Enjoy the culinary journey as you enjoy food from North Macedonia.

Whether you’re just visiting the capital city of Skopje or discovering much more of North Macedonia, you’ll enjoy what culinary delights await you.

Don’t miss this delicious food from Macedonia.

What to Eat in North Macedonia

1) Borek

This traditional pastry is made with layers of phyllo and different fillings. Typical fillings for borek include cheese, spinach and minced meat. Many people use spiced minced meat with onion and peppers.

This yummy snack is available all day and night from small bakeries and shops which can be found everywhere.

Locals typically eat Borek with a small drinking yoghurt. 

2) Palacinki

Much like a very thin pancake or crepe, palacinki is ideal for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It can be served with both sweet and savoury fillings.

Most popular fillings are sugar & lemon, poppy seeds, jam, honey, feta cheese, or even melted cheese with mushrooms and ham.

3) Tulumba – Fried pastry with syrup

A delicious dessert you cannot miss. Tulumba is a dough that is cut into small bite-sized pieces, deep-fried, and soaked in syrup.

These tasty little snacks are eaten cold, ideal alongside tea or strong coffee.

4) Polneti Piperki – Stuffed Peppers

Also known as stuffed peppers, these are also one of my favourite dishes in Europe. The peppers are stuffed with rice, onions, and spiced minced meat, then baked in an oven.

This dish is great on its own or served with a salad and fresh bread.

This dish is equally popular in Croatian cuisine.

5) Ćevapi

The aroma of Ćevapi cooking over an open grill is unmissable. If there is one thing you’re choosing what to eat in North Macedonia, it’s Ćevapi. Essentially minced beef and pork, they look like small sausages.

Eat cevapi with flatbread, red pepper sauce (ajvar), and shopska salad. Eating Ćevapi here reminds me of the delicious cooking class I did in Belgrade, Serbia.

6) Tavce Gravce – North Macedonian Style Baked Beans

Locals love this dish – Easy to prepare using beans and a few other ingredients including garlic, Balkan chilli’s, paprika, onion, and dried mint.

You can enjoy ‘tavce gravce’ as a side dish to any meal, or as a meal on its own.

Enjoy it with a side salad, sprinkled with feta or sheep cheese, and a loaf of North Macedonian crusty bread.

7) Kozinjak – North Macedonian Sweet Bread

Kozinjak is a North Macedonian traditional homemade sweet bread with raisins, usually prepared in the shape of a braid.

Eat it on its own or with a good helping of butter or jam.

It’s popular around holiday time, including Christmas and Easter.

8) Sarma – Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

This is another one of my favourites! Cabbage filled with rice, meat, and spices. Often prepared in large quantities and eaten for several days afterwards. If you ask me, it’s always better the next day.

Enjoy with a dollop of sour cream or yoghurt on the side. Delicious! Sarma is also eaten in several other countries in Europe.

The best Sarma I’ve ever eaten was in Transnistria, the little known disputed territory in Europe. 

Did you know that North Macedonia features on our list of the 10 Cheapest countries to visit in Europe.

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Have I made you hungry? Does learning about the food from Macedonia inspire you to visit? If you do plan to travel here, don’t forget to visit Lake Ohrid, the highlight of our travels in North Macedonia.

Want to explore this beautiful country with like-minded travellers? Check out these Northern Macedonia Group Tours.

After you’ve visited North Macedonia, you may be heading toward Athens in Greece. If so, our post on what to do in Athens in one day is the perfect itinerary for seeing the best parts of this city.

Oh, and don’t forget to try a few of my recommended places to eat in Athens.

And if you’re wondering whether you can really afford a vacation to Greece, our Greece in two weeks itinerary for any budget has tips to make it a reality.

Travel Tips for Europe

We have many travel guides and tips for Europe— an incredible continent!

Are you travelling on a budget? These ten cheapest European countries will help you plan an itinerary that lets you see as much as possible while there.

Furthermore, if you plan to travel long-term (or at least until the money runs out), these 21 cheapest countries to visit will help you make your hard-earned dollars stretch a bit further.

Delicious cuisine can be enjoyed across Europe, and our food map of Europe will inspire your culinary journey.

For food lovers, don’t miss our top 10 best countries for foodies, a couple of them are located in Europe.

Here are 8 things to know about travelling to Eastern Europe and it’s good to know these 7 misconceptions about Eastern Europe too.

These top 6 travel hacks to save money are great to read when planning your travels.

You’ll need to stay connected while travelling in Europe. We recommend eSIM. It’s easy, reliable and affordable. View eSIMs for individual European countries, or consider a regional eSIM for Europe (which covers 39 countries).

If your travels in Europe are part of a much larger global adventure, then a Global eSIM may be the answer. It connects you in 124 countries, offering data-only eSIM and data/call/text eSIM. The Global eSIM has been a game-changer; we couldn’t imagine travelling without it now.

If you want to travel with like-minded travellers, consider joining a group tour. Check out our Group Tours first for any upcoming European departures, or view Tourradar for great deals on group tours in Europe.

Check out our best-ever travel tips compiled from more than twenty years of experience.