Most people asked ‘why?’ when we told them we were going to Albania (!?). Presumably, you are already past the ‘why’ and are hoping to find out the ‘how’ part to plan your trip – so you’re already ahead of the game (go you!)
[Pssst… if you still want to know more about the ‘why’ AND/OR want to read stories to warm the heart and instil a sense of hope in humanity then click here]
18 day Itinerary
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We spent 10 days in Albania and our itinerary went South from Tirana for some time at the coast. We then crossed over into North Macedonia for the rest of our trip and spent 7 days there. For tips on crossing the border, see our post (coming soon!)
- Stop 1 – Tirana (Albania’s Capital) – 3 nights
- Stop 2 – Himare (Coastal Town with beautiful beaches) – 2 nights
- Stop 3 – Sarande (Coastal big town/city with access to Butrint UNESCO World Heritage Site) – 2 nights
- Stop 4 – Gjirokaster (Picturesque cobbled streets and stone buildings) – 2 nights
- Stop 5 – Berat (Well preserved Ottoman town, where some locals still live within the castle walls) – 1 night
- Stop 6- Lake Ohrid (Town on the shores of crystal clear Lake Ohrid) – 4 nights
- Stop 7 – Skopje (The Capital of North Macedonia) – 3 nights
Alternative Itineraries
TIP:- We would actually change our plans if we had our time again. We would spend 1/2 nights in Tirana, and add the additional nights onto Himara. We’d also probably drop a night in Ohrid, and try to fit another place in before heading to Skopje. This seemed tricky bus wise but if we had another night or two wiggle room it would have been easier.
- Visiting the Balkans for less than two weeks? Pick between Albania and North Macedonia depending on what you want to get out of the trip
- How to spend a week in Albania? – Choose between coastal, hiking in the North, or visiting historical towns. More beach-orientated? Miss out Gjrokaster and Berat and add in a couple more coastal places (Like Ksamil, or Dhërmi). Not fussed about beaches? Miss out Himara and Saranda and add some northern towns in for hiking (like Kruje or Shkoder)
- We did our itinerary via the buses, but renting a car is also a popular choice. You’d be less tied to bus schedules, but for us, buses were a good way to chat with locals.
What is the best month to visit Albania/North Macedonia?
We travelled in September/October – It was still high twenties so still perfect for beach days, and much more comfortable for sightseeing.
Travel April-June or Sept/Oct for milder temperatures (in summer it can get up to 38 degrees), and to beat the crowds.
Is it cheap to visit?
The Balkans are super cheap to travel around! Approximate costs (as of Oct 2022) are:-
| Albania | North Macedonia | |
| Food | Zgara – (local sit-down meal sharing meat dishes & sides) – £12 between 2 people with beers Quick Souvelaki / Byrek – between £1-2 In coastal places, you’ll pay slightly more (£25 between 2 people for a meal and drinks) | Selection of local dishes to share- £7-10 between 2 people with beers Ohrid (pricer than other areas)- local meal for 2 (starters, main, beer) = £30 or a huge stonebaked pizza £5 |
| Accommodation | Private room & bathroom – £25 per room (based on 2 sharing), sometimes this even included breakfast. | Private room (and bathroom) in a hostel for roughly £27 a night between 2 Ohrid – double room with balcony with lake view £40 + a night per room |
Tirana
Is Tirana worth visiting?
Tirana is Albania’s capital and the place to learn about the country’s recent difficult history. The museums demonstrate the impact of the regime on the people of the country, and the free walking tour also takes you further back than that into the Ottoman empire and beyond. It’s a great way to orient yourself to the context of the country and gives the reason behind all the mushroom-shaped bunkers you will undoubtedly see on the rest of your travels. It’s also the jumping-off point as it currently houses the only international airport, and the bus station gives good links to other places in the country.
How to get to Tirana
Our flight landed after midnight, so we opted for a taxi from the airport. Our hostel sorted this for us before arrival, costing €15 between us. Arriving this late on day 0, gave us a full day 1 to start exploring the city.
There is also a shuttle from the airport – centre between the hours of 7am-2am, running hourly, and costing €3.30 (400 lek one-way), taking 30 minutes.
Itinerary – how to spend 3 nights in Tirana
On day one we mooched around Skanderberg Square, and the New Bazaar and generally got our bearings in the morning and went for lunch at Oda. Naps were had (thanks late flight!) before the free walking tour at 6pm. Day two we visited Bunk Art 2 in the city centre and Et’hem Bej Mosque. We definitely had more time on day 2 to go to other sights such as Bunk Art 1 & Dajti mountain but didn’t, so you’d definitely have time to fit them in. We ended our time in Tirana with Zgara and then went for some drinks in the Blloku neighbourhood. The following morning, we caught an early bus to Himara.
