North Macedonia or Albania?
The practical differences, drawn from our own write-ups rather than from a brochure. We are not going to tell you which is better - they are different trips. What follows is what actually changes between them.
Places written up here 49 108
UNESCO listings among them 9 14
Cost level Budget Budget
Busiest month in our write-ups June September
Currency Denar (MKD) Lek (ALL)
Plugs and voltage C, F - 230 V C, F - 230 V
Everyday languages Macedonian, Albanian Albanian
Driving side right hand side right hand side
Region Southeast Europe Southeast Europe
Capital Skopje Tirana
North Macedonia
Coffee is a two-hour commitment and hospitality is taken personally.
What we have written up
- Arabati Baba Teke tekke
- Bargala archaeological site
- Bay of Bones Museum museum
- Berovo town
- Brajcino village
- Church of St George, Staro Nagoricane church
All 49 places in North Macedonia →
Worth knowing before you go
- The denar is cash-first - cards work in city restaurants but keep notes for taxis, bakeries and guesthouses
- Tipping is rounding up or about 10% for good service, never obligatory
- Rakija is the welcome drink - homemade grape or plum brandy offered on arrival
Albania
Besa - the code of hospitality - is real; guests are honoured, strangers helped.
What we have written up
- Ali Pasha Bridge bridge
- Amantia archaeological site
- Antigonea archaeological site
- Apollonia archaeological site
- Ardenica Monastery monument
- Bashtova Fortress fortress
Worth knowing before you go
- Tipping is rounding up or about 10%
- Furgons - shared minibuses - are the real intercity transport
- Prices are among the lowest on the Mediterranean
Counts describe this site, not the countries: "places written up here" means how many pages we have finished, and it keeps growing. Currency, plugs and languages are practical facts and change rarely; check anything visa-related with the relevant official source before you book.