Is This The Worst City In North Macedonia?

In this Balkan Travel Vlog, we explore what might became our least favorite city in North Macedonia. Tetovo is a city in the northwestern part of North Macedonia, built on the foothills of Šar Mountain and divided by the Pena River.

The Republic of North Macedonia (also known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, FYROM, and FYR Macedonia) is a landlocked country in the heart of the Balkans. The majority of the population is ethnic Macedonian and Orthodox Christian but there is also a significant Albanian Muslim minority.

Tetovo has become the unofficial capital and center of a predominantly ethnic Albanian region extending from Tetovo to Struga.

Transportation in North Macedonia is exceptionally affordable. We took a bus from Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia to a small city about an hour away and the bus tickets were $3.25 per person. Our accommodation was equally affordable in Tetovo. We booked a hotel room outside the city center for $18 a night!

While in Tetovo we visited the Šarena Džamija, which translates to the painted Mosque. The mosque was originally built in 1438 and later rebuilt in 1833 by Abdurrahman Pasha. It’s such a beautiful Mosque and the frescos on the outside make it a unique place in Europe to visit!

We found the Tetovo Fortress online and hailed a taxi driver to take us to the top. The ride to the top took about 20 minutes each way and was honestly quite terrifying. The Tetovo Fortress was underwhelming because there wasn’t any infrastructure to maintain the fortress, but nonetheless, the views from up top were pretty spectacular. The taxi ride to the top of Tetovo Fortress and back cost us $8!

After watching this video would you visit Tetovo, North Macedonia?

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[HaleyandZach]

We went to Tetovo with no idea what to we did not enjoy the city... oh well on to the next one!

[chrisdolan]

I lived in Tetovo for 6 months and you did nothing but disparage the city (Tetovo is not a small town). You also missed all the good spots like the Spa, the real Delfin (on the outskirts of the city), Tetovo, Fortress, Driada restaurant, Arabati Baba Tekḱe, and of course Popova Shapka. Xhamia E Larme is the most unique mosque in the world you missed the rest of the city. And put on your boots and do some hiking for God's sake. Tetovo is a hiker's paradise. And be more respectful of the taxi drivers and the Albanians living there who treat their guests and visitors with respect.

[RedCentralProduction]

Im from Tetovo, i live in Tetovo, and i would say you missed the best spots. When you go in Tetovo you go for the experience, the food ( Delfin, Bakal, Bella Mia, Punto Verde ), the pastries, burek, sweetshops, and icecream are one of the best in Macedonia. The mountain Popova Shapka, Leshnica, Kamenjane waterfalls, Belovishte. For sure i can say that you missed the hotel, thats no Tetovo, you should stay in the city at least for one night. I feel really bad because there is not such website that will give you all information on how to have a good time in Tetovo, but i can guarantee, that is much better than you showed in your video, and forget the flags, once you know people, you will see that here all people are good and welcoming.

[vladtheimpaler]

The Fortress is in a bad memory for Tetovo, and for Macedonia also. Not too long ago, the memories are still fresh, but in 2001 there was an ethnic armed conflict in Macedonia that started in the mountains above Tetovo, and right there on the Fortress one of the fiercest and most blood shedding battles took place. That's why there's no tourism there and even the locals don't visit it so they don't know the path to it as well. I thought you could use this information since you've visited it, now you know the history too :) Thanks for visiting my country, hope you liked it!

[fitimseadini]

You guys got to be the most close minded travel bloggers I've seen. The only encounter was with two taci drivers (no offense to taxi drivers) but you missed so much. And what's weird in Tetovo, it's just an average ex Yugoslav city.

[caged]

What he was trying to tell you when you got to the castle, there is a rumour that a tunnel goes from the Colorful Mosque up to that castle. That tunnel doesn't exist, well that's what most people think, but most of the older generations believe it does.

[DavidandSarah]

The taxi rides looked ummm…. Exciting. Haha. Language barrier is real lol. Love how they appreciate the extra money SO MUCH😊

[dgolber]

Did you read _anything_ about Macedonia and Tetovo before you went? Did you at least find your way to the Painted Mosque (Sharena Dzamija)? It's beautiful.

