Sofia and Skopje are two of Europe’s least expensive cities to visit. Sofia is much larger than Skopje but there is still a lot to see and do in both cities. If you are trying to decide whether to visit Sofia or Skopje, here is the ultimate guide to help you decide which city you should visit.
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Sofia or Skopje Overview
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city in Bulgaria with over 1.2 million people living within the city. The city is known as “the triangle of religious tolerance” because it is home to major temples of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. It is also known for having many mineral springs that you can even drink out of throughout the city.
The city has many different styles of architecture from Baroque and communist/socialist to contemporary designs. The city sits at the base of the foothills of the Vitosha Mountains which gives the city a spectacular setting.
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of North Macedonia with a population of 545,000 people. Skopje and the rest of North Macedonia has a unique history, once being a piece of former Yugoslavia and having constant disputes with Greece over their country’s legitimacy.
Today, Skopje is working to become a modern European city with renovations and construction happening throughout the city. The city is known for being the birthplace of Mother Teresa. Skopje is about as authentic as cities come due to its low amount of tourists.
Things to See
Sofia
St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral is an Orthodox cathedral and is one of the most famous structures in Bulgaria.
Ivan Vazov National Theater is the national theater of Bulgaria and one of Sofia’s most famous buildings.
Regional History Museum is known for its beautiful architecture and the mineral springs in the garden.
The Largo is a part of the city that shows the classic socialist architecture that once had an overwhelming presence in Sofia.
The National Assembly is home to the parliament and legislative sector of Bulgaria.
Skopje
Skopje Fortress overlooks the city is one of the most iconic landmarks in Skopje.
The Old Bazaar in Skopje is one of the largest and oldest markets in the Balkans.
The Stone Bridge is was originally constructed in the 1400s and has become a symbol of the city.
Macedonia Square is the main square in Skopje and the largest in Macedonia.
The Mother Teresa Museum and Memorial House pays tribute to the world-famous Mother Teresa.
Food
Sofia
One of the most popular street foods in Sofia is kebapche which is a piece of ground meat about in the shape of a hot dog or brat, served with fries and a beer. Shopska salata is a Bulgarian salad that consists of tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, onions, and cheese. Printsesa is an open-face sandwich that is quite simple, consisting of one piece of bread with a mixture of cheese and sauce and cooked golden brown. Banitsa is a cheese pastry that can be eaten as a dessert or as a snack and it can be found almost anywhere in Sofia.
Skopje
The typical meal in Macedonia starts with “meze” which is just an assortment of appetizers you order at a restaurant. Rakia, a fruity brandy type liquor, is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in Macedonia and is also commonly drank before a meal. As for the main dish, Tavce gravce is the national dish on Macedonia and consists of mainly beans and other vegetables but can be served with meat as well. Though Skopje is in a landlocked country, you will quickly find out that Macedonians love to eat fish from the rivers and lakes in the area.
Getting Around
Sofia
Most of the main landmarks in Sofia are located in the center of the city which is quite easy to explore on foot. If you want to see things like the National Museum of History or Boyana Church Museum, you will definitely want to use public transportation. Sofia’s public transportation consists of buses, trams, and the metro. Sofia just got a brand new metro system in 2016 so don’t be afraid to use it to get around the city. If you decide you want to take a taxi, it is best if you have your hotel, restaurant, or cafe to call on for you because there are fake companies that will charge you excessively.
Skopje
Skopje has a network of buses that form its public transportation. In order to ride the buses, you need to buy a bus card that has rides pre-loaded to it. You can pretty much walk anywhere you need to go when you’re here but if you want to see the Skope Aqueducts or go to the Jumbo shopping center, you will definitely want to take a bus. Taking taxis around the city is an efficient way to travel because they are quick and cheap here. Just make sure you can see the meter when you get in the taxi, otherwise, they might try to overcharge you.
Nightlife
Sofia
Sofia is yet another Eastern European city that has an excellent nightlife. Like Belgrade and Bucharest, a huge draw to the nightlife in Sofia is how cheap it is compared to Western Europe. There is an abundance of places to explore in the center of the city so no matter where you are staying, you can find somewhere to go. Some of the best nightclubs in Sofia are Yalta, Terminal 1, PM Club, and Carrusel. If you are still unsure of where to go, there are many places to go between the National Museum of Culture and the Nevski Cathedral.
Skopje
Though the nightlife in Skopje is not to the same caliber as the other Eastern European cities like Belgrade or Bucharest, this city still has a very lively nightlife. The center of the city and the old bazaar are the best places in the city to find nightlife. The area around Debar Maalo is also a great place to look for nightlife. The best nightclubs in the city are Stanica 26, Vox, Club Epicentar, and Club AVENUE. During the summer months, there are outdoor clubs and one of the best ones you would want to check out is XL Summer Club.
Day Trips
Sofia
The 7 Rila Lakes are glacial lakes in the mountains less than two hours to the south of Sofia.
Spend the day exploring Vitosha Mountain and the surrounding nature.
Rila Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox monastery that was established in 927. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Skopje
Matka Canyon is just 17km from Skopje. You can even rent a boat or go kayaking.
Ohrid is a city on Lake Ohrid that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mavrovo National Park is a lark national park near the border of Albania.
Other great Eastern European cities near Skopje and Sofia are Belgrade and Bucharest. If you do visit Belgrade and Bucharest, you may want to a lot a few days because they are multiple hours away.
Overall
Sofia and Skopje are two of the least expensive cities to visit in all of Europe. Sofia is known for its many types of architecture and Skopje is known for its many statues and monuments scattered throughout the city. Sofia is quite large in comparison to Skopje but the main sight in both cities can easily be seen in two days. If you have more than two days to spend in a city, you would probably rather spend your time in Sofia than Skopje just because there is more to see and do. In general, Skopje is a little cheaper than Sofia but not enough to really be a game-changer since they are both so cheap.