Skopje, North Macedonia’s capital, was known as the City of Statues for the countless monuments dotting its squares and bridges. Step into its main square and you’ll instantly see why.
Ohrid to Skopje
We booked with Classic Company, just a 4-minute walk from our apartment in Lake Ohrid. Darko, the owner of the apartment, even offered us a ride to the bus station and a late checkout, though we didn’t need either.
The Furgon arrived slightly late and was nearly full. Thankfully, we got seats together. The ride cost €16 for two and took about three hours, including a brief toilet stop.
Upon arrival, we hopped on a taxi for €5 (300 MKD). Our hotel was near the old bazaar, but the driver didn’t know the location well and took a longer route. We ended up a street away since the hotel’s road was pedestrian-only.
Hotel Atika
We stayed just one night and didn’t linger. The room had a refrigerator, air conditioning, blackout blinds, and a small TV, perfectly fine for a short stay.
BBQ Pčela
We had lunch here, one of the few places in the old town that served alcohol. We ordered ćevapi and four beers for 750 MKD. A Chinese elderly woman who’d arrived before us got into an argument with the cashier over her change: she had paid in euros and was receiving MKD back, minus a processing fee she hadn’t anticipated.
The dispute dragged on, drawing impatient looks from other diners. When she finally left in tears, a few customers even booed. It was heartbreaking to watch her confusion over a simple payment policy turn into a public spectacle.
Skopje Highlights
From the old bazaar, we walked past Mother Teresa Square, the Bridge of Art, and into the spotless Macedonia Square, dominated by a massive statue of Alexander the Great.
We could see the Millennium Cross in the background, perched atop Vodno Mountain. At 66 meters, it’s the second-tallest cross in the world and the tallest in Europe, built in 2008 to commemorate 2,000 years of Christianity in the region. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to hike or take a ride up.
The city was filled with statues, earning its nickname “The City of Statues.” It felt like Rome, except all the statues were new, built in the 2010s.
Irish Pub & Taxi Trouble
We had a few drinks at an Irish pub, 150 MKD per pint, and met a young man (afghantwitter) who was half English and half American. He had a hobby of visiting Irish pubs wherever he travelled.
He shared stories from his time serving in Afghanistan and his favourite memories from Serbia, a country he frequented. He even treated us to shots of rakija and taught us a trick to tell if it would cause a hangover. It was something about how it felt on the skin, though I couldn’t quite recall.
Our taxi ride in Skopje was the worst experience of our entire Balkans trip. The driver overcharged us and was aggressive. It wasn’t even a midnight ride; it was before 9 pm. We ended up paying €35 for a less than 1.5 km ride, and he still demanded more! Skopje didn’t leave a good impression. If you visit, spend as little time there as possible.
Farewell, North Macedonia
After just one night in Skopje, we were ready to leave the city and move on to our third Balkan country, the Republic of Kosovo. At the Skopje bus station, we met two Malaysians. One from Perak and another from Kedah. They were planning to head to Pristina the next day.
We wished them safe travels and warned them about unscrupulous taxi drivers. They were already aware of the risks and stayed vigilant when a driver tried to persuade them to take him to their accommodation.
In just five days, from June 28 to July 2, we had sampled the serene beauty of Lake Ohrid and the chaos of Skopje. This leg of our Balkan adventure delivered unforgettable views, local flavours, and serendipitous moments. Farewell, North Macedonia.