week is a good starting point to get a taste of what North Macedonia has to offer. However, if you can eek out a few more days – perhaps taking 10 days or more, you can delve deeper into its wine regions, national parks, and lesser-known towns.

Best time of year to visit North Macedonia?

On paper, the best time to visit North Macedonia is during the late spring (May-June) and early autumn (September-October). During these periods, the weather is pleasant, and you can avoid the peak summer heat and crowds.

That said, we visited in July and loved the buzz of holiday makers starting to arrive. You can still travel in July and August, just be aware of the need to book hotels in advance and that the weather will be getting hot and steamy!

Our North Macedonia Itinerary for one week – what will you find?

This one week itinerary is based on the month that we spent visiting North Macedonia. It is specifically designed to meet two requirements:

✔️It uses public transport only – a hire car is not required

✔️Over a week, you’ll get a flavour of North Macedonia – relaxing at Lake Ohrid, seeing the capital city, second city and vineyards.

Because of this, the itinerary does involve a fair bit of moving around by bus. If you wanted to make this more leisurely, you could easily extend this to a 10 or 14 day itinerary, lingering a little longer in each destination. We include options for extending this itinerary, as well as an alternative suggestion for making your trip more leisurely in this blog post below.

Our North Macedonia Itinerary for one week: Route + map

Here’s an overview of our suggested route:

Day 1 / Arrive to Lake Ohrid

Day 2/ Lake Ohrid

Day 3/ Lake Ohrid

Day 4 / Bitola

Day 5 / Vineyards of North Macedonia

Day 6/ Skopje

Day 7/ Skopje + return home

Day 1 to 3: Arrive + Lake Ohrid

Lake Ohrid is North Macedonia’s version of Lake Como, a vast blue lake dotted with villages and towns around the edge. Ohrid town is an enchanting place with buildings etched into the hill side. The Church of St John towers over Ohrid, creating an iconic image.

Ohrid is the kind of place where you can totally relax. It is unpretentious and inexpensive. It has the beauty of a great tourist destination but without the unnecessary frills.

Spend at least three days here to let the lake gently lull you into a relaxing start to your vacation.

HOW TO GET THERE

When you arrive into North Macedonia, you have a few choices for entry point. Skopje has an international airport with direct flights to many countries, including the UK and Europe. From Skopje, you’ll need to take a bus to Ohrid – expect this to take around 3 hours. Our recommended exit point for this itinerary is Skopje, so if you can get return flights that it ideal.

Ohrid airport is a smaller airport, but there are some direct or indirect flights. From this airport, Ohrid town is an easy taxi ride away.

The third option is to fly into Tirana in Albania. We chose this flight as Tirana is a great city to spend time in, plus flights into Tirana tend to be cheaper than Skopje. The bus from Tirana to Ohrid is an easy 3 hour journey – find out more about this here.

WHAT TO DO

In Ohrid, the main order of business is relaxing on and around the water. Spend your days visiting some of the best beaches in Ohrid – find our guide here. You can pick the bustling beaches of the Old Town, where you can rent a lounger for the day. Hike over the hill to hidden beaches, or take a water taxi to visit villages around the lake.

We’ve written a detailed guide guide for the best 15 things to do in Lake Ohrid here.

On the water, Paddle Board is a fun way to explore and will test even the best balance. Boat trips head out to the lake daily, giving the chance to visit the Bay of Bones and stunning St Naum.

Of an evening, try the waterfront bars and restaurants, or hunt for more local tavernas.

Find our full guide to the best things to do in Orhid here.

WHERE TO STAY

For a short period in Lake Ohrid, we would recommend staying in the Old Town which has a romantic atmosphere and the best views of the lake. This location will give you access to the main beaches and nightlife.

Find all our recommendations for accommodation in Lake Ohrid here.

Day 4: Bitola

The second city of Bitola is known for the ancient city of Heraclea Lyncestis, beautiful Mosques and as the place that Atatürk went to school. We found all of this, but we also discovered a quiet urban sophistication. A welcoming and affordable city with excellent accommodation and even better Aperol Spritz.

HOW TO GET THERE

Buses leave from Ohrid to Bitola twice a day. Generally there is an early bus (around 06:00) and a later service at around 13:30. As always, it’s best to check with the bus station in advance.

The bus takes around 2 hours 30 minutes and will arrive into Bitola bus station, which is 15 minutes walk from the city centre.

WHAT TO DO

You will love Bitola if you enjoy slipping into a slower pace of life. If you’re the kind of traveler who prefers “ways to spend a few enjoyable hours” over a checklist of “things to do,” Bitola is your ideal destination.

