North Macedonia - Nordmazedonien

North Macedonia is a landlocked country in Southern Europe. It borders in the north Serbia, in the east Bulgaria, in the south Greece and in the west Albania. It is not to be confused with the historical Macedonia, the largest region in terms of area in northern Greece.

This beautiful, manageable country has a surprising number of attractions to offer. It is a fascinating mixture of the old Balkans, the relaxed Mediterranean flair and the trendy happening atmosphere of modern Europe.

Regions

• Povardaria - This central region consists of most of the area along the Vardar River, which divides the country in half. Skopje, the capital and largest city of North Macedonia, is located in the north of this region.
• West Macedonia - Fulfilled by the majority of the tourist attractions of North Macedonia, especially the three national parks and the world heritage site of Ohrid. Two of the country's three great lakes are located in the southern part of western North Macedonia. Many of the larger cities in the country, such as Bitola and Tetovo, are located in the western region of the country.
• East Macedonia - Not that many tourist attractions but some spectacular views of rural life.

Cities

While the Macedonian capital Skopje has more than half a million inhabitants, the other cities in the country are significantly smaller and range from a few thousand to less than 100,000 inhabitants.

• 41.99693221.4329131 Skopje (Скопје) - the nation's capital, home to many historical and architectural monuments, as well as a large number of cultural landmarks

• 41.03066721.3346582 Bitola (Битола) - North Macedonia's "most European" city, with an ancient city, Ottoman monuments, a nice shopping promenade, great nightlife and more

• 42.07864722.1783173 Kratovo (Кратово) - a picturesque town in an extinct volcanic crater

• 

  Skopje

• 

  Bitola

• 

  Kratovo

• 41.36788721.2495864 Kruševo (Крушево) - a museum town high up in the mountains of southwestern North Macedonia; it is one of the most historically important travel destinations in the country as it was the scene of a revolt against the Ottoman Empire; it is also the city that is great for skiing

• 41.11279420.7963255 Ohrid (Охрид) - as a seaside resort and UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is considered the jewel in North Macedonia's crown

• 41.34580621.5545536 Prilep (Прилеп) - Tobacco fields, medieval fortifications and monasteries and unusual rocks

• 

  Kruševo

• 

  Ohrid

• 

  Prilep

• 41.73333333322.18333337 Štip (Штип) - an economic and cultural center of Eastern Macedonia with a long history

• 41.43902822.6377028 Strumica (Струмица) - a city with one of the highest concentrations of historical sites in eastern Macedonia

• 42.01027777777820.9713888888899 Tetovo

• 41.71580321.78447310 Veles (Велес) - in the center of the country, a dense city on hills on both sides of the Vardar River

• 

  Štip

• 

  Strumica

• 

  Veles

Other goals

• 40.941720.80641 Galičica National Park - consists of the mountainous land between Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa.
• 41.720.6666666666672 Mavrovo National Park - the largest of the North Macedonian national parks. It is home to the highest peak in the country, Golem Korab, as well as several picturesque villages and monasteries.
• 40.98121.1913 Pelister National Park - separates Bitola from Prespa. It extends over the area of ​​the Baba Mountains and includes two glacial lakes known as "Mountain Eyes" that feed several rivers.
• 40.99415121.0210844 Prespa (Преспа) - contains most of the Great Prespa Lake shared by neighboring countries. Galičica in the west and Pelister in the east complete the landscape that the lake offers.
• 42.221.8333335 Staro Nagoričane (Старо Нагоричане) - a prehistoric observatory, medieval churches, massive rocks and important monuments
• 41.5517388921.974972226 Stobi (Стоби) - an ancient city, which today is one of the largest archaeological sites in the country.
• 41.24027777777820.59305555555611 Vevčani (Вевчани, Vevchani) - historic mountain village known for its natural springs, its 1,400 year old annual carnival and its drive for autonomy

background

North Macedonia is covered in mountainous terrain characterized by deep basins and valleys. There are three large lakes, each separated by a boundary line, and the country is crossed by the Vardar River.