Recommendations
Where to stay in Tirana
We stayed in a private room in Mosaic Home Hostel. We had a comfortable private bathroom and breakfast included. We loved the cosy lounge upstairs with reading nooks, and the more social bench seating on the patio for meeting others.
If you want to stay a little closer to the main square have a look in the Blloku district, a trendy neighbourhood with nice bars and restaurants.
Where to Eat & Drink in Tirana
- Oda – highly recommended & it was clear why. Gorgeous atmosphere and decor, and the menu is packed with local dishes to try out. If you can, get a table out the back in the garden space.
- Capitol – Right near Skanderberg Square so perfect for a quick Souvlaki.
- E7E (E Për7shme) – Chilled cafe with lots of outdoor space at the back for a rest stop or a good work spot for all you digital nomads out there.
- Radio Bar – Classic & local cocktails in a quirky setting. I opted for the Balkan Collins which set me back 700 lek (about £5.30), which was expensive for Albania, but cheap when comparing it to UK prices.
- Zgara – You MUST try Zgara whilst in Tirana. There’s a stretch of 4 Zgara places near the roundabout by the new bizarre (on Rruga Luigji Gurakuqi – the main street going directly back towards Skanderbeg Square). They were busiest later on in the evening (from around 7/8) & had a real bustling atmosphere (and good food!).
- At some point in your stay in the country eat pasta! Apparently, lots of Albanians train in Italy as chefs & we had the best pasta we’ve had outside Italy here!
Things to do in Tirana
- Bunk Art 2 Museum (500 lek) – Definitely recommend this museum to learn about the country’s recent history. It gets hot down there so visit in the morning as it gets more crowded as the day goes on. Heads up – I wish I’d known how big it was and how many sections there were before going. I would have spent less time in the first section (on the make-up of the different forces within the regime) and got to the following sections which were more about how it impacted the people (including how they were spied upon)
- Free Walking Tour (tip based – pay what you think the tour is worth). This one runs twice a day 10am & 6pm April-October, and 10am & 2pm October-April. We always recommend a free walking tour to get your bearings on a place. They give a really good overview of the history and there are lots of opportunities to ask any burning questions about local life.
- There is also Bunk Art 1 further out of the city – also close to the Dajti express to the viewpoint. Bunk Art 1 is the personal bunker of previous dictator Enver Hoxha
- Visit the Dajti mountain viewpoint for views across Tirana
Practical tip :- use Credins bank ATM for free cash withdrawals before heading on to other towns – most of the other ATMs charge (sometimes extortionate amounts) for withdrawals. You WILL need cash! We could only use card for items such as hostels/hotels and it’s worth checking if they accept as many didn’t.
Himarë
Is Himara worth visiting?
Himare is a small town right on the Albanian Riveria. It’s home to stunning white pebble beaches with clear waters. It’s a local town and doesn’t feel overly touristy yet. It was the perfect place to relax and unwind, with options to go to nearby sites if you wanted to mix up your days a bit.
How to get to Himara
We got a bus from Tirana (1200 lek, 4 hours). Our hostel in Tirana had a bus timetable up in reception (picture taken Sept 2022 – routes are from Tirana).
We were told not to rely on the timetables online completely. It was way better to ask locals when you’re there.
Practical Tip – The buses don’t only stop at designated stops, they can drop you off wherever on their route. Keep an eye on maps.me (free offline maps we couldn’t be without), and give the driver a shout when you’re near somewhere you want to be. You’ll save money on taxis / hauling your bags around town!
Itinerary – How to spend 2 nights in Himare
We got there around lunch time and grabbed a souvelaki at ‘I love souvealki’ right on the beachfront. We spent the rest of the day on the beach & meandered back down to the promenade again in the evening for food. We absolutely loved joining the locals for Xhiro (a local tradition of a sunset walk) each night, it was such a lovely way to end the day. Himare is known for its gorgeous sunsets and it did not disappoint. The next day, we wandered a little further around the coast to the next beach along and hired sunbeds and a parasol.
Recommendations
Where to stay in Himare
We stayed in a private room (with a bathroom) in a modern apartment block. It was gorgeous, had a balcony and was just a 5-10 mins walk to the beach.
