Macedonia first gained its independence in 1991. The name of the country is a fragile topic for both the Macedonians who claim the name of Macedonia and for the neighboring Greeks who name one of their northern regions that way and believe that they have the exclusive right to that name. If you do not want to upset the locals, its best to avoid calling Macedonia “FYROM” which is the acronym for Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Although the country emerged recently, its capital is one of the oldest in Europe, being settled 4 millennia B.C. and switching hands numerous times in its over 6 thousand years of history.

Traveling info

All visitors traveling to Macedonia must have a valid passport. Citizens of EU countries may use their national ID card to enter Macedonia. Some visitors will require a visa in order to visit Macedonia whilst others like the EU Schengen members may visit the country for a period of 90 days without the requirement of a visa. There are several countries which are not part of the Schengen agreement but may enter Macedonia without a visa. (List of visa-free countries in sources). Visitors who wish to drive a private or a rental vehicle may proceed to do so as long as their national driving permit is issued in EU or any other country which issues permits in English and a photograph of the owner. Those permits which do not have a photograph need to be supplemented with an international driving permit. Beware that IDP does not substitute for the original permit. Both documents are required to drive.

Traveling hazards

Driving in Macedonia requires a defensive driving skill. For an inexperienced driver, Macedonian roads may be quite a challenge. Although major roads are generally well maintained, secondary roads are in a rather poor condition. In addition to poor maintenance, local drivers contribute to the danger by disregarding traffic laws. Pedestrians should also be careful even on pedestrian crosswalks as locals generally do not stop on the crosswalks. Some of the vehicles driven on roads are not fit to participate in traffic adding to the already existing danger. Other dangers which mainly applies to the rural roads include, animals crossing the roads, horse-drawn carts and rockslides. Driving in a city can be even more challenging as drivers often take illegal turns, drive at high speeds and disregard traffic lights.

Environmental hazards

There are few mammals which pose a threat to people. Although bears and wolves inhabit Macedonia, they are so few in numbers, meeting any of these animals is very rare. Moreover, these predators tend to avoid areas inhabited by humans and human contact. Upon hearing humans from far these animals will generally leave the area however approaching them up close may result in fatal injuries. There are three species of venomous snakes. Horned viper, common viper, and asp viper all inhabit most parts of Macedonia. Fatal bites are rare however if bitten by any of this medical help should be sought as soon as possible. Ticks are present mostly in forests and low shrubs. These parasites carry Lyme disease which is contracted by a tick bite. The disease is very difficult to cure and causes organ damage including brain and nervous system. If bitten by a tick submit the tick to a laboratory for Lyme disease test. Macedonia is landlocked however the freshwater lakes and rivers are generally safe to swim in.
Macedonia has mainly exposed to earthquakes and often landslides and rockfalls resulting from those. Excessive rains also may cause landslides and rockfalls. Floods are also a possibility.

Health hazards

There are currently no outbreaks of diseases nor are there any vaccination requirements in order to enter the country. There are several vaccines which are recommended to ensure a disease-free holiday. These are the routine vaccines aka MMR vaccines, hepatitis A and B and rabies vaccines. Macedonian healthcare is in fair condition. Public facilities deliver quality services however hospitals are understaffed creating long waiting times for basic services. Private hospitals and clinics deliver a better quality of care and much shorter waiting times however these come at an expense. Tourists should purchase medical insurance to cover the costs of their treatment in Macedonia.

Crime

Macedonia is relatively safe. Violent crime is rather rare and even rarer when it comes to tourists. Petty crime, however, is quite common and affects both locals and tourists. Tourists should particularly look out for pickpockets in crowded areas. Popular tourists spots and public transport are particularly vulnerable spots. Wearing money belts is a great way to store your money safely and out of reach of pickpockets. Displaying signs of wealth attracts pickpockets. Wearing flashy jewelry and being indiscreet with money is not advised. Macedonian drug law is strict and regardless of the kind or amount offenders are sentenced to jail time.

Summary

Macedonia may not be as popular as the rest of its Balkan neighbors however and those who never visited Macedonia definitely miss out on many incredible attractions. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
http://www.mfa.gov.mk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=222&Itemid=661&lang=en
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/macedonia