Magyar Természetjáró Szövetség weboldalai MTSZ MTSZ térképportál Turista Magazin TuristaShop Kéktúra Gerecse50 A kéktúrázás napja
Try Pro for free
Choose a language
  • Ohrid lake, Macedonia
    Ohrid lake, Macedonia Photo: CCat82, Adobe Stock
  • Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia
    Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia Photo: Comofoto, Adobe Stock
  • Skopje at sunset, North Macedonia
    Skopje at sunset, North Macedonia Photo: Dennis, Adobe Stock

North Macedonia

Northern Macedonia is still a real insider's tip for outdoor adventurers: wild mountain ranges, untouched nature, living traditions and hospitality that is second to none await you.

Centrally located on the Balkan Peninsula, most of northern Macedonia consists of mountainous terrain, making it a paradise for hikers. At Lake Ohrid, the oldest lake in Europe, sun lovers also get their money's worth.

4.5  (176 Ratings and reviews)

Outdooractive Editors  Verified partner 
Author of this page

Attractions in North Macedonia


High Scardus Trail: Over the Mountains of Northern Macedonia

Those who want to go high up will get their money's worth in northern Macedonia: large parts of the country lie in the mountains. The foothills of the Dinaric Mountains, the Jablanica, and the Korab Mountains are ideal destinations for hikers and climbers.

The long-distance hiking trail "High Scardus Trail", opened in 2018, leads across the mountain ranges in the west of the country in 20 daily stages, along the borders with Kosovo and Albania. The royal stage leads to the summit of Korab - at 2764 m the highest mountain in the Western Balkans. The Korab is also worthwhile as a single-day trip, the all-around panoramic view from the summit is worth every effort of the ascent.

North Macedonia adventure

Since the country is still rather unknown to tourists and not as crowded as other regions, you can still discover real untouched nature and lonely hiking trails in Northern Macedonia. However, you should bring a bit of adventure and hiking experience with you, because the tourist infrastructure and trail markings still leave much to be desired.

For an active vacation, a visit to the Galičica National Park between Ohrid and Sveti Naum is highly recommended. From the highest mountain, the Magaro with a height of 2,255 meters, you can enjoy an impressive view of three countries.

If you are looking for an exciting kayak or boat trip in addition to a dream hike, you should definitely visit the Matka Canyon. You can explore the spectacular canyon on foot and hike along overgrown rocks - or you can simply rent a boat or kayak and marvel at the natural wonder on water.

Matka gorge in northern Macedonia
Photo: zm_photo, Adobe Stock

Enchanted Lake Ohrid

On the border with Albania lies another special natural treasure of Northern Macedonia: Lake Ohrid. Lake Ohrid is one of the oldest lakes on earth - and the oldest in Europe. With its crystal clear water and several sandy beaches, it is perfect for a summer vacation.

The best place to visit the lake is from Ohrid, the town of the same name. The small houses with terracotta roofs literally rise out of the water and offer a charming sight - this can be observed especially well by boat. The city itself offers over 360 churches, Byzantine frescoes and, especially in summer, a colorful hustle and bustle in the old town. Particularly noteworthy is the St. Jovan Kaneo Church - with a dream location directly on the lake, it is a popular postcard motif. About 30 kilometers from Ohrid, on the southern shore of the lake, is the monastery of Sveti Naum, which is also worth a visit.

Both Sveti Naum Monastery and Ohrid and Lake Ohrid are part of the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

Excursion to Skopje

Skopje, the capital and also the most populated place in the country, is located in a basin between the Dinaric Mountains and the Rhodope Mountains - a beautiful and yet somewhat dangerous location, as the place has been exposed to several earthquakes in the past. The city was last badly damaged in 1963.

Today Skopje offers a mix of different architectural styles. Here, new and grandiose buildings such as the Artists' Bridge, which boasts 29 statues, meet simple and modest buildings in the old town. When visiting Skopje, be sure to visit the famous stone bridge and the lively bazaar.

In addition, a culinary excursion is worthwhile: When visiting Northern Macedonia, be sure to try the many regional dishes - these are characterized by Mediterranean and Oriental influences: Tavče gravče, börek with feta cheese, sarma, shopkska salad and other delicacies are waiting for you!

Traditional Macedonian cuisine
Photo: bellakadife, Adobe Stock

Discover our Top Partner

 Sponsored

Destinations in North Macedonia


Regions

Show Map

Localization

Parts of this content were machine translated from German.
THE way to start your next outdoor experience!
Logo agrar Logo aofk Logo mol Logo otp