Stara skopska čaršija

Old Skopje bazaar - The most important information

Outside of Istanbul, the Old Skopje bazaar is the largest bazaar in the Balkans. Skopje Bazaar is an economic, cultural, and historical part of Skopje and is one of the city's biggest attractions. The bazaar is dominated by Ottoman architecture, although significant remains of Byzantine and Serbian medieval architecture can also be found, and recently there are also examples of modern architecture. The Old Skopje bazaar is today a symbol of Skopje, its rich and turbulent history, and an essential destination for everyone in Skopje.

History of the Old Skopje Bazaar

The oldest archaeological finds discovered at the Kale fortress indicate that the area was inhabited since the 4th century BC. n. e. With the Romans, the construction of temples, public baths, and theaters began, and the city became an important religious and cultural center in the Roman Empire. Significant city development was recorded with the coming to power of the Comnenus dynasty at the beginning of the 12th century.

The brightest period of Serbian rule in this city is considered to be the reign of Stefan Dušan, who declared Skopje the capital of his country in 1345, and the following year he was crowned emperor of the Serbs and Greeks in Skopje's Kale. The city was under Serbian rule until 1392 when Vuk Branković handed it over to the Turks.

In its historical development, the Skopje bazaar suffered significant damage from large fires, earthquakes, and floods, which left deep traces on the appearance of the bazaar. In the second half of the 19th century, the bazaar began to recover, but in 1908 it was again destroyed by fire. During the First World War, damage was caused to the bazaar, but its development was recorded a few years after the war. On July 26, 1963, a strong earthquake hit Skopje, destroying many buildings.

What must be seen in the Old Skopje bazaar?

The old bazaar of Skopje is an actual historical treasure of the Balkans. Wherever you step, there is a building of historical importance in front of you, and no matter which one you visit, you will go right. Nevertheless, when you find yourself in the Old Skopje bazaar, you should see the following:

Dušan's Bridge - or the Stone Bridge is another symbol of Skopje and, simultaneously, the border to which the Old Skopje Bazaar extends.
The Church of St. Dimitri: The Orthodox Church of St. Dimitri is located near the Stone Bridge, at the beginning of the bazaar on its southern side.
Daut Pasha's hamam - Today, it is the only remaining building of the former "Islamic trio," which still consisted of the Ibni Pajko mosque and the caravanserai
Monument to Skenderbeg: The monument to Skenderberg is located at the entrance to the bazaar, across from Daut Pasha's hammam, and near Kapan Khan.
Kapan Han - The former caravanserai and inn Kapan Han are inside the bazaar. It was built in the second half of the 15th century,
Čifte Hamam: The former Čifte Hamam is between the Murat Pasha Mosque and the Suli Khan. Čifte Hamam was built in the middle of the 15th century. It was heavily damaged in the 1963 earthquake but was later restored, and today is an art gallery.
Suli Han - located at the bazaar entrance near Bit-bazaar and was a former caravanserai. Today, the inn houses the Museum of the Old Skopje Bazaar and, since 1982, the Academy of Arts.
Church of the Holy Savior: The Church of the Holy Savior is located east of the Skopje fortress. It was built in the middle of the 16th century. In 1824, the iconostasis of the church was completed. A characteristic feature of this church is that it had to be half buried in the ground during its construction because the Ottoman authorities did not allow churches to be more than mosques.

How to get to the Old Skopje bazaar?

It only takes 10 minutes to walk from Ploštad, or Makedonija Square, to the Old Skopje bazaar.

On foot: Our advice is to go to this part of the capital of Macedonia on foot since you will come across several city attractions on the way. It would be best if you headed from Ploštada towards the Stone Bridge you cross. When you cross the Stone Bridge, continue straight past the National Gallery of Macedonia and reach the Old Skopje Bazaar.
Parking: If you plan to drive to the square, it is best to park your car in a closed garage near Porta Makedonija, located not far from Ploštad. Parking is charged 30 denars for the first hour and 20 denars for each subsequent hour.