Kale Fortress

Skopje is the capital of Macedonia situated approximately a 4-hour's drive from Sofia. During this day tour to Skopje, you will have the chance to explore the city and its rich history and culture.  Your day tour will begin once you are picked up from your hotel or accommodations in Sofia then begin your 3-hour transfer to Skopje. Once in Skopje, you will begin your walking tour of the city beginning at Skopje Fortress where you can admire the wonderful view of the city. The next site you will visit is the Church of the Holy Savior, home to fantastic iconostasis. From there you will continue towards Sultan Murat Mosque and the Old Bazaar, where you can witness the remnants of the Ottoman Period and Skopje's history as one of the main trade centers in the Balkans.  After stopping for lunch at a typical Macedonian restaurant you will continue your walking tour crossing the Vadar River to start your exploration of a new part of the city. Here you will visit the new neo-classical square and continue to Mother Teresa memorial house. The walking part of your tour will end at the newly built triumphal arch Porta Macedonia. You will then journey back to Sofia and your tour will end once you are dropped off at your hotel or accommodations. 

Your driver will pick you up from your hotel or any location in Skopje, with a comfortable A/C car/minivan and take you to the plateau where the Museum of Contemporary Art located. This offers a wonderful view of the central part of Skopje and here the story about the city begins. Afterwards, the Fortress Kale is visited. What follows is a visit to the Mustapha Pasha Mosque, and then the Church of the Holy Saviour. Another visit is the one to the Museum of Macedonia which consists of three parts: an icon gallery, an ethnological and historical departments. Then you continue you stroll through the Old Bazaar where two more caravansaries can be seen Turkish Baths – Chifte Hammam and Daut Pasha Hammam, dating back to the 15th century. The tour continues towards the modern part of the city on the right bank of the River Vardar. Before you cross the Stone Bridge, which is one of the oldest landmarks of Skopje, you can see the Holocaust Memorial Centre and the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle for Independence, IMRO and the Victims of Communism. On the other bank of the river is the main square Macedonia, with a lot of new statues and monuments. You will walk along the main street Macedonia which connects the square to the Old Railway Station. You can stay for a short visit at the Memorial House of Mother Teresa, with the tour ending in front of the Museum of the City of Skopje situated in the building of the Old Railway Station, which was partially destroyed by the earthquake in 1963. From Mount Vodno, you continue by cable-car system to the Millennium Cross and back to middle Vodno. Once back at middle Vodno you continue by the car/minivan to the village Gorno Nerezi, to see the church St. Pantelejmon. The tour continues with a visit to the canyon Matka, about 17 km from Skopje, continue to walk along the bank of the River Treska, which is famous for the competitions in kayaking that take place on it. You will follow the path that goes by the dam and the man-made lake Matka and reach the Monastery of St. Andrew.   After this, you will go on a boat ride along the canyon Matka (8km long) and enjoy the magnificent surroundings, as well as a visit to the cave Vrelo.

Start with pickup from your hotel or accommodation in Sofia at 8:00 AM. Travel for approximately 3.5 hours to the first destination of the two-day excursion, the city of Skopje, which is the capital of North Macedonia. During the drive, learn of the political history of the region.  Upon arrival in Skopje, enjoy a 2-hour city tour with a Macedonian guide. Explore both the old and the new parts of the city, seeing its major landmarks. After the walking tour, enjoy 1.5 hours of free time during which you will have the chance to rest and taste the local cuisine. Afterwards, continue the journey to Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, which will take approximately 2 hours. When you reach Pristina enjoy some free time to explore the highlights of the city after which you will travel to the cultural capital of the country, Prizen. Stay overnight in a 4-star hotel in the heart of the city.  On the second day, have breakfast in the hotel followed by a walking tour of Prizen at 8:30 AM. Explore the narrow cobblestone streets and authentic Ottoman buildings. Visit Mahmet Pasha Hamam, the 15th century stone bridge and the fortress situated high above the city. From here, get a fantastic view of the whole city. Then, begin the journey back towards Skopje for a lunch break, and subsequently onto Sofia, where you will arrive at approximately 3:00 PM.

