Understand
26th of July 1963 is one of the worst dates in the history of Skopje, the earthquake hit in 5.17am. ¾ of the buildings of the city disappeared in just few seconds. After that the big rebuilding project began, trying to make Skopje the model city of the socialist world. The plan was drawn by the Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, who also designed the new railway station. The plan was never fully carried out unfortunately (or fortunately). Lately many reconstruction projects have started and some towers of the fortress and the old cathedral are being reconstructed and the old theater is waiting reconstruction.
Skopje is an ecclectic mix of Muslim and Christian culture, with both factions vying to make themselves visible. To the South of the city, a large cross sits atop Mount Vodno, asserting the government of the day. However, this cultural mix has also spawned a lively and varied society, you can see people playing chess in the morning in the numerous cafés and green spaces in the summer. In the evening, Skopje comes to life as the locals dine in the cafés before heading to the bars and live music clubs, most of which are open until 3am.
Get in
By plane
The main international airport is Skopje Aleksandar Makedonski International Airport (Alexander the Great) (IATA: SKP) which is 20 kilometres from Skopje. MAT (Macedonian Airlines) is the main Macedonian airline and it serves most of the European cities. Other airlines that serve Skopje are: Adria Airways, MALEV, Austrian Airlines, Cirrus etc. The airport is accessed by the main highway Belgrade-Skopje-Thessaloniki which connects it directly with the city. Unfortunately there is no public transport that connects the airport with Skopje so you would have to take a taxi or arrange personal transportation.
By train
To come to Skopje by train you could come either from Serbia or Greece. Skopje is connected on the main line Belgrade-Thessaloniki. From Belgrade it will take 9 hours by train. On the other hand from Thessaloniki it takes 5 hours by train. There are daily trains from both the directions.
If you come from Greece, you have to give your passport to a kind of policeman at the border (in the train). Then you have to get out of the train and go to this small house outside the train station, to get you passport back again. If you don´t know what to do, ask other passengers and look what they are doing. Usually they are very friendly and want to help you.
The transport center includes the train and the bus station together. They are located in the center of the city near the National Central Bank.
By bus
There are buses to Skopje from Sofia, Belgrade, Thessaloniki, Istanbul, Zagreb, Austria, Germany, Dubrovnik through Budva and Podgorica. The buses arrive in the bus station which is below the train station. All the domestic and international buses arrive in the bus station. It is a new bus station and very modern.
Get around
By car
Car rental:
