5 reviewed party hostels · from €6.00/night · Hostelworld rated
Skopje’s nightlife kicks off in the lanes behind Macedonia Square, where bars spill onto pavements and the music switches from turbo-folk to techno in the space of a block. The hostel scene is small but sociable: most places cluster within a 10-minute walk of the square, so you can roll out of bed and into a pre-game at a nearby bar without missing last entry. **Cafe Bar Zero** on Orce Nikolov Street is where backpackers start the evening with cheap rakija and a crowd that’s half-local, half-traveller. By midnight, the action shifts to **Maracana** in the Old Bazaar, a two-storey club where the dancefloor fills with students and expats grinding to Balkan beats. If you’re after something later, **Club Epicentar** keeps the doors open until 6 a.m. and charges 150 MKD for a beer: about £2.20: so your budget stretches further than the night does.
Rated by Hostelworld score · Prices per dorm bed per night
Cosy social hostel, with chill vibes and friendly staff. Family owned, this hostel is a great place for solo backpackers, students, and digital nomads. Free breakfast included, as well as free tea and coffee during your stay. Enjoy some of many fun social activities, like walking tours, horse riding, or thermal bath visits.
Crazy party hostel with a huge garden where you can hang out and meet new people and cultures. Great vibes in the outdoor common area are enriched with cinema and daily parties. The hostel also has a cosy fireplace where you can relax and read your favourite book. Well-located, nearby local bars, restaurants and clubs.
Hostel Mickitos is a fantastic party hostel in Skopje's Old Town. With its social atmosphere, great service, and amazing city views, it's the perfect place to have a good time. Enjoy their fun menu, including delicious coffees, cocktails, and tasty snacks. Don't miss their karaoke parties and daily happy hours. Plus, they offer free walking tours every day.
Hostel Valentin is one of the best cheap hostels in Skopje, and is not popular only for their prices but because is located in a convenient place. This hostel is next to a bus stop and has one of the friendliest atmosphere you can find. The hostel also has a homely feel that comes with a budget price.
Located in a superb and well-known Bazaar, the Hostel INBOX is the perfect base if you're aiming to explore the city and all it has to offer. The hostel is located just 5 min walking from Macedonia Square.
Organised nights out with a local guide
A 2-hour tour that hits 4 bars and ends at **Club Epicentar**. The crawl starts at Macedonia Square at 9 p.m. every Friday and Saturday. A shot is included at each stop, and you’ll get a wristband for discounted drinks: beer is 100 MKD instead of 150 MKD. The group is usually 15–25 people, mostly backpackers in their 20s.
How Skopje's nightlife zones break down
The heart of Skopje’s nightlife and the best place to start your evening. The square is surrounded by bars, clubs, and rooftop terraces, all within a 5-minute walk of each other. During the day, it’s a maze of statues and fountains, but by night, it transforms into a hub for backpackers and locals alike. Most pub crawls meet here at 9 p.m.
A warren of cobbled streets and Ottoman-era buildings just east of the square. The bars here are smaller and more intimate, with a mix of live music and Balkan beats. **Maracana** and **Kaldrma** are the standout venues, but the whole area is worth exploring. It’s also the best place for late-night food: grilled meat and burek stalls stay open until 3 a.m.
A 15-minute walk west of the centre, this neighbourhood is where locals go to avoid the tourist crowds. The bars are cheaper, the music is more alternative, and the crowd is a mix of students and young professionals. **Cafe Bar Zero** is here, along with a handful of underground clubs that don’t make it onto most guidebooks.
Where the hostel pub crawls end up, and where to go on your own
A two-storey club in the Old Bazaar with a dancefloor that packs out by 1 a.m. The music swings between Balkan turbo-folk and mainstream EDM, depending on the night. Entry is free before midnight, then 200 MKD after. The crowd is mostly students and backpackers, and the balcony offers a break from the heat. Expect sticky floors and cheap beer: 100 MKD for a pint of local lager.
Skopje’s only club that stays open until 6 a.m. on Saturdays. The music leans toward techno and house, with occasional live DJs from Belgrade or Sofia. Entry is 300 MKD after midnight, but hostel pub crawls often get a discount. The sound system is loud, and the basement room gets sweaty fast. Beer is 150 MKD, and the crowd is a mix of locals and expats.
The go-to pre-game spot for backpackers. It’s a tiny bar on Orce Nikolov Street with a terrace that fills up by 9 p.m. Rakija shots cost 80 MKD, and the staff keep the music low enough to talk. The crowd is a mix of locals and travellers, and it’s the best place to find a pub crawl or a group heading to the clubs later.
A rooftop bar with views over Macedonia Square. Cocktails cost 250–350 MKD, and the music is a chilled mix of indie and electronic. It’s a good spot for a early-night drink before the clubs get busy. The terrace has heaters, so it’s open year-round. Happy hour runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with 20% off all drinks.
Not just a tourist trap: it’s a reliable spot for live music on weekends. The crowd is a mix of expats and locals, and the burgers are decent if you need a break from Balkan cuisine. Entry is free, but drinks are pricier: expect 250 MKD for a beer. Live bands start at 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
A high-energy club with pop and hip-hop on rotation. The dancefloor is small but packed, and the crowd is mostly under 25. Entry is 200 MKD after 11 p.m., and drinks are 120–180 MKD. The music is mainstream, so don’t expect anything underground. It’s a good option if you’re staying near the centre and want to walk home.
A bar in the Old Bazaar with a courtyard that feels like a hidden garden. The music is a mix of Balkan folk and acoustic sets, and the crowd is older and more local. Rakija is 100 MKD a shot, and the staff will let you try different flavours. It’s a good spot to escape the club scene and still enjoy a night out.