Macedonian Wine
The Balkan is full of surprises. Without any prior expectations I stumbled upon glorious mountains, eye-popping blue seas, heart-melting hospitality and… a fantastic selection of wines. Yes, really! When bringing a conversation topic like “wine” to the table, your mind tends to drift off to European destinations such as Italy, France and Spain… but wine-making has been a tradition of Eastern Europe since ancient times, which now truly starts to re-emerge after many turbulent years of political upheaval. In this day and age, each and every Balkan country produces its own wine: from rustic mom-and-pop-production in the backyard, to significant enterprises exporting all over the globe. Its most prominent wine country? Macedonia! Currently, Macedonia produces an average 220 million litres a year (of which only 5% is for domestic consumption), placing this modest-sized country at #25 worldwide. Time for a sip!
Photo by Miles Watson Photography
Too busy to read now? No problem, save it for later!
Save on Get Pocket | Save in Browser Bookmarks| Save on Instapaper
Save on Get Pocket | Save in Browser Bookmarks| Save on Instapaper
Macedonia & Wine
Macedonia has no less than 38 wineries (anno 2022), covering 224km² of land. Not a bad score for a 25,713km² country! The local wine narrative began as early as in the 13th century BC, when the preserving process required the wine to be mixed with honey. The amphora (vase) was subsequently topped off with a layer of olive oil and buried underground for the maturation process*. This wine tradition was further expanded under the Romans / Byzantines, who believed wine is the source of wealth and luck. Quite the fruitful philosophy! When Christianity gained influence, the local wine industry expanded even more due to its crucial role in rites and ceremonies (representing the blood of Christ). Unfortunately, the rise of the Ottoman Empire caused this considerable wine flow to temporarily dry up, due to Islamic bans on its consumption. Only after WWII, in the heydays of communism, state-owned wine production focused on high quantities began to respawn, to be privatized in the early 90’s when Yugoslavia dissolved.
Even though the wine production of independent Macedonia shifted once again to private hands, the focus remained primarily on mass production, guaranteeing low prices but compromising on quality. Therefore, an interesting development that can be noticed recently is the slow but steady movement towards high-quality wine cultivation. Better equipment is acquired, knowledge is deepened and the sublime weather conditions balancing between a Continental, Mountainous and Mediterranean climate are cleverly tapped into. Macedonia’s 260 sunny days per year help to prolong the maturation process by optimizing the period when sugars and acids are concentrated within the grapes, enabling more complex aromas and rich colors. Further intensity is acquired by the soil, which is full of minerals, as well as by the contrasting climatic zones, combining hot days with cool nights. These superb conditions bring a handful of local varieties to the world, of which (hallelujah) 80% are reds. I consumed my fair share of Vranac in the Balkan before hitting Macedonia, but names such as Kratosija, Stanušina Crna and Temjanika** were all new to me… and I wanted to try them all!
* A technique that originated and is still widely practiced in the country of Georgia. Stay tuned for the Georgia Wine Blog!
** Other local varieties include Temjanika, Zilavka, Smederevka, Prokupes, Grasevina and Rkatsiteli. The most important local white is Smeredevka. International varieties that thrive particularly well on these lush soils are Carbernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Macedonia has no less than 38 wineries (anno 2022), covering 224km² of land. Not a bad score for a 25,713km² country! The local wine narrative began as early as in the 13th century BC, when the preserving process required the wine to be mixed with honey. The amphora (vase) was subsequently topped off with a layer of olive oil and buried underground for the maturation process*. This wine tradition was further expanded under the Romans / Byzantines, who believed wine is the source of wealth and luck. Quite the fruitful philosophy! When Christianity gained influence, the local wine industry expanded even more due to its crucial role in rites and ceremonies (representing the blood of Christ). Unfortunately, the rise of the Ottoman Empire caused this considerable wine flow to temporarily dry up, due to Islamic bans on its consumption. Only after WWII, in the heydays of communism, state-owned wine production focused on high quantities began to respawn, to be privatized in the early 90’s when Yugoslavia dissolved.
