Cycling tours in Macedonia – unforgettable experiences

A cycling tour through Macedonia – experience thousands of years of history

Snow-capped mountains, spectacular gorges, beautiful lakes, and cultural highlights: Macedonia, the jewel of the Balkans, is an insider tip for cycling vacationers.

What can you expect on a cycling tour in Macedonia?

If you want to go on a cycling holiday in Macedonia, you should be prepared for small roads and paths in wild nature. Macedonia is a predominantly mountainous country that is perfect for passionate mountain bikers and trekking cyclists. Flat plains can only be found on the agricultural high plateaus and along rivers and lakes. But even if you are a cyclist without much previous experience, you can still enjoy a tour with us without any worries! For some of our group tours, our cycling tour service includes organizing bus transfers to various mountain passes. From there, you can then roll comfortably downhill. In the evening, one of our carefully selected hotels awaits you. And if you still have reservations, you can join one of our e-bike tours.

Many mountain regions of the country are not intensively used by humans. These secluded landscapes are therefore home to a rich variety of flora and fauna, which is best experienced by bike. This small country in Southeast Europe also has a lot to offer culturally. Along our cycle paths, medieval towns, churches, monasteries, and castles provide further insights into Macedonia’s eventful history. Our experienced tour guides will be happy to tell you more.

Cycling holidays in Macedonia

One of the highlights of cycling tours in Macedonia is a cycling tour around Lake Ohrid, one of the oldest lakes in the world. The North Macedonian city of Ohrid, which shares the same name, has a picturesque old town where we will make a longer stop, depending on the bike tour. From the castle there, you can enjoy a wonderful, sweeping view of the city and the lake. Incidentally, the entire Lake Ohrid region is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its uniqueness, authenticity, and integrity.

About 30 kilometers south of Ohrid, the Sveti Naum monastery complex is perched on a hill. This historically significant complex was built in the 9th century and is dedicated to Saint Naum, who is buried in the monastery there. Due to its historical significance and picturesque location directly on the lake shore, Sveti Naum is one of our most popular destinations around Lake Ohrid. For those who would also like to cycle along the Albanian part of Lake Ohrid, we recommend a cycling tour through Albania. You can also find suggestions for other cycling tours in our current cycling tour catalog.

Another highlight of cycling tours in Macedonia is a visit to the historic ruins of Stobi. Settled since the Neolithic Age, the site bears witness to the eventful history of the area. The excavations have uncovered a synagogue and a basilica, among other things. A Roman theater and finely crafted floor mosaics have also been uncovered. During a break from cycling, you can stroll through the huge excavation site and trace the history of the place.

A cycling vacation in Macedonia is an active vacation with enjoyment

When vacationing in Macedonia, you should try the regional culinary delicacies. Macedonian cuisine is part of Balkan cuisine, which has been exposed to Oriental and Mediterranean influences for centuries. Macedonian appetizer platters offer culinary delights such as ayan, pindschur, and torschi. Meat specialties made from lamb, goat, beef, veal, and poultry include goulash, köfke, and sucuk. Typical baked goods include pita and yufka. Baklava, halva, and kadaifi are the sweet finale to a Macedonian meal. Macedonian hospitality manifests itself in generous portions! A rakija after a meal can work wonders here. The Macedonians understand rakija to be a fruit brandy that can be compared to Italian grappa, Yugoslavian slivovitz, or Hungarian apricot schnapps. Na sdravye!

Wine lovers among the cyclists will certainly not be averse to a detour to Tikveš. An important wine region of Macedonia is located around the idyllic lake. Not only widely grown grape varieties such as Merlot and Chardonnay are cultivated here, but also delicious local varieties.