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Makedonium aka Ilinden-Monument in Krushevo/Kruševo, North Macedonia
Macedonia• Bitola• Demir Kapija• Kavadarci• Kokino• Kratovo• Kriva Palanka• Kruševo• Prespa• Prilep• Shutka• Stobi• Struga• Tetovo• Trpejca• Veles

15 Places to Visit in North Macedonia That Are Not Skopje or Ohrid


Last Updated on August 20, 2025.

It’s been just over a decade since I first visited what is now North Macedonia and a lot has changed since that time. The Skopje 2014 project is old news by now, probably even officially “complete,” even though the city always looks…

by Larissa
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Blown away by Tjentište 🌬🇧🇦 ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ One thin Blown away by Tjentište 🌬🇧🇦 ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ One thing I’m proud to contribute to the next edition of @bradtguides Bosnia & Herzegovina is a new section dedicated to the country’s World War II memorials, aka ‘spomeniks’, and an explanation of their significance in the Balkans in general. It’s estimated that anywhere from 20,000-40,000 were erected in various shapes and sizes across former Yugoslavia between the 1960s and 1980s, though most were either destroyed following the breakup or are now sitting in a state of neglect beyond repair. ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ Thankfully, the Battle of Sutjeska Monument is not one of them. With recent restoration work done on the striking murals by Krsto Hegedušić inside the nearby Spomen-Dom (Memorial House) and what appears to be a very good polishing since I last visited in 2014, I’d say this memorial complex is one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s top tourist attractions you must visit - especially considering it’s only around 2 hours away from both Mostar & Sarajevo. If not for the insane design and important history lesson, then for the amazing natural surroundings of Sutjeska National Park in which it sits. ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ Big up to @spomenikdatabase for creating what is quite possibly the world’s best online database for anyone interested in very detailed history of the various war memorials scattered around the region. It’s helped me tremendously in my research and on a personal level as it has become a hardcore hobby of mine to hunt/visit as many of these complicatedly beautiful pieces of history whenever I’m hanging out in the Balkans. You may have noticed…🕵🏼‍♀️✨⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ 📸: @tasos.house #spomeniks #yugoslavia #tjentiste #sutjeska #bosnia #herzegovina #bosniaherzegovina
The other side of Mostar ☁️✨🇧🇦 ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ I just spent The other side of Mostar ☁️✨🇧🇦 ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ I just spent another 24 days around Bosnia AND Herzegovina during a season most people wouldn’t dare to visit unless they were looking for great value, Olympic quality skiing and other winter activities of that nature (which believe me, is developing, big time). ⠀ That definitely wasn’t me (💅🏻🚫⛷), but I thought it was super important to see it at its busiest and also at its slowest before submitting the next edition of @bradtguides Bosnia & Herzegovina. It was also an amazing chance to get to know it even deeper on a personal level, meet some incredible new characters and reconnect with the old ones who made me fall in love with it in the first place 9 years ago. ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ Though bittersweet to leave because I don’t know when we’re going to spend such quality time together again, I also could have never envisioned how our relationship would evolve back in March 2011 when I was passing through like a hurricane and completely flabbergasted by this amazing place known as “the Balkans”. ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ A very sincere ”Happy Valentine’s Day” to the one who stoke my heart this year...🇧🇦 🇧🇦🇧🇦⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ #mostar #herzegovina #balkans #BGbosniaherzegovina
What a wild day. Have been trying to visit Željava What a wild day. Have been trying to visit Željava for a minute now and thanks to homie Darmon of @ex.utopia was encouraged to do so (but only from the Croatian side) even though there is a very crazy migrant border situation right now between Croatia & BiH. To put everything in context, this was one of the most expensive military projects to take place during its time (building it took 20 years - 1948-1968 and cost around $6 billion) and it basically sits on/under the border of Bosnia and Croatia. When Tito had a lil’ falling out with Stalin, it was full steam ahead to create this underground airbase which could hold up to 60 aircraft (aircrafti?) and serve as a long-range early radar system/command center Cold War style. To explain the entire logistics and operation is beyond the scope of a shallow Instagram post. Fast forward to when war broke out in the Balkans during the 90s. The JNA decided it should detonate like 400 tons of explosives down here for strategic reasons, at least that’s what I was told inside of it. In the midst of all this, Croatian pilot Danijel Borović decides to hop on one of the planes and defect by flying it to Pula and subsequently becomes a Croatian national hero who the country still celebrates to this day. Somehow, and very unknowingly, the day I finally made it over to try and trespass this place turned out to be the day they celebrate this man. It was 28 years ago to that day that he flew to Pula. So, in the end, it turned out there was no need to worry about trespassing, just needed to worry about how to politely turn down rakija since it was kind of a party and I had to drive. Back across the border to Bosnia. My mind will be forever blown and if you are interested to see how it actually all unfolded, you can find it in my Bosnia highlights. Cheers to you, Mr. Borović!⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #wtf #zeljavaairbase #trespassing #croatia #bosniaandherzegovina
Back in July 1995 I was busy being a kid in Califo Back in July 1995 I was busy being a kid in California and probably rocking out to Gangster’s Paradise by Coolio or Waterfalls by TLC (ironic) In the tiny town of Srebrenica - less than 350 miles away from Budapest, 500 miles away from Vienna and a 12 hour flight + driving from California - lives were being destroyed. In less than two weeks, over 8,000 men were murdered, some 15,000 fled on a death march towards Tuzla and their mothers, sisters and wives all sent in the same direction not knowing when or if they’d see each other again. It was 1995 and there was still a siege going on in Sarajevo. As much as I try to steer away from bringing up the most recent war because Bosnia & Herzegovina is so much more than that, yesterday I visited the Srebrenica memorial site for the first time in my life. All I can say is that I regret not visiting it as one of the first places in this country. There is hardly any signage or people directing you around (it’s free to enter), the roads getting there aren’t easy or paved with places catering to tourists and it literally feels like everything there just happened yesterday. This country has been super close to my heart for the past 8 years and because of that I can feel it viscerally, but what about the other places around the world where this has happened and is still happening today that I’ve never been to? If anything, Srebrenica touched me not only in my understanding of the history here, but in humanity and the fact that we are only as ignorant as we let ourselves be to what’s happening around us. ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ #neverforget #srebrenica #BGbosniaherzegovina
Falling for Bosnia & Herzegovina harder than ever. Falling for Bosnia & Herzegovina harder than ever. Been in the country for 16 days so far and wish I could stay another 1600. There is just SO MUCH to see and I absolutely adore the people here. ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ No question about it, this is one of my favorite countries in the Balkans and I’m still pinching myself over the adventure thus far. Honestly feels like a dream. Get ready to get spammed with BiH pics (and highly ridiculous IG stories), it would be a huge disservice not to share all this travel magic with the world 💛🇧🇦 ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ 📸: @sarajevofunkytours ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ #travnik #BiH #balkans #europe #travel #BGbosniaherzegovina
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Makedonium aka Ilinden-Monument in Krushevo/Kruševo, North Macedonia

15 Places to Visit in North Macedonia That Are Not Skopje or Ohrid

Panty Ripper in Hatchet Caye, Belize © The Blonde Gypsy

Pirates, Panty Rippers & the Making of a Music Video on a Trip to Belize

Marigona Nila and Larissa Olenicoff Wiki Loves Monuments Kosovo Ethnological Museum Kosovo %C2%A9 The Blonde Gypsy

Wiki Loves Monuments & Cultural Heritage in Kosovo

I love lamp Antalya Turkey %C2%A9 Sean Byrne Photography

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