You may not go to the Republic of Macedonia for shopping, but there is still some great shopping to be had once you are there. The Republic of Macedonia has traditional markets and bazaars in the towns of Tetovo, Ohrid, Bitola and Skopje that sell everything from dried peppers to designer glasses (fake). You will get a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables, though this cannot be carried home as souvenirs. However, shoes, wine, carpets, local artefacts, pearls, Macedonian Orthodox paintings, different varieties of local cheese can be carted away for family and friends.
Shopkeepers are friendly and always happy to welcome you, as tourists seen outside of Skopje and Ohrid is a rare sight!
Shopping in Ohrid
In Ohrid, check out the pearls at the jewellers in the old town. You are sure to find something exotic, at reasonable prices. Old Ohrid also has shops selling paintings of Macedonian artists.
Shopping in Skopje
Skopje rarely has shoppers thronging the shops in search of bargains, other than a select few from Pristina who may brave a two hour journey. However, the shopping scene is changing and you may as well be a part of this change if you happen to be in Macedonia. Makedonki shoes are good and you can buy a few pairs for people back home, if you are sure of their fit and size. Skopje offers you the chance to buy a genuine Mother Theresa carpet. This may sound confusing and there is apparently no relation between the carpets and Mother Theresa, apart form the fact that she was born in Skopje. However, the carpets made at Ohrid, Prilep, and Krusevo are richly decorated in harmonic colours.
Herbs in Republic of Macedonia
The mountains of this region have a wide variety of herbs and a few of them are rare. You can buy herbs, if you are sure of their value, and use it for various purposes as mentioned by the seller. Some of the herbs are used to make mountain tea, which is a popular local beverage and can be a very good souvenir item to take back. Honey is another local product that you can buy.
Local Food
If you are shopping for a good meal then the national favourite of beans and sausage or kebab, known as tavce gravce, is tasty and filling. The meat and vegetable stews, cooked in a ceramic pot over a low flame for a long time, are incredible. Grilled fish, particularly the Ohrid and Mavrovo trout, are cheap and appetising. This is not an expensive place as far as food is concerned, and a decent meal comprising salads, main course and drinks is available for 5 Euros. Mountain tea is available at the local shops for 20 Denar. Pavlaka, meaning sour cream, is Greek yoghurt, which is delightful to taste spread on bread with jam.
Markets
Visit the open market or Pazar, which has the peasants selling local specialities and seasonal produce that are fresh and home made. You can buy marinated olives or a goat cheese called ‘sirenje'. The Pazar is an all round sensory treat, particularly in summer when the smell of sweet cherries and melons fill the air. Whatever you are buying, be sure to bargain if there are no signs with written prices.
Skopje's oldest and biggest market place at the northern end of the Skopje Old Bazaar area sells fruits, vegetables, tobacco, herbs and hoards of Chinese made items that may not be of high quality.
East of the old train station, now the City Museum, is Skopje's Flower Market. The kiosks here sell a variety of flowers and plants to suit all occasions. The kiosks are usually open between 8 am and 11 pm.
Shopping Malls
The Ramstore Mall is Skopje's entry into modern shopping. The glitz, the glitter and the retro noise has brought in as much excitement to Skopje as can be expected in this old world town boasting of time worn bazaars. The mall has a good supermarket, an ATM, an exchange office, a cinema, pharmacy, book shop and a dry cleaner's. The book shop has an excellent collection of English language books, travel guides and maps. Open from 10 in the morning to 10 at night, the book store is a haven for the book bugs among you.
Get foreign newspapers at the Camarade news agent, located near the western exit of the mall. The current day's paper is usually available between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Relax at any of the cafés; the Diamond Bar, Stage Café or Mambo are quite good. The food court at the mall has the ubiquitous McDonald's. Kebab stalls, and other outlets such as Smiley's, City Grill and Aladin offer a great variety. However, prices will be higher here than in the local markets.
Local Handicrafts
One of the good buys in this country is the local costumes with their heavy and intricate embroidery in red and black silk threads and ornamented with jewellery. Copper bowls and pottery are also distinctive in their making. Macedonian wine is poised to be the next big thing. Carry bottles from the Tikves winery in Kavardaci and get a head start as owners of vintage wine a few decades down the line!
Pick up folklore art from the stores under ‘Aid for Artisans' project. You will get a variety of genuine stuff at prices that may be a little on the higher side but which goes towards a good cause.
