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A small and beautiful country nestled in the southeast of Europe, Macedonia offers its visitors a unique blend of natural wonders, traditions and cultures- as well as a long tradition of unrivaled hospitality.
From their savory cuisine to their love of music, dance and general merrymaking, Macedonians know how to make their guests feel at home. Combining these qualities with the country’s dramatic mountains and canyons, its deep lakes and rivers, Macedonia has something for everyone… Macedonia - that unforgettable name evoking images of ancient, great civilizations and exotic adventure – is also a warm and welcoming modern-day republic in the very heart of southeastern Europe.
[h=2]Skopje[/h]Being the capital city, Skopje is one of the largest cities in Macedonia and one of the best places in the country to appreciate Macedonia’s diverse architectural influences.
There are an impressive amount of churches and mosques located in Skopje Old Bazaar which is a fantastic place to explore on foot on a warm day. Skopje is definitely home to some of the most interesting places to visit in Macedonia and exploring Skopje’s Old Bazaar and Main Square are two of the most rewarding thing to do in the city.
[h=2]The Matka canyon[/h]is located in the lower course of river Treska, 15km southwest of Skopje. With it’s geological, geomorphologic and hydrological characteristics, and the flora and fauna, it is an exceptional object of nature. The main phenomenon of this natural treasure is the canyon, a distinguished geomorphologic entity with well preserved natural and geographic characteristics in which rare and endemic species find their escape. This outstanding work of nature, with sides 1000m high and step notches of over 250m, was created by vertical erosions of the Treska river during the long geological history. The area of the canyon is characteristic by low mountains. The Osoj hill is the northwest boundary, Suva Gora mountain and Vodno occupy the southeast and the east of the canyon. The north frontier is an entrance to the Skopje valley, following the course of the villages of Matka, Šiševo, Glumovo and Saraj.
The caves and abysses as special categories of late geographic forms are mainly concentrated on the right side of the canyon, under the area Visoki Rid (High Hill) on 885m attitude. There are about ten of them, but most known are: Vrelo, Krstalno and Ubava.
In the Matka canyon, on the left side of the valley high in the rocks, there is a very interesting phenomenon of a natural bridge, created by the erosive processes in the carbonate rocks.
[h=2]Ohrid[/h]Ohrid is certainly one of the top eastern European cities to visit and one of the most popular places to visit in Macedonia because of its location overlooking the beautiful Lake Ohrid.
Ohrid has lovely beaches where you can enjoy a ton of water activities, as well as a charming old town filled with landmarks and monuments such as the statue of Kiril and Metodi and a Roman Amphitheater where the Ohrid summer festival is held.
Another of the top attractions in Ohrid old town it’s Samuil’s Fortress, which offers stunning views of Ohrid lake.
Ohrid, Macedonia
St. Kaneo church, Ohrid
Plaoshnik, Ohrid
Amazingly blue lake, Ohrid
[h=2]Bitola[/h]Bitola is Macedonia’s second city and historical-cultural center as well. It’s the seat of Bitola municipality.
According to the 2002 census, the urban district of Bitola had a population of 95,385. The metropolitan population approximates 122,173 inhabitants. Bitola is situated in the Pelagonia plain (southern Macedonia), on the both banks in the river Dragor, at an altitude of 617 meters above the sea level. Bitola being the largest city in the region has always been an administrative, cultural, industrial, commercial, political and educational centre, with a developed network of institutions in all domains.
Night capture, Bitola
500 years old clock, Bitola
Heraclea, Bitola
Old architecture, Bitola
[h=2]Smolare Waterfall[/h]It can be found above the village of Smolare, at an elevation of 630 meters, located deep in the Belasica Mountains where the Lomnica River springs hidden among the hundred-years-old beech trees. The waterfall is a unique waterfall in Macedonia with the water falling from the height of 39,5 meters, the tallest waterfall in Macedonia. It is located above the village of Smolare in the Municipality of Novo Selo in the southeastern region of the country.The waterfall is part of the Lomnica River and is located deep in Mount Belasica at an elevation of 630 metres. Crashing down the smooth, black rock face, and surrounded by 100-year-old beech trees, this waterfall is visited by tourists throughout the year, largely by train.To reach the majestic beauty of Smolare Falls, visitors must wind their way up a nature path that includes 300 stone steps made from natural materials.