Where to Eat/Drink in Himare
- I Love Souvlaki – gorgeous view and great food
- Himara 28 – a good spot for some sunset beers. We bumped into the owner of our hotel and his friends here too so it must be a popular spot with the locals
- Varka – a MUST! Beach bar with a really chilled atmosphere, and an incredible sunset view
- Taverna To Steki – popular spot serving Greek food, and again had a gorgeous view of the coast
- Homemade products (produce shop) – a little store of homemade, locally sourced products. The lady who owns it is lovely, and chatted to us about her shop, and her family. The produce is from the nearby mountains. Try the mountain tea! She also makes fresh honey, oils etc. A good stop for a unique souvenir, or to get some stuff for a picnic
- Hollywood fast food – Don’t judge us.. It’s a static food truck essentially just behind prinos beach. We were loving the beach and didn’t want to move alright! The sandwiches were cheap, fresh, and filling. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it (I’d have definitely rolled my eyes seeing this on a blog also!)
- ‘Creperie & Souvlaki’ on Google. This man does the best crepes, and it was here we were introduced to our usual (nutella and banana) taken a step further. This guy does it with crushed biscuits. It makes a difference. Trust me.
Things to do in Himare
- Sunbed and parasole hire for the whole day (500 lek / £4 between 2 people)
- Local beaches (Potam, Prinos, Spile) – free
- Himare Castle – 300 lek Entry (approx £2.25)
- Xhiro – a sociable local sunset walking tradition – free
- Rent a Kayak and visit nearby beaches and coves – we didn’t do this as we had lazy days on the beaches in Himara. Himara Hostel rents out kayaks for less than €10 a day to guests. Drop them a message to see if they rent to none-guests before trecking up there, or have this price in mind whilst getting a deal directly on the beach.
Sarandë
Is Saranda worth visiting?
Saranda is the most popular town on the Albanian Riveria. It’s close to gorgeous beaches such as Ksamil, and close to ‘The Blue Eye’. The main reason we visited is it has good access to Butrint (UNESCO World Heritage Site), an ancient city. I would say if you’re interested in ancient history, a visit to Butrint (and therefore, Saranda) is a must. In years to come, I imagine Butrint will become packed out with selfie sticks and the like. Currently, it has a real explorer feel to it, and in parts, we were the only people there – I totally got my Indiana Jones on there. Saranda is more built up than Himare, but it depends on what you like. We prefer sleepy local towns, but Saranda definitely has more choices of places to eat, visit and convenience.
How to get to Saranda
We got the bus from Himara (800 lek, or £6 each, pay cash on the bus) taking between 1-2 hours. It got busy with people needing to stand so try to get on it at the beginning of town. Check with your hostel/hotel about what time to expect it the day before.
Itinerary – How to spend 2 nights in Saranda
We got there fairly early so checked in and then got a Byrek to snack on whilst we walked around to get our bearings. Mid-afternoon, we did the hike up to the ruins of the Monastery of 40 Saints. You get to see a more local side of Saranda on the way up, and gorgeous views of the coast line, and nearby Corfu. On the way back down, as the sun was setting, we heard the often familiar sound in Albania of cow bells and a Shepard was hearding his goats back for the night. Day 2 we spent visiting Butrint and headed there on an early morning bus. We spent a lot of the day there as we are mammoth history geeks, and then headed back to Saranda to relax by the beach. We perched on the wall with our books. We enjoyed our last meal there that evening and headed for Gjirokaster the following morning
Recommendations
Where to stay in Saranda
We stayed in Hotel Tatzati 2 in a double room with a balcony, with breakfast included. It’s a central hotel, and close to the bus stops – perfect for day trips.
Where to Eat / Drink in Saranda
- Local Souvlaki place – there is no name for this that we can find, but we spotted it was always packed with locals so assumed it must be a good place and it did not disappoint! It is by Friendship Park and on a street called Rruga Flamurit – you’ll find it on the corner opposite the Rossman supermarket.
- La Petite – we didn’t eat here this time, but we passed it and it looked gorgeous. It’s right on the coast, with beautiful outdoor terraces looking out onto it and according to trip advisor the food is good too. Would be gorgeous for a sunset view meal/ drinks – if you get there let us know (but don’t make us too gutted we missed out, have some respect!)
