Boutique hotels in North Macedonia

North Macedonia is a small, mountainous country where Byzantine monasteries, Ottoman bazaars and Yugoslav-era landmarks sit within a few hours of each other. Visitors come for Lake Ohrid, among the oldest and deepest lakes in Europe, and stay for the food, the wine and the unhurried hospitality. Boutique hotels are concentrated in Skopje and Ohrid; elsewhere the choice is mostly guesthouses, spa hotels and winery rooms.

Ohrid and the lakes

Ohrid is the country's showpiece: a lakeside town of old stone houses, a hilltop fortress, the church of Saint John at Kaneo and a UNESCO World Heritage listing for both its natural and cultural heritage. Struga, at the northern end of the lake, is quieter and known for its poetry festival.

Cities and old towns

Skopje mixes a restored Ottoman bazaar with the monuments of the recent "Skopje 2014" project. Bitola has elegant 19th-century consulates and the Roman ruins of Heraclea nearby, while Prilep and Kratovo are old towns of stone houses and towers.

Mountains and wine

Kruševo, Mavrovo and Berovo are green highland retreats for walking and winter skiing. The Tikveš region south of Skopje is the center of the country's wine production, with cellars you can visit.

When to go

May to June and September are the most pleasant months. July and August are busy on Lake Ohrid, and the ski season in Mavrovo runs from December to March.