North Macedonia is blessed with outstanding natural beauty. You should definitely not miss a trip to one of the great lakes, the Pelister Mountains, Shar Planina in the west and the fascinating rolling hills and mountains in the east with its rice fields.

North Macedonia is a country with several ethnic minorities. Ethnic tensions of varying degrees have existed between Albanians (who form the majority in areas to the northwest) and ethnic Macedonians, so this issue is best avoided. In February 2019, the country officially changed its name from the Republic of Macedonia to the Republic of North Macedonia to resolve a name dispute with Greece. Virtually no Macedonian actually refers to the country with the "northern part". Hence, you should avoid using "north" when speaking to anyone in the country as it will be considered offensive by many.

North Macedonia is dotted with beautiful Orthodox churches, monasteries and Ottoman mosques. The area of ​​North Macedonia has a proud history. The fact that the Ottomans ruled for 500 years led legendary Macedonian revolutionaries like Goce Delcev, Nikola Karev and Pitu Guli to lead uprisings to liberate Macedonia.

North Macedonia was part of many countries, but until it was incorporated into Yugoslavia by Tito in 1945 it was never recognized as an administrative "state". The Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia flourished 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 reconstruction of the infrastructure. This may explain why many Macedonians have a certain nostalgia for Tito's Yugoslavia.

International recognition of Macedonia's independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 was delayed by Greece's objection to the new state's use of what Greece considered to be "Hellenic names and symbols". Greece finally lifted its trade blockade in 1995 and the two countries agreed to normalize their relations, despite persistent disagreements over the use of "Macedonia" in the name. Greece is the largest investor in Macedonia today. Because of the name dispute, the country was often referred to as the "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" - or "FYROM". Many Macedonians did not like this name. In June 2018, the heads of state and government of Macedonia and Greece signed an agreement to settle the dispute in which Macedonia should change its name to "Republic of North Macedonia". The name change came into effect on February 12, 2019.

The large Albanian minority in North Macedonia (around 25%), an armed ethnic-Albanian uprising in Macedonia in 2001 and the status of neighboring Kosovo remain sources of ethnic tension. Tensions also arose in the last parliamentary elections on June 2, 2008, although they arose between supporters of the two largest rival Albanian political parties.

getting there

Entry requirements

Citizens of the European Union and the signatory states of the Schengen Agreement can only enter with a valid, officially issued identity card or passport. The travel document must be valid for at least 6 months at the time of entry. However, entry with travel documents reported as lost is regularly refused. German citizens do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. No compulsory vaccinations are required for entry from Germany. The German driver's license is sufficient.

Foreigners in North Macedonia are obliged to report to the nearest police station within 24 hours of entering the country. If you live in a hotel or something similar, the hotel will do the registration. If you are staying privately, you have to register yourself. Failure to register can result in heavy fines.

By plane

• 41.96111111111121.626944444444The 1  Skopje International Airport (IATA: SKP). .is served by numerous European airlines, but from Germany mostly as a transfer flight.last change: not specified

• 41.1820.742222222222The 2  Ohrid Airport (IATA: OHD). .There are weekly flights from Zurich and Basel and seasonal flights from Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, London, Brussels and Vienna.last change: not specified

Another way to travel to North Macedonia is to go to Thessaloniki (SKG IATA) or Sofia (SOF IATA) and take a taxi or bus from there. In Sofia you can go to the tourist office and travel to Skopje with a private transport company. Prices range from € 60 to € 160. From Thessaloniki you can take the public bus (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) to the train station for € 1 and take a train from there (from € 25 one way to Skopje).

By train

Rail connections to North Macedonia run from Belgrade Serbia and from Pristina in Kosovo. There has been a train connection from Greece in the recent past and there are initiatives to restart it, both from Gevgelija and Bitola.

