Although easily accessible in the heart of South-Eastern Europe, Macedonian ancient cities and natural beauty remain to a great extent undiscovered. Plunge into Macedonian myths and its untouched mountains, feel the warmth of its people, take all advantages of the exceptional accommodation and exotic food, hear the new rhythm and sail through the centuries of endless tradition. 

Glacial Lake in the National Park Pelister 

ABOUT MACEDONIA

General information

Area: 25.713 sq. km (79% mountainous terrain, 19,1% lowlands and 1,9% lakes and rivers)
Population: 2,022,547 inhabitants
Local time: GTM +1 ( GTM +2 between the end of April and the end of October)
Currency: Macedonian Denar MKD (1 euro = 61.35 denars)
Capital: Skopje (population of 578.144)
Language: Macedonian
Political system: Parliamentary Republic
Religion: Orthodox
Climate: Mediterranean climatic zone
Airports: Skopje International Airport – Alexander The Great ;  Ohrid Airport – St. Paul the Apostle 
Railways: 925 km

Important telephone numbers:

Police – 192
Emergency medical assistance – 194
Fire brigade – 193
Emergency road service – 196
For road information – 9801

Miscellaneous Facts:

Electricity: 220V 50Hz
Weights and Measures: Metric system
Tap water is safe for drink
Time: GMT/UTC plus 1 hour
Foreign Newspapers: available at almost all shops and hotels

Working hours:

Restaurants, cafes etc. are open from 7 AM to 1 AM next day
Discos from 6 PM to 1 AM
Night clubsfrom 8 PM to 3 AM
Banks and post offices are open between 7 AM and 7 PM on weekdays and between 7 AM and 1 PM on Saturdays

Amazing Macedonia Part 1

Macedonian flag 

The national flag of the Republic of Macedonia depicts a stylised yellow sun on a red field, with eight broadening rays extending from the centre to the edge of the field. It was created by Prof. Miroslav Grčev and was adopted on 5 October 1995 after a one-year economic blockade imposed by Greece in order to force the Republic of Macedonia to remove the ancient Macedonian Vergina Sun from the flag. Red and yellow have always been considered the main colours representing Macedonia, probably because of the colours of the historical coat of arms of Macedonia. The new eight-rayed sun represents “the new sun of Liberty” referred to in the national anthem of the Republic of Macedonia, Denes nad Makedonija (“Today over Macedonia”):

Today over Macedonia, is being born

the new sun of liberty.

The Macedonians fight,

for their own rights!

Governmental System

The Republic of Macedonia is a sovereign, independent, democratic and social state. The opening sentence of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia adopted on November 17^th1991 specifically defines the character of the state, from which the governmental system derives. Namely, the state is a parliamentary republic headed by a President. The President represents the Republic of Macedonia both at home and abroad. He is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Macedonia and a President of the Security Council.

Historical background… (read more…)

Religion

The East and West civilization encountered in Macedonia. It is common to see a lot of churches and monasteries in many cities as well as some mosques. The major part of the population belongs to the Orthodox Christian religion (65%). According to the representation, the citizens of Islam religion are at the second place (33%). The others are Catholics, Protestants, Atheists and members of other religions.

Macedonia was the place where Paul the Apostle baptized the first Christian on Europe soil, and later on the Saints Cyril and Methodius together with their disciples (Ss. Clement, Naum, Sava, Gorazd and Angelarij) spread the literacy from Macedonia to all other Balkan territories. 

There are more than 2.000 churches and monasteries in the Republic of Macedonia. Major part of them, in particular those constructed inbetween 11th and 16th century are very well preserved. The following are distinguished: St. Jovan Bigorski in the valley of Radika, St. Naum on the shore of Lake Ohrid, the monastery Treskavec near Prilep, St. Gavril Lesnovski in Lesnovo village, St. Joakim Osogovski near Kriva Palanka, the monastery St. Pantelejmon in Skopje region, the monasteries in Vodocha and Veljusa in Strumica region and many others.

Geography 

Macedonia has a total area of 25,713 km² (9,928 sq mi). It lies between latitudes 40° and 43° N, and mostly between longitudes 20° and 23° E (a small area lies east of 23°). Macedonia has some 748 km (465 mi) of boundaries, shared with Serbia (62 km or 39 mi) to the North, Kosovo (159 km or 99 mi) to the northwest, Bulgaria (148 km or 92 mi) to the east, Greece (228 km or 142 mi) to the south, and Albania (151 km or 94 mi) to the west. It is a transit way for shipment of goods from Greece, through the Balkans, towards Eastern, Western and Central Europe and through Bulgaria to the east. It is part of a larger region also known as Macedonia, which also includes a region of northern Greece of the same name and the Blagoevgrad province in southwestern Bulgaria.

