North macedonia - Macedonia del Norte

Introduction North macedonia (in Macedonian: Северна Македонија, Severna Makedonija) is a country located in the balkan peninsula, in the southeast of Europe. It limits the north with Serbia Y Kosovo, east with Bulgaria, to the south with Greece and to the west with Albania. Its name comes from the historical region of Macedonia and that includes the greek region of the same name. The conflict over the use of the name "Macedonia" with Greece has led to the international use of the term Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to refer to this country, before the adoption in 2019 of the name 'North Macedonia'.

Capital Skopje Idiom Macedonian Surface 22 052 km² Population 2 062 294 (2013) Currency denar Time zone UTC 1 (UTC 2 in summer) Telephone prefix 389

Understand

North Macedonia is a country with several ethnic minorities. There have been varying levels of ethnic tension between Albanians (who form the majority in the northwestern areas) and ethnic Macedonians, so this topic is best avoided. The country officially changed its name from Republic of Macedonia to Republic of North Macedonia in February 2019 to resolve a dispute over his name with Greece. Virtually no Macedonian actually refers to the country with the "north" part. Therefore, you should avoid using "North" when speaking to someone in the country, as many will find it offensive.

Weather

North Macedonia has hot, dry summers and autumns, and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall.

Ground

North Macedonia is covered by a mountainous territory marked by deep basins and valleys. There are three great lakes, each divided by a border line, and the country divided in two by the Vardar River.

North Macedonia is blessed with exceptional natural beauty. Don't miss a trip to one of the great lakes, the Pelister Mountains, Shar Planina in the west and the fascinating hills and mountains of the east with their rice fields.

History

North Macedonia is dotted with beautiful Ottoman Orthodox churches, monasteries and mosques. The territory of North Macedonia has a proud history. Being under the Ottomans for 500 years caused legendary Macedonian revolutionaries such as Goce Delcev, Nikola Karev, and Pitu Guli to lead uprisings to liberate Macedonia.

North Macedonia has been part of many countries, but until its incorporation into Yugoslavia by Tito in 1945 it was never recognized as an administrative "state". The Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia prospered under Tito's rule, especially when the capital, Skopje, was rebuilt after a severe earthquake in 1963 and the Yugoslav government invested heavily in the subsequent rebuilding of the infrastructure. This may explain why many Macedonians have some nostalgia for Tito's Yugoslavia.

International recognition of Macedonian independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 was delayed by Greece's objection to the use by the new state of what Greece considered a "Hellenic name and symbols". Greece finally lifted its trade blockade in 1995, and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, despite continuing disagreement over the use of "Macedonia" in the name. Greece is now the largest investor in Macedonia. Due to the dispute over the name, the country was often referred to as "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", or "FYROM", although many Macedonians disliked this nickname, it sparked oddities as the country's UN delegation it will sit under ".t" (for "him") as a compromise. In June 2018, the leaders of Macedonia and Greece signed an agreement to resolve the dispute by having Macedonia change its name to "Republic of North Macedonia". The name change took effect on February 12, 2019.

The large Albanian minority in North Macedonia (about 25%), an armed ethnic Albanian insurgency in Macedonia in 2001 and the situation in neighboring Kosovo remain sources of ethnic tension. There were also tensions during the last parliamentary elections on June 2, 2008, although they occurred between supporters of the two major rival Albanian political parties.

Regions

Povardarie

This central region consists of most of the area along the Vardar River, which somewhat divides the country. Skopje, the capital and largest city of North Macedonia, is located to the north of this region.

Western North Macedonia

It fills most of North Macedonia's tourist attractions, particularly the three national parks and the Ohrid World Heritage Site. Two of the three main lakes in the country are located in the southern part of western North Macedonia. Many of the largest cities in the country, such as Bitola and Tetovo, are located in the western region of the country.

Eastern North Macedonia

Not so many tourist attractions, but some spectacular views of rural life.

Cities

While Macedonia's capital Skopje is home to more than half a million residents, the rest of the country's cities are significantly smaller, from a few thousand to fewer than 100,000 residents.

