Outer Skopje

The most significant Neolithic settlement in the Skopje valley. It was first discovered in the 1960s and since then multiple important findings have been unearthed, in particular the sculpture of the Great Mother, now on display at the Museum of Macedonia. The site today features reconstructed Neolithic dwellings.

This church was built in 2013 in honor of the five victims of the Smilkovci Lake Killings, perpetrated by some ethnic Albanians attempting to destabilize the country.

The most significant church in this municipality, built in 1872. Its frescoes, painted by artists from Kruševo, are fully preserved. Its wooden iconostasis features roughly 40 important icons painted by Dičo Zograf in the 1850s.

Built in 1850, this church also features iconostasis work by Dičo Zograf. It was built of stone and has a detached bell tower.

Containing one church dedicated to Saint George, this monastery was established in 1346 with its construction. It fell into disrepair over its history, ultimately renovated in the 20th century. Monks lived here until 2014.

The most significant church from this part of Skopje was built in 1849 and its frescoes were painted by Dičo Zograf in 1857. The nice courtyard contains a bell tower. Dračevo is a large village (now more of an urban neighborhood) with its own fully developed socio-economic life.

This 16th-century mosque was built by a prominent Ottoman figure. It was damaged multiple times in its history. The mosque has a main dome, a single minaret, and a porch. The courtyard contains numerous old graves.

On the eastern slopes of Žeden Mountain is the country's fourth-largest cave. It is a complex system with multiple canals.

This archaeological site dates from the 5th-4th centuries BC. Around this time, the area was inhabited by the Agrian tribe of Paeonians, however ceramic findings at the site indicate it may have been an Athenian settlement. The walls of the tombs also bear a decorative technique thought to be a mark of the Athenians. It is situated on a hill just south of the village. Until 2012, the site was rather neglected but then underwent a major cleanup.

On the slopes of the Skopska Crna Gora mountain range is this monastery, established in the 14th century in the village of the same name. Its main church is dedicated to the archangels Michael and Gabriel. It was built between the Marička Battle of 1371 and the Battle of Kosovo of 1389. The interior was not painted until 1591 and the current iconostasis dates from the 19th century.

This medieval Orthodox church is actually dedicated to the Holy Mother of God but is called St Spas because it celebrates Spasovden (the Feast of the Ascension). Built in the Byzantine style, it was completed in the 14th century. The current frescoes were painted in 1874. In 1501, a secret chapel was built within the church but never discovered by the Ottomans during their entire rule.

This medieval church was built around 1300 by Serbian King Milutin on the ruins of an older church. It is in a typical Byzantine style, made of stone and red brick. The frescoes inside the church date from around 1324, with the exception of those in the dome which date from the 19th century. The iconostasis was painted in 1847. Banjane is also home to the 16th-century Church of St George, significant for its frescoes.

It was built towards the end of the 14th or maybe the beginning of the 15th century. The church is threeconhos with a dome, and elaborate ceramic decorations on the façades. There are two inscriptions dating the frescoes from 1631 and 1701. The figures are presented small in size, poor in colours but with bold drawing with an attempt to present landscape. Most famous is the large presentation Tree of Jesse.

Ruins of a fortress built in Late Antiquity under Serbian King Stefan Dušan. Today, the most prominent portion of the ruins is a tower that overlooks the modern A1 highway, and the Pčinja River.

This medieval monastery was originally partially built into a cave, very near to Marko's Towers. The current church was built in 1918 but nonetheless worth the visit for an excuse to venture into the interesting terrain of the area.

The birthplace of Byzantine Emperor Justin I, best-known for establishing the Justinian dynasty which included his eminent nephew Justinian I who was also a native of the Skopje area. Not much remains of the ancient city other than some structural foundations.

This church found in thick forest northeast of Blace is rather simple on the exterior but it is considered significant for its frescoes and icons inside. Built in the 16th or 17th century, it was constructed on the remains of an older church. There may be some connection between this church and the nearby Baderiana archaeological site.

This small church was built in 1576 and its frescoes were painted shortly thereafter. It is apparent that the frescoes were done by two painters, one of which had greater talent than the other. Dobri Dol sits just under the Millennium Cross atop Mount Vodno.

