Kokino
4.5
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.5
22 reviews
Excellent
10
Very good
9
Average
3
Poor
0
Terrible
0
DDTMd
MD13 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
Katerina and Bojan's wedding party of 37 people from the USA, Brazil, South Africa, Columbia, and Macedonia visited Kokino on September 4, 2023. What a fantastic place! So much history and unbelievable stories. We were lucky to have Dejan Gorgievski, the guide from the Museum of Kumanovo, who added to the experience with ethnographic and historical details. He was there since the beginning of discovering the place, so he shared first-hand stories about this discovery. You will need comfortable shoes to hike the small hill. The view is exceptional. Must-visit place!
Written 11 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Johan Feenstra
Nuenen, The Netherlands171 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
We went here, triggered by the positive reviews we saw from others. It is about a 1 hour drive from Skopje and it is reasonably well signed. The road there is small and winding, but not so busy and pretty easy to find your way.
Once there, you can park the car and walk the last 500m to the site through a pretty easy trail.
The place is very niche, but to compare it with Stonehenge gives it too much credit in my view. The platforms are pretty small and while it is clear that there has been human influence, the contruction is relatively small.
It would have been helpful to give a bit more indication of where one should look for specific important signs. For instance, at platform C there should be lines where the sun hit first in summer of winter and to demonstrate that they already understood the 19 year cycle, but it was very difficult to identify these lines without further indications. Nevertheless, it was impressive to see how people already understood the seasons back then and could follow the sun's cycle. Worth the drive.
The view from the site to the surroundings is very beautiful.
Once there, you can park the car and walk the last 500m to the site through a pretty easy trail.
The place is very niche, but to compare it with Stonehenge gives it too much credit in my view. The platforms are pretty small and while it is clear that there has been human influence, the contruction is relatively small.
It would have been helpful to give a bit more indication of where one should look for specific important signs. For instance, at platform C there should be lines where the sun hit first in summer of winter and to demonstrate that they already understood the 19 year cycle, but it was very difficult to identify these lines without further indications. Nevertheless, it was impressive to see how people already understood the seasons back then and could follow the sun's cycle. Worth the drive.
The view from the site to the surroundings is very beautiful.
Written 29 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jove Pargovski
Bitola, Republic of North Macedonia43 contributions
Oct 2018
To the location leads a narrow asphalt road, and from the location where you park the car there is approx. 10 min hiking. It's a rocky terrain so wear appropriate footwear. According to my experience, the best time for a visit is at sunset.
Written 12 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Glen63
Kathmandu193 contributions
Jul 2018 • Solo
As part of a long day trip in the eastern region of Rep. of Macedonia, my guide took me to see the Megalithic 0bservatory. The rocky hill can be seen for some distance as you head towards it. There is shady parking and a admission fee person is waiting for you as you begin to head up. (This is reasonably new, according to my guide). Its inexpensive. I guess if the area becomes more attractive to visitors, protections are needed to preserve sites. Now I know nothing of such antiquities, but somehow, on a beautifully sunny day with a breeze I could envisage the priestly predawn procession, followed by the throngs of the illiterate believers, as they made their way to the top. It is definitely possible to imagine the rising sun peeping through a cleft in rocks and illuminating the priest(s) on the thrones and hear the pleas for a bountiful harvest and a good year to follow. Imagination is important, I think, for most visitors. To be at the top and look out all around you was a wonderful luxury of peace and harmony. At the time of my visit there were about 8 other people, all carefully avoiding one another, and no one speaking. Quite magical really. There is a little information on a sign board at the foot of the hill, and the "thrones" are now roped off to prevent damage? selfies? It was a very worthwhile visit.
Written 31 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NatashaGD
Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia18 contributions
Jul 2018 • Friends
A good thing is that there are many signs along the road to reach Kokino by car. Have in mind that after parking there is about 10 min walk on foot uphill to reach the site. It is really very interesting, as it unveils a location where ancient rituals have been performed by our early ancestors from around 1.800 years BC. On site there are explanations which are pretty informative. Explore and be excited! Enjoy the view from up there. On the way, don't miss the church St.Gorge in Staro Nagorichane, it's frescoes are beautiful.
Written 4 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Flori Q
1 contribution
Sep 2016 • Friends
It was an astonishin trip, tthe view from up there is magnificient, u make sure to go there in a clear day and u will get more nature feeling.
The road although till Kokino is a bit hard and not so well so make sure u got a map or GPS or smth with urself for any case.
