Is North Macedonia Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

North Macedonia is considered relatively safe for solo female travelers. Local residents are generally friendly and willing to help. Petty crime exists but is not rampant and is usually targeted at locals rather than tourists. Public transportation is reliable. As long as standard precautions are taken, such as avoiding isolated areas at night and being aware of your surroundings, traveling alone in North Macedonia should be a safe experience.

Safety rating

4.4 /5

Based on 4 experiences

3.5 /5

Based on research and crime data

Safety overview

Safety at night:Moderate

North Macedonia is generally safe, but like anywhere else, a solo female traveler needs to exercise caution, especially at night. Ensure to stick to well-lit areas and stay aware of your surroundings. Try to avoid deserted streets and always make sure someone knows your whereabouts. Stay away from overly crowded and noisy areas or bars late at night. While crime rates are relatively low, petty crime like pickpocketing can happen, particularly in tourist-filled regions.

Public transportation: Moderate

Public transportation in North Macedonia, including buses and trains, is generally dependable and has average safety levels. There may be instances of overcrowding or delays that might make the journey uncomfortable. Keep an eye on your belongings as petty theft can occur, particularly in densely populated areas. Always maintain awareness of your surroundings for your personal safety.

Street harassment: Low

North Macedonia generally has a safe and respectful atmosphere towards solo females. However, like in many parts of the world, there might still be occasional unsolicited approaches or comments, usually from younger men. Always be aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts. The locals are typically friendly and helpful if you need assistance.

Petty crimes:Low

North Macedonia generally offers a safe environment for travelers. Petty crimes such as pickpocketing, purse snatching or cellphone theft do occur, especially in crowded areas or on public transportation. However, these instances are comparably less frequent than in many other international touristic locations. As always, it is important to remain vigilant and take basic precautionary measures such as not displaying wealth unnecessarily or leaving personal belongings unattended.

Tap water:Safe

Tap water in North Macedonia is generally safe to drink in urban areas, and locals often consume it. However, in some rural or mountainous regions, it's safer to opt for bottled water to avoid potential stomach upset due to differences in water processing standards.

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Travel experiences

Overall rating

4.4 /5

based on 4 experiences

Rating summary

Things to do

4.4/5

Safety

4.4/5

Food

4.4/5

Budget-friendly

3.4/5

Solo travel experience

Highly recommend Lake Ohrid. I did a wine tasting up in the mountains which I highly recommend. I also really enjoyed Skopje which is the capital city, with lovely restaurants and then a lovely old town too.

Posted: September 13, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I loved North Macedonia. I stayed in Ohrid at old town hostel which was lovely and one of my favourites ever. In Ohrid there’s loads of swimming and a cool church and monasteries to visit. In Skopje I stayed at Get Inn hostel which was also nice and very cheap. There’s loads to do in Skopje, including mother Theresa memorial, the main square, all the bridges, the archeological museum and the fortress which is free, the old bazar and the old train station.

Posted: October 24, 2022
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

Itinerary: 3 days in Ohrid 3 days in Skopje Safety: I felt super safe. Recommendations: Macedonia is a beautiful country and really an underrated travel destination.

Posted: September 25, 2022
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 4/5Safety: 5/5
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Local experiences

- Skopje (capital) - good hiking tracks in the Vodno mountain range which isn't far from the centre - Visit the old Turkish Bazaar, great little stores and cafes there. - Great places for hiking: Galichnik near Ohrid. I've heard you can also do horse riding there - Kokino megalithic observatory (about 60km north east of Skopje) - St Joakim Monastery in Kriva Palanka (towards the Bulgarian border) - Ohrid for its lake and the old town full of churches and Samoil's Fortress - Smolarski Waterfalls in Strumica in the country's south east - Mavrovo National Park to the west - Popova Kuma winery in the town of Demir Kapija in the central region of Macedonia. Other good wineries also in that region

Posted: September 22, 2022
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Meet locals in North Macedonia

Caci

Caci

Speaking

About Me

Hey, I'm Caci and I live in Gevgelija

Countries I’ve Visited

🇬🇷 Greece, 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇧🇬 Bulgaria, 🇨🇿 Czech Republic, 🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇲🇰 North Macedonia, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇲🇪 Montenegro

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Dian

Dian

Speaking

About Me

I organize weekly events every Sunday, bringing together expats, travelers and locals who share a passion for connecting, making new acquaintances, and engaging in captivating conversations about diverse cultures. I like traveling and meeting new people, sharing tips, language exchanges...

Countries I’ve Visited

🇦🇱 Albania, 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇧🇬 Bulgaria, 🇪🇬 Egypt, 🇪🇪 Estonia, 🇫🇮 Finland, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇭🇺 Hungary, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇽🇰 Kosovo, 🇱🇻 Latvia, 🇱🇹 Lithuania, 🇲🇹 Malta, 🇲🇪 Montenegro, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇲🇰 North Macedonia, 🇷🇸 Serbia, 🇸🇰 Slovakia, 🇨🇭 Switzerland, 🇹🇷 Turkey

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Milena

Milena

Speaking

About Me

Hi, I'm Milena and I'm interested in culture, languages, nature, books, art and solo travel

Countries I’ve Visited

🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇫🇷 France, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇲🇪 Montenegro, 🇧🇬 Bulgaria, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇷🇸 Serbia, 🇨🇴 Colombia

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Stay with locals in North Macedonia

Dian

Dian

Speaking

You can stay for:

5 days

About me

I organize weekly events every Sunday, bringing together expats, travelers and locals who share a passion for connecting, making new acquaintances, and engaging in captivating conversations about diverse cultures. I like traveling and meeting new people, sharing tips, language exchanges...

Countries I’ve Visited

🇦🇱 Albania, 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇧🇬 Bulgaria, 🇪🇬 Egypt, 🇪🇪 Estonia, 🇫🇮 Finland, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇭🇺 Hungary, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇽🇰 Kosovo, 🇱🇻 Latvia, 🇱🇹 Lithuania, 🇲🇹 Malta, 🇲🇪 Montenegro, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇲🇰 North Macedonia, 🇷🇸 Serbia, 🇸🇰 Slovakia, 🇨🇭 Switzerland, 🇹🇷 Turkey

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Milena

Milena

Speaking

You can stay for:

3 days

About me

Hi, I'm Milena and I'm interested in culture, languages, nature, books, art and solo travel

Countries I’ve Visited

🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇫🇷 France, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇲🇪 Montenegro, 🇧🇬 Bulgaria, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇷🇸 Serbia, 🇨🇴 Colombia

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Eva

Eva

Speaking

You can stay for:

3 days

About me

Hello hello, my name is Eva , I come from Macedonia and I'm on my way to travel through Spain I like meeting people, trying local food and learning how to surf I'm not good with writing about myself but I'm friendly I promise 😊

Countries I’ve Visited

🇦🇹 Austria, 🇨🇿 Czech Republic, 🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇲🇰 North Macedonia, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇦🇱 Albania

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Local discussions

TravelDo you know a direct route from Ohrid to Montenegro?

I want to go from Ohrid to Montenegro. Do you know direct route for that?

Posted: August 22, 2023
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TravelCan I pay with € in (North) Macedonia?

I am going on a trip to (North) Macedonia and now I am wondering if I can pay with €. Although it isn't its currency, in some countries they do accept other currencies. I am not sure whether I should go exchange money then or not. Visiting Skopje and Ohrid and also what would be like your average daily spendings. Thx

Posted: August 10, 2023
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Safety in North Macedonia