Even though the wine production of independent Macedonia shifted once again to private hands, the focus remained primarily on mass production, guaranteeing low prices but compromising on quality. Therefore, an interesting development that can be noticed recently is the slow but steady movement towards high-quality wine cultivation. Better equipment is acquired, knowledge is deepened and the sublime weather conditions balancing between a Continental, Mountainous and Mediterranean climate are cleverly tapped into. Macedonia’s 260 sunny days per year help to prolong the maturation process by optimizing the period when sugars and acids are concentrated within the grapes, enabling more complex aromas and rich colors. Further intensity is acquired by the soil, which is full of minerals, as well as by the contrasting climatic zones, combining hot days with cool nights. These superb conditions bring a handful of local varieties to the world, of which (hallelujah) 80% are reds. I consumed my fair share of Vranac in the Balkan before hitting Macedonia, but names such as Kratosija, Stanušina Crna and Temjanika** were all new to me… and I wanted to try them all!
* A technique that originated and is still widely practiced in the country of Georgia. Stay tuned for the Georgia Wine Blog!
** Other local varieties include Temjanika, Zilavka, Smederevka, Prokupes, Grasevina and Rkatsiteli. The most important local white is Smeredevka. International varieties that thrive particularly well on these lush soils are Carbernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Cheers to Macedonia! Budget Bucket List Favorites:
Macedonia’s wine-growing regions include the northern Pcinja-Osogovo, the southern Pelagonija-Polog and most predominantly: Povardarie in the center, with the Tikves area at its thriving heart producing both the highest quantity and quality of the nation… You’ve got my attention! To fully allow yourself to immerge into the Tikves wine region, it’s recommended to choose either Kavadarci, Negotino or Demir Kapija as a base of exploration. I visited all three destinations and I’m ready to list my fav’s:
Badi Winery
I’m not sure which factor irreversibly won me over… It could potentially be the most satisfying and unique Merlot I ever poured over my taste buds, arousing my senses with unexpected hints of caramel and chocolate... Or perhaps it is the sparkling personality of the man himself, his infectious smile inviting you to toss all seriousness out of the window and warm-heartedly feel, sense and especially taste all delicious things life has to offer. The wine tasting at Badi Winery felt like a celebration, Macedonia’s “youngest knight of wine” presenting us with a scrumptious sequence of a fresh Bisera, a surprisingly semi-sweet Cabernet Sauvignon, a full-bodied Vranac, a deep red Primitivo and a Merlot I’ll never forget. Besides his refreshing wine collection, Badi features a line of organic fresh produce, including ecological vegan-friendly ‘majun’ (a typical Macedonian grape-based spread). This winery is spreading the Love*, one glass at a time!
Address: Pere Toshev 3, Kavadarci.
* The name of the wine line.
Macedonia’s wine-growing regions include the northern Pcinja-Osogovo, the southern Pelagonija-Polog and most predominantly: Povardarie in the center, with the Tikves area at its thriving heart producing both the highest quantity and quality of the nation… You’ve got my attention! To fully allow yourself to immerge into the Tikves wine region, it’s recommended to choose either Kavadarci, Negotino or Demir Kapija as a base of exploration. I visited all three destinations and I’m ready to list my fav’s:
Badi Winery
I’m not sure which factor irreversibly won me over… It could potentially be the most satisfying and unique Merlot I ever poured over my taste buds, arousing my senses with unexpected hints of caramel and chocolate... Or perhaps it is the sparkling personality of the man himself, his infectious smile inviting you to toss all seriousness out of the window and warm-heartedly feel, sense and especially taste all delicious things life has to offer. The wine tasting at Badi Winery felt like a celebration, Macedonia’s “youngest knight of wine” presenting us with a scrumptious sequence of a fresh Bisera, a surprisingly semi-sweet Cabernet Sauvignon, a full-bodied Vranac, a deep red Primitivo and a Merlot I’ll never forget. Besides his refreshing wine collection, Badi features a line of organic fresh produce, including ecological vegan-friendly ‘majun’ (a typical Macedonian grape-based spread). This winery is spreading the Love*, one glass at a time!
Address: Pere Toshev 3, Kavadarci.
* The name of the wine line.
Photos by Miles Watson Photography.
