Museum of the Macedonian Struggle in Šuto Orizare

Very interesting museum. It is seperated into two sections. One of them is for the liberation period in the beginning of 1900s and the second one is for the anti racist & socialist period. I really enjoyed the museum but it is a little bit expensive.

Every counties history is fascinating

This museum is epic in every way. Breathtaking. One of the few best history museums in Europe.

Great museum. Worth it. 🤗

Really interesting and well maintained museum. We were kindly given a free tour by a staff member - he was very knowledgeable and spent an hour with us showing us around the exhibits. The tour really made our experience as there aren’t too many signs in English and would recommend it to anyone visiting the place.

It was an incredible experience for me! The paintings, the wax figures, the structure made me engulfed in a victorious history, where Macedonian have fight a lot for their peace and national identity.

Beautiful medium, the wax figures are so well made. Painting are new, and it looks as there created the history themselves. And hopefully better and more understandable guide will be available in future

As a history teacher, I would never take my students here. It is a disappointing and narrow history that only emphasizes fighting. They charge 3x as much as other local museums and you walk away learning very little. They should have spent less money on wax figures, and more on explanations. There is no narrative and the chronology isnt always clear. The artifacts in cases dont have translations. The paintings are all made recently and many not even by Macedonian artists. Lastly, there is a shameful lack of women in the exhibition- only a couple wives of the male heroes. By the title of the museum you expect it to be politically biased (since there is also a museum of the same name in Greece), and I could have tolerated the propaganda if it had been done better. Skip this museum.

The lobby of the building is a nice place to take pictures in— someone was actually doing wedding photography while I was there. The building itself is beautiful and there are lots of enormous floor-to-ceiling paintings in the exhibits. Also, relatively cool inside even though it was 42C/108F outside.However, the information provided about the exhibits is lacking (usually just a date and names of people involved, not any explanation). I found the wax sculptures unsettling.Would probably be better with a guide, or perhaps a better fit for those with prior knowledge. I definitely recommend against it for kids.

This is a well-curated museum, but Id recommend joining an English guided tour if you dont speak the language. Many of the museum labels do not come with translations, so exploring the exhibits on your own might not give you the full context behind the displays. Thankfully, one of the museum personnel was happy to answer my questions, so it was a good visit overall :)

This is a high quality museum in a beautiful building. You can dip in for say a minimum of 45 minutes to get some sense of the drama, or longer to immerse in history. There are huge paintings, artifacts, and many wax figures. It is amazing how the Macedonians respect their history and the museum remains in beautiful condition, whereas similar exhibits in many countries would be abused .

Positives: Very nice climate controlled building.Area for Improvement: From an instructional design standpoint this museum needs a major overhaul. There isnt much to the museum--its essentially a wax museum. This isnt inherently a problem, youve got to make do with what you got, but the challenge here, is that they dont. As a visitor, it is likely to walk into the museum, look at every exhibit, and walk out having learned almost nothing. Heres my suggestion for the curators: choose the key themes you want visitors to learn and to gain a greater appreciation of. Then strategically plan how you will achieve those goals. A first exhibit needs to address those of who represent the least common denominator (i.e. the visitors unfamiliar with the content). Bring us quickly up to speed. Then start outlining the themes and factual history you want us to learn. If you are unsure what current visitors are learning, a post-visit survey could shed a lot of light on the gap between the experience you want guests to have and the current experience.

The paintings and sculptures do a lot to get a sense of the mood of the time and put names to the various groups and people that fought in some way for independence. The overarching sense of narrative is lacking and text to explain sections of the time line are very much inconsistent.

The museum entrance fee is a bit expensive by country standards, but once you get inside, you understand why. With wax sculptures, huge paintings, thoughtful and planned scenes, the museum allows you to follow the years of Macedonian history on the road to freedom from beginning to end. There are QR codes in many places so that you can learn the details, but if you are a foreigner and do not have internet to use in the country, I recommend you to get the internet password at the museum entrance. In addition, if audio descriptions can be made, especially for foreigners and those who do not know key names in Macedonian history, its effect will be much greater.

I was shocked to see that many wax figures and magnificent paintings in one place. The entry fee of 300 den seems insignificant when compared to the quality and effort put into creating such a museum. Everything was carefully thought through and there are so many thoughtful details. Still, since it was basically all about politics, it was tiring to read the descriptions on occasions.

Well appointed museum, but disappointing, because the exhibit stops in 1951, but the independence of Macedonia happened in 1991, no exhibits of the last 40 years of struggle.When I asked the staff about it, they looked to me as if I was crazy.Am I missing something?

We were totally disappointed. The museum is totally new renovated, but there is literally no content. They have newly painted paintings that show war scenes or random people without any proper explanation. Not worth a single euro (and the entrance was 5 euro per person). Worst museum Ive ever been to. Dont go there.

The museum was very nice, is beautiful, huge and full of history. The entrance is 300, around 5 euros, which is expensive for Macedonia. Was basically nobody there so I could enjoy just the museum. The decorations and the building also are nice. You have information about different moments of Macedonian history.

