Traveling North Macedonia With a Baby and Toddler: Tips & Our Family Experience

North Macedonia is one of the smaller Balkan countries and still isn’t considered a typical travel destination by many, especially not for families with a baby or toddler.
This might change in the coming years because the Balkan region is transforming from a former hidden gem into an emerging tourism hotspot.
In countries like Montenegro or neighboring Albania, tourism has already fully arrived.

Many travelers therefore combine their stay in small but stunning North Macedonia with one of its equally scenic neighboring countries.
This is exactly how we planned our own trip because the combination works perfectly.

We are convinced that a trip to North Macedonia, whether on its own or combined with another country and whether you are traveling with a baby or toddler, is absolutely worth it.

In this post we want to share our personal experiences, give you useful tips and show you that a holiday in North Macedonia with a little one is not only easy to manage but can be truly wonderful.
We also hope to answer common questions and ease any worries or concerns you might have before planning such a trip.

BEFORE THE TRIP

1. VACCINATION AND HEALTH ADVICE FOR FAMILIES TRAVELING TO NORTH MACEDONIA

The decision on whether to give your baby any additional vaccinations is entirely up to you. North Macedonia does not require any special vaccinations for entry.
For safe travel, it is recommended that babies and toddlers follow the standard immunization schedule of their home country.
These routine vaccinations usually include measles, polio, tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough.
If you are unsure which vaccinations are recommended for infants when traveling internationally, it is best to speak with your pediatrician or a trusted healthcare provider.
They can advise you based on your destination, travel plans and your child’s individual needs.

2. ROUTINE CHECK-UPS WITH YOUR PEDIATRICIAN BEFORE TRAVEL

When traveling with a baby, it can be helpful to check whether any routine medical check-ups or developmental check-ins are due around the time of your trip.
Many countries have their own recommended schedules for pediatric check-ups, and these appointments are usually important for monitoring your child’s development and overall health.

If a scheduled check-up falls during your travel dates, it is a good idea to talk to your pediatrician in advance.
In many cases, the appointment can be moved to an earlier date or postponed until after your trip, depending on what works best for your child and your travel plans.

A helpful tip: For emergencies abroad, consider storing digital copies of your child’s medical documents, such as vaccination records or health booklets, on your smartphone or in a secure cloud folder. This way, you have essential information available at any time without needing to carry the originals, and healthcare providers can quickly get an overview if needed.

3. BOOKING THE RIGHT ACCOMMODATION

When traveling with a baby or toddler, it can be very helpful to book at least the first nights in advance, especially during peak season.
This takes away the stress of searching for accommodation after arrival and ensures that you stay somewhere that truly fits your family’s needs.

Since becoming parents, we pay close attention to flexible and free cancellation options.
Plans can change quickly with small children, for example if our daughter gets sick or if we decide to stay longer in one place.

When it comes to facilities, we appreciate accommodations with a balcony or, in apartments, a separate living and dining area.
In addition, we look for a private bathroom, air conditioning and enough space to move around. This setup allowed us to enjoy quiet evenings while our daughter slept.
Thanks to our baby monitor with camera, we could always keep an eye on her and reach her quickly if needed.
Location also matters. We prefer staying somewhere central and close to planned activities or sights.
This saves time, avoids long distances and makes traveling with a small child much more comfortable.

During our trips, we usually switch between hotels and apartments. This gives us the flexibility to cook our own meals or do laundry when needed, which is especially practical on longer family trips.

Here is a small selection of the most comfortable places we stayed at during our North Macedonia trip:

• ‍Luxury apartment at Diamond center – Skopje
• 3M Apartment – Ohrid
• Canyon Matka Hotel – Matka Canyon

Good to know: When booking, we often select only two adults because our daughter still prefers to sleep in our bed, even at the age of two.
Many accommodations allow children up to two years old to stay for free, and often even up to three years, as long as no extra bed is required.

DURING THE TRIP

1. FLYING WITH A BABY OR TODDLER

If this is your first flight with a baby or toddler and you feel a little nervous, you can relax. Most flights with young children turn out to be much calmer and easier than expected.

One advantage when traveling to North Macedonia is that the country is generally easy to reach.
Flight durations vary depending on where you are traveling from, but many routes are relatively straightforward and manageable for families.
Whether your flight is short, medium or long-haul, most babies and toddlers cope surprisingly well once you settle into your routine.

A helpful tip: Try to stay relaxed. Children often mirror their parents’ emotions. If you remain calm and positive, your child is likely to feel the same.
It helps to view the flight as the beginning of your travel adventure rather than a stressful part of the journey.

Babies and toddlers under the age of two usually do not require their own seat and can sit on a parent’s lap.
Some families still choose to book an extra seat for more space or to use a certified infant car seat.

Until our daughter was about one and a half years old, she always sat on our lap during flights.
During takeoff and landing she was secured with the infant safety belt provided by the airline, which worked perfectly well for us.

From the second birthday onward, children are required to have their own seat and must be secured with the regular seatbelt, just like adults.