Ivanov Winery
A beautiful thing in small towns like Kavadarci is that a richness of family-run mini-wineries are hidden unsuspectedly in the backyards of its residential houses… like a tasty treasure hunt! Take Ivanov Winery for example, run by the passionate winemaker Ordancho, who produced his first wine at the age of 18 and continued to evolve his techniques and flavors ever since. It blew my mind to learn that every step towards his yearly 10 hectolitres was carried out by this man alone… from sowing, to harvesting, to the final processing of the varieties he currently has on offer. Attending a tasting in between the wine tanks in his garden felt like a precious sneak-peek behind the scenes of quality Macedonian wine-making. I truly enjoyed the diversity of Ivanov’s collection. On the one hand he created refreshing varieties such as the light white Temjanika, Cuvee and fruity Stanusina Rose*, which with one mere sip bring you back to those endless hot summer nights. On the other hand you can try red delights such as the Domanika, a sweet Merlot and an intense Vranec Cuvee. The latter defies all stereotypes of Vranec by its surprising blend with a white Malvasia, which is something unique I have yet to encounter elsewhere. Ivanov Winery is currently in the process of renovations, preparing a professional yet small-scale tasting room for an intimate, local introduction to the wonders of Macedonian wine. One to keep an eye on!
Address: Igman 11, Kavadarci.
* Winner of a bronze medal.
Ivanov Winery
A beautiful thing in small towns like Kavadarci is that a richness of family-run mini-wineries are hidden unsuspectedly in the backyards of its residential houses… like a tasty treasure hunt! Take Ivanov Winery for example, run by the passionate winemaker Ordancho, who produced his first wine at the age of 18 and continued to evolve his techniques and flavors ever since. It blew my mind to learn that every step towards his yearly 10 hectolitres was carried out by this man alone… from sowing, to harvesting, to the final processing of the varieties he currently has on offer. Attending a tasting in between the wine tanks in his garden felt like a precious sneak-peek behind the scenes of quality Macedonian wine-making. I truly enjoyed the diversity of Ivanov’s collection. On the one hand he created refreshing varieties such as the light white Temjanika, Cuvee and fruity Stanusina Rose*, which with one mere sip bring you back to those endless hot summer nights. On the other hand you can try red delights such as the Domanika, a sweet Merlot and an intense Vranec Cuvee. The latter defies all stereotypes of Vranec by its surprising blend with a white Malvasia, which is something unique I have yet to encounter elsewhere. Ivanov Winery is currently in the process of renovations, preparing a professional yet small-scale tasting room for an intimate, local introduction to the wonders of Macedonian wine. One to keep an eye on!
Address: Igman 11, Kavadarci.
* Winner of a bronze medal.
Tikves Winery
An entirely different experience can be obtained by visiting the Tikves Winery. It’s the largest one of the Balkans and leader of the Macedonian market, producing no less than 50 types of wine, ranging from desert-dry to tooth-breaking sweet ‘n sparkly, and from dirt cheap to very pricy collection pieces. Unfortunately, covid got the best of me and I had to exchange the inviting Tikves tasting for a week of quarantine. However, when spending over a month in Macedonia and being the wine-lover I am, there’s honestly no way around this brand. Surprisingly, it seems that they put all their marketing efforts into their Alexandria. Of course, one can’t argue about taste, but I quite frankly found this specific wine to be pretty bitter and horrendous. Their Vranac isn’t only tastier, it’s also much cheaper. It's a really decent bottle which is available in any supermarket for a lousy 2 euros - no headaches the day after! (yes, write that one down, you budget backpacker!).
Address: 29-ти Ноември, Kavadarci.
Other wineries in Kavadarci:
Other sights of Kavadarci: City Museum; Wine Museum; Muzej Galerija Kavadarci; Memorial House Strasho Pindjur (closed when I tried to visit).
An entirely different experience can be obtained by visiting the Tikves Winery. It’s the largest one of the Balkans and leader of the Macedonian market, producing no less than 50 types of wine, ranging from desert-dry to tooth-breaking sweet ‘n sparkly, and from dirt cheap to very pricy collection pieces. Unfortunately, covid got the best of me and I had to exchange the inviting Tikves tasting for a week of quarantine. However, when spending over a month in Macedonia and being the wine-lover I am, there’s honestly no way around this brand. Surprisingly, it seems that they put all their marketing efforts into their Alexandria. Of course, one can’t argue about taste, but I quite frankly found this specific wine to be pretty bitter and horrendous. Their Vranac isn’t only tastier, it’s also much cheaper. It's a really decent bottle which is available in any supermarket for a lousy 2 euros - no headaches the day after! (yes, write that one down, you budget backpacker!).
