Did you know that 85% of North Macedonia is mountains? That puts this small, landlocked country in the world’s top ten most mountainous nations, ahead of places you’d assume were far more vertical. Most people have never set foot here, and even fewer know it exists at all as a hiking destination. I first understood
Skopje has been knocked down and rebuilt more times than almost any capital in Europe – by earthquake, by empire, by its own government – and somehow it manages to mix it all together. Ottoman minarets sit across the river from Austro-Hungarian facades and fantastical brutalist buildings, and the city is littered with chunky sculptures.
When seasoned traveller Ginny joined us in North Macedonia this summer, she was looking to explore somewhere new, on a trip that would dig a little deeper than Lake Ohrid. Everyone who has heard of North Macedonia has heard of Ohrid. Fair enough, it’s one of the oldest lakes on the planet, its water the
The 7 Best Wildflower Hikes in the Balkans (Where and When to Go)
- Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Destinations, Inspiration, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia
- hiking, Nature
Late spring and summer are wildflower season in the Balkans, and every hike in the mountains brings a bouquet of colour. Wild orchids carpet the meadows, blue forget-me-nots dot the slopes, and pink gentians climb straight up against snow-capped peaks. Seen from a distance the meadows look subtle; up close they’re intense, every blade humming
North Macedonia Food & Wine: A Guide to What to Eat and Drink
- Food, Inspiration, North Macedonia
- Balkan food, Lake Ohrid, Macedonia, Macedonia, Macedonia, Macedonia
Macedonian chefs are gaining popularity outside the Balkans. Food brand Pelagonia has brought the iconic roasted pepper spread ‘ajvar’ to tables across Europe, landing shelf space in Waitrose and the Co-op, while Macedonian restaurants like Lacy Nook and Benugo have been making waves London. Plus, Macedonian wines are picking up Decanter gold awards. Macedonia was
12 fun facts about North Macedonia to inspire your travels
- Inspiration, North Macedonia
- North Macedonia, North Macedonia, Travel Inspiration, Travel Inspiration, Travel Inspiration
North Macedonia is one of Europe’s most underrated destinations. Tucked away in the heart of the Balkans, this small country is packed with ancient history, dramatic mountains, UNESCO-listed sites and a fascinating mix of cultures. From Europe’s oldest lake and medieval monasteries to London buses, secret pearl-making techniques and some of the Balkans’ best wine,
Is Albania Safe to Visit? Is the Balkans Safe for Tourists? Yes — Here’s What You Need to Know
- Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Inspiration, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Travel Advice, Uncategorized
- Balkans
- 1 Comment
Mention you’re heading to Bosnia, Albania, Serbia, or Kosovo and someone will inevitably ask “is that… safe?” The answer, with enormous confidence, is yes. Overwhelmingly, statistically, experience-backed yes. We travel to Albania and the rest of the Balkans as a family, with kids and as a solo female traveller on the Undiscovered Balkans team too.
Authentic Balkan Travel: 10 Cultural Experiences You Can Be Part Of
- Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Inspiration, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Travel Advice, Uncategorized
- authentic travel, Balkans, Balkans, Balkans, Culture Tours, Travel Inspiration, travel tips
While people travel thousands of miles paying top dollar for indigenous tourism experiences, the Balkans is home to some of the richest and oldest traditions, making it the best place for authentic travel in Europe. When we say ‘indigenous’, the word often conjures an idea of traditions practiced far away in Asia, South America, or
Meet Vojislav, our super North Macedonia adventure guide who is most at home in the mountains and nature of his country, and has been hiking since he was 15 years old. He hails from the countryside near Skopje, and was a teacher and translator of Serbo-Croat and Macedonian for 11 years before realising he wanted
A Guide to Yugoslavia’s Brutalist Spomenik Monuments
- Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Inspiration, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Uncategorized
- Culture Tours, Culture Tours, travel tips, travel tips
Scattered across the mountains and national parks of the former Yugoslavia — in countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia — are hundreds of striking brutalist monuments. These are Spomeniks: abstract brutalist monuments commissioned during Yugoslav times to honour WWII’s fallen. Some look like gigantic fists, alien spacecrafts, or wings in flight. All are