Macedonia Denar
Macedonia uses the Macedonian denar as its form of currency. This is effectively a dinar system that is used throughout a great many countries in the world. The dinar system tends to have its roots in the Roman denarius currency that was used, with each country often having some kind of individual take on the currency, but the foundations being in the Roman system.
The plural of the denar is denari and each denar is sub-divided into 100 deni. The currency is issued and regulated by the National Bank of Macedonia and is issued as 50 deni, 1, 2 and 5 denari in coin form, with notes being issued in the form of 10, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 denari.
On international markets the currency is identified by the letters MKD.
History of the Denar
The denar is quite a new currency, having first been introduced into Macedonia in 1992. At that point it was a replacement for the Yugoslavian dinar, which had been in circulation until that point. It did not last long though and in 1993, the denar was effectively devalued, with 1 new dinar being introduced at a rate of 1 'new' to 100 old denar. However, since that point, the currency has remained relatively stable and there are no major issues in terms of it being subject to rampant inflation.
Getting Hold of Denars
Increasingly, more and more ATMs are springing up all over Macedonia, particularly in Skopje, which is the capital. That being said, there are far fewer in the other towns and perhaps none in villages. In smaller towns, you may just need to ask around for where the nearest ATM machine is, since it may not be readily apparent.
The use of credit cards is also becoming more widespread in Macedonia, although this is mainly limited to Skopje but unfortunately, the use of credit cards has also seen an explosion in credit card fraud, so any travellers are advised that if you are going to use your credit card in either an ATM or in a shop/restaurant, you must stay extremely vigilant.
At an ATM machine, the main risk is that the facility has been tampered with to allow fraudsters to clone your card or somehow read its details and PIN. In shops and cafes/restaurants never let the card out of your sight, always go up to the counter to pay and check the bill's total before you enter in details. It may seem very untrusting and you may find this slightly uncomfortable, but everyone is quite relaxed about it and people do not expect you to simply relinquish your credit card, they expect you to stand by it when all transactions are being carried out.
Due to the fact that credit card fraud is such a problem in Macedonia, you should always inform your credit card provider or your bank that your card is going to be used in Macedonia, to prevent its being suspended for suspected fraudulent activity.
Traveller's cheques are widely accepted (mainly at banks or bureaux de change) and they are easier to exchange if you have them in either US dollars or euros. Banks have long opening hours in Macedonia, staying open until around 7 pm and then on Saturday mornings from 7 in the morning until 1 in the afternoon.
Safety Issues
Macedonia is quite a safe country to travel to, there are no major problems with regard to terrorist activity and as a whole, the country is relatively stable. However, some governments advise that there is an 'underlying' threat of terrorist activity in Macedonia, which is a result of some of the very chequered history of Macedonia, but it is not identified as being extremely 'high risk': travellers are simply advised to exercise caution.
Macedonia did see some problems in 2008, when there was a problem on Election Day which was on June 1st and saw some political unrest spill over into fights.
Travellers should be aware therefore, that the northern and western border areas are not particularly safe.
If you do see a political demonstration or people at a political rally, then move away from the area, since violence can soon erupt.
However, as long as you are careful and exercise caution, then you should be perfectly safe. There are some problems with pickpockets in busy areas, but then this is the case almost all over the world.
Tetovo, one of the biggest cities in Macedonia, is largely Albanian in population and there is some residual tension between Albanians and Macedonians. As a result you may be warned not to travel to Tetovo, but if you do go there, then you will usually receive a warm welcome and people are simply pleased that you have made the time to visit their city, so consider this a different 'side' to Macedonia, but one that is well worth seeing.
Spending Denars
To some extent, Macedonia is a country of two contrasts. First of all, you have the tourist hotspots, such as Skopje and Ohrid, then you have the rest of Macedonia. The cities of Skopje and Ohrid are much more expensive than the rest of Macedonia, simply because they can cater for tourists, they have tourist facilities and as a result tourists pay for this infrastructure being in place.
