I didn’t know much about North Macedonia before visiting but I had a great time exploring the pleasant city of Skopje (especially the atmospheric Old Bazaar with traditional shops and fantastic food) and the unbelievably beautiful Lake Ohrid where I spent several days swimming and taking boat trips.

If you’re backpacking in the Balkans, don’t overlook this small but lovely country!

North Macedonia fast facts:

Capital city: Skopje

Currency: Macedonian Denar

Population: 2 million

Official languages: Macedonian, Albanian.