Balkan Flexipass

An inexpensive way to travel through the Balkans could be the Balkan Flexipass be. You can travel on the national rail networks of Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania (trains operated by REGIOTRANS only), Serbia, the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey. It is possible to take several train journeys per day of travel. It is valid for 3, 5, 7, 10 or 15 freely selectable days within a month. The passport is issued as a paper document, for 1st or 2nd class. It is reduced for young people (under 28) and seniors (60). 3 days 2nd class without reduction € 84, 15 days 2nd class without reduction € 252 (05/2020)

By bus

There are international bus connections from Germany and Switzerland that go to Skopje several times a week (German Touring).

In the street

From the north via Belgrade and Nis via the former autoput. From the south on a motorway from Thessaloniki. It should be noted that North Macedonia is not in the EU, the D (Germany) or A (Austria) in the license plate is not recognized. It is therefore mandatory to also affix the national license plate to the rear of the car. You should make sure that the green card (international insurance card) has an unvalidated "MK" field. The border guards almost always want to see it.

By boat

There are no shipping connections to North Macedonia. There are ferries from neighboring Albania at Lake Ohrid.

mobility

In the street

In this mountainous emerging country, the roads are often narrow and not very well maintained, warning signs for the fairly frequent sharp turns are rare, and the safety barriers between the tire and the high cliffs are often rusty or sometimes completely absent. In the north there is a short network of motorways with separate driving directions.

It makes sense to have a good map of North Macedonia with you. Although most street signs are printed in Cyrillic and Latin letters, having a little knowledge of the Cyrillic alphabet can be helpful, especially in small towns.

When renting a car, it makes sense to have the original documents for the car (no copies). In the past, tourists have been instructed to drive back several hundred kilometers.

There is a speed limit of 120 km / h on the motorways. The fees The two motorways can be paid for in cash or with coupons, they are usually between € 0.5 and € 1.5 each way. There are no fees in the greater Skopje area.

The maximum speed in places is 50 km / h

Motor vehicle	out of town	Expressways	Highway
Car, motorcycle	80 km / h	110 km / h	130 km / h
Team, motorhome	80 km / h	80 km / h	80 km / h

For new drivers, within the first two years around 30 km / h on motorways 100 km / h, on expressways 80 km / h and on country roads 60 km / h.

By train

National trains, while slow, are a nice alternative to hot, crowded buses in summer. The train is little used, although the country has a good rail network. The main train line runs from Skopje to Bitola and from Skopje to Gevgelia, from the Serbian border to the Greek border crossings. The Veles-Prilep-Bitola railway line is recommended for its beautiful landscapes. There are no trains to Ohrid.

By bus

Bus travel is perhaps the most common form of travel in the country. Buses are numerous and quite reliable, if a little slow and old (if not exactly shabby) at times. The tickets are usually printed in Macedonian. Here is a quick guide to reading the Macedonian train ticket: the destination is printed on top, Дата (dates), not surprisingly, the date, and Час (Čas) is the departure time. Перон (Peron) indicates the number of the platform from which the bus will depart, which are usually well signposted in the stations. Седиште (Sedište) is the seat number, although on less traveled routes this is usually assigned to seats 3 and 4, which means that you can sit anywhere. It is possible to stop the buses directly on the street. In this case you pay directly to the driver on board, but if there are no vacant seats it means that you have to do the entire journey standing up, which is probably not going to be the best travel experience. The bus companies often prefer to write their names on the buses in Latin script, but they are written in Cyrillic script on the tickets. Common national companies include Rule Turs (Руле Турс), Galeb (Галеб), and Classic Company (Класик Компани). The signs in front of the buses are in Macedonian and, if available, in the other common language of the destination, in most cases Albanian.

With the taxi

Taxis are perhaps the most common mode of transport among tourists in North Macedonia. Most usually charge a flat rate of 30 denars (in Skopje 50 denars) plus the additional kilometers. One has to be careful in negotiating the fare in advance. Within the city limits, prices over 100 denars are considered expensive. Macedonian cities are small and it only takes around 10-15 minutes to drive from one side of the city to the other. In Skopje, the largest city, this should amount to around 100-150 denars.