Smolare Waterfall
Smolare Waterfall Belasica, Macedonia
[h=2]Mavrovo[/h]One of the most beautiful mountain valleys, Mavrovo, together with the lake and mountain Bistra, is placed in the western part of Macedonia, only one hour driving from the capital city Skopje. Mysterious and romantic, sheltered by the high hills of mountain Korab, Mavrovo region was famous during centuries, by the hospitality of its well-known inns in the past, and by its ski center Zare Lazarevski today. The total length of the eleven ski lifts and three chair lifts is 5.700 meters, with capacity of 11.100 persons per hour. With an infrastructure like this, it is very possible to ski at a height of 1.255 to 1860 meters above sea level. The tracks prepared with six ratracs are suitable for beginners, advanced skiers, as well as for professionals in the alpine and nordic categories. The length of the skiing trails under the chair lifts is 5.000 meters, and the length of the ski lifts 10.000 meters. At all trails under the chair lifts there are light and sound devices, so skiing is possible at night, between 19 and 24 h. We have a whole team taking care of the quality of the trails: four professionals driving the machines for snow stamping and Trekking, one ambulance motor sleighs that glides on the tracks during the day, ski patrol, several ski motor sleighs, a machine for artificial snow production and a lot of kind people employed at the ski centre.
Posted onJuly 11, 2013 by Kimeshan—237 Comments ↓ Have you ever wondered which is the cheapest, friendliest and safest country in the world? Well, wonder no more. A recent 500+ page report by the World Economic Forum contains a few golden data nuggets that has enabled me to come up with the answers. I also used data from this wonderful index website called Numbeo. Before traveling to any country, I suggest checking out a few indexes on Numbeo about the country of your choosing. From my limited but growing travel experience, I have come to the conclusion that there are three factors that influence how enjoyable a country is. In no particular order:
Attitude of locals towards foreigners (we’ll call this “friendliness”): Friendly local people means it’s easy to get around, ask for directions and find people to party with. It also increases your chances of immersing yourself in the local culture and getting to know the people better.
Cost of living: Everyone likes cheap countries or countries that are relatively cheaper than our own. This means that if you’re from Norway this doesn’t concern you because no country in the world is more expensive.
Safety: Safe countries are fun. Why? Because you don’t have to restrict yourself to day-only activities in touristy areas. If a country is safe you can do more “off the beaten path” activities. You can explore new places and stay out late if you feel like it. You can walk around freely and fearlessly. Try doing this in Caracas.
I’ve found data for each of these individual aspects and then I’ve combined the three sets of data to come up with a new list that shows the countries that are the best for cheapness, safety and friendliness combined. I’ve provided individual rankings for each aspect first and at the end of the post you’ll see the results of the brand new combined rankings. Friendliest countries
You can find the full list of countries in the WEF report that I mentioned above. It’s page 455 in the PDF. Here’s a quick snap shot and a list of the top 5 and bottom 5 countries.
Most friendly countries: 1) Iceland 2) New Zealand 3) Morocco 4) Macedonia 5) Austria Least friendly countries: 140) Bolivia 139) Venezuela 138) Russian Federation 137) Kuwait 136) Latvia Special mention: 42) South Africa 55) United Kingdom 102) United States Cheapest countries
The most expensive countries are the dark shades of red while the cheapest are in dark green. Click the map to go to the interactive version Numbeo.
Cheapest countries: 1) India 2) Pakistan 3) Nepal 4) Algeria 5) Bolivia Most expensive countries: 95) Norway 94) Switzerland 93) Australia 92) Luxembourg 91) Denmark Special mention: 35) South Africa 78) United Kingdom 62) United States Safest countries
Greener means safer, red means danger. Click on the photo to view the interactive version at Numbeo.