Address: 29-ти Ноември, Kavadarci.
Other wineries in Kavadarci:
- Zaharchev Family Winery – Kosovska 16.
- Klincharov Family Winery – Pionerska 1.
- Angelovi – Makedonia 6.6.
- Bujuk – S. Dabnishte.
- Kitvin – Veljko Vlahovikj 2/2-6.
- Goce Delcev Tikves – S.Vozarci.
- Peskov – S.Resava.
- Zaharchev – Kosovska 16.
- Iliev – S.Sopot.
- Popov – S.Rosoman 13-a.
Other sights of Kavadarci: City Museum; Wine Museum; Muzej Galerija Kavadarci; Memorial House Strasho Pindjur (closed when I tried to visit).
Queen Maria Winery
The oldest winery of the Balkan can be found in Demir Kapija, a tiny hamlet named after the limestone rocks gating off this under-the-radar destination (Demir Kapi means “iron gate” in Turkish – dating back to Macedonia being a part of the Ottoman Empire). The first vineyards of the town were planted in 1928 by King Alexander Karadjordjevic, initially named Villa Maria after his wife Mary. The noble vibe still surrounds this glamorous winery today, a wide lawn dotted with peacocks forming the elegant entrance to this elitist estate. Besides a winery, this complex includes a high-end hotel and a fancy-pants restaurant served by tv-chef Mladen Perisic himself. As I travelled off-season, wine tasting tours were unfortunately unavailable, so I just went ahead and ordered myself some mouth-watering glasses of dry Vranec, Merlot, Pinot Noir and a semi-dry Plava Krv… flushed away with an endless supply of Queen Maria’s rakija that somehow kept on coming without me ordering it (it’s the nectar of the Balkan, but about 10 levels too strong for this pussy). Surprisingly enough, both the estate tour and restaurant prices are remarkably affordable, so there’s no excuse to miss out on this opportunity. Na zdravje!
Address: Marshal Tito 63, Demir Kapija.
The oldest winery of the Balkan can be found in Demir Kapija, a tiny hamlet named after the limestone rocks gating off this under-the-radar destination (Demir Kapi means “iron gate” in Turkish – dating back to Macedonia being a part of the Ottoman Empire). The first vineyards of the town were planted in 1928 by King Alexander Karadjordjevic, initially named Villa Maria after his wife Mary. The noble vibe still surrounds this glamorous winery today, a wide lawn dotted with peacocks forming the elegant entrance to this elitist estate. Besides a winery, this complex includes a high-end hotel and a fancy-pants restaurant served by tv-chef Mladen Perisic himself. As I travelled off-season, wine tasting tours were unfortunately unavailable, so I just went ahead and ordered myself some mouth-watering glasses of dry Vranec, Merlot, Pinot Noir and a semi-dry Plava Krv… flushed away with an endless supply of Queen Maria’s rakija that somehow kept on coming without me ordering it (it’s the nectar of the Balkan, but about 10 levels too strong for this pussy). Surprisingly enough, both the estate tour and restaurant prices are remarkably affordable, so there’s no excuse to miss out on this opportunity. Na zdravje!
Address: Marshal Tito 63, Demir Kapija.
Other wineries of Demir Kapija:
Wineries of Negotino:
Limited time in Macedonia? Wineberry!
A winery tour is an absolute must when visiting Macedonia, which basically means you have to return for it if your timeframe doesn’t allow it. In the meantime, however, you can get an excellent taste of what Macedonia has on offer by visiting Wineberry in Skopje. This vibrant wine shop invites visitors and locals alike to drop in and attend a FREE tasting of their wide selection of Macedonian and international wines, without pressuring you into buying anything. That said, the chances of you walking out with a bottle are fairly high!
- Popova Kula (during my visit closed for renovations).