A general exception to this rule is during the main travel season, especially in Ohrid. The summer months are the most profitable (and the only profitable months for some businesses) for many small businesses, including taxi drivers. For this reason, many drivers charge up to three times the flat rate for the same route. Most taxis will insist on driving for no less than 100 denars, which can be understood as "sto denari" or "stotka" (slang term for a 100 denar note). In general, this is an exaggeration, you can try negotiating the price down to 80 or even 70 denars, or you can find another taxi.

By boat

Around Lake Ohrid there are numerous boats for charter that show you the whole lake at a reasonable price.

By bicycle

Despite the often challenging mountainous (but also scenic) terrain, North Macedonia is generally a pleasant destination for cycling trips. Most countries name mountains and hills, while areas on flat land often do not have specific names; In North Macedonia, flat land is precious and each area has an individual name, such as Bitolsko Pole ("the field of Bitola") and Prilepsko Pole ("the field of Prilep").

There are many paved country roads that are in good condition but with little traffic. Main roads between major cities may be busy, with narrow lanes with no hard shoulder. In many cases, however, the busy new road (avtopat) will run parallel to the old road, which now has very little traffic but is still maintained to some extent. This applies, for example, to 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.

Many people ride bicycles in the cities (for transportation and recreation), and recreational cyclists can also be seen in the countryside. Oddly enough, you see shops selling new bicycles (along with other products) much more often than shops selling spare parts. However, in larger cities like Skopje and Bitola there are specialized shops for bicycle parts and repairs. In smaller towns, you can go to a local bazaar to find a parts seller or bicycle mechanic. Gas stations may or may not have air pumps.

In the past it was possible to take a bike on the train. Since 2017, a regulation has been in force at train stations that prohibits the transport of bulky items, "including bicycles", on the train. In practice, however, bicycles are often still allowed on older trains, even if they may be banned entirely on new trains.

activities

• Hiking - The three national parks Mavrovo, Galičica and Pelister offer hiking enthusiasts the best opportunities.
• Cultural visits to urban centers.

Winter sports

Although North Macedonia is in the southern part of Europe, North Macedonia has quite cold winters. (due to the influence of the continental climate and the altitude). In the mountains there are therefore also some ski areas.

• Ski station "Ski Kozuf". According to its own information, the largest ski area in the country is located in south-east North Macedonia near the Greek border. The area, opened in 2008, has 60 km of slopes between 1480 m and 2160 m altitude. The ski area itself consists of 4 chair lifts (3 x 4-seater and 1 x 6-seater chair) and 4 drag lifts. The approach is via Gevgelija and Smrdliva Voda. From Smrdliva Voda, a 13.5 km long access road leads directly into the area up to 1500 m (one-way street: open uphill in the morning, only downhill in the afternoon). It is possible to stay overnight in the area. The ski village is still under construction. But there are already some apartments available. Further information: see Site of the ski station in English.last change: not specified

• Zare Lazarevski Mavrovo ski center. The area is an hour's drive from Skopje in western North Macedonia near Mavrovo. Further information: see Site of the ski area in English.last change: not specified

language

The mother tongue of the majority of the population is Macedonian, the language with the second largest number of native speakers is Albanian. There are also other minority languages.

The official language at the level of the state as a whole is exclusively Macedonian; at the local level, Albanian is also used from a share of 20% of the ethnic minority in the respective local population, Turkish, Romani, Serbian and Vlachian (Aromanian) official languages.

to buy

money

The official currency of North Macedonia is the denar (plural denari), which is designated by the abbreviation "ден" (den). The international abbreviation is MKD. Many Macedonians also give the prices in euros (100 MKD = 1.60 €, 05/2020). The new denarius replaced the old denarius in 1993 at a ratio of 100: 1.

Most cities have ATMs where you can withdraw money at low cost. There are also numerous banks and exchange offices where money can also be changed without any problems. Banks often offer cheaper rates, but you have to register with your passport, which can take up to 10 minutes. Changing money in exchange offices, on the other hand, is fairly straightforward, painless and quick. You shouldn't change money on the street. The sales outlets accept euros but are forbidden to do so.

shop

North Macedonia is full of markets and bazaars that are well worth a visit. Skopje, Tetovo, Ohrid and Bitola bazaars are the largest, selling everything from dried peppers to fake designer sunglasses. Although most of the goods are not necessarily worth buying. There is usually a good selection of shoes to choose from. Fruit and vegetables are of good quality, depending on the season. The vendors are generally pleasant and welcoming, especially for westerners who are a rarity outside of Skopje and Ohrid.