[jansorijansosten]

Damn, Americans who visit a city that wasn't made for tourism are shocked that it's not made for tourism. Next time I'll visit some random ass village in the US and expect them to speak my foreign language and be all sad and surprised that they don't have tourist attractions lmao

[ROGamez]

Most people use travel agencies in the balkans. They have options across the spectrum, from vacations for reallyyy low income to those looking to splurge a bit. I am from the U.S. and booked a vacation to Turkey from a Kosovo travel agency — it was for a week in a really nice hotel, all inclusive, and I paid like $1000 for airfare, hotel and transportation. The exact same vacation from the states would have ran me from 7-8k. Food for thought!

[irilind]

The most boring and negative tourists i ever seen

[EllisWR]

So glad we decided not to visit here ahaha the Albanian parts of Macedonia we found to be the worst for us

[B.Y.A]

Nothing to worry about in Tetovo, the crime rate is of the lowest cities. There are many travel agencies because we albanians of Tetovo are imigrants in many countries, there is very high percentage of albanians working and living abroad

[azirklobucista]

The Albanian regions are traditionally overlooked and developmentally neglected by the Slav dominated Macedonian regime .They take taxes but the revenues support Slav regions.

[Squeeze_Bmw]

he said if we go straight down the moutin you end up right in the city btw thats where i was born thats my home town and its really cool their and the texi drivers drive fast because they know their ways and they are carful so dont be scard

[lolollolol]

Why did you not enjoy the city? Its a very cozy place with plenty of diffrent places to eat and drink a nice cold/hot cup of coffee. Its my hometown and i rlly miss being there. U got into some random taxi which is not even a real taxi. Next time u have to call a company and order one so u dont get overcharged. Go to ajducko maalo thats where do rich ones live in houses its a cozy place to take a stroll. Or go on top of remall where there is a very nice resturant with a very good view of mont everest.

[MattttG]

7:30-7:40 one thing I always find unappealing about the buildings in Ex-Soviet lands or near of them, they LOVED just feet and feet of concrete . Flat and square concrete lol probably reinforced but it’s got the Soviet “cold” vibe

[redwanyoussef]

American people coming and judging the whole city base on short stay even they call it the worst city, can’t compare it with many cities in the US, just because the population are Muslim doesn’t mean it’s a crime area please grow up.

[pericaivanoski]

Had to admit - probably you are right. A truly authentic impression of unbiased visitors (moreover Americans, so that Albanians cannot complain :)). Unfortunately, that is the real situation of once, one of Macedonia's most beautiful places. Grown there I could testify to the adverse changes over the last decades which dramatically worsened after the Macedonians were artificially made a minority by adding rural municipalities and Albanians started to rule the place. In addition, when you place 2 universities in a limited space aimed at max 100.000 inhabitants with the idea of overwhelming the native Macedonian population and leaving the urban mafia to massacre the public space and greenery, when avoiding the rule of law, corruption and tax exemption is a way of living, when you ruin one of the most organized squares in the country made of marble and fountains and instead turn it into a concrete meadow, when allowing mosques to scream like no tomorrow, block the traffic due to unplanned stimulated migration, destroyed open Sports centre and parks, and as a result have continuous shortages of water (although being beneath the richest with water mountain in Macedonia - the gorgeous Shara) plus have enormous pollution and garbage everywhere, my dear, what a hell impression you expect the foreigners can get And above all, when you keep blaming others because of your situation while for 30 years you self-govern the municipality.
Unfortunately, for normal and civilized people no matter which religion and nation they belong to, who want to live in a European (not Near East) place, Tetovo every single day, becomes a less and less preferable place. That is why the buses full of families are leaving for abroad daily. Really sad.

[dardanramani]

thats the castle of ottomans, it were build since 1500 and he was saying under the castle is a tunnel which ottomans build to go to the city but half of the tunnel is blocked, from the castle you get under the mosque you saw earlier “Xhamia E Larme”