Considering a holiday in North Macedonia and wondering what there is to do? During our rekkie there in the summer for our NEW North Macedonia holiday (coming soon), we noted down some of the best things we saw and did, which could very well end up on the itinerary. Read on for our recommendations and a taste of things to come. But before that, a caveat. From hereon, we’ll refer to the country as Macedonia, as most locals do, instead of North Macedonia. The latter is the official name for the country, introduced in 2019 to settle a long-standing dispute with neighbouring Greece. Eat and explore in Skopje’s Old Bazaar If you fly into Skopje (some British airlines offer direct flights during the summer), it’s worth spending a little time there to explore its old quarter which stretches from the Stone Bridge to the Bit-Pazar (you’ll know you’ve reached it by the cobbled pavements and Ottoman houses). This labyrinth of shops, restaurants, cafes and traditional taverns is a great place to taste Macedonian food and people watch. Galerija 7 has the best Lahmacun (a thin Turkish sort of “pizza”) in town. Of course, it would be rude not to have a slice of baklava afterwards and the good news is there are plenty of places, known as Slatkarnices (Balkan patisseries), in the Old Bazaar selling it. Continue your adventure by perusing the souvenir shops or visiting a historic landmark such as Skopje Kale Fortress. Boat rides and Byzantine monasteries on Lake Ohrid Straddling the border with Albania, the UNESCO World Heritage Lake Ohrid is a must visit. It’s home to more than 200 endemic species, including the Dalmatian Pelican and Ohrid Trout. Time passes slowly on the shores of its startlingly blue waters where traditional villages perch. The beauty of
Considering a holiday in North Macedonia and wondering what there is to do? During our rekkie there in the summer for our NEW North Macedonia holiday (coming soon), we noted down some of the best things we saw and did, which could very well end up on the itinerary. Read on for our recommendations and
Cultural heritage isn’t kept behind museum glass in the Balkans—it’s lived, breathed, eaten, sung, crafted and danced. From Ottoman cities like Berat and Mostar to natural wonders such as Durmitor National Park, Albanian folk singing to lacemaking in Croatia, UNESCO World Heritage in the Balkans is a multi-sensory tapestry of the region’s diverse natural and cultural offerings. In light of Lake Skadar being nominated to become a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in October 2025, we’ve rounded up some of the region’s cultural and natural highlights—many of which you can see on our holidays in Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Bulgaria and Croatia. UNESCO natural heritage in the Balkans Durmitor National Park, Montenegro Characterized by towering limestone peaks and glacial lakes, Durmitor National Park in Montenegro is undeniably breathtaking. It’s home to one of Europe’s deepest canyons and the stunning Black Lake. “I’ll never forget my first glimpse of Durmitor National Park, like a real-life Hobbit land, all jagged peaks in stunning formations, and wispy clouds, with wild horses roaming the grassy meadows,” says UB co-founder Emma. “The landscape’s so epic it’s hard to take it all in.” Visit Durmitor National Park on our Montenegro family activity holiday. Lake Skadar, Montenegro & Albania Lake Skadar straddles the border between Montenegro and Albania and is the largest lake in Southern Europe at roughly 400 square kilometres (is actual size depends seasonal water level variations). This biodiversity hotspot is teeming with wildlife and an important nesting site for the endangered Dalmatian Pelican, which our guests love to spot during kayaking safaris on our Lake Skadar holiday, and on boat trips. In 2025, the Montenegrin and Albanian governments both nominated Lake Skadar to become a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which means it will enjoy greater environmental protection and extend the so-called 'Amazon of Europe' deeper into Southeast Europe.
Cultural heritage isn’t kept behind museum glass in the Balkans—it’s lived, breathed, eaten, sung, crafted and danced. From Ottoman cities like Berat and Mostar to natural wonders such as Durmitor National Park, Albanian folk singing to lacemaking in Croatia, UNESCO World Heritage in the Balkans is a multi-sensory tapestry of the region’s diverse natural and
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