Things to do in Saranda
- Butrint – Entry Price 1000 lek (£7.50) and worth every penny and more in my opinion! We got the public bus here from Saranda for 200 lek each way (see timetable below). If you’re a history fan allow more than a few hours to get around the site and take it in – it’s actually really big. There isn’t anywhere on site to get food, just a cafe only selling hot drinks. If you get hangry (like me!) for the love of God, take some food – save your companion (Can you tell we forgot food? Sorry Joe…)
- Monestary of 40 Saints (200 lek entry) – there is a lovely 3km hike (uphill) from Saranda, see maps.me for the route. The views on the way up, and at the ruin itself are stunning, and although much of the building is no longer standing, it has quite a bit of history to it, and a bit of an eerie feel up there. There is a man who takes entry payment up there and hands you a small map. It didn’t have a great deal of information on it so if you’re interested in the history a quick Google search before going up is a good idea.
- Blue Eye (50 Lek) – if you’re heading to the famous Blue Eye and Gjrokaster try and do it in one journey – it’s the same bus that goes through both so this can save you time and money
Bus timetable between Saranda and Butrint as of September 2022. I took this on a moving bus and said to Joe ‘in case we ever start a travel blog’. As you can see from the picture quality and angle, I really wholeheartedly believed we would…
We caught it from friendship square so these times are from there however other people got on further down the route.
Gjirokastër
Is it worth visiting Gjrokaster?
This was one of the first pictures I saw of Albania, and it drew me in completely. It’s such a quaint town; surrounded by mountains, handicrafts, and history all in one. We loved it.
How to get to Gjrokaster
There are frequent buses leaving from Friendship Park in Saranda to Gjrokaster. If you want to know the time for that day / the following day, it’s best to ask the drivers outside of the park where the buses are or at your hotel.
Itinerary – How to spend 2 nights in Gjrokaster
We got there via bus from Saranda in the morning and got settled in our room and did our laundry (needs must when packing light!). We strolled around the cobbled streets of the bazaar taking in the mountain view and had some lunch. Later, we went to the castle and soaked in more gorgeous views from the top across the whole valley (and a bit of history too of course!). We had dinner then hit the hey. The next day we went to the Skenduli Traditional House and out for lunch. We tried to go to the bunker, but it was closed (despite the sign saying it was open and a friendly local telling us the opening times too). We enjoyed dinner at Taverna Tradicionale Kardhashi, and then went for a cocktail or two in the bazaar.
Recommendations:
Where to stay in Gjrokaster
We stayed at the TeArra Guest House and were purely sold on good views and good reviews (and a breakfast that looked superb!). We had breakfast included which was served on a cute terrace with the most beautiful views of Gjrokaster and the surrounding mountains.
If you’d like to stay closer to the centre of town use the features on booking.com to search for accommodation closest to the old bazaar
Where to eat in Gjrokaster
- Taverna Tradicionale Kardhashi – Cannot recommend this place enough! We loved it so much we went twice. The staff are so friendly, the owner gave us loads of recommendations for local dishes, and even gave us free fresh cordial he had made.
- Vojsava Restaurant – Had lunch here and really recommend it. We tried the Byrek, Shapkat and the Qifqi – all lovely!
- Restaurant Gjoça Tradicional – Good place for local, traditional food. If you can get a table outside it would be great for people watching and the atmosphere of the bazaar.
Things to do in Gjrokaster
- Castle (200 lek entry) – Definitely a must-visit in Gjirokaster it gives context and history to the town and castle not to mention stupendous views from the top – enjoy!
- Skenduli Traditional House (200 lek for entry & tour) – a traditional house from the Ottoman time period. You can see how certain rooms were laid out, and the lady who offers a guided tour gives lots of cultural context. You get to see a wedding room, and talked through the process and rituals of the day, and also see more everyday rooms of the house.
- Cold War Tunnel Bunker (200 lek) – This is an underground bunker complex built during WW2 and the communist period with around 59 rooms. It’s a good place to learn more about Albania’s recent past if you missed the Bunk Art museum in Tirana. We planned to go here but unfortunately, it was closed (during opening hours – so don’t 100% rely on them and try to go early in your trip if you really want to go, that way, you’ve always got tomorrow!)
- Free Walking Tour (tip based) :- There is a catch to this free walking tour, and that catch is, you can only go on it if you’re staying at Stone City Hostel (which we weren’t!). It kind of has a ‘you can’t sit with us’ vibe to it (not bitter at all!). If you’re staying there, it’s supposed to be a good tour and a good place to stay so let us all know in the comments how it is.
Berat
Is it worth visiting Berat?
Berat is a preserved Ottoman town with a castle but the difference about Berat is, locals actually still live within the castle walls, and you can stay there too. How many times can you say you’ve stayed in a castle – A CASTLE?! It’s also the place we had one of our most memorable meals, and nights in Albania – at homemade Lili’s.
