Excursão de um dia a Skopje, Macedônia do Norte - Small Group

This is a minivan trip taking approx 4 hours each way with 4 hours in Skopje. The guide picked us up on time and the trip to Skopje including the border crossing went smoothly. The guide even reminded us to switch off data roaming if we didn’t have a plan that covered North Macedonia. The Skopje tour itself was by a knowledgeable local guide who was obviously passionate about her culture and heritage while also giving some good practical tips to optimise the 2 hours of free time available after the tour. Skopje itself is well worth a visit I think we would return and spend a couple of nights there as 4 hours does not really do it justice. The trip back to Sofia was again smooth and we were back at our hotel before 8PM. Overall good value for money if tacked on to a visit to Sofia but if you can spend a few nights in Skopje.

I am so glad I did this trip as the day was wonderful. At first, I was worried that the drive to Skopje would be too much and that the day would be long, but that is not the case. The drive to and from actually took no more than 3.5 hours each time, but I think it’s because the border crossings went very quickly. The van is comfortable (see picture). The driver (Kiko) was friendly, hospitable, welcoming, engaging, and always made sure we were ok with toilet breaks. The female guide at Skopje (I forgot her name), was also friendly and engaging providing so much interesting information. The guide and the driver really took care of us. When arriving, you will have two hours with the guide, and two hours solo. Both solo time and time with the guide flew by. The guides will tell you so much about political history, architecture, people, and historic events and historic figures. This was a fun day. Don’t forget your passports, bottle of water, and sunscreen!

Ivan is a fantastic tour guide! He is very knowledgeable, great driver and strategic with out time. I really enjoyed the tour and highly recommend!

Great experience with a friendly, knowledgeable guide (Tuni), small group (6 guests), comfortable transportation and convenient hotel pickup/drop off. Tuni ensured we had a hassle-free experience at the border crossing and comfort stops along the way to/from Skopje. The local Skopje guide (Laina?) was fantastic as well! We spent 2 hours learning the city's history and sites with her, then had 2 hours to explore on our own This is a great city to visit for anyone with an interest in Christian historical figures/events {Mother Theresa, Holy Savior Church, Saints Cyril & Methodius).

The tour of Skopje was amazing. The drive to and from, however, was harrowing. In fact, the driver got a ticket on the way back (he should've gotten several).

The driver was very grumpy from the start of the trip and looked like he didn’t want to be there… once we got in the car the he jammed my hand in between the car seat and had the audacity to look annoyed 😒

Very nice vehicle, comfortable drive. Our guide was a nice man who was very knowledgeable and spent majority of the drive telling us about the history of Sofia and North Macedonia. Some people forgot their passports but obviously since you are going to a different country you need them.

Great day tour to North Macedonia. Dim is a knowledgable and fun tour guide who really knows and loves driving. Thanks for a fantastic day out of Bulgaria.

The tour was very good; Ivan was a safe driver and shared many interesting details with us. Despite the long drive, there was no boredom. The time in Skopje is not very long; the tour provided a good overview, and there was time to look at everything again at a leisurely pace. It makes you want more.

Unfortunately, my experience with this tour was disappointing. Instead of explaining Skopje's architecture, history, and landmarks, the guide spent most of the time talking about the political disputes between North Macedonia, Greece, and Bulgaria. The entire tour felt like a constant attempt to construct a heroic image of the past to justify the contemporary nation, constantly extolling the greatness of its ancestors. I understand the region's national pride and historical complexities, but tourists only care so much about politics. We were there to explore and understand the city, not to attend a lecture on historical vindication. Not recommended if you're looking for a typical sightseeing tour. I must also add a note about the round-trip transportation from Sofia. The driver (not the Skopje guide) was courteous and very helpful. Unfortunately, however, he had the terrifying flaw of constantly looking at his smartphone while driving. Such distraction while driving is unacceptable and completely undermined the tranquility and safety of the trip.