Find relics revealing 5,000 years of human existence in this Balkan city, where post-earthquake rebuilding has created a modern capital.
Skopje is Macedonia’s capital city. Understand its long history under Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman rule and more recent role as part of Yugoslavia, Serbia and now Macedonia.
View artifacts from 4000 B.C. at Skopje Fortress or Kale. Walk beside its 6th-century crenellated walls standing tall over the Vardar River. The fort and Stone Bridge appear on Skopje’s coat of arms and flag.
Head to the Old Bazaar, which dates back to 12th-century Ottoman rule. See mosques, caravan inns, museums and shopping stalls. Reach its southern end at Philip II Square. Peek into the Church of St. Demetrius and visit the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle and the Holocaust Museum, both providing information about dark historic times. Admire the architecture and step inside to see ancient artifacts in the Archaeological Museum of Macedonia.
Cross the multi-arched Stone Bridge, a 15th-century bridge over the Vardar, leading to Macedonia Square. This modernized plaza features pretty mosaics in the pavement and a tall statue known as Warrior on a Horse, possibly representing Alexander the Great. Admire its fountain during the day or see it illuminated at night. The large white Macedonia Gate gleams as a triumphal arch at the square’s southeast entrance.
Skopje is the birthplace of Mother Teresa, who was canonized as a saint in 2016. Just south of Macedonia Square is the Memorial House of Mother Teresa, the site of the old Catholic church where she was baptized. Follow the bike path or pedestrian route along the north side of the river to Mother Teresa Square.
Head west from Skopje to climb tall Mount Vodno for great city views. Ride a cable car up the mountain to see the 216-foot-tall (66-metre) Millennium Cross, memorializing 2,000 years of Christianity. See Saint Panteleimon Monastery’s 12th-century frescoes. The Matka Canyon featuring medieval churches and eerie caves is a popular spot for paragliding.
Fly to Skopje’s international airport, about a 20-minute drive east of the city. Explore ancient history and natural beauty in this fascinating city.