Wineries of Negotino:
- Bovin – Industriska.
- Dudin – Aco Adzhi Ilov.
- Pivka – Industriska.
- Venec – S.Dolni Disan.
- Kimov – Industriska.
Limited time in Macedonia? Wineberry!
A winery tour is an absolute must when visiting Macedonia, which basically means you have to return for it if your timeframe doesn’t allow it. In the meantime, however, you can get an excellent taste of what Macedonia has on offer by visiting Wineberry in Skopje. This vibrant wine shop invites visitors and locals alike to drop in and attend a FREE tasting of their wide selection of Macedonian and international wines, without pressuring you into buying anything. That said, the chances of you walking out with a bottle are fairly high!
Quick Budget Fact Overview
Macedonia Facts
Short History Recap
808-399BC: Caranus establishes ancient Macedonian Kingdom. 498-454BC: Kingdom expanded by Alexander I – fights as Persian ally in Greek-Persian Wars. 453-413BC: His son Perdiccas II sparks conflict between Athens and Sparta which turns into the 27-year Peloponnesian War. 359-335BC: Philip II turns Macedonia into the greatest European Power after controlling the Illyrians, Thracians, and Greeks. Battle of Chaeronea: Marks end of Greek history and the beginning of the Macedonian Era. 336-323BC: Philip’s son Alexander the Great conquers Persian Empire. Macedonian Empire world’s largest: stretching from Europe to North Africa and India. 323-300BC: Death of Alexander the Great causes civil war - Macedonian Empire divided in dynasties of Alexander’s generals Antigonus I (Macedonia and Greece), Ptolemy I (Egypt), and Seleucus I (Asia). 222-179BC: Macedonian Wars against Romans end up in defeat of Philip V’s (Antoginus I’s heir) armies: Macedonia loses entire Greece. 51-63AD: Apostle Paul and his disciples preach Christianity for the first time on European soil, in the Macedonian towns Philippi / Thessalonica / Beroea. 146: Macedonia is Roman province. 395: Roman Empire splits into Western and Eastern (Byzantine) Empire. 535: Slavs overrun Macedonia, Greece, Illyria, and Thrace. 855-886: Macedonian Cyril and Methodius create first Cyrillic script. Their disciples Clement and Naum of Ohrid spread Christianity in the Slavonic language. 867-1025: Basil I first Macedonian Byzantine Emperor. 1389: Conquered by Ottoman Empire. 1912-13: Greece / Serbia / Bulgaria / Macedonia defeat Ottoman rule in Macedonia. Macedonia is denied independence in Treaty of Bucharest: divided between Greece, Serbia, and Bulgaria (Greece takes the biggest, southern half of Macedonia and renames it "Northern Greece”). ‘13: Start WWI - Macedonia occupied by Bulgaria. ’18: End WWI, Macedonia becomes part of Serbia again. Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes founded, in ’29 renamed Kingdom of Yugoslavia. ’40-’45: WWII - Bulgaria (Hitler’s ally) occupies Macedonia. ’45: Establishment Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia – 6 republics, incl. future Macedonia. ‘80s: Rise of nationalism. ’91: Referendum – support independence. ’93: UN membership. Kosovo War drives Kosovarans into Macedonia. ’94: Afraid of historical / cultural / linguistic claims over Aegean / South Macedonia, Greece insists that the there is no Macedonian nation and the name "Macedonia" can’t be used – trade embargo after refusal. ’95: Human Rights Watch condemns Greece. Amnesty International & European Parliament urge Greece to recognize Macedonian language and stop the oppression of the in 1913 appropriated Macedonian territory. 2001: Uprising ethnic Albanians demanding equal rights. Western-backed Ohrid Peace Agreement: Pro-Albanian rights. ‘04 March: Application EU membership – ’05: EU candidate. ’08: Greece blocks bids to join EU & Nato over name objections. Macedonia recognises Kosovo. ’09: Visa-free travel within EU's Schengen zone for Macedonians. ’19: Country name changed to North Macedonia after ratification by Greek and Macedonian parliaments, in an attempt to stop Greece blocking EU and Nato bids.
