How to get to Skopje city centre?

You can get from airport to Skopje city by taxi, which costs 20 Euros, prices are fixed or you can take a public bus like me, which will cost you 170 DEN. Buses leave airport from bus stop in front of exit according to timetable.

After breakfast at the nice hotel De Koka I went to see Skopje city centre. It was very hot outside, it was June and around 38°C. The sun was shining so bright that blind my eyes on the places with white floor so bring your sunglasses with you during sightseeing of Skopje.

City of Skopje was recently completely rebuilt. The project consists mainly of the construction of museums and government buildings, as well as the erection of monuments depicting famous figures from the Macedonia. Around 20 buildings and 40 monuments was constructed. They built new fountains, city lighting and statues. Now there is more like 280 statues in the city! In some places Skopje looks really bizarre. The city center is not large and you can visit the city’s most popular tourist attractions in 2 or 3 hours.

7 top places to visit in Skopje

Bridges in Skopje

I started walking at the hotel Holiday Inn through the promenade near the river. On the waterfront there are many restaurants, but in the city you’ll find much more tasty food at a better price than those in the city center.

Over the river there are several bridges. Most famous are Art Bridge, Eye Bridge and Stone Bridge.

The Art Bridge features many statues of noted Macedonian artists and musicians. The bridge has 29 sculptures, 14 at each side and one in the centre. The Eye Bridge is situated between the Stone Bridge and the Art Bridge and includes 28 sculptures and the Stone Bridge is considered a symbol of Skopje. It is the main element of the coat of arms of the city. The Stone Bridge connects Macedonia Square in the center of Skopje to the Old Bazaar.

Macedonia Square

Macedonia Square is the main square of Skopje and is the biggest in Macedonia. It is located in the central part of the city, and it crosses the Vardar River. It is situated on left side of Stone Bridge. Cultural, political and other events are always held there. The independence of Macedonia from Yugoslavia was declared here as well.

Mother Teresa Memorial House

Mother Teresa’s original family home was located near Macedonia Square and today along Macedonia Street is the Mother Teresa Memorial House, which features an exhibit of artifacts from her life. The Location of the museum is not randomly chosen. It is on exact place the old Catholic Church sacred heart of Jesus used to stand and where she was baptized just one day after her birth.

Macedonia gate

Macedonia Gate is a triumphal arch located on Pella square. This arch has reliefs carved in marbles, showing scenes from the history of Macedonia. It is 21 meters high. There are rooms inside, where you can find souvenir shop. You can use elevator and stairs to get to the roof from where is a great view of the city centre as well as a great view towards Vodno Mountain.

Old bazaar

The Old Bazaar in Skopje is situated on the eastern site of Stone Bridge, just a short walk from the main square. It is the largest bazaar in the Balkans. You will find plenty of restaurants, cafes and numerous shops with sleepers, bags or gold there. You can see also goldsmiths, shoemakers, coppersmiths and other skilled craftsmen.

Ishak Bey Mosque

When you walk up the hill in Old bazaar you will find Ishak Bey Mosque also known as the Decorated Mosque because it has decorations, inscriptions and colored tiles found on its walls. Mosque was constructed in 1438 and its minaret rises 30 meters.

Skopje Fortress Kale

From the mosque you can walk to upper entrance of thg fortress. You can walk around the fortress wall and enjoy nice view of city Skopje. There is no entrance fee on the gate.

You can do some really nice day trips from Skopje to amazing places near the capital city.

 Accommodation in Skopje

Budget accommodation: Villa Re3ca is an apartment house located only 10 minutes from the Old Bazaar. There is WiFi, air conditioning, free parking and a nice garden with seating. The apartments are managed by a nice owner. Villa Iva is located in a quiet environment, 2 km from the Stone Bridge. Each room has a balcony, WiFI and air conditioning. There is also a garden. Hotel Kapistec Skopje is popular too. It is located a little further from the center but offers good facilities for a low price. Guests have access to a common room, free parking, restaurant, room service. The accommodation also offers an airport transfer and a kitchen.

Moderately expensive accommodation: Hotel Andalus is located a 15-minute walk from the Stone Bridge. It has different types of comfortable rooms, free parking, a large garden with a fountain and a pond and children’s playground. There is also a bar outside. The rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV, a refrigerator, and an electric kettle. Square Vanilla Boutique apart-hotel is located right in the city center. People like the owner, the location, the equipment of the rooms and the parking directly in front of the hotel.

Luxury accommodation: Hotel Centar is located in the center and offers a view of the city. The price also includes breakfast for staying guests. The hotel has a gym and guests have free access to the large adjacent pool too. Hotel Alexandar II is a nicely furnished luxury hotel located right in the center of the city. It offers a buffet breakfast, a gym and a bar.