Shopibel's Quick Guide to Skopje

“Small, yet ambitious, the city of Skopje has decided that the only way is forward.”

Aleksandar Palace is perhaps the the only real five star hotel in the city and it has been the choice of almost all the celebrities who have visited the city. The list stretches from Roger Moore and David Beckham to Silvio Berlusconi and general Wesley Clark. It is without a doubt one the best quality offerings when it comes to places to stay.

You should visit the Monastery of Saint Panteleimonas, eight kilometers out of the city. It was built in 1164 and it is a significant sample of Byzantine architecture. The restaurant there is considered one of the best too. Make sure you go for a walk at Kale, the castle that dominates the city landscape. The view from there is wonderful and there are lots of music happenings. The Turkish bazaar and the Daut Pasha hammam are characteristic monuments of Islamic tradition.

One of the most interesting new places is the bar/restaurant Nobu which attracts the most stylistically conscious and serves delicious sushi, while its neighbourhood bustles with life. Chipka is a cozy cafe with an incredibly friendly owner. Play is the hang-out du jour for an older crowd. Other popular hang-outs are Kartell and the lounge bar Trend.

The Ramstro and City Shopping Center shopping centres are there to ease any the consumer anxieties offering a wide variety of goods and brands (from Mango and Diesel to Replay and Marella). The Macedonia main street and the square by the same name set the pace of the commercial motion in the city. At the square, when the weather is good, there are various happenings, gigs, etc.

At the city centre, the Dal Met Fu restaurant is one of the characteristic meeting points, while Vodenica is widely regarded as the best in the city. The national traditional cuisine in general has many commonalities with Hellenic cuisine and is generally very delicious.

For clubbing, Colloseum and Hard Rock are the largest venues (they have capacities of more than 2000 people) and feature world-class DJs and are as good as similar venues in other European capitals. On the other hand, for more mainstream music, Vega and B2 will persuade even the most unconvinced clubbers that no one is allowed to stand still when visiting a club at Skopje.

Casinos have of course a strong presence, as much in the city as out of it. A very good choice is Hit at the borders of Doirani. It is a warm welcome to lovers of gamble and has become particularly popular because of its happenings with popular musicians.