Macedonia Facts
- Capital: Skopje
- Language: Macedonian
- Population: ± 2.01 mln
- Sq km: ± 25,713
- Currency: Denar (Ден / MKD)
- Electricity Outlet: C and F / 230C / 50Hz. Check here.
- Country Code Phone: +389
- Emergency Phone: 112 (general), 194 (ambulance), 193 (fire), 192 (police)
- Visa: Check out the visa requirements here. Official website here.
- Vaccinations: Hep-A, Hep-B, DTP, Covid.
- Climate Skopje: Humid Subtropical Climate (CFA)
- High season: June – November.
Short History Recap
808-399BC: Caranus establishes ancient Macedonian Kingdom. 498-454BC: Kingdom expanded by Alexander I – fights as Persian ally in Greek-Persian Wars. 453-413BC: His son Perdiccas II sparks conflict between Athens and Sparta which turns into the 27-year Peloponnesian War. 359-335BC: Philip II turns Macedonia into the greatest European Power after controlling the Illyrians, Thracians, and Greeks. Battle of Chaeronea: Marks end of Greek history and the beginning of the Macedonian Era. 336-323BC: Philip’s son Alexander the Great conquers Persian Empire. Macedonian Empire world’s largest: stretching from Europe to North Africa and India. 323-300BC: Death of Alexander the Great causes civil war - Macedonian Empire divided in dynasties of Alexander’s generals Antigonus I (Macedonia and Greece), Ptolemy I (Egypt), and Seleucus I (Asia). 222-179BC: Macedonian Wars against Romans end up in defeat of Philip V’s (Antoginus I’s heir) armies: Macedonia loses entire Greece. 51-63AD: Apostle Paul and his disciples preach Christianity for the first time on European soil, in the Macedonian towns Philippi / Thessalonica / Beroea. 146: Macedonia is Roman province. 395: Roman Empire splits into Western and Eastern (Byzantine) Empire. 535: Slavs overrun Macedonia, Greece, Illyria, and Thrace. 855-886: Macedonian Cyril and Methodius create first Cyrillic script. Their disciples Clement and Naum of Ohrid spread Christianity in the Slavonic language. 867-1025: Basil I first Macedonian Byzantine Emperor. 1389: Conquered by Ottoman Empire. 1912-13: Greece / Serbia / Bulgaria / Macedonia defeat Ottoman rule in Macedonia. Macedonia is denied independence in Treaty of Bucharest: divided between Greece, Serbia, and Bulgaria (Greece takes the biggest, southern half of Macedonia and renames it "Northern Greece”). ‘13: Start WWI - Macedonia occupied by Bulgaria. ’18: End WWI, Macedonia becomes part of Serbia again. Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes founded, in ’29 renamed Kingdom of Yugoslavia. ’40-’45: WWII - Bulgaria (Hitler’s ally) occupies Macedonia. ’45: Establishment Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia – 6 republics, incl. future Macedonia. ‘80s: Rise of nationalism. ’91: Referendum – support independence. ’93: UN membership. Kosovo War drives Kosovarans into Macedonia. ’94: Afraid of historical / cultural / linguistic claims over Aegean / South Macedonia, Greece insists that the there is no Macedonian nation and the name "Macedonia" can’t be used – trade embargo after refusal. ’95: Human Rights Watch condemns Greece. Amnesty International & European Parliament urge Greece to recognize Macedonian language and stop the oppression of the in 1913 appropriated Macedonian territory. 2001: Uprising ethnic Albanians demanding equal rights. Western-backed Ohrid Peace Agreement: Pro-Albanian rights. ‘04 March: Application EU membership – ’05: EU candidate. ’08: Greece blocks bids to join EU & Nato over name objections. Macedonia recognises Kosovo. ’09: Visa-free travel within EU's Schengen zone for Macedonians. ’19: Country name changed to North Macedonia after ratification by Greek and Macedonian parliaments, in an attempt to stop Greece blocking EU and Nato bids.
