Macedonians constitute the largest ethnic group in the country, while the most numerous ethnic minority groups are the Albanians, Turks and Serbs. The Republic of Macedonia is abundant in natural attractions, earning her the title of "the pearl of the Balkans". It has a great number of mountains, various types of dense forest, deep rivers and large lakes that make her potentially a great attraction for tourists.

The Republic of Macedonia is a real treasure of cultural riches. As a matter of fact, Macedonia was one of the foremost ancient civilizations, a fact which is not very well known around the world.

Macedonians settled here more than 4,500 years ago. Since that time, many civilizations and cultures have passed through the land, leaving traces of their presence.

The wealth of traditional folk art, architecture and customs reflect the rich material and spiritual culture of the Macedonian people that has been nurtured here for many centuries. The traditional handicrafts, that are still practiced here, take us back to past times.

The main political, administrative and cultural center is Skopje, with about 555,000 inhabitants. It was also a main center of the ancient Dardan Province because many important transport routes went through it, even at that time. Other large cities include Bitola, Prilep, Kumanovo, Tetovo and Ohrid.