Skopje

Where to stay

Most budget travelers base themselves near the Old Bazaar (Čaršija), where cheap food and a walkable historic core make it practical, or in Debar Maalo, a relaxed residential quarter southwest of center with a good concentration of cafes, bars, and hostels that draw younger visitors.

Getting around

• Eat inside the Old Bazaar rather than on the tourist-facing streets near Macedonia Square. Burek from a bakery runs well under a euro, and a plate of tavče gravče (slow-baked beans, the national dish) at a sit-down spot costs two or three euros at most.
• Get a taxi or shared shuttle from Alexander the Great Airport rather than assuming an easy bus connection. The airport sits about 20 km east of the city, and official metered taxis from the rank outside arrivals are far cheaper than unmarked drivers who approach you inside the terminal.
• Skip Skopje 2014's paid attractions and just walk the Vardar riverfront for free. The statues, fountains, and neoclassical facades along the river are the spectacle itself, and crossing the Stone Bridge between the new center and the bazaar costs nothing.

When to go

Hostels are cheapest from November through February; July and August bring the heaviest tourist traffic and prices rise noticeably, especially around local summer festivals.