We spent two days in the North Macedonian capital, Skopje, exploring the pleasant city with its abundance of statues and fountains. In reality, they weren’t consecutive days, as we started and ended our Balkan Road Trip here. Hence, the two different hotels.
Three things I learned about Skopje during my visit:
- If, like me, you love weird statues, Skopje is weird statue heaven.
- It feels a bit like being transported back to the 80s.
- The locals are obsessed with Mother Teresa, who was born here.
Skopje is bisected by the Vardar River, which runs through the centre of the city, and can be crossed via a number of picturesque bridges. We spent one day exploring south of the river and a second mainly on the northern side.
How to get to Skopje
We flew into Skopje Airport, which is around 13 miles south east of the city. The ErakTransporter shuttle bus runs 7-9 times a day and takes around 35 minutes. It stops at the Capitol Mall, Central Bus Station and Holiday Inn. The latter is closest to the old town – just a 6 minute walk to Macedonia Square. Tickets cost 199 MKD each way (around £2.80).
There is also a good network of buses to/from Skopje. The Bus Station is about a mile south east of Macedonia Square. We travelled to Kosovo from here. Note: There may be more than one bus company servicing the same destination, which can be a little confusing.
Skopje is a great place to start a drive round the Balkans. When planning our Balkan Road Trip, we found that many car rental companies barred you from taking your vehicle to specific countries. Hertz in North Macedonia was one company which permitted us to drive to all the countries we wanted to visit (with the exception of Kosovo).
Getting around Skopje
With its pedestrian streets and plenty of cobbles, Skopje is best explored on foot. My Day 1 and Day 2 itineraries each consist of a loop of approximately 2 kilometres.
Where to stay in Skopje
We stayed in two hotels during our visit. There are several boutique hotels in the centre of Skopje. We chose the Alexandar Square Boutique Hotel; a pleasant boutique hotel right on the main square with very clean, comfortable rooms and a great breakfast.
Our final night in Skopje was spent on the Hotel Senigallia; a hotel/restaurant in a boat moored on the river in the centre of the old town. The Senigallia is very conveniently located and makes a unique base from which to explore the city. The rooms are comfortable and you can fall asleep to the relaxing sound of the river running by. Breakfast is apparently excellent too, although we had a very early flight, so were gone before the restaurant opened.
Skopje in 2 Days Itinerary
| Day 1 | Travel to Skopje Accommodation – Alexandar Square Boutique Hotel Macedonia Square Mother Teresa Memorial House Macedonia Gate Woman-Warrior Park Art Bridge Bridge of Civilisations Stone Bridge |
| Day 2 | Accommodation – Hotel Senigallia Archaeological Museum of Macedonia Holocaust Memorial Centre National Theatre Skopje Fortress Dinner in the Čaršija |
Skopje Day 1
Travel to Skopje
We arrive at Skopje Airport and take the airport shuttle bus into town, getting dropped at the Holiday Inn. From here, it is a short walk along the river to our accommodation in the old town.
Accommodation – Alexandar Square Boutique Hotel
The Alexandar Square Boutique Hotel is a nice hotel with very clean, comfortable rooms. Conveniently located right next to the main square, yet quiet and cool inside despite the heat and bustle of the city.
After a freshen up, we set forth to discover Skopje, which, I am reliably informed, is richly endowed with statues.
Macedonia Square
Dominating the centre of Skopje is the enormous Macedonia Square with its giant statue of a warrior on horseback, which may (or may not) be Alexander the Great, towering above a fountain.
The sculpture was erected as part of a project entitled Skopje 2014. Many of the city’s buildings were destroyed during an earthquake in 1963. In 2010, the government announced a huge construction project of buildings and monuments to replace damaged buildings and instill national pride. The square is particularly striking at night, when it is illuminated.
Mother Teresa Memorial House
From the square, we head for the Mother Teresa Memorial House – on the site of where the great woman may (or may not) have been born in 1910.
Downstairs is a museum displaying memorabilia related to the famous nun while upstairs is a chapel decorated with ornate filigree doves and Mother Teresa stained glass.
The House is open daily from 9 am until 8 pm (2 pm at weekends). Entry is free.
Macedonia Gate
We continue our walk around the old town, passing through through the Macedonia Gate; a memorial arch dedicated to 20 years of Macedonian independence. It is covered in reliefs carved in marble depicting scenes from the history of Macedonia. Part of the Skopje 2014 project, the arch was completed in 2012 and cost a whopping €4.4 million.
Woman-Warrior Park
The urban Woman-Warrior Park contains a number of sculptures and memorials to various episodes in the country’s history including the Fallen Heroes Monument and the now extinguished Eternal Flame.
We finish the day off with a walk along the River Vardar with its beautifully adorned stone bridges.
Art Bridge
The Art Bridge is a modern pedestrian bridge, another part of the Skopje 2014 project. It is lined with statues of 29 Macedonian artists and musicians.
Bridge of Civilisations
The Bridge of Civilisations (nicknamed Eye Bridge due to its shape, which incorporates a central fountain) is another modern bridge. This bridge is lined with 28 sculptures of historical figures.
Stone Bridge
The Stone Bridge is far older, dating back to the 15th Century. As the name suggests, it is made of stone, and has twelve arches. In front of the bridge, you can see a sculpture of two ladies swimming.
Skopje Day 2
Our second day in Skopje is at the end of our road trip. For Day 2 we focused mainly on attractions on the north bank of the River Vardar.
Accommodation – Hotel Senigallia
First, we check in to tonight’s accommodation. A novel way to spend some time in Skopje is to book a room on the Hotel Senigallia. Here, you can enjoy drinks/dinner overlooking the River Vardar before retiring to your cabin and falling asleep listening to the water flow outside – and it’s conveniently located for sightseeing too!
Archaeological Museum of Macedonia
Across the Bridge of Civilisations, you will find the Archaeological Museum of Macedonia. Built as part of Skopje 2014, the museum houses three floors of Macedonian archaeological treasures dating back thousands of years.
The museum is open daily except Monday, from 10 am until 6 pm. Entry for foreigners costs 150 MKD (around £2.10).
Holocaust Memorial Centre
The Holocaust Memorial Centre tells the story of Macedonian Jews and remembers the 7144 who perished during the Holocaust. When we visited, the Centre was closed, so we only saw the memorial outside.
The Centre is open daily except Mondays, from 9 am until 7 pm (3 pm at weekends). Tickets cost 100 MKD (approximately £1.40).
National Theatre
It’s worth taking a wander past the National Theatre, which is surrounded by a collection of theatrical themed sculptures.
Skopje Fortress
The 6th Century Skopje Fortress dominates the city skyline. You can take a stroll round the ramparts, which offer great views of the city.
Čaršija
The Čaršija, the old Turkish bazaar, is an area of narrow lanes, where you can shop for souvenirs or dine in one of the many restaurants. We stopped for a dinner of kebabs and ajvar (roast peppers in oil). Having developed a penchant for ajvar, I also buy an enormous jar to take home with me.
- Trip Taken: September 2018
- Updated: August 2025
I hope you found the above information useful. For guides to more destinations in the 50+ countries we have visited, check out my full list of Independent Travel Itineraries here.
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