|
|
|
Even though the video concludes with stating that a solution has been found and an agreement reached, keep into account that this is only on paper. The people of the country of Macedonia are extremely offended if you refer to their country as North Macedonia, and when traveling in Greece you can get into heated discussions when you mention the "country of Macedonia." I learned this the hard way ;)
Budget Bites
Sleep Cheap
Budget Bites
- Local Dishes: Chomlek (veal-beef stew); Turlitava (veg-meat stew); Gravče Na Tavče (baked beans with sausage); Selsko Meso (pork mushroom stew); Teleska Corba (veal stew); Musaka (potato-oven dish); Macedonian Pizza / Pastrmajlija; Kebapi / Chevapi (minced meat sausages); Pljeskavica (mixed meat patty); Kukurec (lamb intestines); Shirden (stuffed lamb stomach); Podvarok (sauerkraut pork casserole); Kompir Mandza (potato stew); Sirenje Vo Furna (cheese from oven); Yogurtlitava (rice / meat / yoghurt oven dish); Gjuvech (vegetables with chicken); Piftija (pig/cow legs and feet cooked in fat); Skara (mixed grill); Cironka (fermented bleak fish); Maznik & Zelnik & Burek (stuffed pastry); Gibanica (egg-cheese pastry); Gjomleze (crispy pastry); Sarma (stuffed cabbage rolls); Polneti Piperki (stuffed bell peppers); Ajvar (pepper spread); Pindjur (tomato-pepper-eggplant spread); Makolo (pepper-tomato-garlic spread); Malidzano (eggplant spread); Mekici (fried dough – breakfast with cheese/sour cream); Popara (cheese-bread dish); Kozinjak (sweet bread).
- The Veg Situation: Going vegan is rather complicated in Macedonia outside of the bigger cities, however going vegetarian makes it much easier. ocal vegetarian dishes (descriptions above): Gravče Na Tavče without sausage; Kompir Mandza; Sirenje Vo Furna; Maznik & Zelnik & Burek; Gibanica; Gjomleze; Ajvar; Pindjur; Makolo; Malizano; Mekici; Popara; Gjomleze.
- National Drink: Rakija (brandy); Wine; Mastika (anise brandy); Beer; Kefir.
- The local food delivery app is Kliknijadi.mk.
Sleep Cheap
- Hostels / Hotels: are relatively cheap in Macedonia – comparable to Albanian prices, but more expensive than Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. If you’re with 2 people or more, a private room is cheaper than a dormitory bed in a hostel. I personally found the best deals on Booking.com, which is generally cheaper than Air BnB listings here. Booking.com also has the biggest selection, is transparent about the final price and has an efficient search engine tailored to your specific needs. If you use it often enough, generous Genius-discounts are applied. Agoda is often not transparent about prices, adding a lot of additional costs in the last booking-step. Opodo is a better alternative. Most municipalities charge a city tax. Writer's choice: in Demir Kapija I stayed in Villa Bratislava, which was small but decent. In Kavadarci I stayed in Hostel Emi, which I definitely wouldn't recommend due to poor hygiene and broken interior.
- Couchsurfing: allows you to stay with locals. Nowadays it has a moderate sign-up cost (unless you put a third-world country as homebase), but paying extra for verification is unnecessary: Positive reviews are way more important. Once active, there are no costs for staying at someone’s house. In order to get accepted, make sure to write an elaborate review explaining why you applied to this specific profile and think you and your host are a good match (copy-pastes tend to be ignored). Alternatives are Be Welcome and Trust Roots.
- Housesitting: is an amazing exchange allowing you to stay short- or long-term in somebody’s house, while looking after their house and pets. There are many different websites, most of them paid… but once you've landed a sit, the subscription fee pays itself back. The main housesitting network is Trusted Housesitters.
- Wild Camping: is officially not allowed, but it’s tolerated. Avoid camping close to tourist areas, beaches or government buildings to avoid fines.
Mama Said
Next?
- Safety: Europe is generally safe, but use your common sense like everywhere. Don’t walk alone in remote areas after sunset, don’t take valuables along and follow your instincts when entering certain neighbourhoods further away from the centre.
- Tap Water: is drinkable.
- The best credit/debit card for traveling is Wise, as they use the live conversion rates without any extra fees. Wise also has the lowest fees for sending money to foreign accounts. Keep in mind that some Macedonian ATMs charge a fee, which should always be indicated before completing the transaction.