1. Skopje (Скопје) - the capital of the country, home to many historical places and architectural monuments, and a large number of cultural attractions.
2. Bitola (Битола): the most "European" city in North Macedonia, with an ancient city, Ottoman monuments, a beautiful shopping promenade, great nightlife and more
3. Kratovo (Кратово): a picturesque city located in the crater of an extinct volcano
4. Kruševo (Крушево) - a museum city located high in the mountains of southwestern North Macedonia; It is one of the most historically important destinations in the country, as it was the site of a revolt against the Ottoman Empire; also home to great skiing
5. Ohrid (Охрид): a lakeside spa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is considered the jewel in the crown of North Macedonia
6. Prilep (Прилеп): tobacco fields, medieval fortifications and monasteries and strange rocks
7. Štip (Штип): an economic and cultural center of eastern Macedonia with a long history
8. Strumica (Струмица) - a city with one of the highest concentrations of historical sites in eastern Macedonia
9. Veles (Велес): in the center of the country, a dense city on hills on both sides of the Vardar river

Other destinations

1. Galičica National Park: consists of the mountainous land between Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa.
2. Mariovo- a unique but unpopulated region of southern Macedonia
3. Mavrovo National Park: the largest of the national parks of North Macedonia. It is home to the highest peak in the country, Golem Korab, as well as several picturesque villages and monasteries.
4. Pelister National Park: separates Bitola from Prespa. It covers the Baba Mountain area and has two glacial lakes known as "Mountain Eyes" that feed multiple rivers.
5. Prespa (Преспа): contains most of the Great Lake Prespa, shared by neighboring countries. Galičica to the west and Pelister to the east complement the landscape offered by the lake.
6. Staro Nagoričane (Старо Нагоричане): a prehistoric observatory, medieval churches, massive rocks and important monuments
7. Stobi (Стоби) - An ancient city that is now one of the largest archaeological sites in the country.
8. Vevčani (Вевчани,Vevchani) - historic mountain town known for its natural springs, 1,400-year-old annual carnival, and attempts at autonomy

To get

Entry requirements

Citizens of the European Union and the signatory countries of the Schengen Agreement can enter with only a valid, officially issued identification card or a passport.

Citizens of the following countries do not require a visa:

Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia , Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia , Serbia, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.

The period of stay is regulated by the visa issued, but does not exceed 90 days. The visa-free stay is 90 days, with the exception of Turkey, Japan and Montenegro, where the visa-free stay is 60 days.

Any foreign citizen holding a valid short stay multiple entry type C Schengen visa (valid for the entire territory of the Schengen zone) can enter and stay in North Macedonia for up to 15 days without having to hold a Macedonian visa. Visit this page for more details. Border guards may not be aware of this information and may tell you that you need a visa to enter North Macedonia. Stay calm and politely ask her to double-check your information. They will fill out a form with your passport and car registration information, which can take up to 1 hour.

By plane

North Macedonia has two international airports, the main airport in the capital, the International Airport of Skopje (SKP^IATA) and another in the airport Ohrid Saint Paul the Apostle. (OH D^IATA) There are about 150 flights a week from different European cities to Skopje. Of the low-cost airlines, only WizzAir flies directly between Skopje and London (Luton airport), Barcelona (El Prat), Venice (Treviso airport) and Milan-Bergamo in Italy, as well as numerous small and medium airports throughout Europe . .

Another option to travel to North Macedonia is to fly to Thessaloniki ( SKG ^IATA ) or Sofia ( SOF ^IATA ) and take a taxi or bus from there. There are 5 buses from Sofia Central Bus Station to Skopje, departing at 09:00, 12:00, 16:00, 17:00 and 23:59. The two bus companies that operate these services are MATPU and Kaleia, both outside the main bus terminal. A single ticket costs approximately € 16 (32 denarii). There are also services from Skopje to Sofia at similar prices and times for a flight back home.

Also, if you contact the Sofia Tourist Information Service, they can usually put you in touch with private transport companies who will pick you up at the airport and take you to Skopje. Prices range from just € 60 to € 160. Negotiating with taxis can be more complicated, but you can get a cheaper price.

If you fly into Thessaloniki, you can take a public bus (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) for € 0.50 to the train station and catch a train from there (€ 14 each way).

By train

North Macedonia offers many incredible views Rail services to North Macedonia run from Serbia (Belgrade) and Kosovo (Pristina). Until 2013, there was train service from Greece and there are initiatives to make them run again from Gevgelija and Bitola.

An inexpensive way to travel to or from North Macedonia could be the Balkan Flexipass.

By car

Make sure your green card (international insurance card) has an "MK" box without canceling. The guards almost always want to see him, unlike those in Serbia and Greece. Try to get a good map of North Macedonia and / or try to be able to read Cyrillic letters. Although most street signs are printed in Cyrillic and Latin letters, it can be helpful to have a little knowledge of the Cyrillic alphabet, especially in small towns.