This 4-hour walking tour of Skopje usually starts on the plateau where the Museum of Contemporary Art is located. This offers a wonderful view of the central part of Skopje and here the story about the city begins. Afterwards, you will visit the Fortress Kale before visiting the Mustapha Pasha Mosque, the Church of the Holy Savior, and the small museum of Goce Delchev. Another optional visit is to the Museum of Macedonia which consists of 3 parts: an icon gallery, an ethnological department, and a historical department. Then you will continue your stroll through the Old Bazaar, where 2 more caravanserais can be seen as well as 2 Turkish baths: Chifte Hammam and Daut Pasha Hammam. The tour continues towards the modern part of the city. Before you cross the Stone Bridge, one of the oldest landmarks of Skopje, you can see the Holocaust Memorial Center for the Jews of Macedonia and the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle for Independence, IMRO and the Victims of Communism. On the other bank of the river is the main square, Macedonia Square, with a lot of new statues and monuments. You will walk along the main street, Macedonia Street, which connects the square to the old railway station. You will stay for a short visit to the Memorial House of Mother Teresa and end the tour in front of the Museum of the City of Skopje, situated in the building of the old railway station.

During this walking tour, your friendly and knowledgeable guide will lead you through the story of Skopje, beginning with the new Skopje 2014, across the Stone Bridge through the different Old Town and even further back in history up to the Fortress Kale, where you will find the earliest evidence of human existence. The driver/ guide will pick you up from your hotel or any place of your preference in Skopje and take you to the center of Skopje for a walking tour. Walk through the main square of the city, while listening to the story of the town with its well-known fountains, statues and monuments, passing by the Memorial House of Mother Theresa and the old railway station among the fresh products in the green market. Hear the story about the famous park Women Fighters, the Parlaiment building and the old city mall, while preparing yourself to discover the oriental part of the city - The Old Bazaar. Once there, you can feel the mix of Byzantine and Ottoman architecture while witnessing the best preserved part of Skopje with its hundreds of little craftsman shops and tearooms. At the end of the tour, you will be driven back to your hotel or any other location of your preference in Skopje.

Embark on a guided tour of Skopje at Christmas time. See how the city celebrates this magical time of year and visit its most iconic sights. Join your guide as you set out to explore the city. Experience the lively atmosphere and charming decorations at Christmas time. Admire the monument of Alexander the Great titled "Warrior on a Horse", visit the Skopje Fortress, and the St. Panteleimon. Listen to interesting stories and discover tales about the magical things that can happen at Christmas time. Find out who invented the Christmas tree and learn about Skopje's Christmas traditions. Finally, head to the Christmas market and sample some of the local products on offer. 

Experience the beauty and history of Skopje in this private walking tour. Climb Skopje fortress, and go inside the Mosque of Mustafa Pasha, the Church of St. Spas, and wander through the Old Bazaar, as your guide reveals the history of the capital to you.  Start by meeting your friendly guide at the fortress Kale, and climb the fortress for a breathtaking view of the city. Let your charismatic guide tell you interesting facts and stories about Phillip II Square, Macedonia Square, and the monument of Alexander the Great.  Learn more about the past as you visit a city ruled by the Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. Discover when the Stone Bridge, the symbol of Skopje, was built. See how the old blends with the new in the city center. 

Discover the rich history of Skopje, Macedonia, on this tour through the Balkans. Drive with your guide from Tirana, Albania, to see how towns, cities, and countries were shaped by the communist era. Pass by old industrial complexes, bunkers, and political slogans, and learn about life in each area. Notice the contrast of Yugoslavian and modern structures as you enter the city of Skopje. See the lasting damage of an earthquake in 1963, and the new structures that revitalize the city. Cross the Eye Bridge and Art Bridge on the Vardar River, home to dozens of statues of notable Macedonians. Visit significant sites such as the birthplace of Mother Teresa, St Spas Church, and Mustafa Pasha Mosque, to appreciate the city’s diverse religious history. Feel thrown back in time as you enter the Old Bazaar and Fortress Kale, with stone walls full of centuries old tales. Chat with your guide on the ride back to Tirana about the fascinating past of the region.