Many airlines allow parents to bring a certified infant car seat on board for children under two, provided a separate seat is booked.
We never used this option ourselves because traveling with a car seat in the cabin felt too bulky for our needs.

Good to know: Most airlines allow families to check in two pieces of baby equipment per child at no extra cost.
This often includes items such as a stroller, travel stroller, infant carrier, car seat or even a compact travel crib. Since policies vary, it is best to check your airline’s specific rules before traveling.

One more important detail: Baby equipment must usually be registered at the check-in counter before your flight, even if you checked in online and plan to drop off your luggage at a self-service machine.

When it comes to toys, we prefer not to give specific recommendations because every child develops differently and has individual interests.
You know best what your child enjoys and what helps keep them entertained while traveling.

We can only share what worked well for our daughter during flights, at least for a while.
She especially liked books, a soft toy, a small spinner-type toy, colorful stacking cups, stickers and often anything that one of us happened to be holding.

We have been flying with our daughter since she was a small baby.
When she was still drinking formula, we always carried one liter of water for preparing her bottles, and this was never an issue at security checks.
Now that she is a little over two years old, she no longer drinks milk, but we still make sure to have around half a liter of water for her.
So far, we have never had any problems with this at airport security anywhere.

On board, the cabin crew on all our flights has always been very kind and helpful.
When our daughter was still a baby, we were often offered help warming her bottle or baby food.
Overall, we consistently had the feeling that young children are truly welcome on board and that the crew tries hard to make the flight as pleasant as possible for both parents and kids.

2. MEDICAL CARE IN NORTH MACEDONIA

Medical care in North Macedonia can vary significantly depending on the region. In larger cities, especially in Skopje, private clinics generally offer a good standard of care.
However, the level of medical services may not always match what some travelers are used to at home, depending on their country of origin.

In more rural or remote areas, access to medical assistance can be limited, and facilities are often more basic.
English is not always widely spoken among medical staff in every region, which can make communication a little challenging in some situations.
This should not discourage you from traveling to North Macedonia, but it is helpful to be aware of these differences and include them in your planning.
Families live in North Macedonia too, and babies and young children also receive medical care when needed.

Our general recommendation for any international trip with children is to arrange reliable travel health insurance for your family before departure.
Many insurance providers around the world offer affordable plans that cover medical treatment abroad.
In some cases, travel insurance is already included with certain bank or credit card services, so it is worth checking this in advance.

When choosing a policy, it is important to ensure that it provides comprehensive coverage without low limits and includes emergency medical evacuation or repatriation in case of a serious illness or accident.

Also make sure to keep all receipts and documentation for any medical treatment or medication you pay for during your trip.
These documents are usually required when filing a claim with your insurer afterward.

We also recommend bringing a small travel health kit for your child from home so you are prepared for minor issues without needing to visit a pharmacy abroad. Useful items can include:

• Fever medication
• Nasal drops or spray
• Electrolyte solution
• Healing ointment
• Thermometer‍
• Any medication your child is used to and tolerates well

This way, you have trusted products on hand, know exactly how to use them and do not have to rely on finding equivalent items locally, which may be difficult depending on availability and language barriers.

3. FOOD AND DRINK FOR BABIES IN NORTH MACEDONIA

When traveling with a baby, many parents wonder whether they will find everything their child needs at the destination. Are familiar products available?
Is the quality comparable to what they use at home? These concerns are completely normal, especially when traveling outside one’s own region.
The good news is that you do not need to worry in North Macedonia.

In most tourist areas you will easily find essential baby products such as infant formula, baby cereal, purees, snacks and sometimes even ready-made baby meals in jars or pouches.

In larger cities like Skopje, Tetovo or near Lake Ohrid you will also find well-stocked drugstores and supermarkets that offer a wide range of international brands.
This makes it quite easy to find products that are similar in quality and variety to those available in many other countries.
Prices for baby products are generally comparable to what many families pay at home.

We still recommend packing enough supplies for the first few days or the first week, especially if your baby relies on specific formula or particular foods.
This allows you to arrive without stress and settle in before needing to restock.

If you prefer preparing your baby’s or toddler’s meals yourself rather than using ready-made options, you will find everything you need in local supermarkets.
Items like oats, pasta, rice, potatoes, fresh meat, plain yogurt, fruits and vegetables are widely available.
The only thing to keep in mind is that you will need accommodation with a kitchen, which may narrow down your choices slightly.

One important note: Make sure to wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating or cooking them.
For drinking and for preparing infant formula, we used only still bottled water. We did not use tap water for consumption.
We rinsed our daughter’s bottles with tap water but regularly sterilized them with boiling water or by pouring hot water over them.

4. DIAPERS AND BABY WIPES IN NORTH MACEDONIA

Diapers and baby wipes are easy to find throughout North Macedonia, whether you are in a small convenience store or a larger supermarket.
The selection is surprisingly good and includes well-known international brands as well as local options.
You can also find a wide range of baby products in dm, a popular European drugstore chain with several locations in the country.
These stores typically offer a broad variety of diapers, wipes and other essentials.

