Skopje/Outer Skopje

Outer Skopje consists of the territory of the City of Skopje outside of Centar, the Stara Čaršija (Old Town), and Karpoš. This large and diverse area of the city is generally less densely populated. It consists of both urban neighbourhoods and older villages now within the borders of the capital. Important archaeological sites and medieval churches can be found here. There is also a lot of nature to be explored, particularly at Matka Canyon.

Understand
The Republic of North Macedonia is divided into 80 municipalities, ten of which form the City of Skopje. Centar and Čair contain the central area of Skopje, both modern and historic. The other eight municipalities are primarily residential, either urban or rural. However, some of Skopje's most important sites can be found in Outer Skopje.

The type of people amongst which you find yourself can vary greatly depending on which part of the city you are in. Aerodrom, Gjorče Petrov, Karpoš, and Kisela Voda are predominantly ethnic Macedonian and Orthodox Christian. Butel and Gazi Baba also have large Macedonian majorities but with significant Albanian minorities. Saraj is predominantly ethnic Albanian and Muslim. Šuto Orizari is predominantly Roma (Gypsy) and Muslim.

The Republic of North Macedonia is divided into eight regions, of which the Skopje Region consists of the City of Skopje and several surrounding municipalities. This guide also covers those surrounding municipalities which include Aračinovo, Čučer-Sandevo, Ilinden, Petrovec, Sopište, Studeničani, and Zelenikovo.

By bus
All of the municipalities of Outer Skopje can be reached by bus from Centar. From Aerodrom going clockwise:
 * Aerodrom can be reached via lines 3, 5, 7, 15, 17, 20, 21, and 45.
 * Kisela Voda can be reached via lines 4, 14, 24, 31, 51, 58, 67, 70, 74, 75, and 80.
 * Gjorče Petrov can be reached 4, 5, 11, and 64.
 * Šuto Orizari can be reached via lines 19, 29, and 40.
 * Butel can be reached via lines 8, 47, 48, 57, 59, 61, 71, and 77.
 * Gazi Baba can be reached via lines 2, 10, 12, 16, 26, 45, 50, 52, 53, 54, 56, 62, 63, 65, 66, and 68.

By taxi
The bus system is efficient and cheap enough that an often overpriced taxi can be avoided. However, a taxi retrieved in central Skopje will drive anywhere to the outer parts of Skopje. The price, of course, will vary depending on which part of the city. A trip to Matka Canyon, for example, may cost around 800 denars, while a trip down to the end of the quay in Aerodrom should be up to a few hundred denars.

Aerodrom
Despite its name, Aerodrom (meaning "airport") is not home to Skopje's main airport which is outside the city in the village of Petrovec. Its name is the result of being home to a military airport in the early 20th century. The municipality is mostly residential and most settlements are relatively new.

Butel
Butel consists of urban neighbourhoods close to the city centre as well as historic villages that now happen to find themselves within an evergrowing city.

Gazi Baba
This municipality takes its name from the nickname of Ottoman poet Aşık Çelebi, who died in Skopje in 1572 and was buried here.

Gjorče Petrov
Northwest of the center, this municipality is named after the revolutionary.

Saraj
Saraj Municipality contains one of the most important attractions in the country, Matka Canyon which is covered in its own guide. Aside from the canyon, there are a couple other places of interest in Saraj Municipality.

Šuto Orizari
Skopje's second-smallest municipality is the only municipality in the country where Roma (Gypsies) form a majority of the population. It is perhaps the only local administrative unit in the world to have adopted Romani as an official language. The area was only built up after the 1963 earthquake to be a home for the displaced Roma.

Further afield
There are several major sights found outside of the City of Skopje but within the Skopje Region, which is one of the eight statistical regions that form North Macedonia.

Čučer-Sandevo Municipality
North of central Skopje, bordering Kosovo, and containing much of the Skopska Crna Gora mountain range.

Petrovec Municipality
Southeast of the city, Petrovec is best known for being home to Skopje International Airport. It covers most of the historical region of Blatija, which includes parts of neighboring Zelenikovo Municipality.

Sopište Municipality
South of the city on the opposite side of Mount Vodno, this municipality corresponds more or less to the historical region of Karšijak. The village of Govrlevo is known for being the site where a neolithic sculpture referred to as "Adam of Macedonia" was found. This archaeological find is on exhibit at the Skopje City Museum in Centar. Multiple villages in this municipality have old village architecture including Dolno Sonje, Govrlevo, Gorno Sonje, and Jabolci. Patiška Reka is a village set in striking scenery, right under the often snow-capped Karadžica mountain.

Studeničani Municipality
South of the city is this municipality, populated mostly by Albanians and Macedonian Muslims.

Zelenikovo Municipality
About halfway between central Skopje and Veles.