The centre of Bitola is Shirok Sokak, which is a pedestrianized street lined with cafes, bars and restaurants. By day, residents fill the cafes to linger over coffee. By night, the street comes alive with families, couples and groups taking a walk, or stopping for a glass of wine.

Away from Shirok Sokak, you’ll find interesting Mosques, a church and clock tower to visit. As well as the Old Bazaar area of town where you can browse Macedonian goods at the market.

Heraclea Lyncestis is probably the most famous site in Bitola and one which is well worth a visit. Heraclea Lyncestis, bearing the name of the legendary Greek hero Heracles, was established by Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great. The site offers an insight into ancient urban design. Be sure to explore the Theater, Roman Baths, and stunning mosaics during your visit.

The site is found a little way out of town, so we would recommend either visiting straight from the bus station when you arrive, or the next day when you go to take the bus for your onwards journey.

You can find our full guide to the best things to do in Bitola here.

WHERE TO STAY

As Bitola is a small city, we recommend staying close to the action. Our apartment was on the main street and we loved the ability to pop in and out at a moments notice.

Here are a few suggestions for places to stay in Bitola

BUDGET: Goldy Hostel – a 15 minute walk from the bus station and close to town. Offers dorm accommodation or private rooms.

MID-RANGE: Somnia Apartments – this is where we stayed, right on Shirok Sokak. Our apartment had a terrace facing the mountains. Clean accommodation and very helpful manager.

LUXURY: There’s not a huge amount of luxury accommodation in Bitola, Grand Central Station is one option. A four star centrally located hotel with designer touches.

Day 5: Vineyards of North Macedonia

For us, no visit to North Macedonia would be complete without some time spent at vineyards sampling local wine. There are a few wine regions in North Macedonia, of which the Tikves region is the most famous. Within this region, we found Popova Kula Winery Hotel, which we think is an absolutely blissful place to stay and visit.

HOW TO GET THERE

From Bitola, there is a direct bus to Demir Kapija, the town where Popova Kula Wine Hotel is found. Normally the bus leaves once a day from Bitola bus station, for us it was 14:15, but we recommend checking the times with the bus station. The journey takes between 2 and 3 hours.

WHAT TO DO

The number one activity in Demir Kapija is to drink wine! The winery hotel we recommend offers wine tasting and a restaurant.

Our top tip, is to also visit a nearby winery – Queen Maria. You can walk across the fields of vines to get to it from Popova Winery and take time to try wine by the glass. As wine was around 1 Euros per glass, we spent a fair few hours sipping our way through the menu.

WHERE TO STAY

We recommend staying at Popova Kula winery hotel. The hotel feels luxurious, but is actually a bit of a bargain (prices range from around 50 Euros per night.) Most rooms come with a terrace and a view of the vines.

There’s a restaurant offering the chance to taste wines by the glass or bottle, and of course eat fantastic North Macedonian food.

Day 6 to 7: Skopje + Travel home

Skopje is the capital city of North Macedonia and the last stop on this seven day itinerary. This is an interesting city, at first glance the various statues and elaborate buildings seem a little eccentric, but when you dig a little below the surface, there are pockets of Skopje that are much more charming and inviting.

HOW TO GET THERE

Coming from Demir Kapija you have two transport options to get to Skopje.

The first is to take the train, Demir Kapija has a train station with a direct train to Skopje. This leaves early in the morning, normally at around 05:30 and takes a few hours.

The second transport option is to take two buses – a short 20 minute local bus to Negotino, then change to the direct bus to Skopje which takes 90 minutes.

WHAT TO DO

Skopje is a small and easy city to navigate, with the river running through the centre of the city.

Highlights that we would recommend are visiting the Old Bazaar area – an enjoyable place to grab coffee and breakfast and explore the various shops. Next, head up to the Skopje Fortress (Kale), which offers panoramic views of the city. The fortress dates back to the 6th century and provides a fascinating glimpse into Skopje’s past.

After a break for lunch, we recommend the Museum of Macedonian Struggle. This museum chronicles the country’s long fight for independence and offers a deeper understanding of North Macedonia’s history. Of all the museums, this may be the best one on Skopje for visitors.

In the evening, you’ll see the centre of Skopje coming alive with many people taking a walk along the Vardar River. Our preferred area for eating and drinking in the evening is the Debar Maalo district, which has a neighborhood feel and some of the best restaurants and bars (try Skopsi Merak for food). Closer to the centre, we would also recommend Kuka – a backyard restaurant frequented by locals.