300 was a bit pricey, museum was quite dark. Massive painting and lots of old weaponry along with different papers/documents. Too many mannequins but was a nice history recap of Macedonia.

Too bad this museum wont let you take any photo. When you come from another continent, its nice to share with your family and friends what you see.The museum is very interesting, although youll see paintings without much explanation. However, the paintings have great quality and shares a lot to the visitor. I definitely recommend it if youre a real sucker for museums. A little bit overpriced.

Sadly lacking in any information, background, or context- for the foreign visitor. Visually pretty cool and could be a great platform for learning about Macedonian history, but alas... Unless you speak and read Macedonian highly advise skipping.

The building of the Museum of Macedonian Struggle occupies a privileged position on the Vardar River in the center of the city. Its not a particularly attractive building and the exhibits will be more interesting to North Macedonians or to students of history of the region.

Informative on Macedonian struggle for independence since Ottoman times. We had a great guide, Bojan, who made this a memorable experience. Interesting historical perspective on the relation between the various peoples in the region, including the naming dispute with Greece.

Great museum of macedonian revolutionary struggle for freedom

Probably one of the simultaneously most beautiful and most poorly curated musems Ive ever been too.They even framed their own application letters for awards they didnt receive.Theres no clear narrative, complete disregard for different perspectives on important events, exhibits designed primarily for political purposes. The "Greater Macedonia" issue isnt even the main problem in this biased and ahistorical museum. This museum is a propoganda piece, a very beautiful work of historical kitsch rather than a serious musem.Regardless of its deeply problematic nature, anyone who is a fan of post-socialist kitsch, needs to visit this museum.

Worth a visit. Very well done. A lot of information and nice pictures with nice wax figures.

Unwelcoming approach. I arrived at 17:17 on a Sunday afternoon. Even though the museum was opened until 18:00 I was told that I couldnt visit the museum . Apparently entry was until 17:15 (?), so not even 2 minutes late. Even tough I could pay the exact amount (or somewhat more if needed), the cash register was already closed, so no discussion possible. Appararently the whole museum was already prepared for closing, all the lights were out etc, so that seemed to be the real showstopper.I explained that I had been walking for an hour to be able to visit the museum, since on Monday the museum is closed and this would be my only option, as I would be leaving Skopje on Monday evening.The people in the museum were not welcoming at all and inflexible/unfriendly. Not the approach you would expect if there is a visitor that is sincerely interested. If you want to visit the museum, make sure you arrive well before closing time...

Definitely worth a visit. English speakers will enjoy a self-guided tour using the plaques inside with little stories about Macedonian heroes who gradually helped them gain statehood and independence. So many lifelike and life-size paintings and wax models that you will most certainly be immersed in the whole story. The museum is also surprisingly big (3 levels), so depending on whether you read everything or not it will probably take you 45m to 1 hour.

Amazing and very spectacular in a kinda original way for me. Must see if you visit Skopje. However i recommend you to visit with guide, because without the historical background knowledge sometimes its hard to understand the story behind all the scenes.

Its a mix of wax statues and paintings glorifying those who fought for Macedonian independence. Most of the righting is also translated into English, but it can be a bit dull and dense with names. The museum mostly focuses on the 1800s to 1950s. It seems unfinished, as I expected to see something about the actual achievement of independence. Also, you can see where some of the tensions with Greece come in. It does seem to imply claim to southern Macedonia as well.

This is a big multistorey museum. In Thessaloniki I went to Macedonian struggle museum and so I was intrigued by the differences and as you probably guessed they take a rather different view of Macedonia and what happened the last 2 centuries. Its fair to say neither are what you call objective.As for this particular museum its part history museum, part art gallery, part wax museum. There is some impressively large paintings and wax style figures. There is decent enough English translations but be nice if there was moreThere are some pretty grim displays so I wouldnt bring young kids here.Its 300 for adult and 120 for student. Even if you dont have student card you can probably still claim it.

Very nice museum with interesting exibition. The tour was really educational, one can learn a lot about history of Macedonian people. Definitely worth a visit!

Educational and historically correct experience. The assets used are made with incredible devotion and clarity. The guides are incredibly educated and friendly. I myself was very happy with the educational tour. The signs and path through the times is clear, visible and its hard to get lost.

So much lies. 90% of all stories told by touristic guides are pure fiction. There is too much bad taste in mixing different cultures and time lines that even Las Vegas would be ashamed.Seen so many things in my life but nothing can compare in tasteless like this place and whole center of Skopje. I dont think there is place on earth with so many bronze statues placed without any historic connection with that city. Did I though that is city and i went to amusement park?

It it newly renovated so everything looked good. There are wax sculptures inside that you can check out. I think that you have to pay a fee for visit. I was only in the area where they do wedding registration so I didnt pay anything and that is why I dont know the exact amount of the ticket.