How to get to Berat
There are regular buses from Gjrokaster to Berat (taking around 3 hours). The bus leaves from the main bus station in Gjrokaster. The bus station in Berat is a little out of town so there is a shuttle-type bus that runs regularly (just ask someone inside they are happy to help, or if all else fails look for a crowd hanging around outside).
Itinerary – How to spend 1 night in Berat
Joe made us get off a stop too soon because he was certain it was the right stop (it wasn’t – and the lack of people getting off didn’t give him a clue). So I started our time in Berat with a big paddy carrying my 15kg backpack up a huge hill to get to the castle. After said paddy, we had a lovely lunch at Temi (food always helps a paddy). We walked around the cobbled streets within the castle walls, stopping off at key sights, until we made our way to the viewpoint looking over the town. We left the castle and wandered onto the main street just in time to enjoy some Xhiro and a live band on the street before heading to Homemade Lili’s for a night we wouldn’t forget. The next morning we got up early to get to the bus stop ready to start our journey over the border to North Macedonia.
Recommendations
Where to Stay in Berat
It is not every day you can stay in a hotel inside a castle! We had a comfortable room, and breakfast was included, and did I mentioned it was IN a castle?!
Where to eat/drink in Berat
- Temi (within the castle walls) – Lovely little restaurant to enjoy a chilled lunch. I had the moussaka which I’d recommend, and they even gave us some free fresh grapes at the end. There are also lots of cats nearby if you like cats.
- Homemade Lili – A sentence doesn’t do this place justice, so here, have a whole blog on it!
Things to do in Berat
- Wander around the cobbled streets within the castle: Berat actually has people still living within its castle’s walls. It’s free to wander into the castle walls and look around the neighbourhood
- National Ethnographic Museum (300 lek): items from the Ottoman period to demonstrate what life would have been like
- Stroll down Bulevardi Republika for Xhiro : become emersed in an Albanian tradition of sunset walking and socialising. We saw people of all ages and all walks of life come together, some stroll by smiling at one another, others you see huddled over a communal chess board.
North Macedonia
Lake Ohrid
Is Lake Ohrid worth visiting?
Lake Ohrid is a huge lake which borders Albania and Macedonia, and is one of the oldest lakes in Europe. The water is strikingly clear, and it’s a nice town to unwind in, rent a kayak, and explore the local history of the town too. There are beautiful churches and ruins dotted about the town, and it’s a really walkable place. You could also use it as a jumping off point to other towns or villages around Lake Ohrid as day trips.
How to get to Lake Ohrid
Getting from Berat to Lake Ohrid was a little more complicated so we’ve written a whole blog on it, which you can find here. If you’re going from Tirana it is easier, with direct buses, again ask at the bus station, or hotel/hostel to get up-to-date timetables.
Itinerary – How to spend 4 nights in Ohrid
We got there late afternoon after travelling over the border (tips on that here-coming soon). We got our bearings and read with views of the lake. We unfortunately had to switch accommodation on the second day so it was mainly taken up moving and navigating check-in times with no wifi etc. Once we were settled, we went for a wander down the promenade, and went out for dinner. At night, it was pretty quiet it being October, but I believe in summer the town comes alive a bit more. We started our days with a swim in the lake, and then did a guided tour. The following day we rented a kayak and explored the lake, looking back on the old town with only us to be seen for miles – it was bliss. We enjoyed our final night before getting the bus the following morning to Skopje (and caught a final morning swim first of course!)
Recommendations
Where to stay in Lake Ohrid
We actually had a first for us on this trip – we had to leave a place after one night because it was quite bad (so I won’t recommend it here). We then ended up in a gorgeous room but it cost more than our budget because it was last minute. This was more than worth it for modern decor, and a stunning balcony view. They also offer you 20% off at some local restaurants (bonus!)
Search here for other places to stay in the Ohrid town, or if you want something more secluded you can stay at other places along the lake and cycle into town when you want/need – we absolutely loved the look of this cabin
Where to eat / drink in Ohrid
- Restaurant “Sv. Sofija” – lovely (and popular) traditional restaurant serving local dishes. It seemed very much ‘on’ the beaten track – it had a tour group in and they were entertained by a group of traditional dancers
- Noa Lounge Bar – We got 20% off here for being guests at Villa Amfora. Definitely recommend watching the sunset here it was just stunning. The food was lovely and with the discount only cost approx £15 for two mains and two drinks
- Leonardo’s – if you fancy some pizza, this is the gaf
- Kaj Kanevche – This is in the Kaneo area just past the boardwalk. We kept wanting to try it out as it had been recommended but never seemed to coincide with their out-of-season opening times – if you go let us know what we missed out on in the comments!
