WG meeting in North Macedonia for WG2 and WG3

WG meeting in North Macedonia (hosted by the University of St Kliment Ohridski, Bitola). 2 days. 10 people to be reimbursed by COST. It will happen (tentatively, subject to agreement/discussion) in August. Intended WGs: WG2 and WG3. This will be to production of deliverables related to WG2 and contact model database updates (WG3, WG2) in the relevant/agreed formats.

Time planning

Joining online? Do so here: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3Ameeting_YWRlMTM0OTItMzA2OS00ZWU1LTliYzItMzAwNGU1NTkzNmRm%40thread.v2/0?context={"Tid"%3A"99e0dc58-9c4b-4820-8617-04c386c254c6"%2C"Oid"%3A"31676d96-05f7-4b3c-af8f-053815b8eab3"} The same link will work during both days.

Location

The workshop will take place at the Rectorate of the University “St. Kliment Ohridski” - Bitola https://goo.gl/maps/rk2nj81gSPyLGHE69. 

Accommodation

For accommodation, please use booking.com, Airbnb, or a similar booking platform. We recommend booking accommodation near the city center, specifically around Bitola’s main street, “Shirok Sokak” (area marked on the map below).

The university rectorate and all main attractions are within walking distance from the main street (15 to 30 minutes).

A guide about Bitola, you have here Home - Bitola City Guide

Open

Recommended hotels:

Grand Central Hotel, Brakja Mingovi 26, Bitola, North Macedonia (8 min walk): ≼ Grand Central Hotel Bitola 4⋆ ≽ From US$42

Hotel Millennium, Shirok Sokak 46, Bitola, North Macedonia (10 min walk): Millenium Palace Hotel, Bitola | HotelsCombined

Hotel Teatar, Stiv Naumov, 35, Bitola, North Macedonia (9 min walk): Hotel Teatar Bitola ~ traditional hotel - modern comfort

Hotel Bela Kuka (White House), Dimitar Ilievski Murato (12 min walk): Bela Kuka Hotel Bistro | Bitola

Hotel Boulevard, Bulevar 1 Maj 31, 7000 Bitola, North Macedonia (3 min walk): Hotel Bulevar in Bitola - Book on Hotels.com

If your hotel is a bit far from the building of the University St. Kliment Ohridski Bitola, you can order a taxi at the hotel reception desk. Most taxis in Bitola don’t accept card payments, so it’s best to always have some cash in the local currency on you.

You can also use local public transportation, Bitola City Bus Bitola City Bus - Официјална веб страна за јавниот превоз во Битола . Bus tickets can be purchased on the bus from the driver in cash, in the local currency.

Transport

There are two airports in the Republic of North Macedonia, which serve flights to and from most of Europe’s major airports:

·        Skopje International Airport (Skopje International Airport ) – the main airport in North Macedonia, located near the capital city of Skopje (153 km from Bitola).

·        St. Paul the Apostle – Ohrid (Ohrid St. Paul The Apostle Airport ). This airport is 9 km from the most popular tourist destination in Macedonia, Ohrid (81 km from Bitola).

And, due to physical closeness, also one in neighboring Greece:

·        Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) (https://www.skg-airport.gr/en/ ) – many tourists use the airport in Thessaloniki (209 km from Bitola)

From Skopje Airport to Bitola, the preferred public transport is a bus from Skopje Bus Station: http://sas.com.mk/en/Default.aspx .

There is also a train from Skopje to Bitola to Skopje, Departure from Skopje – Railways of the Republic of North Macedonia Transport A.D. Skopje (https://mzt.mk/poagane-od-skopje/ ), but the train service has a bad reputation among locals (but passes - slowly 😊- among very nice scenery).

Options for travel from Skopje Airport to Skopje Bus and Train Station can be found on the airport website https://airports.com.mk/en-EN/passenger-guide/to-from-the-airport

From Ohrid (Ohrid Airport) to Bitola, the only public transport is a bus from the Ohrid Bus Station: https://balkanviator.com/en/

Options for travel from Ohrid Airport to Ohrid Bus Station can be found on the airport website Ohrid St. Paul The Apostle Airport

From Thessaloniki Airport to Bitola. You can travel to the city of Florina in Greece (~30 km from Bitola) from Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) to Flórina - 3 ways to travel via train, and bus: https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Thessaloniki-Airport-SKG/Fl%C3%B3rina . Then from Florina to Bitola by taxi (there is no public transport between Florina and Bitola). It should cost ~25 EUR

CURRENCY:

 The Macedonian Denar is the official currency of payment in North Macedonia (MKD). Credit cards are also widely accepted, except for the taxi services and the farmers’ markets. 1 EUR ~ 61,5 MKD

EMERGENCY NUMBER: 112

For any urgent assistance, you can also call Ms. Zdravka Mirchevska +389 70 307 556

Register your interest

Please use this form to register your interest on attending this meeting. Deadline for expressions of interest: May 4th, 2025