The Best Hotels to Book in Skopje, North Macedonia

Central Skopje is an exciting and attractive place to explore, but it’s even better when viewed from the rooftop bar and pool areas of Hotel Arka. From there, you can watch the sun setting behind Skopje Fortress with a cocktail in hand. Many of the rooms have an open-plan layout, with large bathtubs, and all feature abstract impressionist or modern artworks. This hotel has the Old Bazaar and Suli An museum – two of the top sights in the city – as neighbours.

Many rooms at the Skopje Marriott Hotel look out upon the giant monument of Alexander the Great atop a rearing steed. One of the best-located hotels in North Macedonia also brings with it the sophisticated style of the Marriott brand, rendered in earthy tones throughout the rooms and common spaces. The latter include a Mediterranean restaurant and the Dandelion Spa, where you can order from a range of relaxation and beautification treatments.

Overlooking the Museum of North Macedonia is the Bushi Resort & Spa, a regal accommodation where the majority of the rooms prioritise comfort through shag pile carpets and cotton sheets. The Presidential Suite takes a lavish departure from this, decked out in Louis XVI-style furniture – there’s even a golden clawfoot bathtub in the bathroom. The spa leans heavily into the Ottoman history of the city with an intricately tiled Turkish bath, in addition to a jacuzzi, sauna and salt room.

Oenophiles might want to take a closer look at Garden Spa, a hotel that offers wine tastings to guests – but it’s the hotel’s wine therapy that really helps it stand out from the rest of Skopje’s accommodations. Wine therapy combines the principles of viticulture with the humble spa, using organic grapes and grape seed extracts to create ointments and massage oils. There’s even a wine bath included, followed by an actual wine tasting for that full inside-outside wine experience.

Are you visiting Skopje for a sporting event? Park Hotel & Spa is located next to both the Toshe Proeski Arena and the Vardar River. The stadium is where many of the matches for the North Macedonian national football team are played, and also plays host to many music concerts. But its central location means the hotel is ideal, no matter the purpose of your trip. The contemporary design of the rooms and the hotel’s two gourmet restaurants make it ideal for a high-quality hotel stay.

Green carpets, floral bedspreads and bright yellow curtains are features found in many of the rooms at Hotel Karpos. And while this design may sound like a flashback to the ‘80s, there’s a warmth and charm to the design that feels unique to the area. Modern art in the room has an Orthodox gold leaf sensibility that reminds one of the religion’s continuing importance to many in North Macedonia. If you’d like more amenities than the average hotel room, the apartments at Karpos have kitchenettes and dining tables.

Although not right in the historic centre of Skopje, Hotel Vlaho is adjacent to it, and that little concession allows for rooms offering a lot more space. Copper lampshades and hardwood floors give the rooms a contemporary feel – particularly the suites, which offer a kitchen furnished with a hob and stove for when you’re craving a little home cooking. Vlaho also has a sizable fitness centre with various weight benches, machines and cardiovascular equipment.

For an amenity-rich hotel experience right in the heart of Skopje, check out Solun Hotel & Spa. Fine dining at the on-site restaurant involves Mediterranean recipes paired with a vintage wine from the hotel’s cellar. There’s plenty of communal space to set up a laptop for those who are living the digital nomad dream or wanting to check emails, and the spa’s indoor pool with jets and sauna are a luxury way to unwind after you’re done exploring.