Safest countries: 1) Japan 2) Taiwan ) Hong Kong 4) United Arab Emirates 5) Malta Least safe countries: 95) Venezuela 94) Trinidad & Tobago 93) South Africa 92) Kenya 91) Puerto Rico Special mention: 45) United Kingdom 76) United States Cheapest, safest and friendliest countries
Now, here’s what you are really looking for. The individual rankings are not very useful. Why? Because there’s no point going to Bolivia which is cheap but very unfriendly for tourists. There’s also no point in going to Pakistan which is cheap but not very safe or friendly. Iceland might be super friendly but your wallet will take a hammering. So what you need to know is which countries fair the best in all three aspects. These countries are golden and you should consider visiting them on your next vacation. If you like numbers and statistics, you can check out the spreadsheet I used to combine the rankings over here. So, drum roll please. Here are the top 15 cheapest, safest and friendliest countries on our beautiful planet.
[TABLE="width: 347"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 236"]Country[/TD]
[TD="width: 111"]Overall Rating (Max 1)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1. Macedonia[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.99[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2. Georgia[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.98[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3. United Arab Emirates[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.82[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4. Morocco[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.80[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5. Hong Kong[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.75[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6. Montenegro[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.71[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7. Malta[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.68[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8. Taiwan[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.67[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]9. Ethiopia[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.63[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10. Thailand[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.62[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]11. Estonia[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.60[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]12. Sri Lanka[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.59[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]13. Nepal[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.55[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]14. Bosnia And Herzegovina[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.55[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]15. Portugal[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.46[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE] So there you have it! I barely even know where Macedonia is but judging from these results it could be a hidden gem. This is quite a different list from your normal “top travel destinations” recommendations, with the exception of the UAE and Thailand which are well known destinations. Least cheap, safe and friendly countries
At the other end of the pile, we have these countries that make the bottom 15 when ranked by cheapness, safeness and friendliness combined. Some surprises here! Australia makes the list due to the super high cost of living, same with Norway. France and Italy are known to be expensive and not so friendly to English speaking tourists so they make up the bottom 15 too. Iran and Pakistan should be avoided for obvious reasons. Conclusions
If you want to see the full list of 90+ countries in my safe-cheap-friendly ranking, then you can download the spreadsheet here. Like all surveys and studies, this one has flaws. However, it does provide some useful insights. That said, the best way to find out how accurate it is, is to go explore these countries and see for yourself. So, who’s up for an adventure? Macedonia anyone? Or maybe sunny Morocco? What about multicultural Malta? You decide.
Sometimes the best countries are the most surprising ones. Macedonia certainly falls into that category. I fell into Macedonia on a whim — I needed somewhere to go for two weeks in between Istanbul and Dubai while Mario went to South Africa. Skopje popped up as a cheap flight from Istanbul, and I booked that flight in no time at all. Macedonia — known also as FYROM, or the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia — is snugly tucked in between Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Greece. (Many Greeks refuse to call it Macedonia, only using FYROM, because they have a region of their own called Macedonia.) Other than that, there isn’t a lot of information on Macedonia out there as a travel destination, especially when compared to the other Balkans. That said, I found it to be an absolutely fascinating country — and one that deserves to be visited more. Why I Love Macedonia