The quality of most products is consistently good, and prices are usually similar to what many parents pay in their home countries.
If your baby has very sensitive skin or you rely on a specific brand, it may still be useful to bring a small supply from home.

Changing facilities are not very common outside large shopping malls in Skopje or the airport.
Because of this, we often had to improvise and changed our daughter in quiet corners of restaurants, on a park bench or in a discreet side street when needed.
In those moments, we were especially grateful for our washable travel changing pad, which turned out to be incredibly practical in places where changing tables are not readily available.

5. DOING LAUNDRY DURING YOUR TRIP

Every parent knows how quickly laundry piles up when traveling with a baby or toddler.
And since luggage space is limited, you may wonder whether you can wash clothes along the way or have them washed for you.

In our experience, using laundry services in North Macedonia can become quite expensive, especially in tourist areas.
A more budget-friendly and convenient solution is to book accommodation with a washing machine from time to time. Many apartments and vacation rentals in the country offer this option.
You can easily use the filter function on platforms like Airbnb or booking.com to find places with an in-unit washing machine.
This not only saves money but also allows you to pack lighter and stay flexible throughout your trip.

6. STROLLER AND/OR BABY CARRIER IN NORTH MACEDONIA

We traveled with both a lightweight, compact travel stroller and a baby carrier, and this combination worked extremely well for us.
For our trips, we specifically chose a travel-friendly stroller that met all important requirements for family travel, such as a reclining position, sun canopy, spacious storage basket, and low weight.
A simple, affordable and easy-to-handle model is usually more than enough. During the trip, the stroller turned out to be incredibly versatile.
Since highchairs were not always available in restaurants, the stroller often worked as a practical alternative.
Our daughter could sit safely and comfortably while eating, and afterward we could keep her entertained with a toy for a few minutes so we could finish our meal.

The streets and sidewalks in most places in North Macedonia are quite stroller-friendly.
We cannot recall any location where a stroller was problematic, except for the old town area of Ohrid.

Most airlines allow families to check in up to two pieces of baby equipment free of charge, so taking a stroller was never an issue for us. We were able to use it all the way to the aircraft door.

Even though we used the stroller a lot, our baby carrier also came in handy from time to time.
Whether you bring one depends entirely on you and your child. You know best what your baby needs to feel comfortable.

Especially for very young babies, all the new sounds and impressions of a different environment can feel overwhelming. A baby carrier offers closeness and security, which can be incredibly soothing. Our daughter always felt safe and relaxed in the carrier, and it was the perfect place for a little nap whenever she needed a break.

Since baby carriers are lightweight and compact, they hardly take up any space in your luggage.
Another big advantage is that you have both hands free, which is extremely practical during travel and everyday activities on the road.

7. DRIVING AND CHILD CAR SEATS IN NORTH MACEDONIA

North Macedonia has laws requiring the use of seat belts and proper child car seats, but in practice the situation can look quite different.
It is not uncommon to see children being transported on a family member’s lap, and many local drivers do not always follow the recommended safety standards.

Most rental car companies offer infant carriers and child seats for an additional fee, but the quality and condition of these seats can vary widely.
You often do not know what to expect until you pick up the car.

For this reason, we recommend bringing your own child car seat from home if possible.
Many airlines allow families to check in two pieces of baby equipment per child at no extra cost, and a car seat typically counts as one of them.
This ensures that your child travels in a seat you know is safe, clean and suitable.

Good to know: Not all rental cars in North Macedonia come with ISOFIX anchors. Make sure your car seat can also be installed with a standard three-point seatbelt.
Our rental car, which we booked through DiscoverCars, happened to be new and did include ISOFIX, but this is not guaranteed and varies by provider and vehicle type.

If you plan to use taxis, airport transfers or private transportation between accommodations, it is best to assume that child seats will not be available.
In most cases, children would be expected to sit on a parent’s lap. Always check in advance or bring your own seat to ensure safe travel.

8. PLAYGROUNDS IN NORTH MACEDONIA

You will find playgrounds in North Macedonia mainly in larger cities and popular tourist areas.
In Skopje and Ohrid we came across several pleasant playgrounds. They were simple, but perfectly fine for a short play break.

While the playgrounds may not always match the equipment or design that some families are used to at home, our daughter still had a great time.
For young children, the chance to run around, climb or slide for a few minutes can be more than enough to recharge during a day of sightseeing.

WANT EVEN MORE TIPS, INSPIRATION AND HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOUR TRIP TO NORTH MACEDONIA?

• North Macedonia and Kosovo Road Trip – Route, Tips and Highlights
• Ohrid and Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia – Top Sights and Highlights
• Skopje Travel Guide: What to See and Do in North Macedonia’s Capital

USEFUL LINKS & RECOMMENDED TRAVEL GUIDES FOR YOU

• Discover the best accommodations
• Find affordable flights at skyscanner.com
• Find affordable rental cars at DiscoverCars
• The best Travel Guides for North Macedonia
• Unique Excursions to Experience in North Macedonia

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Note: This blog post contains our personal recommendations in the form of so-called affiliate links. If you book or purchase something through these links, we earn a small commission. There is absolutely no change to the price for you.