Border guards are often very concerned about having the original car documents (no copies). The execution fee on this is 50-50 and if you have a rental car this can be a problem as you usually have a copy. In the past, certain power-hungry guards have told tourists to backtrack several hundred kilometers on this detail.

By bus

Eurobus is an international coach operator based in North Macedonia with almost daily tours from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Slovenia. Prices from € 60 and possibility of obtaining a discount for students.

• EuroBus Macedonia ,☏ [[1]], ✉ [[email protected] | [email protected]]. almost daily in modern trainers from Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia. Stops in the main cities Skopje, Tetovo, Ohrid. € 75 one way, € 140 round trip from Vienna. Edit

There are bus connections from Serbia, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia and Turkey to Skopje. Also, some buses, at least those operated by Drity Tours, go from Tirana to Pristina via Skopje (although don't expect them to wake you up or stop near the Skopje bus station)

In Skopje, there are two bus terminals. Most buses go to the new terminal, but some connections (eg to Pristina) are served by the old one, which is in the city center. If you need to change terminals, you have to walk to the stone bridge over Vardar and cross the bridge (about 2.5 km) or take a taxi.

In both terminals, taxi drivers will constantly harass you, who will try to convince you to use their services. Unless you have too much money to throw away, you shouldn't take their advice. Taxi is likely to be very expensive, especially for foreigners, while buses are cheap, clean and safe.

Travel

By car

In this mountainous developing country, the roads are often narrow and not very well maintained, with warning signs for the frequent hairpin bends that are rarely provided, and the safety barriers between the tires and the high cliffs are often rusted or sometimes completely absent. In the north, there is a short motorway network with separate directions and a set speed limit of 120 km / h, linking Skopje with Tetovo and Gostivar in the west, and with Alexander the Great and Kumanovo airport in the east, but the The quality of the surface is hardly better than that of the rest of the roads. Toll collection on motorways depends on a system of toll stations (PEAGE) every 20 km or so (usually after leaving Y when approaching major cities, which means you will pay twice for the route, for example between Skopje and Tetovo, two neighboring cities), where all traffic comes to a complete stop (as opposed to only those exiting and entering the highway) and pay according to the type of vehicle (for motorcycles and cars, which is usually 20 or 30 denarii).

Always make sure your tires are good enough. Especially in spring and autumn, the weather in the mountains (Ohrid, Bitola) can differ significantly from the weather in the area where you come from.

All of the country's direction signs display city names in Macedonian Cyrillic and their Roman transliterations, sometimes accompanied by a second local language, which is often Albanian.

Renting a car is cheap. With Upgo Car Rent (389 78662 299, English spoken), you can get a good car for € 20 a day (October 2017). He will bring the car and pick you up from your hotel.

By train

National trains are slow, but still a good alternative to hot and crowded buses in summer. The main train line runs from Skopje to Bitola and from Skopje to Gevgelia. There are no trains to Ohrid.

By bus

Perhaps the most common way to travel in the country, buses are frequent and fairly reliable, albeit a bit slow and old (though not exactly dilapidated) at times. Entries are typically printed in Macedonian, with English translations or even Roman transliterations rarely provided. Here's a quick guide to reading your Macedonian ticket: The destination will be printed at the top (best to refer to the Wikivoyage article for the city in question for the Macedonian name), Дата ( Data ) is translated, unsurprisingly, date, and Час ( Čas ) is the departure time. Перон ( Peron ) indicates the number of the platform from which your bus will depart, which is usually well signposted at the stations, and Седиште ( Sedište) is your seat number, although on less traveled routes it will generally be assigned to seats 3 and 4, which means you can sit anywhere you like. It is possible to take buses directly on the streets, in which case you will pay the driver on board, but if there are no free seats available, this means that you are doing the whole trip on your feet, which is unlikely to be the best travel experience. . Bus companies often prefer to inscribe their names in the Roman alphabet on the livery, but the tickets will indicate them in Cyrillic. Common domestic companies include Rule Turs (Руле Турс), Galeb (Галеб), and Classic Company (Класик Компани). Destination signs in front of buses are provided in Macedonian and the destination's other common local language, if any,

See also the article on bus travel in the former Yugoslavia for more details.

