Close to the border with Bulgaria approximately 180km east of Skopje and officially the sunniest town in Macedonia, the charming and fascinating historical town of Berovo is perched around 1,000m up a mountain and some 900m above sea level. Famed for its lake, craft traditions and the local eponymous cheese, Berovo offers visitors a mild climate for the altitude and an extraordinary wealth of ancient sites to visit whilst in the region in general. Ideal for a short weekend break away from the chaos and dirt of the city, arguably the best gem here is the Monastery of the Holy Archangel Michael, a gorgeous ensemble of buildings constructed over the last couple of hundred centuries that’s open to visits all year round. Although there’s no winter sports here, the surrounding mountains provide plenty of opportunities for visitors to hike, ride mountain bikes and explore the unspoilt nature.