• 

  the old bazaar in Skopje

• 

  Street market in Ohrid

Ohrid is famous for its pearls, and the old town has dozens of jewelers selling good products at decent prices. The Macedonian Orthodox paintings in old Ohrid are also worth a look.

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

kitchen

The traditional cuisine of Northern Macedonia is part of the cuisine of the Southern Balkans. It reflects Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences and has characteristics of other Balkan cuisines. The country's relatively warm climate offers excellent growing conditions for a wide variety of vegetables, herbs and fruits. Macedonian cuisine is also known for the variety and quality of its dairy products, wines, and local alcoholic beverages such as rakija.

Since North Macedonia is a landlocked country, it does not offer a wide variety of fresh fish. A notable exception is Ohrid, where fresh fish from the local lake can be enjoyed. If one has no objection to eating endangered species, the Ohrid trout is a local delicacy.

Service in restaurants and cafes across the country tends to be slow, either because these establishments are chronically understaffed or because of the general laid-back culture. Allow time, if the food is served within half an hour of being seated, you should be satisfied. Inserts usually have to be ordered separately.

North Macedonia is also famous for its Shopska Salad, a mixed salad of cucumber, tomatoes and grated sirenje. Sirenje is a white cheese similar to feta cheese. Another local specialty is Ajvar, a red paste made from roasted peppers and tomatoes, used either as a starter or a side dish. Another typical local dish is that Taratorwhich is comparable to the Greek tzatziki. It is made from yogurt, cucumber and garlic and served as a cold soup.

• A popular street dish is Burek (бурек), a flaky pastry filled with melted cheese and / or ham.

• Pressed panini sandwiches are made toast (тост) called

• Malidzano is a traditional spread made from pureed peppers, eggplant, oil, salt and mustard (optional). It is usually served as a starter with a piece of bread.

• 

  Sirenje

• 

  Burek

Main courses

• Pastrmajlija is a Macedonian national dish, a kind of pizza. Your name is derived from the word Pastrma off, which means salted and dried sheep or lamb. An elongated yeast dough flatbread is topped with sliced ​​meat cubes and whisked egg and then baked. In some regions, sheep cheese is used instead of eggs. Before serving, garnish with hot peppers.

• Tavče gravče (Тавче гравче) is a traditional dish. It is made with fresh beans and can be found in many restaurants. This dish is baked and served in a traditional unglazed clay pot.

• Turali tava is a main course made from potatoes, rice, okra, aubergines, tomatoes, peppers, pork, beef or lamb. Everything is mixed and baked in an oven in a traditional pottery shape (tava).

• 

  Pastrmajlija

• 

  Tavče gravče

• 

  Turli tava

beverages

• Stanušina Crna or Stanušina (Станушина) is a red grape variety that is only native to North Macedonia and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. It is little known outside of its home country, but can still produce very high quality wines and is mainly grown in the Tikveš region.

• Vranec is a protected red grape variety from Montenegro. It is also considered to be one of the most important grape varieties in North Macedonia. The berries are large, dark in color and grow on moderately vigorous and very productive vines. The fruits are harvested by hand. Depending on the area, this harvest can begin from mid-September and last into October.

• Smederevka (Смедеревка) is a white grape variety grown in Smederevo, Serbia and in the Tikveš wine-growing region in North Macedonia.

• 

  Red wine made from the Stanušina grape

• 

  Vranec

• Mastika (Мастика) is similar to ouzo and rakı, the flavor-determining component is anise. The difference is however mastic, the gum resin of the pistachio tree. The alcohol content is around 30% by volume. Mastika is usually diluted with ice water or strongly chilled and served undiluted. For the distillation of the alcohol, figs, plums or plums are often used.