Climate 

Macedonia has a transitional climate from Mediterranean to continental. The summers are hot and dry, and the winters are moderately cold. Average annual precipitation varies from 1,700 mm (66.9 in) in the western mountainous area to 500 mm (19.7 in) in the eastern area. There are three main climatic zones in the country: temperate Mediterranean, mountainous, and mildly continental. Along the valleys of the Vardar and Strumica rivers, in the regions of Gevgelija, Valandovo, Dojran, Strumica, and Radoviš, the climate is temperate Mediterranean. The warmest regions are Demir Kapija and Gevgelija, where the temperature in July and August frequently exceeds 40 °C (104 °F). The mountainous climate is present in the mountainous regions of the country, and it is characterised by long and snowy winters and short and cold summers. The spring is colder than the fall. The majority of Macedonia has a moderate continental climate with warm and dry summers and relatively cold and wet winters. There are thirty main and regular weather stations in the country.

Amazing Macedonia Part 2

Artificial Lake Mavrovo (1220 m above sea level), situated in National Park Mavrovo

Macedonia – among the World`s most hospitable countries

“When travelling, the attitude of the natives can seriously affect how much you enjoy your stay. A warm welcome can boost your spirits and help you feel at home, whereas a frosty reception will have you feeling homesick before you’ve even spent a night in your host country” – The Richest web portal reports.

If a nationality gains a reputation for being particularly warm and welcoming – or conversely, particularly hostile to foreigners – it can have marked influence on the nation’s tourism industry.

In a report released earlier this month (Sep, 2014), the World Economic Forum ranked 140 countries in order of their hospitality towards international travelers, placing Macedonia on the respectable 4^th place. (See more here) 

PRACTICAL INFO:

* Flying to Macedonia

Between November and February, Skopje and surrounding areas can experience thick fog. This can sometimes cause delays or diverted flights if visibility at Skopje airport is affected. Updates of arrivals and departures, as well as delays and cancellations due to weather conditions can be found on the Skopje airport website.

* Registering with the police

You must register with the local police in the town/city where you are staying within 24 hours of your arrival in Macedonia, unless you are in a hotel in which case you will be registered automatically on checking-in.

If you don’t register you may receive a fine of between 600 to 1,000 Euros, and be detained or face a court appearance (which may include a restriction on your ability to return to Macedonia).

* Driving and road conditions in Macedonia:

A valid driver’s license in conjunction with an International Driving Permit is required for foreigners to drive. Driving is on the right side of the road. Drivers and passengers should always wear seatbelts. Drivers are not allowed to use a cell phone while driving. Speed limits are posted. Maximum speed limit in populated areas is 60 km/h. Use of headlights is mandatory day and night. Laws regarding driving under the influence of alcohol are strict and a driver with a blood alcohol level reading higher than 0.05% is considered to be intoxicated and can be charged.

Road conditions differ significantly from those in the Western countries. High speeds, unpredictable drivers and pedestrians, poor vehicle maintenance, uneven road surfaces and widths, and poor lighting all contribute to precarious driving conditions. Pedestrians should exercise extreme caution when crossing the street. Most major highways are in good repair, but secondary urban and rural roads vary widely in condition and lighting. Horse-drawn carts, livestock, rocks, or other objects are sometimes found in the roadway. Many vehicles are quite old by Western standards. Mountain roads can be narrow, poorly marked, lacking guardrails, and quickly become dangerous in inclement weather.

* In case you`ve become a victim of crime

Most visits to Macedonia are trouble-free. Occasional acts of criminal violence occur, although foreigners are not generally targeted.

Police support for foreigners who are victims of crime is very satisfactory. The language barrier can be a major concern when calling for emergency assistance.

In case of emergency while on the road, drivers may contact the police at 192 or go to the nearest police station, the Fire Brigade at 193, the Ambulance Service at 194, Roadside Assistance at 196.

* Natural disasters, severe weather and climate

The Republic of Macedonia is in an active seismic zone and is subject to earthquakes.

Bush and forest fires may occur during summer months (usually June to September). You should monitor local media reports for updated information.

If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.

* Money

The official currency is the Macedonian Denar (MKD). Credit cards are accepted in most hotels and shops, and ATMs increasingly accept international bank cards. Foreign banks usually do not exchange Denars so you may wish to exchange any unwanted Denars before you leave Macedonia. You should only change money through banks or official exchange offices and not through street dealers.

You must declare any cash amount of foreign currency greater than 10,000 EUR on entry into Macedonia. Failure to do so may result in detention and forfeiture of funds when attempting to leave Macedonia.

ATMs are widely available in Macedonia.

* Rivers and lakes

According to checks conducted by the State Sanitary and Health Inspectorate, the water in Ohrid, Prespa and Dojran lakes are suitable for swimming, recreation and water sports.

However the rivers Vardar and Treska as well as Lake Treska are rated below the level suitable for swimming.