Depending on what time you arrive to Skopje and how much time you have the next day when you leave, you may wish to take a day trip out of Skopje to Matka Canyon – a nearby natural haven offers opportunities for kayaking, hiking, or simply relaxing by the water. Find out more about the canyon here.

WHERE TO STAY

Skopje is small and very walkable, we would recommend finding accommodation in the center of the city. Here are some suggestions:

BUDGET: Mickitos Urban Hostel is a budget option close to the Old Bazaar. They offer shared dorm space or private rooms.

MID-RANGE: We stayed at the slightly eccentric Hotel Senigallia which is a “boatel” on the river in the style of a pirate ship. The central location is ideal, the accommodation is fun and breakfast is amazing. Osten Art Hotel is an alternative.

LUXURY: There aren’t many luxury hotels in Skope. Limak Skopje is a 5 star hotel with spa facilities found close to the centre of the city.

LEAVING SKOPJE

To leave Skopje and return home, we recommend flying direct from Skopje airport. If you have flights leaving from Tirana, it is possible to take a direct bus from Skopje central bus station back to Tirana. Alternatively, many people choose to continue travelling in the Balkans – Pristina in Kosovo is a popular next destination.

An alternative 7 day North Macedonia itinerary

Our 7 day itinerary does involve a fair bit of moving around. It will suit you if you really want to get a flavour of North Macedonia from capital city, to countryside and Lake Ohrid.

If you’d rather a more relaxed itinerary but you’d still like to see a bit more, we would recommend basing yourself in and around Lake Ohrid, with perhaps one night in Bitola. From Lake Ohrid, you can also organise day trips to Bitola and to vineyards.

If you fly into Tirana in Albania, you could take advantage and spend a night or two there. I don’t mean to be controversial, but we think Tirana is a much more interesting and diverse city that Skopje – there’s more to see and do. I am a little biased, as Tirana is perhaps my favourite European city. But still!

Is Tirana worth visiting? Find out here.

If you have 10 days or longer in North Macedonia

If you have 10 days or longer in North Macedonia, here are a few ideas to extend our 7 day itinerary.

1/ SPEND LONGER IN THE WINE REGIONS

We actually spent two nights in the Tikves wine region and wished that we could have stayed longer. A couple of nights in a wine hotel is perfect to totally unwind (un-wine-d).

We recommend either to, extend your stay in the Popova Wine Hotel or stay at another wine hotel as a comparison. Lazar Winery Hotel is highly recommended and an easy bus ride from Demir Kapija.

2/ VISIT A NATIONAL PARK

North Macedonia is home to several stunning national parks, each offering unique landscapes and activities.

Mavrovo National Park: Located in the western part of the country, Mavrovo National Park is the largest national park in North Macedonia. It offers mountainous terrain, pristine lakes, and diverse wildlife. Activities include hiking, biking, and, in winter, skiing. Mavrovo Lake and the picturesque village of Galicnik are must-see spots.

Pelister National Park: Situated near Bitola, Pelister National Park is known for its ancient Molika pine trees and the beautiful glacial lakes known as Pelister’s Eyes. The park is perfect for hiking, with trails ranging from easy walks to challenging climbs.

Galicica National Park: Found between Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa, Galicica National Park offers stunning views over both lakes. It is ideal for hiking and paragliding.

3/ LENGTHEN YOUR STAY IN OHRID

Full disclosure, we spent one month in North Macedonia and of that time, around 3 weeks was in Ohrid. Even after all that time I was still so sad to leave the lake!

Our 7 day itinerary allows for three days in Ohrid, but you could easily spend longer – trust me. The shore of Lake Ohrid will lull you into a hazy summer day dream.

Find our guide to the best things to do in Ohrid here.

4/ MAKE SKOPJE A BASE FOR DAY TRIPS

Skopje is perhaps not the most exciting capital city, especially when it comes to day time activities. But the nights in Skopje are a delight.

If you do have longer to spend in North Macedonia, we would suggest basing yourself in Skopje and taking some day trips. This way, you can enjoy the nightlife of the city but busy yourself with exploring by day.

Two day trips that we would recommend are:

Matka Canyon – a bit of a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. Matka Canyon is around a 40 minute bus ride from Skopje and ideal for kayaking, boat trips or hiking. Find our guide to Matka Canyon here.

Tetovo – this is a town found 40km from Skopje, which is famous for the Šarena Džamija. A painted Mosque with extravagant frescos. Buses run from the central bus terminal in Skopje and take around 1 hour.

Written by Emma

Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.

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