Skopje on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, Skopje is one of the easiest European capitals on a budget. Plan on about 2,200 MKD per person per day (bed 1,000, food 900, sights 200, transport 100).
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | MKD1,000 | MKD2,200 | MKD4,500 |
| Food & drink | MKD900 | MKD1,800 | MKD3,500 |
| Sights & tickets | MKD200 | MKD500 | MKD1,500 |
| Local transport | MKD100 | MKD300 | MKD800 |
| Per person, per day | MKD2,200 | MKD4,800 | MKD10,300 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Skopje day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk Macedonia Square and its monuments and fountains
- Cross the Stone Bridge into the Old Bazaar
- Climb to the Kale Fortress for the view over the city
- Visit the Memorial House of Mother Teresa
- See the stopped clock of the Old Railway Station
- Walk the riverfront and City Park to Debar Maalo
Cheap eats
- Burek with yoghurt: roughly 80–150 MKD
- Kebapi with bread and onion: about 250–400 MKD
- Tavče gravče: roughly 200–350 MKD
- Pastrmajlija: roughly 250–400 MKD
- Baklava or tulumba in an Old Bazaar sweet shop: roughly 80–150 MKD
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels and guesthouses in and around the Old Bazaar for about 1,500–3,000 MKD a room; dorm beds are cheaper.
Getting around cheaply
Walk the centre and Old Bazaar. City buses cost about 35–50 MKD a ride with a rechargeable card; bus 25 goes up Vodno and bus 60 to Matka. The Vardar Express bus from the airport takes about 30 minutes for about 175 MKD.
A sample budget day
- Morning: burek and yoghurt (about 120 MKD), then Macedonia Square and the Mother Teresa Memorial House (free)
- Lunch: kebapi in the Old Bazaar (about 300 MKD)
- Afternoon: Kale Fortress (free) and St Saviour church (about 100–150 MKD)
- Evening: dinner in Debar Maalo with a glass of Vranec (about 900 MKD)
- Total: about 1,400–1,500 MKD plus your bed (about 1,000 MKD), so roughly 2,200–2,500 MKD
More ways to save
- Carry cash in denars for buses, bakeries, the bazaar and taxis.
- Visit Matka on a weekday, when it is far less crowded.
- Check the Vodno cable car is running; it closes on Mondays and in high wind.
- Pay by card in MKD and decline currency conversion.
- Order a shared shopska salad and ajvar as starters rather than many dishes.
- Combine Skopje with a night in Ohrid rather than a tiring day trip.
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Common questions
Can I visit Skopje on a budget?
Yes, at about 2,200 MKD a day with a hostel, buses and Old Bazaar food.
What is free in Skopje?
Macedonia Square, the Stone Bridge, the Old Bazaar, the Kale Fortress and the Mother Teresa Memorial House.
How do I get to Matka Canyon cheaply?
City bus 60 from the centre takes about 40 minutes; check return times.