🏞️ North Macedonia

Official government travel advice

Advice changes quickly. Check it before you travel and again before you leave.

Costs

Prices here are about 37% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.

Practical information

Entry

Your passport decides which visa rules apply, and the official site below is the place to check them. A visa, where one is needed, should be applied for well in advance, either at a Macedonian embassy or at a consulate. Before booking, ask the Macedonian embassy or foreign ministry to confirm the current rule, and ask too whether any exemption exists for people who hold other valid visas. The Schengen Area does not include North Macedonia. A return ticket, hotel details, proof of funds and a passport that is valid for 6 months are all needed. The police register foreign guests, and hotels handle this for you.

Culture and practical - take note

The country is a mix of Orthodox Christian communities (mostly Macedonian) and Muslim communities (mostly Albanian and Turkish). Skopje's Old Bazaar is the place for halal food and Turkish coffee, both easy to find there. Mosques and churches call for modest dress. The main attraction is Lake Ohrid, where swimming should be limited to marked areas and the water avoided after storms. The denar is the currency. Bargaining is the norm at the bazaar. Expect cold winters and hot summers. Political topics touching on borders and national identity call for care. Leave a tip of about 10%. Be cautious on roads in the mountains.

Emergency

112. Police 192. Fire 193. Ambulance 194.

Good to know

Cash, cards and exchanges

Canadian advice describes the economy of North Macedonia as mostly cash-based, with cards accepted at some larger establishments and cash machines in urban centres. The currency is the denar. UK advice suggests exchanging any unwanted denars before leaving the country, and changing money only at banks or official exchanges, never with street dealers.

Local laws and customs

Drugs, ID, photography and antiquities

Canadian advice says authorities can ask for ID at any time, and UK advice says illegal drugs, cannabis included, carry severe penalties. UK advice says photographing military sites or sites of government or strategic importance is illegal; Canadian advice extends this to police installations, border crossings and government buildings. Strict laws cover buying and exporting antiquities. UK advice says same-sex relationships are legal.

Taxis and scams

Officially marked taxis

Taxis are widely available, according to Canadian travel advice, which says to ride only in officially marked ones. Because overcharging is possible, it advises negotiating fares in advance or insisting that the driver use the meter.

Card fraud and street thefts

Credit card fraud and ATM fraud are reported by Canadian travel advice, which also describes groups of street children gathering around a victim to ask for money while one of them picks the pocket. UK advice recommends changing money only through banks or official exchanges rather than street dealers, and notes that foreign nationals appear to have been targeted.

Who can help

local government

Crisis Management Centre (CUK) - emergency 112

Helps with: North Macedonia's crisis management centre. Its page presents 112 as the emergency number, reachable round the clock and free of charge from all mobile operators.

Who qualifies: Anyone in North Macedonia facing an emergency or crisis.

Phone: +389 (0)2 3249 101

Email: [email protected]

Address: Dimche Mirchev 9, P.O. Box 372, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

Ministry of Interior of North Macedonia

Helps with: The ministry responsible for the national police. Its English site lists a Skopje head office with phone and email, and an online service for registering foreigners' stays.

Who qualifies: Anyone in North Macedonia, including visitors, with a police matter.

Phone: +389 (0)2 3 117 222

Email: [email protected]

Address: Dimche Mirchev 9, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

ngo

Red Cross of North Macedonia

Helps with: The national Red Cross society. Its site lists first aid, an urgent-assistance service, disaster preparedness and response, psychosocial support and blood donation.

Who qualifies: People in North Macedonia who need its first aid, urgent assistance or disaster services.

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

un agency

International Organization for Migration (IOM) North Macedonia

Helps with: The UN migration agency. Its Skopje office handles migration matters for the country.

Who qualifies: Migrants and others on the move. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.

Phone: +389 2 30 88 100

Email: [email protected]

Address: Str. Oslo 6, 1000 Skopje

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

Police emergency number 192

Helps with: Reaches the police. UK government travel advice lists this number.

Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.

Phone: 192

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

Ambulance emergency number 194

Helps with: Reaches the ambulance service. UK government travel advice lists this number.

Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.

Phone: 194

Source · checked 2026-11-04

Cities and places

Ohrid OhridLake Ohrid's clear waters invite swimming at this UNESCO lakeside town, which also has old churches and a hilltop fortress.Photo: xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0 Skopje SkopjeMatka Canyon is close to the capital, whose mix includes many statues, a medieval fortress and an Ottoman old bazaar.Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0 Struga StrugaThe Black Drin River flows out of Lake Ohrid at this relaxed town, known for beaches and a poetry festival.Photo: Liridon, CC BY-SA 4.0 Bitola BitolaAncient ruins at Heraclea Lyncestis and a pedestrian street lined with cafés mark this elegant southern city.Photo: Tommyy882, CC BY-SA 3.0 Mavrovo MavrovoA lake and a half-submerged church lie in this national park, which has ski slopes for winter and mountain walks for summer.Photo: Novica Nakov, CC BY-SA 2.0

City selection based on: State Statistical Office (MAKSTAT) tourism releases, Wikipedia tourism article, travel guides.

Festivals and events

culture

Ohrid Summer Festival

around Jul-Aug 2027 · Ohrid

Lake Ohrid is the setting for theatre and concerts.