North Macedonia food & drink
Our North Macedonia Vacations
Ancient Macedonia tour
Explore eastern Bulgaria, northern Greece and Macedonia.
Macedonia vacation, self guided hiking
Explore the rural and remote National parks of Macedonia
Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia vacation
Escape the crowds and explore hidden Europe
Cycling vacation in Macedonia & Northern Albania
Exciting cycling that equally challenges and rewards
Group tours of the Balkans
Discover Serbia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro & Bosnia
Balkans overland tours, small group
Serbia, Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro & Bosnia.
Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia vacation
See 3 countries on this 10 day tour
Western Balkans small group vacation
Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, Bosnia, Croatia and Montenegro
Balkans cyling vacation
Some of the most unexplored routes in the Balkans
Kosovo, Albania & Macedonia vacation
Travel through the valleys, towns and mountainscapes
Dubrovnik to Athens tour
Join us on a whirlwind adventure through the Balkans
Bulgaria, Macedonia and Kosovo tour in the Balkans
Macedonia tour, with side trips to Bulgaria and Kosovo
Republic of North Macedonia walking vacation, small group
Walking trip with monasteries, ancient lakes and wineries
Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia tour
National parks, historic cities and rural traditions
Slow food revolution
Ajvar production is a slow process that harks back to days when food wasn't mass produced and canned in factories. North Macedonia was one of the poorest regions in the former republic of Yugoslavia. They had to make do with food based around the most available ingredients like seasonal vegetables, flour, wheat and corn. This is why you'll find lots of pies (zelnik) and flaky filo pastries. Everything goes into their pies: feta cheese, meat (usually sheep), pumpkins, spinach, leek, cabbage.Forget about fast food – home cooking invites a slower and more interactive pace. Try it for yourself and you'll understand what goes into a recipe and why some meals hold much more importance than others. Conversations spark in locally-owned guesthouse kitchens much more readily than a huge hotel's dining hall. There's no better way to unlock a country's secrets than helping out at mealtimes.
As Goran explains, “Over the years we have supported many small projects at local level. For instance, we always take tour groups to visit a man in the village of Kratovo to learn about local history, homemade cooking and the production of their local products, like special herbal salt. He is always unbelievably enthusiastic and happy to receive new people into his home. Since we first started visiting him he has bought an old house in the village and turned it into homestay accommodation where he can continue to receive guests and teach them how to cook.”
By getting out of the cities and into the countryside you'll find food that's made the old fashioned way. It not only tastes better than anything you can get out of a packet, but traditional recipes are burned into the nation's psyche just as prominently as Christianity, socialism and border disputes with Greece. Pickling (turšija) sustains an all-year-round larder with everything from cauliflowers and cucumbers to bell peppers, onions and cabbage finding its way into tightly sealed jars.
North/south divide
Other neighbourly influences can be found in the country's coffee which has a distinctly Turkish flavour; whilst a North Macedonian meze has its origins in the Mediterranean, where you'll find flat breads, salads, feta cheese, olives, cold cuts of meat (in the north) and seafood (down south) served with avjar (paprika pepper) and pindjur (tomato) paste. Greek influence also stems to honey, tahini and sesame seeds in lots of breads and pastries. Kebab-style meats and sausages, served with kajmak (clotted cream), also originate from across the border and let's not get started on the origins of baklava. Suffice as to say it's sticky and delicious wherever you eat it.
Our top North Macedonia Vacation
Ancient Macedonia tour
Explore eastern Bulgaria, northern Greece and Macedonia.
2021: 6 Jun, 25 Jul, 5 Sep, 12 Sep, 19 Sep, 26 Sep
2022: 1 May, 8 May, 5 Jun, 24 Jul, 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep