I’m no authority in what places are the must-dos. But I can tell you which are the ones I went to. I’ll sprinkle in some basic information along the way and tell you about my experience. Your trip will be different but I thought I’d share mine.

Skopje is the capital and most populous city of North Macedonia. Monuments and memorials are everywhere, though they are made of substandard construction materials, and not all of them have symbolisms tying back to the people’s culture or origin (the description is from my tour guide, not mine). Mother Theresa was born in Skopje, ethnically Albanian, and considers herself Indian. It is home to the biggest cross in the world, the Millennium Cross situated in Mount Vodno. (I am willing to be fact-checked) Most practical for me is the fact that Skopje is one of Europe’s most affordable cities.

Here are 5 places I visited in Skopje:

Millennium Cross

There is no way to miss the Millennium Cross no matter where I was in Skopje. The structure is enormous and is standing atop Mount Vodno. While the hike would likely be worth it, my legs disagreed and I opted to reach it by riding a cable car.

The cross was meant as a commemoration to the presence of Christianity in North Macedonia for 2,000 years. And while I’m a fan of celebrations, I understand the reservations. The structure sits on public land, partially using public funds, and potentially excluding other religious groups present in the city.

Mount Vodno

Speaking of Mount Vodno, these hikes are meant for the physically active. There are two main trails – (1) starting at the signboard/bottom (320M above sea level) to Middle Vodno (580M above sea level), and (2) from Middle Vodno to Krstovar (1,066M above sea level and where Millennium Cross is located). The second trail has a lot of variations depending on the hiker’s appetite for length, slope, and “pavedness”. That of course did not matter to me as I only took the first, and was completely exhausted for the second.

Apparently, regardless of season, the area is prone to raining and the weather is generally cold. My experience was unfortunately an exception. It was scorching hot and my sweat was enough to make me soaking wet.

Matka Canyon

I came back with the worst insect or spider bite from my hike. I still don’t know what it was. But I would consider Matka Canyon as the highlight of my visit.

I can compare it to Lake Plitvice in Zagreb or Coron in the Philippines… but without the tourists. I explored majority of the time without anyone around me but the beautiful and pristine lake. There are options to do hiking, taking a kayak, riding a boat, or even whitewater rafting. The forest and the mountain view are a nature lover’s dream. But the gag is… the lake is artificial. (I don’t care)

It can be a half day or a full day trip. I took a bus going there and a cab going back. Public transport is not my friend in this case as there are apparently reliability issues in terms of when the bus arrives and where they’d stop as the day progresses.

Skopje Fortress / Kale

I was looking for places to visit in the afternoon, and this one caught my attention. It has a relatively unknown stature in the world stage but imposing presence on the old town. It’s also a nice way to get a panoramic view of the city.

Not much is documented regarding its history. But the fortress started as a creation of the Byzantine empire dating back to 6th Century AD. There is evidence to believe that a Church was also built in 13th Century AD. And with conflicting backgrounds, politicians would jump at the opportunity to stoke ethnic and religious tensions, with a steel church museum starting its construction late at night. That incident did not go down well.

Without knowing much of the background, the attraction is still worth paying for. But what can I say… entrance is free.

Stone Bridge

For historical significance, the best bet in Skopje is the Stone Bridge. It was built in the 15th Century under the orders of Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror. I was on a high from my Istanbul visit, and being able to connect some dots made me feel like I was in a multiverse.

It’s not an architectural marvel. But it is a relevant symbol to the city, being an integral part of its coat of arms. It’s practical in connecting the main square with the bazaar. Its foundations are simple but not artificial. And from what my tour guide told me, the rest of the bridges are among the following: kitsch, misogynistic, or irrelevant. This one is none of the above.

All photos were taken on September 2022.