Macedonia (FYROM)

Macedonia - yet another forgotten, little Balkan state that is a surprisingly exciting destination, and extremely cheap. The beautiful lake Ohrid with unique architecture and some nice beaches is a perfect unknown resort town that deserves discovering.

The capital - Skopje - is the most chaotic capital I've seen in Europe. It's a mix of: Ottoman old markets, which feels like Istanbul, old Christian churches which remind Croatia, grey Soviet Era blocks and extremely modern (and a bit tacky) buildings stylized as ancient Greece. Not to mention the largest number of crazy monuments in the world. Even if not too beautiful - stunningly interesting!

Outside the capital, very near, there's a beautiful Matka Canyon, which you can reach easily using public transport. However, don't be tempted to walk the entire trail - to find out why and also other things about Macedonia, take a look at the posts:

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What to See in Skopje, Macedonia (FYROM) - Europe's Most Chaotic Capital

Before exploring Skopje deeper, we caught a glimpse of this city while on the way from Belgrade to the beautiful Ohrid – a lakeside town boasting unique architecture, clear waters and nice, calm beaches. It was such a pleasure to be there on a sunny, summer day.

Skopje was a different story. It wasn’t very welcoming at first. The grey, gloomy facade that consisted of communist era blocks defined its borders. At first, I thought the two days we had there were going to be a waste of time. However, I couldn’t be more mistaken. Don’t get me wrong – I wouldn’t say that Skopje is the most beautiful city in Europe, because it isn’t. But its charm was hidden in the fact that I have never seen such a diverse, crazy and chaotic city anywhere else in Europe.

Is Lake Ohrid Worth Visiting? Thoughts About Macedonia's Best Summer Hot Spot

Macedonia is a tiny country in the middle of the Balkans. It isn't featured in any articles about tourism and no one knows anything about. Similarly to its neighbors (Kosovo, Albania), it's left out by holiday makers heading on to Greece. I, however, love to go against the grain and visit those places that are hidden are almost always skipped by ordinary tourists. So, I chose Macedonia! Although I came from the north (all the way from Slovenia), the first place I stayed in Macedonia was the southern town of Ohrid near Albania and Greece. The Balkans are so diverse that every town and every region has its own unique flavor and distinctive architecture. After virtually spotless Slovenia, Macedonia seemed a bit chaotic and messy. But Lake Ohrid enchanted me so much I didn't want to leave.