Very interesting museum about the struggles the Macedonian people went through.Info boards are both in Macedonian and English but some things are either not (maps, names, newspapersor not fully translated (info boards with spelling mistakes or missing info)There is an option to have a free guide which we didnt take and we advise you take one unless you have a personal guide.The museum is beautifully built with nice set pieces and stunning paintings of famous moments.My personal opinion (without having a real guide):The museum tries hard to raise national pride for Macedonia and is probably hiding some lesser nice things the biggest national party did. It felt a bit too coloured in favour of the vmro. A local guide might have helped painting the full picture more but we thought the info boards would suffice (which it didnt).We really started to understand the struggle the Macedonians went through and why they are so protective over their name, culture and land.I really recommend the museum to everyone.Advise for the museum keepers:- Go over your translations again to correct spelling mistakes- add more info boards- translate the maps showing where the fights were (we managed to decipher it on our own but it wouldve been faster if we had a translation ready)

The exhibition was interesting... a bit too much reading but overall well presented with life size wax statues.The only reason why I did not rate this place 5* was due to being told by the museum personnel that if we pay the full price we will have an English guide. However after doing so we were never provides with the guide nor an audio-guide. A person of our group went to ask and was told that the English guide are the English written signs. Eventhough I would recommend this museum, I felt a bit cheated.

The museum is rather large and costs 300 denar full price and 120 denar for students. Going with the guided tour left me with mixed feelings.The guide did mention some information that is not written on the exhibits however he spoke extremely fast and it was a struggle to understand the things he was trying to say or to even piece the history together. It was just a monotonous regurgitation of his script or something. He went through the exhibit rather quickly as well. He seemed like he wanted to get the tour over and done with.To be honest, the museum is pretty impressive with original articles and many wax figures. I would love to take my time and read more on the information written at each exhibits

It was supposed to be a 45 - 50 minutes guided tour, but the museum’s guide was so passioned and envolved into his narrative that the tour leasted almost 2 hours! Guess what: we loved it and wanted more! Very informative. The museum is a must visit in Scopje!

The museum is very nice, but you are not allow to enter by yourself, have to join the tour every hour.The guide spoke very fast and moved very fast, just intended to finish his work asap, also skipped a lot of exhibitions.The tour only last for 40 minutes, if you have nothing to do in Skopje, this is a place to kill some time. Entrance fee is 300mkd.

Very nice museum, but I am givig 4 stars because of guide. There is only one way to go there - ina group with guide. He was too fast, I was not even able to look around and we were moving to another stop. He was quite nice, but had some sarkastic comments to our country as well. We were in a group with turkish ladies and we could see the tension between them. Very strange and I would say unprofessional.

Each nation remembers good and bad times in its existence. But, each nation does not show equally bad moments as well. In this Macedonian museum the truth is not hidden and it is not corrupted. Wax figures are made with high quality. Seek a visit with a guide. The guides are historians, I think.

Not one of the best, but THE BEST museum I have ever seen! Really new, detailed from beginning to the end, from floor to ceiling. Wax figures all around the museum and really nice. There is only possibility to go with tour guide, he was nice that he merged us with 2 macedonian girls and did the tour in English. The only down is that the guide was not articulating too much and was going too fast. We did it about 1 hour, but 30 min more would it suite even better. 5 stars for the museum, but the tour guide is giving it down to 4 which is sad. My bad was I didnt tell him.

It is worth seeing once you are in Skopje unless you are with children - the tour is allowed with the guide only and last at least 1 hour so no child may bear it! The exhibition itself is well prepared, interesting and guides are definitely committed to their job. On the other hand however, it may become tiring and boring as guides efforts to provide guests with abundant information and "correct" view at Maedonian history goes sometimes to far. I strongly recommend that Museums authorities create an option of visiting without guides - even at the same price (with audio guide equipment?- that would enable some less engaged wifes ☺ and children coming in. Alternatively, guides should stop provide guests with such a flow of detailed information.

The historical exhibition is superb! The museum employee knows the history throughout, speaks good English and is very kind to visitors. Unfortunately photos are not allowed during the tour, but the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle is a must when in Skopje.

A guided visit (in English or Macedoniandepicting the recent events in Macedonias history that lead it to become a free country. Cheaper tickets are available for students.

Too much information at time, the guides English is impossible to understand. Actually looks like a museum of propaganda, with kitchy wax figures instead of valuable documents. We did learn about the Macedonians independence history though - but it really was a STRUGGLE for us.

You have to get a tour to be allowed in, but its really nice to be able to ask the expert about the history of Macedonia.

Interesting museum and subject, with lots of photos, waxworks and artefacts. Everything was in both Macedonian and English which was helpful.Would have been nice to be able to go around in our own time with an audio guide or similar - tours round the museum are compulsory, and we found both that the tour moved too quickly, and that the lady giving us the tour spoke very rapidly. This made the whole experience rather exhausting and we felt like we had missed a lot!Interesting content, would have been nice to be able to look round in our own time without a guide!

Interesting experience; I loved the fact that you actually have a guide that talks to you through the struggle. There are a lot of wax figures representing important people that marked the Macedonian uprising. Not to be confused with the Museum of Macedonia, which is located after the Old Bazar, next to the Mosque.