North Macedonia (Macedonia) Tours & Holidays

North Macedonia has a climate somewhere between a transitional continental and Mediterranean climate, which can vary greatly between seasons and regions. The country’s mountainous areas can be subjected to brutally cold winters (December to February), while the lower-lying areas can reach 40° C during summer (June to September). Between May and September is the best time to visit, unless you’re into skiing.

Centuries-old traditions still take place, many of which incorporate the cultures of rulers gone by (notably the Ottoman Empire who ruled for 500 years). Locals will proudly put on their best folk costume to play traditional music, dance traditional dances (such as the ‘Oro’ circle dance) or take part in rituals passed down for generations. Ethnic North Macedonians – who make up the majority of the population (about 67%) and are largely Orthodox Christians – are frequently at odds with the country's notable Albanian population (about 23%), who are predominantly Muslim. Despite their differences, both groups tend to share conservative and patriarchal values. Visitors should be aware that women are expected to dress modestly and both men and women are expected to cover their knees and shoulders when visiting a mosque or church.

North Macedonian cuisine is a delicious mix of Balkan, Turkish and Mediterranean influences. Rustic dishes are made with plenty of locally grown produce (thanks to the country’s warm and pleasant climate) and fresh fish from the country’s rivers and lakes. 

Must-try foods in North Macedonia

1. Tavche gravche

North Macedonia’s version of baked beans is also their national dish. White beans are first boiled and then baked with onions and herbs in a clay pot to create a fragrant and healthy meal. 

2. Pastrmajlijada

An oval-shaped bread pie is topped with cubes of meat (usually pork or lamb) and baked to create this savoury snack sometimes referred to as a ‘North Macedonian pizza’.

3. Shopska salad

Chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, onions and olives topped with plenty of salty white cheese. Similar to a Greek salad, shopska is a staple served at almost every restaurant. 

Located in southeast Europe, North Macedonia shares its border with Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Albania. Breathtaking mountains – perfect for hiking and climbing in the summer and skiing in the winter – give way to fertile flats. The Dinaric Alps slice through the west and the Vardar Valley occupies much of the central region. Despite being landlocked, North Macedonia contains many rivers and lakes, including the magnificently scenic Lake Ohrid, one of the deepest and oldest lakes in Europe.

Early history

Even by Balkan standards, North Macedonia’s history is characterised by complexity and controversy. Going back to the days of Alexander the Great (the country’s favourite son), North Macedonia has been pin-balled between external powers, from the Romans to the Byzantines, the Serbs to the Ottoman Turks, and the Bulgarians to the Greeks. In fact, it wasn’t until 1991 that the country officially attained its status as an independent nation – and even that remains a point of contention in certain circles. 

From the sixth century AD until the fourteenth, the territory was wrestled to and fro between the Byzantines, Slavs, Bulgars and Serbs before eventually falling to the Ottoman Empire in 1371. The country remained under Turkish rule until the empire’s decline in the eighteenth century, then was once again split up but this time between Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia. Various pushes for independence and ‘reunion’ with Bulgaria were then stymied by the two World Wars and the advent of communism.

Recent history

At the conclusion of World War II, the country was incorporated into the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia under the leadership of Tito – an era during which, by and large, the territory prospered. With the collapse of European communism, however, came new calls for Macedonian independence, and the state peacefully ceded from the republic in 1992. 

Wary of ‘Macedonia’ being used as the country’s proposed name due to implied claims to Aegean Macedonia, Greece made its objections known and the compromise ‘The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’ was eventually arrived at. Greek ire was re-aroused in 1994, culminating in its enforcement of an economic embargo that was eventually lifted upon Macedonia’s changing of its flag and agreeing to discussions about its name. The country evaded being embroiled in the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s but experienced a potentially catastrophic civil conflict from 1997-2001 over tensions with its sizeable Albanian population. Hostilities were becalmed with a NATO ceasefire, but the Albanian-Macedonian relationship is still a touchy subject that’s best avoided. 

In 2019 Macedonia agreed to change their name to North Macedonia and Greece agreed to stop blocking its entry to NATO and the EU.

1. The Galičnik Wedding Festival

Back in the good old days, the villagers of Galičnik had only one day each year when North Macedonian couples could get married: the 12th of July. These days, starry-eyed lovers can take their vows on whichever day they please, but for one lucky couple, a traditional wedding ceremony is still a possibility. Held on the weekend closest to the 12th of July, the Galičnik Wedding Festival commemorates the custom with dances, elaborate dresses and a horse bridle being placed on the bride as a test of her obedience. Any North Macedonian couple that has already been married in the civil service can apply for the role of an official couple, with the winning entrant generally being the one with the prettiest bride.

2. Tikveski Grozdober (Grape Carnival)

Each September, Kavadarci, a small town in North Macedonia’s seriously scenic wine-growing region, plays host to the Tikveški Grozdober festival. A celebration of both the town’s liberation and the beginning of the grape harvest, the festival swells with food stalls and music concerts and culminates in an extravagantly costumed carnival procession through the town’s main streets. Oh, and much wine drinking.

3. Ilinden National Festival of Song and Dance

The oldest folk festival in the country, the Ilinden Days, is a celebration of all the folk cultural edifices that have come to represent North Macedonian identity over the years. Folk songs and dancing take centre stage here, all performed in traditional garb with traditional instruments. Held over four days, it provides a fascinating insight into traditional North Macedonian culture, as well as serves to preserve its history.

4. Pivo Fest Prilep Beer Fest

North Macedonia’s breweries aren’t as prolific as its wineries, but beer is still a pretty big player in national culture and deemed worthy of a festival. The first Pivo Fest Prilep was held in 2003 and, in contrast to many of the country’s other tradition-orientated festivals, the focus here is on live music, grilled meats, skimpy attire and ales abundant. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s now one of the most popular summer events in the country.

5. Carnival Procka

Kicking off three days before the Easter fast begins, the Procka Carnival, which is also held in Prilep, is a celebration of the unconditional forgiveness demonstrated by Jesus for his fellow humans. During this brief holiday, the young ask for forgiveness from their elders, who reply by saying ‘you are forgiven from me and from God.’ If this all sounds a bit sombre (not to mention presumptuous), there are also great feasting opportunities in preparation for the fasting ahead and things are livened up with parades of highly decorative ‘anything goes’ costumes.

The narrow cobbled streets of Skopje’s Old Bazaar (Carsija), the largest bazaar in the Balkans outside Istanbul, offer a more unique shopping experience. Step back in time to the days of Ottoman rule and browse craftsmen shops selling unique jewellery, handmade textiles and terracotta pots while locals sit outside cafes savouring sweet desserts and strong coffee.

Some stores in North Macedonia allow travellers to shop tax-free. Look for a blue and white ‘Tax-Free’ sign in store windows and make sure to ask for a Global Blue refund form when making your purchase. Get this form validated by a customs official at the airport when you are leaving the country (they’ll want to see the item and receipt as well), then take it to the Global Blue refund office to get your money back.