• Rakia (ракија) is the collective term for fruit schnapps in the Balkans. The alcohol content of rakia is usually 40%, but homemade raki can be stronger.

• 

  Mastika

• 

  Mastic bush

nightlife

Skopje and Ohrid are the cities with the most varied nightlife. There are countless bars, cafes, discos, restaurants and hotels in the capital. In the city on Lake Ohrid There is a lively nightlife, especially in summer. The promenade within the old town stretches along the lakeshore and forms a lake promenade that invites you to go out and take a walk. In the high season in summer, this route is packed with tourists from all over the region.

Going out is good in Strumica. The food doesn't cost much. For example, two pizzas, salad and drinks cost around € 7.

In Novo Selo / Strumica there is a disco and a night football tournament in summer.

The Liquor sale is prohibited nationwide from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

accommodation

As a national tourist attraction, Ohrid is more expensive than any other destination in the country. Hotel prices are very expensive across the country and double prices are charged from foreigners. It is cheaper to stay in private accommodation, but you should first look at the room and then decide. The payment is usually made in advance and should not cost more than 15-20 € per night and per person in the high season and only half the other time. In July and August it is not so easy to find suitable accommodation, the easiest way is to book in advance through a travel agency.

If you want to visit Lake Ohrid, a stay in nearby Struga, unlike the more popular Ohrid, is a smart alternative for the budget conscious.

Learn

For those interested in learning the Macedonian language, there is the official center for testing and certification of Macedonian as a Foreign / Second Language CETIS MAK. You can also get certified with the test in Macedonian as a foreign language - TEMAK and a certificate issued by the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University.

There are also several private language schools that offer courses for foreigners.

public holidays

Next appointment	Surname	importance
Saturday 1st January 2022	Нова Година	New Year
Friday 7th January 2022	Прв ден Божик	Christmas (orthodox)
Monday, May 3, 2021	Втор ден Велигден	Easter Monday (Orthodox)
Saturday 1st May 2021	Ден на трудот	Labor Day
Thursday May 13th 2021	Рамазан Бајрам	Feast of the breaking of the fast
Monday, May 24, 2021	Св. Кирил и Методиј, Ден на сèсловенските просветители	St. Cyrilus and St. Methodius Day
Monday, August 2, 2021	Ден на Републиката	day of the Republic
Wednesday, September 8, 2021	Ден на независноста	Independence day
Monday 11 October 2021	Ден на востанието	Day of the Uprising of the Macedonian People
Saturday 23 October 2021	Ден на македонската револуционерна борба	Day of the Macedonian Revolutionary Struggle
Wednesday 8 December 2021	Св. Климент Охридски	Kliment of Ohrid Day

security

North Macedonia is a safe country. Driving is not unreasonable, but foreigners are advised to use taxis and public transport wherever possible. As in all countries, you should watch out for pickpockets and keep all valuables safe. Hotels and most private accommodations will offer a safe for storing valuables and cash.

Most of the people are very friendly and hospitable.

Practical advice

It is advisable to simply refer to the country as "Macedonia". The "northern" part of the name, added in 2019 to resolve a naming dispute with Greece, has not and may never have made it into everyday use among Macedonians. Many even consider it offensive. Macedonia is translated directly from Cyrillic as Makedonia.

The Macedonian-Bulgarian, Macedonian-Albanian and Macedonian-Greek relations are sensitive issues. Most Macedonians can have a strong political opinion towards their neighbors and in most cases are not afraid to express their opinion. Politics often find their way into conversation over a cup of coffee. In order not to upset your hosts or newfound friends, avoid topics such as the war against the NLA in 2001, the partition of Macedonia during the Balkan Wars, and the upcoming membership of North Macedonia in the European Union or NATO. Problemlos ist es über die kommunistische Zeit oder über Josip Tito zu sprechen.