- Simcard: At my time of visit, Lycamobile had the cheapest prepaid monthly deals with good reception. Simply buy the simcard in any kiosk on the street (around €3-4) and call 0791212 to get registered (online registration not possible for foreigners). Generally, there’s already a generous welcome package on it, valid for 30 days.
Next?
In order to support the travelers’ community, I spend many hours per week to adequately document all information and advices for prospective visitors, accompanied by a (hopefully) entertaining insight into my personal observations and experiences. This service is and will remain free. However, if you voluntarily want to make a contribution and support my travels and thus the creation of new stories and information supply, here is the button you’re looking for:
Related:
- Extend your trip in Macedonia: Visit Ohrid & Skopje!
- Travel Argentina's main wine regions: Mendoza & Cafayate.
- Explore one of the main wine countries of South America: Chile!
- Carmelo, the main wine destination of Uruguay.
- Go for a bicycle wine tour in New Zealand's North Island & hike the wine route of Cromwell!
- Bosnia & Herzegovina's main wine hub: Trebinje!
- Visit the wineries of Cyprus in the Troodos mountain region.
- Sample the flavours of Greece in the Epirus wine region.
- Where can you find the best wine of Malta? Read it here!
- Montenegro's main winery is located in... [click here!]
- Get your discounted wine experience in Bucharest, Romania!
- Destinations of Hungary: Balaton Lake, Budapest and Szekesfehervar
- "Con pan y vino se anda el Camino" - the Camino de Santiago passes right through Spain's main wine country! Check it out!
- Get your Albania itinerary ready: Berat, Gjirokastër, Korcë / Ohrid Lake, Theth, Shkodër, Tirana, Mount Korab & the coast!
- The 3 golden rules to travel Sofia on a budget! & Why you shouldn’t miss out on Plovdiv! [Bulgaria]
- Get deep into Greece: Athens, Delphi, Arachova, Mount Parnassos NP, Epirus, Meteora, Thessaloniki & Volos
- Archeological treasures, UNESCO sights and Greece's roughest nature: Explore the Peloponnese!
- German gems: Aachen & Frankfurt am Main
- Budget Bucket List hitchhike trip to... Kosovo!
- Unravel the mysteries of Serbia
- Discover the splendours of Turkey: Istanbul on a Budget & Reasons to visit Edirne
- Explore Cyprus: Check out the Cyprus Nature, Cyprus Top-5 Cities and the North Cyprus Blogs!
- Extend your trip in Macedonia: Visit Ohrid & Skopje!
- Travel Argentina's main wine regions: Mendoza & Cafayate.
- Explore one of the main wine countries of South America: Chile!
- Carmelo, the main wine destination of Uruguay.
- Go for a bicycle wine tour in New Zealand's North Island & hike the wine route of Cromwell!
- Bosnia & Herzegovina's main wine hub: Trebinje!
- Visit the wineries of Cyprus in the Troodos mountain region.
- Sample the flavours of Greece in the Epirus wine region.
- Where can you find the best wine of Malta? Read it here!
- Montenegro's main winery is located in... [click here!]
- Get your discounted wine experience in Bucharest, Romania!
- Destinations of Hungary: Balaton Lake, Budapest and Szekesfehervar
- "Con pan y vino se anda el Camino" - the Camino de Santiago passes right through Spain's main wine country! Check it out!
- Get your Albania itinerary ready: Berat, Gjirokastër, Korcë / Ohrid Lake, Theth, Shkodër, Tirana, Mount Korab & the coast!
- The 3 golden rules to travel Sofia on a budget! & Why you shouldn’t miss out on Plovdiv! [Bulgaria]
- Get deep into Greece: Athens, Delphi, Arachova, Mount Parnassos NP, Epirus, Meteora, Thessaloniki & Volos
- Archeological treasures, UNESCO sights and Greece's roughest nature: Explore the Peloponnese!
- German gems: Aachen & Frankfurt am Main
- Budget Bucket List hitchhike trip to... Kosovo!
- Unravel the mysteries of Serbia
- Discover the splendours of Turkey: Istanbul on a Budget & Reasons to visit Edirne
- Explore Cyprus: Check out the Cyprus Nature, Cyprus Top-5 Cities and the North Cyprus Blogs!