Let’s start with the bombshell: Macedonia is the cheapest country I’ve been to in Europe. Many guides say that Bulgaria is the cheapest, but I found Macedonia to be even cheaper than Bulgaria! Typical costs? The cheapest hostels start at around $7; nicer hostels were around $10; you can get private rooms from $15-25. A multi-course dinner with wine never exceeded $10; most of my meals were $3-5. It’s also incredibly beautiful. Ohrid is the nation’s pride and joy, but Macedonia is also a land of mountains, and the views from the countryside are spectacular. Delicious, cheap wine. I’m nowhere near a wine expert, but I found Macedonia’s red wines to be some of the best I’ve enjoyed in a long time. I usually paid around $2-3 for a single-serving bottle that came out to about a glass and a half. Yummy and healthy food. The food didn’t push any boundaries, but I found it to be delicious and heavy on the veggies (which is unusual for Eastern Europe). I ate a lot of stuffed peppers, a huge variety of salads, and the occasional veggie pizza. And because the food is so cheap, you can sit down in a restaurant without even looking at the prices. I also discovered chocolate and strawberry popcorn. It’s actually not that bad. Efficient, no-nonsense people. I didn’t find Macedonians to be overly warm and fuzzy, but they got stuff done — like the hostel worker who reamed out a cab company over the phone on my behalf when my driver never showed up. Most people spoke good English as well. Easy travel connections within the region. I flew to Skopje from Istanbul on discount airline Pegasus Airlines. While there are a few trains within the country, it’s cheaper and easier to travel by bus to Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, or even Turkey. Quirks. From money-changing booths that looked like fortune-telling booths to the fact that 90s music was played nonstop just about everywhere I went, I found Macedonia as interesting as it was beautiful. Get In While It’s Still Unknown
Macedonia is not nearly as well known as it should be, and it’s in a position to grow immensely — so much that it could even become the new hotspot of the Balkans. It’s prime for development for tourists outside Eastern Europe. Still, make sure you keep your expectations in check. Macedonia isn’t as well-groomed as Croatia, Slovenia, or the Montenegrin coast. In many ways, Macedonia reminds me of Bosnia. There’s trash in the streets. Buildings are crumbling. Taxi drivers parked at train stations can and will rip you off. The internet, though good in places, could overall stand to be improved. That said, if you’re not picky, you’ll enjoy this country immensely. Ohrid
My first stop was Macedonia’s most celebrated spot: Ohrid, a pretty town located on the shores of Lake Ohrid. Lake Ohrid is snugly tucked in between Macedonia and Albania, but the Macedonian side is the more developed of the two. The region is also a UNESCO site. Being the premiere resort of the country, there’s something for everyone here. You’ll find clubs that rock all night long, tons of family activities, and lodging options from camping to five-star luxury resorts. Even the president has a vacation home on the shores of Lake Ohrid. But no matter what you like to do while traveling, it’s all about the beauty of this lake. Ohrid is a lake unlike any I’ve ever seen — it seems to meld perfectly into the sky. Taking a boat across it felt like I was gliding across an endless aqua cloud. Back on shore, the lake turned turquoise. It was like a shimmering mood ring, its affections changing with the wind. The town of Ohrid itself is positively charming, filled with cobbled streets, unforgettable views, and all of the other cliches that you’d expect to find in perfectly adorable little towns around the European continent. I think that Ohrid would make a smashing place to spend the summer as a digital nomad. You could rent an apartment for just a few hundred dollars a month and enjoy the beautiful lake, the parties, and the amenities of the town, all without breaking the bank. Who knows — maybe I’ll end up there one summer myself! Bitola
