New Year in North Macedonia, Skopje and Ohrid

I got back to Türkiye from Thailand around 24 December. For the very next day Metehan and I bought plane tickets to Macedonia.

Our friend Mustafa from university was living in Macedonia, so we stayed with him. We spent New Year's there too.

My prejudice about the Balkans

I always had prejudices about the Balkans. I used to think it's close, no visa needed, I'll go sometime. It was always the place I put off for later. Finally we went and saw it.

A Soviet style Türkiye

To me it felt like a Soviet style Türkiye. There are lots of Turks and lots of people who speak Turkish. If you speak Turkish on the street, it's not hard to run into someone who understands.

We saw traces of the Ottomans everywhere. Mosques, bazaars, bridges. And churches too. The churches were really amazing.

Skopje and Ohrid

We saw Skopje and Ohrid. Ohrid was much better than Skopje. A small town by the lake, between old stone houses.

The Church of Saint Sophia in Ohrid was incredible.

But life there felt a bit expensive to me.

What you need to know before going to North Macedonia

Entry

• Turkish citizens can go to North Macedonia visa free. You can stay up to 90 days in total within 180 days. Check the rules for your own passport.
• Entering with a passport is the safest. It says you can enter with a Turkish ID card too, check with the consulate before you go.
• Rules can change, check before you go.

Money

• The currency is the denar. Turkish lira isn't accepted, bring euros.
• In big cities cards work, in small places and at the bazaar you need cash.
• When paying by card or withdrawing, if it asks whether to charge in your home currency or denar, choose denar.

Getting around

• There are buses between Skopje and Ohrid, the ride takes about 3 hours. Many buses leave every day.
• You can see Skopje city center on foot.

Places to see

• Skopje. The Stone Bridge, the Old Bazaar, Mustafa Pasha Mosque and the Fortress. In the Old Bazaar you feel like you're in Türkiye.
• Ohrid. The Church of Saint Sophia, Kaneo Church by the lake, Samuel's Fortress and Lake Ohrid. The lake and the old town are on the UNESCO list.