About an hour hike south of the village, this cave is considered an ice cave, which makes it unique in Macedonia. Particularly in winter, interesting ice formations can be seen. Its opening is about 0.7 m (2.3 ft) tall.

Getting into this cave is not for the claustrophobic. Over the right bank of the Suva River near Jabolci, the cave opening is hardly noticeable. A person can only get in by lying down and crawling in. About a meter in, however, multiple people can stand upright. The cave contains a rich collection of ornaments such as stalactites and stalagmites.

Continuously active since its establishment in 1346, Marko's Monastery bears the name of Serbian Prince Marko who reigned at the time of its completion. It consists of one church dedicated to St Demetrius. The church was built of bricks and stones and its iconostasis is made of stone pillars. The monastery grounds also consist of lodgings, a belfry, a well, warehouses, a bakery, and a mill. Marko's Monastery did not suffer under the Ottoman-era, unlike many churches and monasteries, and in 1830 an Ottoman aristocrat even added an exonarthex to the church. The grounds today also contain a museum. It was founded by king Volkashin in 1345 and finished by his son King Marko in 1366, who is also the donor of the frescoes painted between 1366 and 1371. It is unknown why the monastery is built in the vicinity of Skopje instead of Prilep the capital of their medieval kingdom. It is presumed that the grave of king Marko (who died in Romania fighting the Turks) is here but it was destroyed by the Turks. The architecture of the church is a cross in square with a central dome and a blind dome in the narthex. The elegant exonarthex (open porch) was added in 1830 by Hamzi Pasha, who was a generous donor of the monastery throughout the 19th century. It is quite surprising a Turkish aristocrat to be a donor of a Christian monument. The frescoes are work of more artists with different skills and are well preserved. Visible is the tendency for adding dramatization and narrative painting of the scenes. There is a bus going to the village but just few times per day. From the village there is half hour walk to the monastery. Behind it there is a river and a small picnic area.

Located just 300 m before Marko's Monastery is this small medieval church. Its date of construction is unknown but, based on the preserved portions of frescoes, it likely dates from the 13th or 14th centuries.

This archaeological site is best-known as the birthplace of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in 483, though King Theodahad of the Ostrogoths was also born here in 480. The ruins today mostly consist of building foundations and short walls. The present-day village of Taor takes its name from the ancient city.

This medieval church dates from the 13th or 14th centuries, built of stone. Its age is very apparent and the building could use some renovation. The interior frescoes are somewhat faded. It likely once had cupolas prior to the Ottoman-era. Surrounding the church are very old graves.

The quay runs from Park Aerodom at ASNOM and Kiro Gligorov boulevards in the east down to Centar in the west. Portions east of Park Aerodrom are under construction. Along the quay are bike lanes, walking lanes, pull-up and push-up bars, parks, and cafes.

One of Macedonia's most popular bath centers. Located above Katlanovo on the Pčinja River, the healing waters have been used since Roman times. A hotel was first placed at the site in 1934 and is now visited by 10,000 guests annually.

21.10-hectare area. The relief of the mountain massifs in the hunting area is characterized with heterogeneousness and significant differences in altitude of 2240 m, which enables zonal distribution of the game.

Meaning "Black Mountain of Skopje". Even though Vodno is the most popular hiking option in Skopje, a fun and educational day trip from Skopje is visiting the villages, churches and monasteries on Skopska Crna Gora Mountain. Easiest way to do it is with a car, but also one can take a bus to one of the villages like Banjani or Kuceviste, and hike to the surrounding points of interest. St.Nikita monastery in Banjani village was built in by Serbian king Milutin in 1307-08 on a site of an earlier church. It is a single domed church of a written cross architectonical solution. The frescoes are work of the famous Ohrid painters Mihailo and Eftihie. Unfortunately they lack the energy and the technique of Bogorodica Perivlepta church in Ohrid. It is quite probable that by now they had a big group of students around them and they just controlled the work. If one looks carefully one can see where them two picked up the brush and corrected the work. Most significant fresco is the Pursuit of the Merchants from the temple where one can see the human elements characteristic for their work.