I can’t lie – this was one of my biggest questions while packing. Not just for North Macedonia, but for the whole of the trip. Rather than grouping all of the Balkan countries together, I decided to do a separate post on each to try and help. Please remember though, this is just my experience and different regions may vary – even in the same country. If you are also a girl travelling, have a look at Backpacking as a Girl in the Balkans to better understand personal and up-to-date experiences of where you’re going before you head off.
Generally, when arriving in a country, I always start off with shoulders and knees covered until I can gather the atmosphere. In North Macedonia, this was definitely a good idea. You definitely need to be more modest than you would in the UK, and it especially depends on where your hostel is.
Our hostel was located in the Islamic Old Town in Skopje, and as a cultural sign of respect most people had shoulders covered in this area (and some knees). In the more modern town, it’s probably best to keep them covered in case you decide, but it was not as obvious and not that strict. Just keep your pashmina/cover up with you and you’ll be fine. One thing I will say is that if you intend to go up Matka Canyon, shorts are absolutely fine – fine the city of Skopje generally too – but just be a bit more conservative in the old town.
The photo (long skirt and t-shirt) was one of my key outfits while in North Macedonia. A few things I think are really useful top have for (hot) summer weather when you still want a nice wardrobe that fits with the culture:
- Long, floor length skirt
Even better if its elasticated and can double up as a midi dress if you’re going round lots of countries where you want a different wardrobe - Pashmina
All of mine I have bought in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but they are so useful for shoving in a bag to make sure you can cover shoulders if you need. - Long, loose trousers
You can get them in markets abroad or in somewhere like Primark in the UK; they’re comfortable, easy to wear and go with most tops. - T-shirts
Very simply – they cover your shoulders, they’re great for hiking and walking around anywhere. - Zip-off Hiking trousers
Not a necessity if you’re going in the middle of summer but great if you do decide to hike or walk anywhere, and if there is long grass you’d be best to protect yourself from insects too. - Cover up
Very loose silk style cardigans or something along those lines that you can layer up with is a perfect substitute for a pashmina in this case.
This goes without saying, but you will need to ensure that shoulders and knees are covered in any mosques or churches you might want to visit.
Planning a Balkan Trip? Have a look at my Balkan Backpacking Route and if you’ve decided on North Macedonia as one of your stops – have a look more into it here: Skopje: What to do and Why to Visit North Macedonia’s Capital .