Tourists often only visit Skopje and Ohrid, so they can lose out on seeing some of the sights in this wonderful country, although these are also well worth including on any trip.
Generally eating and drinking in Macedonia offers very good value for money and eating out tends to be very much a part of the culture, so in a sense this keeps prices down. Locals will often frequent the best eateries and bars locally, so always try to eat somewhere that seems packed full of locals. Usually the prices are keener and the food is of excellent quality.
There are also some good buys to be had in Macedonia, with a wide array of markets, shops and bazaars on offer. It has to be said that some of the items on offer tend to be fake designer goods and the quality is often not so good, they may pass off as 'designer' from a distance, but if you inspect them closely they simply look fake and often a little cheap: so be wary of 'cheap' bargains, that may simply look 'cheap' and not be such a bargain.
Shoes are one item that you may want to consider buying in Macedonia. They are extremely well made, of first class leather and yet remarkably low priced. You can find these at markets all over the country and often they are made by the person selling them, or if not, there may be some local connection, so at least money doesn't go to some faceless business, but direct to (or nearer to) the person who has put in the work making the exquisite shoes.
Places to Visit
There are some places that you should definitely visit when in Macedonia. These include Skopje, which has been a city of strategic importance, right since the Roman times. It is a vibrant city that simply oozes with culture and due to the fact that it is a mixture of Christians and Muslims, it is a very interesting experience, seeing how these two religions can exist and live together.
One other tourist destination is Ohrid, which is a wonderful combination of ancient churches, monasteries and various other architectural and cultural 'feasts' along with the Lake Ohrid, which is, in part, a National Park that is quite stunningly beautiful, particularly in the summer, but also in winter, when it is much less busy and yet the scenes are real 'Christmas card' type pictures.
There are lots of little villages dotted around the lake, many of which are not that touristy, so you can escape from the throbbing hoards of people that sometimes seem to almost swarm on Ohrid.
Ohrid is actually very famous for pearls, which you can buy in various guises here. They are often quite good value for money, but they have been subject to quite significant price hikes, since they are designed for tourists. You should also try to imagine what a piece of jewellery will look like when it is on back home. Sometimes a piece of jewellery can look quite apt and nice in a foreign country, but when you get it home, it can look dated, not quite 'right' or simply look very different, in the different type of light you may have at home, so don't get carried away.
Another place that you should try to make time for is Bitola, which is the second biggest city in Macedonia and is able to boast a really beautiful skyline, full not of skyscrapers, but ancient buildings as well as some great monuments that are relics from Ottoman days. For those who like things a little bit more up to date there is also some great shopping here, with a wonderful promenade that is packed with different shops.
Another great thing about Bitola is that it is not so busy as Skopje and Ohrid and it is also much cheaper, since you don't get as many tourists! People also seem to be a bit more friendly outside of the tourist spots.
Overview
Macedonia is a country that is largely unknown to many people in the West and in a sense this gives it its charm. It is a country that has always been regarded as being 'special' mainly due to its location, right from the early days of the Romans. Yet Macedonia has simply weathered the storms of political upheavals and ethnic tensions, to become a country that is moving forward to embrace the 21st Century and hopefully, to welcome more travellers, since it really has a lot to offer, for all ages as well as all cultures.
For further information about Macedonia and an insight into its culture, views, history and its people, why not check out http://www.mymacedonia.net? Here you will find all kinds of information that is more independent than the information contained on many websites and is much more from a real 'insider's' point of view.
This was an interesting read, but I’m not sure I’d want to visit that country. It sounds intriguing but how on earth could you get hold of any ready cash? It seems like ATMs are difficult to access (and even then they might have been altered). And if your credit cards aren’t safe how on earth would you manage when visiting the country?
Maybe sticking to a cash budget and keeping it in your shoes might work! I’m sure it’s not as bad as the article makes out, but it does make you wonder how safe you are anywhere, doesn’t it?
— Ben · May 28, 10:29 PM · #