Soccer, the national sport
As is often the case, soccer is a popular sport in Northern Macedonia, even though the results of the national team, nicknamed the Red Lions, were meagre until the upsurge (or progress) of recent years. After years without qualifying for the finals of a major international competition, whether Euro or World Cup, the small, young country has finally made a name for itself in recent years. Northern Macedonia qualified for Euro 2020 (played in 2021 due to Covid-19), and despite an early elimination in the group phase, were able to perform at the highest level. The Red Lions came close to repeating their performance at the World Cup in Qatar at the end of 2022. In the play-offs, they created an earthquake on the footballing planet by beating - and depriving of the World Cup - Italy, the reigning European champions. Unfortunately, the team-mates of North Macedonia's all-time top scorer Goran Pandev were beaten on penalties by Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal. Another chance in 2026 in North America!
Locally, the first league division was created in 1992. Today, it comprises ten clubs, the most successful of which is a club from the capital: FK Vardar Skopje (eleven league titles, beginning 2024). Last but not least, legend Darko Pančev, a former member of the Yugoslavian national team who retired in 1997, was born in Skopje. With Red Star Belgrade, the European top scorer in 1991 won the final of the European Champion Clubs' Cup against Jean-Pierre Papin's OM (0-0 and 5-3 on penalties).
Other popular sports
Like its Balkan neighbors, the country has good handball and basketball teams. Since 1993, the national men's basketball team has taken part in the European Championships five times, finishing just off the podium in 2011. In handball, Macedonia has participated eight times in the World Championships (27th in 2023) and seven times in the Euro. At the last continental competition in 2023, the Macedonians failed to get out of their group, finishing behind Germany and the eventual winners: the France of stainless steel Nikola Karabatic. Finally, at the Olympic Games, the country has only won two medals since its creation in 1991: one in bronze, at the Sydney Games (2000), thanks to wrestler Mogamed Ibragimov, a Russian from Azerbaijan, who had just become a naturalized citizen at the time, and the other in silver, at the Tokyo Games in 2021, thanks to taekwondo player Dejan Georgievski, who unfortunately failed to qualify again for the Paris Olympics in 2024.
A confidential ski destination
With several peaks exceeding 2,500 m in altitude, North Macedonia boasts ski areas well worth discovering. Some resorts have all the equipment you need to experience the joys of downhill skiing on slopes capable of satisfying beginners and experienced skiers alike. The most modern resort is located in the Mavrovo National Park: the Mavrovo-Zare Lazarevski ski resort. With its large hotels and ski lifts, this is the perfect place to spend a weekend or a week among the park's superb scenery. A little further north, above the town of Tetovo, the summit of Popova Šapka rises to 2,562 m above sea level. The ski resort itself is located at an altitude of 1,780 m, and includes several large hotels and chalets. In the south of the country, Pelister Mountain in the Pelister National Park also boasts a ski resort that is very popular locally. Finally, not far from Bitola, the ski resort of Kruševo is another option for winter sports enthusiasts. In summer, these spots also offer great hiking opportunities in often grandiose landscapes where nature has remained in its "raw" state.
Get your hiking boots on!
With over 70% of its territory covered by mountains, North Macedonia is an ideal playground for hiking, and even for a few climbing sessions. It's even possible to envisage multi-day treks, with overnight stays in refuges or in tents, by contacting local service providers. The best trails are in the Pelister, Galičica and Mavrovo national parks, provided you are accompanied by professional guides. Dream spots between mountains, forests, lakes and villages. A few good walks are also available around Skopje. Just ask!
When it comes to climbing, in addition to the tips provided by the locals, Prilep is the place to go, where the hills offer some fairly physical climbs.
Some water sports on the program
Kayaking. A land of rivers and torrents, the Republic of Northern Macedonia offers great white-water rafting opportunities, in the unmissable Matka canyon (near Skopje), a deep and magnificent canyon carved out by the Treska River over thousands of years, or in the Radika River canyon (north-west), where the crystal-clear waters, still very cold in places, form veritable torrents. Local clubs often organize kayak trips between Veles and Gevgelija, over 100 km long, with evening bivouacs on the banks.
Fishing. Leaning over a bridge, sitting on a lake shore or with their feet in the middle of the torrent, the locals love to fish. The morning train from Skopje to Prilep and Bitola regularly takes fishing enthusiasts to remote villages in the center of the country. From bleak to pike, trout and eel, there's no shortage of species to choose from!
Diving. Diving enthusiasts should head for the Greek-Albanian border to dive in Lake Prespa and, above all, Lake Ohrid, where the clear waters are home to relics and numerous species of fish, including trout.
North Macedonia from the air
Why not discover Northern Macedonia from the skies? Paragliding, flying or parachuting is all possible, thanks toAK Skopje, near the capital. Licensed paragliding enthusiasts can even consider an "altitude" themed holiday in the country. Don't hesitate to ask local service providers and agencies.
