Europe
A lakeside old town, Ottoman bazaars and quiet mountain monasteries.
North Macedonia is a landlocked Balkan country of mountains, lakes and layered history. Ohrid is the highlight, a hillside town of Byzantine churches and monasteries above one of Europe's oldest lakes. Skopje mixes an Ottoman old bazaar with bold modern monuments, and Matka Canyon, Mavrovo National Park and the wine region around Kavadarci are within easy reach.
Food is generous and cheap: tavče gravče (baked beans), ajvar, fresh salads and local wine. Buses link the main towns, but a car opens up villages and mountain roads. May, June and September are ideal, especially around Lake Ohrid; July and August are hot inland and busy on the lake, and winters can be cold and snowy.
May, June, September.