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

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How safe is North Macedonia?

Safety at night:

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:

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:

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:

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.

Is North Macedonia worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.4 /5

based on 11 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.5/5

Safety

4.4/5

Food

4.6/5

Budget-friendly

3.7/5

North Macedonia, Group travel

I felt safe every time There are many places worth seeing. Skopje, Ohrid, Bitola, Tetova. you must see The food was very delicious. I ate meatballs, it was great Since I went with a tour company, accommodation and meals were included in the price I paid. I didn't have much extra expenses either. I provided transportation by tour bus.

Posted: August 3, 2024
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Dilge

Dilge

North Macedonia

Skopje, Solo travel

First of all, I have to say that it is a very cute little Balkan city. I went to the Chinese restaurant and the ambiance and food were very nice. There is a bridge that divides the country into two parts. On one side, there are sidewalks from the Ottoman period. The part of the city we call the old town is where you can see many Turkish restaurants and cafes. Of course, you can also see many traces from the Ottoman period. The other part is in a completely European order, as if there are two different countries in the same city. A safe and beautiful city

Posted: April 1, 2024Experienced: March, 2024
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Megan

Megan

Singapore

Ohrid, Solo travel

Ohrid is beautiful, great for a 2 day stay. There are pay-as-you-wish day tours available to bring you around the Church of Saint John, the Ancient Macedonian theatre, Ohrid boardwalk etc. I also enjoyed the boat tour to St Naums, incredibly pretty. It’s a very small town though, so 2 days is more than enough. It is much more affordable than Western Europe, I paid around €7 for Old Town Hostel Ohrid and I ended up meeting some of the best people there! However, I am ethnically Chinese so I experienced 5 instances of racism in 3 days - eg. the local children would yell Ching Chong at me and other slurs while I was simply walking on the street. Sometimes I was followed by Romany children asking for money. Didn’t feel the safest here overall

Posted: March 22, 2024
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Balkans, Solo travel

Last year, I went on my longest solo trip (5 weeks). I chased the coasts of Croatia, Montenegro, and Albania. It was absolutely amazing and I definitely recommend it to any traveller. As a solo female traveller, I never felt awkward or scared. People are very hospitable, the food and drinks are amazing. I met many wonderful people along the way, both other travellers and locals.

Posted: February 3, 2024
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North Macedonia, Solo travel

My stay in Macedonia lasted 5 days, I visited Skopje and Ohrid. I never felt in danger there. I even walked alone in the streets at 3 in the morning and didn't feel threatened. The prices were really good, the food tasty, and the people friendly.

Posted: December 27, 2023
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North Macedonia, Solo travel

I highly recommend Lake Ohrid. I took part in a wine tasting in the mountains, which I also highly recommend. I also really liked Skopje, which is the capital, with charming restaurants and equally charming old town.

Posted: September 13, 2023
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Skopje, Group travel

This time of the year the weather was rainy and a bit cold. If you like warm weather I would recommend not coming in April. City center is very nice, lots of things to see and the restaurants in the city center are amazing with excellent food.

Posted: May 22, 2023Experienced: March, 2023
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Skopje, Solo travel

Skopje is a very interesting city. You can walk through the entire city. I felt very safe despite the attention. The bazaar was quite nice. I participated in a free city walk and spent time at Alexander Square. Shopping in Skopje was also quite good.

Posted: April 9, 2023
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Ohrid, Solo travel

I traveled alone to Ohrid and it was one of the best trips I have ever taken! I felt completely safe both at night and during the day, and people are incredibly friendly. As a solo female, I didn't face any inappropriate comments or strange looks.

Posted: March 24, 2023
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North Macedonia, Solo travel

I loved North Macedonia. I stayed in Ohrid at a hostel in the old town which was charming and one of my favorites. In Ohrid, there are plenty of places to swim as well as a cool church and monasteries to visit. In Skopje, I stayed at the Get Inn Hostel, which was also nice and very cheap. There are plenty of things to do in Skopje, including the Mother Teresa monument, the main square, all the bridges, the Archaeological Museum, and the fortress which is free, the old bazaar and the old railway station.

Posted: October 24, 2022
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Is North Macedonia safe for women?

Safety index

3.6 /5

Based on 6 local experiences

Crime index

1.1 /5

Based on 6 local experiences

Jana

Jana

North Macedonia

Macedonia in general is safe country, ofc there can be some stupid people that wants to steal if they see you from ritcher country but in general its safe. Macedonians in general are really polite people and not evil at all.

Posted: September 5, 2024
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Blerta

Blerta

Debar

It's a small city of around 10K citizens and pretty safe for solo traveling women. People are helpful and hospitable. One concern is the stray dogs. They don't attack if not teased but it's better to be aware.

Posted: August 28, 2024
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Meet locals in North Macedonia

Milena

Milena

About Me

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

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Blerta

Blerta

About Me

Hey ya'll! I'm a med student in Macedonia. Big lover of languages, mom of many cats, dreamer and always down for adventure!

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Stay with locals in North Macedonia

Milena

Milena

Skopje

Can host for:

3 days

About me

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

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Dilge

Dilge

North Macedonia

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Hello, I'm Dilge I'm 22 years old I am a Turkish student studying and living in North Macedonia. I am studying medicine. Actually, the city where I was born and raised is Mersin in Türkiye. Mersin city is a small, quiet sea city in the south of Turkey. Its next door neighbor is Antalya. Mersin is very beautiful I want to improve my language learning, meet people from different cultures, and see different places.

Speaking

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Safety in North Macedonia