+389 46 255 600, +389 72 255 600

08:00 - 20:00

About Macedonia

        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 17th1991 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