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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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I took these photos exactly five years ago while I I took these photos exactly five years ago while I was hiking along the Via Dinarica on Zelengora in Sutjeska National Park. Had a terrible boyfriend at the time who I started receiving a barrage of terrible messages from around these exact moments because I hadn’t responded to any of his calls or messages that day. Apparently being out and about on a press trip in the Bosnian wilderness with barely any service was no excuse. Back then, I just remember feeling like I was in a nightmare. Even though I was actually in what is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful parts of BiH surrounded by gorgeous wild horses and wildflowers, I just wanted to crawl up into a ball and cry. I bring this up now as it seems we just keep getting a barrage of terrible messages and horrible news from the world almost daily this year which more often than not has felt like a nightmare - and sometimes even makes us want to crawl up into a ball and cry. Obviously the 2020 nightmare is not comparable to my experience at all, but the point is that I wish at the time I had just stepped back and appreciated what was surrounding me much more rather than let the bullshit I was dealing with consume me. The amazing people I was hiking alongside, Mother Nature’s magic at my fingertips, the random Balkan music the park rangers were blaring in the distance, the fact that I had my health and was able to climb any mountain at all even after several rakijas... ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ Let’s hope when we look back on 2020 we can remember the best of it rather than the worst. More importantly, let’s not forget to take steps back every now and then to appreciate the best of what we have right now. ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ The end 🇧🇦💛 ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ #shortstoriesbylarry #zelengora #orlovackojezero #sutjeska #viadinarica #bosnia #bgbosniaherzegovina
What to say these days except I’m so grateful I ha What to say these days except I’m so grateful I had two straight months of excellent Balkan adventures before Rona came and ruined the (travel) party. So many highlights, but one of the top was definitely a sleepover in perhaps the most iconic Yugoslav-era, Brutalist apartment building: GENEX. ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ AKA the “Western Gate”, for me it’s actually the “welcoming gate” every time I fly into Belgrade and taxi into the city. The sight of it just makes me so happy and I always dreamed about hanging out in there, but how? Turns out it’s as simple as AIRBnB, my Gs. Needless to say, once I discovered this on a random rakija-induced search, BOOKED. What a bargain at like $40 for the best rooftop Novi Beograd dance party with my Belgrade BFF. It will also be where I will shoot my next music video if I ever make another song (swipe left, maybe I already started...) ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ #concrete #brutalism #belgrade #genex #westerngate #serbia #balkans
You’re BRUTAL, Prishtina (and I mean that in the b You’re BRUTAL, Prishtina (and I mean that in the best possible way). Last time I came for a temporary visit I ended up staying for two years - this time I came for three days MAX and it’s been nearly two weeks. Just one of those places…thank god I’m finally remembering why. ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ Get used to me, njeri. Can’t stop, won’t stop coming back to you for more 🇽🇰💛 ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #brutalism #prishtina #kosovo #balkans
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
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
Interrupting this very necessary social media brea Interrupting this very necessary social media break to bring you to...LEBANON 🇱🇧 ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ Unless you watch my Instagram stories, you probably wouldn’t know that last month I spent almost a week in Lebanon, my first adventure to the Middle East 🌍 ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ After coming in with a bang to Beirut, I hit up insanely impressive Baalbek, drank wine & arak in Ksara’s moldy (but magnificent) cave cellar in the Beqaa Valley and lunched on lamb balls just a nard’s throw away from the border of Syria. Was hungover AF in Jounieh, Jeita and Byblos, spent some relaxing nights sipping on lemonade by the sea in Batroun and day tripped to TRIPoli, Lebanon’s second largest city. Went to pay my respects to the Cedars of God near Bsharri and partied like a rockstar in the mountains at Faraiya with some magical new friends ✨ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ I did A LOT considering nothing was planned before I arrived and somehow everything worked out (except that hangover) perfectly. I truly left feeling like I have a family there and as I’ve been watching this whole #LebanonRevolution unfold on the news, my heart has been full & my support 1000% there with you in spirit. Only you guys would turn it into a dance party 💛 ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ Will be posting a few more stories from the trip, more pics to come...and YALLA check my highlights to see what you’ve already missed if you’re curious about what I am certain is one of the raddest countries in this part of the world 🇱🇧🇱🇧🇱🇧 ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ #baalbek #templeofbacchus #romanruins #lebanon #middleeast #travel #BGlebanon

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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

Scenes from Spring in Istanbul & Antalya, Turkey

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