How safe is North Macedonia for travelers?

Air quality

• Skopje has some of the worst winter air pollution in Europe. The city sits in a basin and traps smog from November to February.
• If you are asthmatic or travelling with small children, this is a genuine consideration for a winter visit and is more likely to affect you than anything else on this page.

Crime

• Violent crime against visitors is rare.
• Pickpocketing in the Skopje bazaar and bus station is the usual level.
• Taxi overcharging happens at the airport and the bus station - agree the fare.

Roads

• Road safety is poor by EU standards.
• Mountain roads are narrow and unlit.
• Do not drive at night on secondary roads if you can avoid it.

Politics

• The country's name and its Albanian minority are both sensitive. Neither affects visitors, and neither is a conversation to start.