For my second stop, I hit up Bitola, not knowing anything beyond the fact that it was one of the nicer, prettier and more livable cities in Macedonia. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love! For me, the biggest highlight was Sirok Sokak — a long street filled with endless cafes and banners celebrating the latest festival, which happened to be the Shakespeare Festival. Sirok Sokak is THE place to see and be seen in Bitola, no matter the time of day. All of the chairs face the street for this reason. At night, the cafes convert into bars, and you’ll see the girls go from t-shirts, ponytails and skinny jeans to short dresses, complicated updos, sky-high stilettos, and crazy nail art. I also saw more weddings in one weekend than I’ve seen in the past five years. Wedding parade after wedding parade drove through the city, each car covered with white ribbons and honking incessantly. Every couple came to pose on Sirok Sokak. Another cool thing about Bitola is its outdoor bazaar. I’ve never seen one quite like this before. Rather than being enclosed in a building, like Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, the stores are out in the open, pressed close together, and filled with eager shoppers looking for deals. I found Bitola a wonderful little place to spend a few days, and I easily could have stayed for longer. It makes me wonder how many towns like Bitola are scattered throughout Europe and the world — towns that I would just adore, had I ever heard of them. There must be thousands. And then…there was Skopje. Skopje
Oh my God, Skopje. Skopje made me walk around slack-jawed, my eyes the size of flying saucers. I cannot remember the last time a destination shocked me as much as this place. I had arrived expecting an unremarkable Eastern European capital. Instead, I found a city covered in multiple dancing fountains, some of them actually simulating flames! Skopje has been under a lot of construction over the past few years, and rather than building upon the traditional architecture, they’ve been going for a more Vegas-like look. The architecture is a combination of classical and Renaissance influences; lots of statues of famous Macedonians decorate bridges. Nothing is built on a small scale — everything here is immense. After all, what city square doesn’t need a statue of a man on horseback ten times what would be its actual size, surrounded by water jets taller than most humans? I wish there were an accurate way to convey to you just how much Skopje blew my mind. I was literally walking around with my eyes wide, occasionally shaking my head and muttering “…the f*ck is this place?” to myself like a crazy person. By the end of the night, I was calling the city Skop Vegas. My cab driver loved it. Beyond These Destinations
There is so much more to Macedonia than what I got to see in my week here. I especially wish I had gone to see the national parks (which I skipped because I don’t put myself in isolating situations while traveling solo). Mavrovo National Park is famous for being an excellent cheap ski destination; Pelister National Park is right near Bitola and looks beautiful as well. There’s the Tiknes wine region, where you can sample the delightful Macedonian wines in the field. Prilep looks like a fun city and they have an annual beer festival, which I just missed. And if Ohrid isn’t enough lake action for you, Lake Prespa is close by and looks lovely, too. Don’t Wait on Macedonia — Come Soon
Will Macedonia turn out to be an “it destination” in the future? With the help of a smart marketing campaign, it absolutely could. Macedonia a destination that sells itself brilliantly to its visitors; the only problem is getting people to actually come there in the first place. And for that reason, I promise you that you will enjoy Macedonia. Come here and take a boat across Lake Ohrid, or stroll through Bitola’s bazaar, or take ten thousand pictures of wacky Skopje. Come enjoy it while the prices are this good. This is a very special place.
[h=1]
[/h]
[h=2]The Matka canyon[/h]is located in the lower course of river Treska, 15km southwest of Skopje. With it’s geological, geomorphologic and hydrological characteristics, and the flora and fauna, it is an exceptional object of nature. The main phenomenon of this natural treasure is the canyon, a distinguished geomorphologic entity with well preserved natural and geographic characteristics in which rare and endemic species find their escape. This outstanding work of nature, with sides 1000m high and step notches of over 250m, was created by vertical erosions of the Treska river during the long geological history.
[h=2]Bitola[/h]Bitola is Macedonia’s second city and historical-cultural center as well. It’s the seat of Bitola municipality.
[h=2]Smolare Waterfall[/h]It can be found above the village of Smolare, at an elevation of 630 meters, located deep in the Belasica Mountains where the Lomnica River springs hidden among the hundred-years-old beech trees. The waterfall is a unique waterfall in Macedonia with the water falling from the height of 39,5 meters, the tallest waterfall in Macedonia.
[h=2]Mavrovo[/h]One of the most beautiful mountain valleys, Mavrovo, together with the lake and mountain Bistra, is placed in the western part of Macedonia, only one hour driving from the capital city Skopje. Mysterious and romantic, sheltered by the high hills of mountain Korab, Mavrovo region was famous during centuries, by the hospitality of its well-known inns in the past, and by its ski center Zare Lazarevski today.
[h=3]I hope you enjoyed this beautiful adventure
[/h]