Things to do in Ohrid
- Rent a Kayak (€30 for a couple of hours) – There are some gorgeous views on the lake both of the surrounding hills but also looking back on the old town, it was our favourite way to see ‘the’ famous church (Church of St. John at Kaneo). We got our kayak here
- Wander down the promenade & jetty with an ice cream (basically free!)
- Swimming in the lake (free!) – the best way to spend a morning even though we went in October (it felt warm outside for us but not the locals!)
- Guided walking tour of the old town (€20 for two people) – This turned out more of a private guided tour even though we were after a free walking tour vibe. Note that the cost does not cover entry into some sights on the tour such as churches, so make sure you’ve got some change on you – often this was up to €3 extra. We were able to choose which ones we went in and which we skipped.
- Wander around the old town making sure to stop at the Amphitheatre, the paper shop (for their live demonstrations of paper making & unique souveniers), and Samuel’s Fortress
- See the frescos in St Sophia Church (€2). This (and the sites in the above bullet point) will likely be on your route on the walking tour if you do it
Skopje
Is Skopje worth visiting?
Skopje is the capital, and therefore, the most likely place to be able to get a flight in or out of. It’s a good place to learn about the history and the context of North Macedonia (here you can learn why even the name of the country itself is a controversial point). It’s also one of the most mismatched places I’ve ever travelled to, mainly in the sense of its architecture. In 1963, the country suffered a huge earthquake which damaged many of the buildings. Upon rebuilding, they have gone for lots of different, contrasting styles, and also have things from all over the world popping up. Often you see a London bus drive by, or bump into the Brandenburg Gate (Berlin), or the Arc de Triomphe (Paris). Meanwhile, the old bazaar feels like you’re bustling through the markets of Turkey
How to get to Skopje
We took the bus from Ohrid which took around 4 hours (€14 each). Our hotel booked this for us, and we got a taxi to the bus station as it’s a little out of town
Itinerary :- How to spend 3 nights in Skopje
We arrived quite late so just nipped over to the old bazaar near our hostel for some food. We started the next day with the free walking tour, and then explored the old bazaar more afterwards. We used our last full day to visit the nearby Matka Canyon via bus and did a boat tour to visit the caves, some kayaking, and some walking before heading back.
Recommendations
Where to stay in Skopje
We stayed in a private room (with a private bathroom) in a hostel. We loved being in the old bazaar, and close to the bridge to get to the other side of town too.
If you’d prefer to stay in the newer part of town, look around here
Where to eat / drink in Skopje
- Kaj Goce – we went to this place in the bazaar a few times! A good selection of local food to try for approx just £7 between 2! We tried the kebabs (order multiple, the price is for 1), Tavce Gravce (Macedonian baked bean dish), and Shopska Salad (Local Salad with cheese).
- Teteks 2 – again in the old bazaar area. This looked like a fast food chain but seemed popular with locals – you get loads! Good for a lunch stop.
Things to do in Skopje
- Free walking tour (tip based) – these start at 10am every day in the main square in front of the Czar Samuel Statue. There are later tours 3/5pm depending on the season so check the website out if you can’t make the morning one (reservation needed for later tours, but not for 10am one)
- Get lost around the Old Bazaar (free!)- wander around the cobbled streets of the old bazaar and soak up the atmosphere. Do this after the free walking tour so you know which street is for which (they are themed!)
- Mother Theresa Museum (free) – quick stop to learn more about the life of Mother Theresa
- Visit Matka Canyon – a beautiful nature spot 40 mins outside the city. You can reach it by the number 60 bus from the centre of town. There is an area for kayak rental, a small restaurant, and boat tours to the cave. There are also walking routes through the canyon. The bus will drop you a 15/20 min walk from the boats etc, just keep walking in the direction the bus was driving before it stopped and turned back for Skopje. The buses were a little unpredictable on the way back, ours turned up eventually but if you’d rather you can get a taxi from there, ask your hotel what it should cost so you can get a fair price (at the time of writing this was around 600 Deneer, or £7)
Have we helped you plan your trip to Albania / North Macedonia? We’d love to hear from you in the comments! Want a bit more info? We are happy to try to help – let us know!
Why not bookmark this page to revisit to help with your planning? Enjoy x