Tourism in Macedonia - Travel & Leisure
Welcome to Macedonia Travel & Leisure! Macedonia is one of the most popular hunting destinations in Europe, attracting tourists not only in summer and winter - which in the mountain regions is almost as busy a season as summer - but also in the in-between seasons. Visitors are drawn particularly from neighboring Serbia and Bulgaria, as for them there is no language problem, Serbia and Bulgaria, as for them there is no language problem, but also from Greece and Turkey. It is the scenic beauties to be found in all the places which are the main reason for inducing large numbers of tourists to spend their holidays in Macedonia year after year. But, in addition, Skopje, the historic capital and the birthplace of Justinian I (Eastern Roman emperor from 527 to 565) and Mother Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu, beautiful city of Bitola, Strumica, Kumanovo, Ohrid, Prilep, Tetovo, Stip, Kavadarci, Veles, Kavadarci, Struga, Ohrid (birthplace of Clemens Achridensis)... are among the most popular tourist attractions the country has to offer. Macedonia is situated in the south-east of Central Europe. The terrain is mostly rugged, located between the Šar Mountains and Osogovo, which frame the valley of the Vardar river. Three large lakes — Lake Ohrid, Lake Prespa and Dojran Lake — lie on the southern borders, bisected by the frontiers with Albania and Greece. Ohrid is considered to be one of the oldest lakes and biotopes in the world. Macedonia has a unique climate explained by its location and topography. The climate of the plains is a Mediterranean climate combined with the influence of the Black Sea. The country also holds continental characteristics, which are accentuated by the mountains in the south which prevent hot air from the south from moving to the north. Conversely, the Šar Mountains, which are located in the northwestern part, block cold northern winds. In whole, the northern and western parts of the country are relatively close to a Continental climate and the southern and eastern to a Mediterranean climate. Macedonia also has scenic mountains. They belong to two different mountain ranges: the first is the Šar Mountains that continues to the West Vardar/Pelagonia group of mountains (Baba Mountain, Nidže, Kozuf and Jakupica), also known as the Dinaric range. The second range is the Osogovo–Belasica mountain chain, also known as the Rhodope range. The mountains belonging to the Šar Mountains and the West Vardar/Pelagonia range are younger and higher than the older mountains that are part of the Osogovo-Belasica mountain group.