In taxi

Taxis are perhaps the most common mode of transportation in North Macedonia among tourists. Most will charge a flat rate of 30 denari (in Skopje 50 denari) with the extra kilometers added. Be careful when negotiating the price of the fare beforehand. Within city limits, prices above 100 denarii are considered expensive, although the amount is only converted to a few US dollars. Macedonian cities are small and it would only take about 10-15 minutes to travel from one side of the city to the other by car. In Skopje, the capital and largest city, this should amount to between 100 and 150 denarii.

A general exception to this rule is during peak tourist season, especially in the city of Ohrid. The summer months are the most profitable for many small businesses in Ohrid (and for some businesses the only profitable months), including taxi drivers. For this reason, many drivers will charge up to three times the flat rate for the same distance. Most taxis will insist on driving for no less than 100 denari, which can be heard as "sto denari" or "stotka" (slang term for a 100 denari bill). Generally this is steep, but you can negotiate the price up to 80 or even 70 denari to be reasonable, or just hunting for bargains is all that is required. During peak season, it is possible to find drivers willing to drop into their 40s. Never feel pressured to take a taxi that seems too expensive.

Boat

There are many boats for rent around Lake Ohrid and they will show you around the lake for a cheap price.

Cycling

Despite the often challenging (but also scenic) terrain, North Macedonia is generally a pleasant destination for cycling. Local toponymy can give an idea of ​​the geography of North Macedonia: in most countries, mountains and hills are named, while areas of flat land often lack specific names; In North Macedonia, the flat land is precious, and each area has an individual name, such as Bitolsko Pole ("Bitola's field") and Prilepsko Pole ("Prilep's field"). Many bookstores are decorated with a three-dimensional map of a country, which is quite impressive.

There are many paved country roads that are in good condition, but have little traffic. Main roads between major cities can be very busy, with narrow lanes and no hard shoulders; however, in many cases the new, busy highway (avtopat) is parallel to the old road that now sees very little traffic, but still remains to some extent. This is the case, for example, of the roads between Skopje and Veles, between Prilep and Bitola, or between Bitola and Resen. Some of these older roads are paved with stone, rather than asphalt. As more motorways are built (for example the one from Kičevo to Ohrid is under construction as of 2017, one can expect that more of today's busiest major roads will be relegated to the status of older low-traffic roads. .

North Macedonia's air quality is quite good, and even busy roads have much less dust and exhaust gases than roads in, for example, China. Unlike in China, in North Macedonia you rarely see pedestrians or mopeds wearing face masks.

Many people cycle in cities (for transportation and recreation), and recreational cyclists can also be seen in the countryside. Interestingly, you can see stores that sell new bikes (along with other products) much more often than stores that sell spare parts. Still, the main cities, such as Skopje and Bitola, have shops specializing in bicycle parts and repairs; In smaller towns, you can find a parts dealer or bicycle repairman at a local bazaar. Service stations may or may not have air pumps.

In the past, it was possible to take a bicycle on a train. As of 2017, train stations display an order (dated 2016) that prohibits carrying bulky items, "including bicycles" on trains. However, in practice, bicycles are still allowed on older trains, even if they may be totally prohibited on newer ones.

Trimaks publishes a 1: 300,000 national map, as well as maps of some national parks and some regional and city maps, which are sold at Trimaks stores and other book sellers in major cities.

A word of caution: very occasionally, a road shown on a map may not exist or may not allow the use of bicycles. For example, when looking at a map, one may be tempted to take a scenic route from Skopje to Ohrid, along the Kozjak reservoir (Ezero Kozjak) and the Treska river valley, through Makedonski Brod and Kičevo. Some maps show such a road along the east coast of the reservoir; Unfortunately, although it exists (as of 2017, it is a single lane road and cars can travel in different directions for different hours), bicycles cannot pass past the gates of the Jasin Nature Reserve. Other maps show such a highway running along the west side of the reservoir; sadly, in reality (as of 2017) it doesn't exist at all, and filling in the missing piece (a section from Kozjak Dam to Zdunje) would require remarkable feats of engineering.

To buy

Money

Exchange rates for the Macedonian denarius As of January 2020: US $ 1 ≈ ден55 € 1 ≈ ден60 UK £ 1 ≈ ден70 Exchange rates fluctuate. Current rates for these and other currencies are available on XE.com

The official currency of North Macedonia is the denar (denari plural), denoted by the abbreviation " ден " (den) (international code: MKD). Many Macedonians quote prices in euros (€). The new denar replaced the old denar in 1993 at a rate of 100: 1.

Most cities have ATMs where you can withdraw money with cheap fees, although there are also many banks and exchange offices where you can easily exchange money. While banks often offer rates slightly Better yet, you must register with your passport, which can take up to 10 minutes. Changing money at the exchange offices, on the other hand, is quite simple, painless and fast. Do not change money on the street. Stores can accept euros, but it is illegal for them to do so.

Shopping

North Macedonia is full of markets and bazaars that are well worth a visit. Bazaars in Skopje, Tetovo, Ohrid and Bitola sell the most, from dried peppers to fake designer sunglasses. While much of the merchandise may not be worth buying, there is usually a good selection of shoes, good quality fruits and vegetables, depending on the season. The traders are generally nice and welcoming, especially to Westerners, who remain a rarity outside of Skopje and Ohrid.

Ohrid is famous for its pearls and there are dozens of jewelers in the old town offering good products at decent prices. Also worth a look are the Macedonian Orthodox paintings of ancient Ohrid.

Tipping is not considered essential, but it is always welcome.

Eat and drink

To eat

If you're on a budget, try one of the Skara (grill) venues. There are quite a few fancy restaurants serving better quality food on the boardwalk, but these cater to tourists, so don't be surprised with a pretty hefty bill at the end of your meal.

Service in restaurants and cafes across the country tends to be slow, either because these businesses are chronically understaffed or because of the generally laid-back culture. Consider yourself lucky if your meal is served half an hour after you sit down.

general

Typical Macedonian food resembles the food of the southern Balkans, that is, a lot of meat on the grill (known as skara ). Side dishes generally need to be ordered separately. North Macedonia is also famous for its shopska salata, a mixed salad of cucumbers, tomatoes and sirenje grated. The sirenje it is a white cheese similar to feta cheese. Usually Macedonians will translate English cheese to sirenje. Another local specialty is ajvar , a red paste made from roasted peppers and tomatoes, used as an appetizer or garnish. Another typical dish of the area is taratorwhich is comparable to Greek tzatziki. It is made from yogurt, cucumbers and garlic and is served as a cold soup. Christmas Eve Dinner (Badnik): Fish, Beans, Paprika Salads, Sarma, Dates, Figs, Chestnuts and Bread. The most popular street food is burek (бурек), which is a puff pastry filled with melted cheese and / or ham, or pressed panini-style sandwiches, called tostadas (тост).

The Stobi Flips They are a ubiquitous snack found in supermarkets and corner stores, shaped and textured like a squiggle of cheese, but with a salty peanut flavor.

Traditional food

Tavče gravče (тавче гравче) is the national and exclusive dish of North Macedonia. It basically consists of beans, paprika and is traditionally served with mixed cut sausage.

Fish

North Macedonia, being landlocked, does not offer a great variety of fresh fish. A notable exception is Ohrid, where you can enjoy fresh fish from the local lake. If you have no objection to eating endangered species, Ohrid trout is a local delicacy.

To drink

Rakija It is a strong grape brandy that has the best claim of being the national drink of the republic.

Macedonians have the largest winery in the Balkan area - the Tikveš (Tikvesh) winery in Kavadarci. Red wines are usually better than whites. Try T'ga za Jug , an affordable red wine from Macedonia made from a local grape variety called Vranec . Local white wines include Traminec Y Temjanika.

The local beer market is dominated by Skopsko (Скопско, "from Skopje", following the Slavic convention of naming beers according to their origin), a drinkable lager beer, although not entirely distinctive. There are also many breweries that make beer that tastes surprisingly good.

The sale of any alcoholic beverage in stores ends at 9:00 p.m. throughout the country, but in restaurants and cafes, everything remains the same.

Unlike much of the rest of the Balkans, sparkling water or sparkling water is mineral water or kisela voda .

The most common coffee drink in cafes is macchiato (макијато, espresso topped with a frothy crema), which can be ordered as a single, small drink, mali macchiato, or double drink, big, golem macchiato . Cold cappuccinos with flavored creams that come in large glasses are also popular in summer.

The tea it is practically limited to the black and green varieties, and is served in bags. Those who crave strong black tea should head to the local Turkish-run teahouses in Old Skopje or Ohrid.

external links

• Wikipedia has an article on North macedonia.w: North Macedonia
• Wikimedia Commons houses multimedia content about North macedonia. Commons