North Macedonia
Currency in North Macedonia: what to use and how to exchange
North Macedonia uses the Macedonian denar (MKD), not the euro, at roughly 61.5 MKD to €1 in 2026. Bring some euro cash to change on arrival, withdraw denars from bank ATMs, and pay by card in Skopje and Ohrid hotels; carry cash for buses, markets, taxis and small towns.
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GuideNorth Macedonia
Key facts
- Currency
- Macedonian denar (MKD), symbol ден
- Euro accepted?
- Not legal tender; some hotels and tour operators quote in euro
- Reference rate
- About 61.5 MKD to €1 (2026 estimate)
- Best way to get denars
- Bank ATM in Skopje or Ohrid; exchange office for euro cash
- Cards
- Visa and Mastercard work in hotels, supermarkets and larger restaurants; cash elsewhere
- Cash needed for
- Buses, taxis, markets, small towns, entry fees
- Leftover denars
- Hard to exchange outside the country; spend or change back before you fly
Details
North Macedonia is not in the eurozone and has no fixed date to join, so every price you meet on the ground is in denars. The currency is pegged loosely to the euro and has traded in a narrow band around 61–62 MKD to €1 for years, which makes mental maths easy: divide a denar price by 61.5 for euro, or by roughly 57 for US dollars at 2026 rates. Notes run from 10 to 5,000 denars and coins from 1 to 50 denars; the 1 and 2 denar coins are small and easy to lose.
Change money in two steps. First, bring euro notes — the euro is the currency most exchange offices want, and rates for it are the tightest. Second, use a bank ATM for the rest. Exchange offices (menjačnica) are everywhere in Skopje and Ohrid and usually beat the airport and hotel desks; compare the posted buy rate before you hand over cash. Do not change money on the street.
Cards have spread fast in the cities. Hotels, supermarkets, larger restaurants and rental agencies in Skopje and Ohrid take Visa and Mastercard, and contactless is normal. Outside those two cities, and for buses, taxis, markets, small guesthouses and many entry fees, assume cash. Tell your bank you are travelling, and keep a second card separate from the first.
ATMs are common in Skopje, Ohrid, Bitola and larger towns, and most accept foreign Visa and Mastercard. Use machines at a bank branch during the day, decline the ATM's own conversion offer and let your bank do the conversion, and take a reasonable amount per withdrawal because fixed fees add up. In villages and mountain areas, carry enough cash for a day or two.
| Situation | What to use | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Airport arrival, small amount | Exchange office or ATM | Rates are worse than in town |
| Skopje and Ohrid hotels | Card | Visa and Mastercard widely accepted |
| Restaurants and cafés | Card in cities, cash in small towns | Ask before ordering in villages |
| Buses, taxis, markets | Cash in denars | Drivers may not have change for large notes |
| Supermarkets | Card | Contactless normal |
| Leftover denars at departure | Spend or change back | Denars are hard to exchange abroad |
Rates and card acceptance change; confirm locally.
Tips
- Withdraw a few thousand denars at a time to limit fixed ATM fees.
- Keep small notes and coins for buses, toilets and market stalls.
- Ask for the price in denars; a euro quote from a taxi or tour is usually rounded up.
- Photograph your card and bank phone numbers in case of loss.
- Spend leftover denars at the airport or keep them for a next trip; they are awkward to sell abroad.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What currency is used in North Macedonia?
The Macedonian denar (MKD), written as ден. The euro is not legal tender, though some hotels and tour operators quote prices in euro. In 2026 the rate sits near 61.5 MKD to €1.
Where is the best place to exchange money in North Macedonia?
Exchange offices in Skopje and Ohrid usually give better rates than the airport or hotels, and euro notes get the tightest spread. Bank ATMs are the practical alternative for getting denars. Avoid street changers.
Is it better to bring cash or use a card in North Macedonia?
Both. Cards work in city hotels, supermarkets and larger restaurants, but buses, taxis, markets and small towns run on cash. Bring euro cash to change and a card for ATMs and bigger bills.
Deep dive
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