Executive Summary: Skopje (pronounced Skopya, it’ll save you some embarrassment) is an eclectic mix of statues and structures from different time periods that add up to a very confusing city. If you are passing through, swing by for a couple hours to take it all in but best past on spending too much time here.
Full analysis: This analysis will be short as there isn’t much to focus on for this small city save for a few things, the nearby Matka Canyon, a river/stream in the city, a bazaar, and about one million statues. The juxtaposition of the latter three provides some entertainment for a few hours if you have some time to kill while waiting for a train or bus connection but I cannot recommend spending too much time here. Everything is a bit too fake and flaunty trying to attract tourists but it comes off a little tacky and try-hard.
Oh yeah, Casinos its got some casinos too. Big surprise considering what I just said.
| Thing | Scale (0 = bad, 10 = Great) |
|---|---|
| Statues | 9 |
| Geography | 3 |
| Architecture | 5 |
| Locals | 3 |
| Weather | 6 |
| Food/Drink | 3 |
| Travel Infrastructure | 7 |
| Parties | 3 |
| Chill out | 1 |
| History | 5 |
| Culture Uniqueness | 6 |
Overall: 4.6
Statues – Even if I dislike something I will give credit where credit is due and Skopje’s statue game goes hard, really hard. I’d give it a perfect 10 but didnt see Christ the Redeemer on the hill (just a normal cross gazing down at the city). They are tons, probably more statues than people in the city. And they don’t fit a single narrative as you’ll see what you might expect like Alexander the Great, the first great Macedonian then you’ll find some socialist heroes but you’ll also find scientists and heroes from other cultures and areas. Look out for the woman parts and man parts facing each other, that was a real highlight. Apparently these statues were setup in an attempt to both attract tourists and fight off criticisms from neighboring Greece that the true Macedonians live in Greece, therefore they shouldn’t use the name. So statues were the answer, guess you cant argue with that. If my neighbor build a big ass statue of himself on my lawn, its his house now.
Geography – The city itself is at the bottom of a valley with a river/stream following through it that offers little life to the area. However the nearby Matka Canyon is beautiful and worth a visit which is what draws most people to Skopje anyway. Ariel shot below. There is a large hill with a big ass cross on it as well.
Architecture – Normally I’d include statues as a sub category of architecture but thought Skopje deserved its own category for the bronzed Adonises. Outside of that there isnt much save a few churches and mosques. Some government buildings, museums, and casinos are rocking the greek pillar look so thats something but again the city screams “PAY ATTENTION TO ME” which everything just seeming a big overdone and fake. Not to say fake is always bad but doesn’t seem to be quite pulled together in a Vegas or Marrakech fashion.
Locals – The city felt somewhat deserted. The restaurants were all mostly empty, the bazaar had a few walking tours but very little interaction with locals.
Weather – The weather is nice but its a little too nice given the water situation. You are inland and the river isn’t enough of an Air-con unit for the city to add any value. Its warm, too warm in the summer.
Food/Drink – The cities veneer was even evident in its restaurants and bars. Italian, American, or whatever else was all the city had to offer. Nothing too unique nor culturally specific to the area. They did have some brew pubs but they were pretty desolate.
Travel Infrastructure: Buses and Trains will get you around to other cities very easily. Bus and train station in the same structure which is GREAT. As beachpigeon will probably rant about at a later date.
Parties – Casinos yes, clubs or a happening bar scene, no.
Chill out – You can literally chill out anywhere in the world so dont know why you would pick here. Maybe because there isnt much to see so you dont feel the fear of missing out (FOMO)?
History – Its got some history, sure. Some museums in town. Of course Ancient History, WWII (Holocaust remembrance museum), and Yugoslavia.
Cultural Uniqueness – The statues make it unqiue so that pumped up the score a little bit. Outside of that, pretty fake and not very attractive city (unless of course you are going to matka canyon).
Pro Tips:
- There are some interesting Salvador Dali and Antoni Gaudi inspired apartment buildings, if you must stay a night here see if you can get an airbnb in one of these.
- Day trips easy to find for Matka or visiting the cross on the hill.
- Statues…just statues…
Culture Capital 