Climate, Skopje

Luggage and bags: Bring an empty bag to carry all the stuff you are going to buy.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: I spent 4 days in Skopje in early June, at it was already between 35 and 40 degrees during the day. Light clothes, hats, and sunscreen are required if you are going to be spending any time outside during daylight hours. Evenings cool down nicely, so bring some nice clothes (AMERICANS: nice clothes=slacks, shirts with collars, and decent shoes!) for the night spots.

I just finished a short holiday in early November, and it is already at or below freezing for most of the day. A good windproof coat and a hat has done fine for me. It has been pretty windy, so you may find a scarf and gloves necessary late at night. Of course, all the outdoor seating is gone from the cafes, but inside you will find warm, lively places to eat and drink. As a non-smoker, I really like the fact that most resteraunts have a non-smoking section and I do not go home smelling like an ashtray.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Toiletries and cosmetic items are cheap and available at any market. Bring your own perscription medications. I always drink bottled water, so I am not sure if the water is safe for Americans like me to drink, but the water in the hotels is clear and seems clean.

Photo Equipment: Bring your digital camera. There's lots of good photo opportunities. If you are really nice, you'll meet a pack of new freinds at a bar or club and take a bunch of pictures.

Miscellaneous: If you are staying in a hotel without air conditioning during the summer, bring a small fan. You'll thank me. If you are like me and come here occasionally for work, a little cooler that you can fill with ice is a great thing in the summer. Fill it up with bottled water and the local fruit juices.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Well, just to let you know - Skopje has really cold winters (it gets below freezing point) and extremely hot summers (talking about global warming) - in other words, taking it to the extremes. This means that the clothing and shoes, depend on the period when you're visiting.
Try to avoid August (in August I suggest you go to Ohird). The temperatures are usually pretty high, and since this is not a place located by a lake or (even better) a sea, it is very hot.
I like Skopje in May, especially at the end of May. Skopje is full of Linden trees and in that period they're in bloom so it smells so nice.
During autumn there are rainy days, but it is not so bad.
Oh, and for those who enjoy skiing - in winter you can do that in Mavrovo. (at the moment I doubt Popova Shapka is an attractive place for skiing)

Hope you enjoy!

Luggage and bags: Upon your choice.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Climate
Continental climate, with hot, dry summers and cold winters. In summer, at its peak, the temperature rises to 40C and in winter it falls to -10C. If travelling to Macedonia in winter, do not forget to bring warm clothes and a windproof jacket. If travelling in summer, you will need light and comfortable clothing made of natural fabrics, light shoes and a hat.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Currency
The Macedonian denar (MKD) is issued in the following denominations:

3 coins of 1, 2 and 5 MKD
6 banknotes of 10, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000 MKD.
Currency can be exchanged at state-owned exchange offices in banks, post offices and tourist agencies as well as at private exchange offices. Privately owned exchange offices offer slightly better rates. Exchange rate: £1=MKD92 (as at June 2001)

Credit cards are now widely accepted: Diners, AMEX, Visa, Master Card and EuroCard can be used for payment in major hotels and many of the shops and restaurants in the capital.

Photo Equipment: Electrical current and appliances
Electric current in Macedonia is 220V and 50Hz. Electrical appliances must have two-pin plugs to fit continental European sockets, or can be used with a two-pin adapter for UK plugs.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Banks
Komercijalna banka 02 211 322
Stopanska Banka 02 115 322

Libraries and bookshops
National and University Library 02 115 177
Braka Miladinovci Library 02 232 544
Kultura bookshop 02 238 125
Tabernakul bookshop 02 133 058

Useful phrases in Macedonian
Greetings
Dobro utro Good morning
Dobar den Good afternoon
Dobrovecher Good evening
Dobra nok Good night
Zdravo Hello
Priyatno Goodbye; bon appetit!
Ve molam Please
Blagodaram Thank you
Nazdravye! Cheers!
Eating
Shopska i skopsko Shopska (fresh salad with grated cheese)and Skopsko(beer)
Vino Wine
Pivo Beer
Mineralna voda Mineral water
Sok Juice
Sok od portokal ve molam An orange juice please
Meso Meat
Riba Fish
Zelencuk Vegetables

Miscellaneous: Communication standard time
Standard Central European Time (CET), BST + 1 hour.
International telephone prefix
The Macedonian country code is 389, the city code for Skopje 02, i.e. to phone Macedonia from the UK dial: 00 389 02 + telephone no. To telephone the UK from Macedonia dial 99 44 + city code (without the 0) + telephone number
Office Opening Hours :
Government institutions and offices: Mon. - Fri. 8.00am - 3.00pm/4.00pm

Banks: Mon. - Fri. 8.00am - 7.00pm, Sat. 8.00am - Noon

Tourist information office Skopje Mon. - Fri. 8.00am - 7.00pm Sat. 9.00am - 5.00pm

Luggage and bags: A big bag and one big bag plus to pack the things you are going to buy, because there are many cheap things in Skopje.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: The summers are really hot there, so I think you should take something easy for wearing, and the winters are very cold so you should take some jumpers, and woolen clothes, because the temperature this last winter was -18 degrees Celsius.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: You should take your personal medication, and all the other things like toiletries you can buy in Skopje, they are very cheap.

Photo Equipment: You should take a camera (if you have) or something like that, because there are really nice places to visit and take piture of in Skopje. Also for the batteries you can buy them in Skopje at a place called the 'Green Market'.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Macedonian Summers are very hot, but the Winters are FREEZING. Wrap up well & remember...high heels & snow don't mix. I found that out the hard way!