OLD BAZAAR SKOPJE – WALKING MAP INCLUDED
The Old Bazaar in Skopje is an area that is the largest and best collection of Ottoman architecture in Macedonia.
About the Old Bazaar in Skopje
Skopje's Old Bazaar was an important center of commerce during Ottoman times when it enjoyed its peak importance. Ottoman heritage is predominant here. There are roughly 30 mosques, three caravanserais, and a few hamams (Turkish baths) still standing.
Despite the earthquakes and various other disasters Skopje has seen, the neighborhood is in very good shape.
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Read also: 15+ Best Things to do in Skopje
The Old Bazaar, also called Carsija is the Turkish old town of Skopje. It is one of the oldest and largest marketplaces in the Balkans, and it has been Skopje’s center for trade since at least the 12th century.
The area is home to mosques, türbes (mausoleum tombs), converted hammams (bathhouses) and churches. The Museum of Macedonia and the Museum of Modern Art are also located here.
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See also: Museums in Skopje
You will find everything here form small souvenirs and copper ware, to folk costumes and jewelry. Strolling the shops of the Old Bazaar is a must-do for anyone visiting Skopje.
Above all, Carsija has various traditional restaurants and coffee houses where you can try Turkish tea & coffee. Make sure you don’t miss Destan’s traditional kebab either!
Read also: 100 Turkish Phrases
Read also: 100 Basic Albanian Phrases
On Friday and Saturday nights Carsija becomes even more lively with youngsters due to some great bars in the area.
Standing on a plateau at the very top of Skopje’s Old Bazaar, the Mustafa Pasha Mosque is a working mosque. Although the mosque dates to 1492, it was heavily restored over a three-year period from 2008 to 2011.
Mustafa Pasha Mosque
The jewel of the Old Bazaar in Skopje
Old Bazaar Skopje Walking Map
Visit the Sveti Spas Church in the Old Bazaar in Skopje
This church is a must visit when you are exploring the Old Bazaar in Skopje. Submerged 2m underground (Ottomans banned churches from being taller than mosques), Sveti Spas dates from the 14th century and is the most historically important in Skopje.
This small church is notable for its unusual wooden bell tower. The church is also the final resting place of the revolutionary martyr, Goce Delcev.
