Do’s

• Enjoy alcohol and live music. There are a couple of very good bars where the evenings are exciting due to the mood and live music shows.
• Witness the fun and frolic during evenings in the Macedonia Square.
• Walk down/take a stroll to Skopje Fort via Mustafa Pasha Mosque.
• Go for a tip-based free walking tour. Good English speaking guides are available.
• If stuck in the city due to bad weather, visit the Escape Rooms. Solve the riddle to escape. It is interesting and exciting.
• While a visit to Matka Canyon is a must, also indulge in trekking, boating, and Kayaking activities.
• A lazy walk in the Old Bazaar is fun.
• Appreciate the frescos in St. Panteleimon and visit the Millennium Cross. Combine these two visits if going by taxi, it is economical.
• Enjoy the tea and local cuisines in local restaurants in the Old Bazaar.
• Visit museums related to Macedonian struggle, history, art, and craft in the city.
• Enjoy the fruit-based alcoholic drink, Rakia, of the Macedonian region.
• Pick up a few words and sentences in the local language. It will certainly be appreciated by the local people.

Don’ts

• Do not board the taxi if it does not have a meter.
• If intending to halt at a particular place, finalize the fare with the taxi driver before commencing the journey.
• Do not presume that the city bus would follow a time schedule, especially buses routed to the outskirts of the city.
• Many tourist places maybe littered with waste. Do not add to it.
• Do not plan to visit mosques during prayer time. Schedule it before or after.
• Ladies should cover their heads while visiting a mosque. Short dresses should be avoided.
• Macedonia is a country of multi-ethnicity. Avoid arguments on religious beliefs and faiths.
• Do not use the flashlight of the camera for taking photos of frescos.

Visitors do look forward to the evenings and subsequently to the night time fun. A city would not be fun with only historical structures and pieces of art. Every city in the world is uniquely distinguished by the nightlife it boasts of. Skopje, too, has a lot to offer. Like a canvas painted with many colors, the nightlife in Skopje presents a combination of fancy bars, casinos, nightclubs, restaurants, Kafanas, and secluded places where one can enjoy with a glass of beer in hand. Dimensionally, Skopje is a close-knit city where all the important areas are close by. Most of the night clubs are located in the city park and the city center whereas bars and restaurants are located in Debar Maalo, Leninova street, the Old Bazaar, Karpos and Metropolit Theodosij Gologanov Street. Hence for a fun-filled evening tour, visitors start the evening in bars and end up in restaurants or Kafanas in between visiting clubs and casinos. That is how the streets are lively till late in the night.

 Kafanas serve Macedonian cuisine, grilled barbecue, Macedonian wines, and traditional alcoholic beverages. Many famous Kafanans combine this with soothing live music from the Balkans. All these make the evenings exciting.

There is a long list of bars recommended by the locals. The Old Bazaar has Menada, Village, New Orleans, Pivnica, Rakija bar, Galerija 8, and Wine house Temov. Debar Maalo has Van Gogh, Kaldrma, Kala, Bastion, Casa di Borbone, Lajka, and Café Krug.

Clubbing completes the nightlife here. The city center and the city park have many places where live bands or DJs keep the visitors enthralled. A few of such places are Sector, Jukebox, Saloon, Mamas, Ballet, etc.

For a peaceful evening, one can take a car and reach Vidikovec on Mount Vodno. It is close to the city center. The city looks beautiful from there at night. The peaceful atmosphere, a glass of beer and the panoramic view of the city will certainly make the night memorable.

• The city is full of statues but the most famous amongst them is the “Warrior on a horse.” In the evening time, light and music show is conducted. However, it is not done on a daily basis. Check with the local tourist agency.
• Debaar Maalo is close to the city center. It is full of cafes, lounge bars, restaurants, and is a very happening place. 
• Visit Gostilinca La Tana restaurant in Boulevard Krushevska Republika for live music and drinks. It is a nice joint.
• Café Coffee Factory at Aminta Treitee (the third) serves good coffee in Skopje.
• Try local cuisines like Aivar, Tavche, Gravche, Sirenje, Sarma, Pastrmajlia, etc. in KafanaToto, one of the oldest restaurants in Skopje.
• If staying in an Airbnb or rented accommodation,  get fresh vegetables from Bit Pazar, located in the old part of Skopje. Fresh local vegetables will add to the flavor of the food cooked.
• Plan for a day trip to Ohrid. It is a small resort city famous for its beautiful lake, medieval structures, and a fortress.
• Visit Kosovo on a day trip. It is nearby and beautiful.
• On the outskirts of the city, there is a historical construction used to supply water to Skopje in olden days. The remains are still there and are worth visiting. The place is known as Skopje Aqueduct.
• If time permits, a visit to the Museum of Illusion is also recommended.
• There are a couple of churches around, like Sveti Dimitrija Church, Sveti Spas Church, etc. One can visit them and enjoy their serenity.

• Since most of the tourist spots in Skopje are nearby, those who enjoy walking can cover these places on foot. However, a guide is highly recommended.
• Matka Canyon provides the opportunity for trekking, kayaking, and swimming. The place also has many caves that can be explored too.
• To reach the Millennium Cross, visitors opt for the cable car to reach the top. Many enthusiasts go trekking to the top.
• There are trails for mountain biking around Lake Ohrid. Many Balkan teams come for practice in this area.
• There is a 65 km ultra trail run, known as Krali Marko trail run, in the southern city of Prilep. It takes place annually. It is covered in a terrain that has a height difference of about 3,000 meters.
• Mavrovo National Park is located towards the western borders of Macedonia. It has a peak known as Mount Korab. In this park, a skiing facility is available during winter. Also, tourists visit for hiking and biking, and camp inside the park.

• Beautiful traditional textiles and fabrics and embroidered motifs. The patterns may vary from villages to regions.
• Attractively painted wooden icons, which can be original or copies.
• Unique traditional filigree jewelry, either handmade or machine made. A filigree is a traditional form of art, originating from the period of Turkish occupation, for designing silver jewelry.
• Opinci, Macedonian traditional leather handmade brightly colored shoes. May be difficult to find as the craft is dying down. Still, an owner may be willing to part with a pair for a good bargain.
• An item from FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) for the sake of its historical value.
• Beautiful traditional Macedonian earthenware, mugs, copper utensils, vases, etc.
• If you're fond of pearls, Ohrid pearl by Filev is the best place to buy Ohrid pearls. They are an excellent choice for gifts too!  
• Macedonian wine is a must try.
• Rakija, a special drink made from plums can be enjoyed.
• Beautifully made carpets with Ottoman and traditional Macedonian patterns are available for sale at various places.
• Music lovers can enjoy traditional musical instruments like Gaida, Tapan, and Shupelka.