Angesichts der aktuellen Situation im Kosovo sollte man sehr vorsichtig sein, über Politik zu sprechen, da es hier auch eine bedeutende albanische Minderheit gibt. Man kann so viele Fragen, wie man möchte (im Rahmen des Zumutbaren), aber keine Aussagen machen. Am besten immer daran denken, dass statistisch etwa jeder vierte Mensch auf der Straße wahrscheinlich Albaner ist, wobei der Prozentsatz im Westen weitaus höher liegt und die Spannungen zwischen der mazedonischen und der albanischen Gemeinschaft zeitweise hoch sind. Kurz gesagt: politische Meinung für sich behalten.

health

Wasser kann bedenkenlos getrunken werden, und an den meisten öffentlichen Orten gibt es öffentliche Trinkwasserbrunnen. Es ist ratsam, sämtliches Obst und Gemüse zu waschen.

In Restaurants sollte mein Verzehr von nicht durchgegarten Fleisch vorsichtig sein. Obwohl sich die mazedonische Küche in der Regel um Grillgerichte ("skara") dreht, gibt es Restaurants, wo man besonders auf die Sauberkeit achten sollte. Schlechte Restaurants sind leicht auszumachen; sie werden wahrscheinlich nicht sehr ansprechend aussehen und nicht viele Gäste haben. Die überwiegende Mehrheit der Restaurants in Nordmazedonien serviert jedoch qualitativ hochwertiges Essen.

climate

Nord-Mazedonien hat warme, trockene Sommer und Herbst und relativ kalte Winter mit starken Schneefällen.

Post and Telecommunications

Die Landesvorwahl von Nordmazedonien ist 389. Die Ortsvorwahl wird ohne "0" gewählt.

Festnetztelefon

Der inländische Telefondienst ist in allen größeren Städten über das PSTN oder VoIP verfügbar. Das PSTN-Netz wird von T-home betrieben. Es gibt einen erschwinglichen Festnetz-Telefondienst (drahtlos und einfach zu installieren) des Mobilfunkbetreibers ONE, der im Voraus bezahlt (ohne monatliche Gebühr, 12 Monate Verfügbarkeit ohne Aufladen, Aufladen für nur 500 Denar/€8) und im Nachhinein bezahlt werden kann.

Mobiltelefon

Mobiltelefone sind weit verbreitet und die Abdeckung ist ausgezeichnet. Es gibt 3 Mobilfunknetze (T-Mobile, One und VIP), die alle den GSM/3G-Standard verwenden. Man kann eine Prepaid-SIM-Karte bei T-Mobile für 295 Denari (5 €) mit 250 Denari freier Sprechzeit, bei ONE für 190 Denari (3 €) mit 250 Denari freier Sprechzeit und bei VIP für 300 Denari (5 €) mit 300 Denari freier Sprechzeit kaufen. Möglicherweise muss man beim Kauf den Personalausweis oder Reisepass vorlegen.

Internetzugang

Internetzugang ist im ganzen Land weit verbreitet. Fast alle Hotels bieten kostenloses oder kostenpflichtiges Internet. Cafés bieten in der Regel kostenlosen Wi-Fi-Zugang an, wie viele andere öffentliche Einrichtungen auch. Man kann einfach nach dem Passwort fragen, wenn das Netzwerk gesperrt ist. Breitband-Internet ist über Kabel, ADSL, WiMax und LAN-Verbindungen verfügbar. Es ist auch möglich mit dem eigenen Mobiltelefon über GPRS oder 3G auf das Internet zuzugreifen.

ONE bietet sowohl Internet für zu Hause als auch mobiles Internet an. T-home bietet ADSL-Internet für 599 Denar/Monat (10 €) - 30 GB Bandbreite, 6 Mbit/s Geschwindigkeit, man benötigt einen PSTN-Anschluss von T-home.

Internet-Cafés stehen in den meisten Städten und in einigen Dörfern zur Verfügung.

literature

Eine nationale Karte im Maßstab 1:300.000 sowie Karten von einigen Nationalparks und einige Regional- und Stadtpläne werden von Trimaks herausgegeben und in Trimaks-Geschäften und bei anderen Buchhändlern in größeren Städten verkauft.

Web links