Also when u will arrive there by car there is a parking spot so u can let ur car there easily and safely.
Is totally worthing.
The road although till Kokino is a bit hard and not so well so make sure u got a map or GPS or smth with urself for any case.
Also when u will arrive there by car there is a parking spot so u can let ur car there easily and safely.
Is totally worthing.
Written 17 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kevin032452
Boise, ID336 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
This site is one of those places that makes you ponder our the talents and intelligence of our early ancestors. It is an astronomical observatory dating to megalithic time. That is the good news. The bad news is that the site is hard to find. Road signage is not the best and the site is way out in the country. We found it with the help of very kind local folks. Once there, we were only able to find one vandalized sign explaining the significance of the site, and we had to join the pieces of the sign together to read it. The trail is marked with wood posts, and mention is made of four areas flattened by the builders, but nothing is clearly marked so a lot of the educational value was lost. Getting there was an adventure, and the fun/challenge of communicating with local folks to find the site added to the fun.
Written 3 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JonDoe04134
Umeå, Sweden4,192 contributions
Mar 2016 • Friends
There's no way you can miss it, just head for the village of Kokino. There are some buses (or at least one) but without any schedules, yet locals seem to know the time of their arrival perfectly. If you come by car you can leave it by the road and continue up the hill on foot for about ten minutes. The observatory is completely different from what could be expected, since the stones were carved on site and no additional were brought. There are descriptions in English in the most important parts of the observatory. Very interesting and impressive, the view from the observatory (the hill is over 1000m high) is great as well.
Written 30 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ivana B
182 contributions
Mar 2015 • Friends
Bronze Age archaeological treasure. Truly unique place and free hidden from the tourist (only the persistent can find it). Best way to get there is by car with a navigator ,because buses are very rare and uncomfort. Live lecture for BC culture. STRONGLY RECOMMEND !!!!
Written 2 November 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tomáš S
Prague, Czech Republic1 contribution
Jul 2015 • Couples
During our visit in July 2015 we accidentally found out, that there are at least two buses a day coming from Kumanovo to Kokino. However their existence seems to be well hidden secret even for the local people and as a consequence we were not able to acquire exact information about their schedule.
We took the first bus at 11:20 from Staro Nagoričane, so presumably it departs around 11:00 from Kumanovo (not necessarily from the main bus station, some transport companies do not use its services to save money). At 11:50 we arrived at the final stop located at a place called The Cross, some 3 km far from the observatory, which is much more acceptable than ~15 km walk from Staro Nagoričane.
The afternoon bus goes at 17:00 from Kokino and because it is the same type of vehicle, it most likely starts around 16:10 from Kumanovo and returns back around 17:50. In any way, if you decide to use the public transport, keep in mind that the schedule may change from time to time and the service might be even canceled without any announcement, so always ask local people about an up-to-date schedule (and be patient, in our case most of the people had no idea, that there actually is some bus to Kokino).
The observatory itself is an interesting place. It is not overcrowded by tourists (in fact we were alone during our visit) and because there are no restrictions you may freely explore every part of this 4000 years old marvel. There are few boards with description of the site, but in my opinion they are too general and offer little insight on how the place was actually used.
Final stop of the bus - The Cross - is worth visiting as well. Besides it is nice place for rest you can also learn something about local traditions and other interesting places in the area.
We took the first bus at 11:20 from Staro Nagoričane, so presumably it departs around 11:00 from Kumanovo (not necessarily from the main bus station, some transport companies do not use its services to save money). At 11:50 we arrived at the final stop located at a place called The Cross, some 3 km far from the observatory, which is much more acceptable than ~15 km walk from Staro Nagoričane.
The afternoon bus goes at 17:00 from Kokino and because it is the same type of vehicle, it most likely starts around 16:10 from Kumanovo and returns back around 17:50. In any way, if you decide to use the public transport, keep in mind that the schedule may change from time to time and the service might be even canceled without any announcement, so always ask local people about an up-to-date schedule (and be patient, in our case most of the people had no idea, that there actually is some bus to Kokino).
The observatory itself is an interesting place. It is not overcrowded by tourists (in fact we were alone during our visit) and because there are no restrictions you may freely explore every part of this 4000 years old marvel. There are few boards with description of the site, but in my opinion they are too general and offer little insight on how the place was actually used.
Final stop of the bus - The Cross - is worth visiting as well. Besides it is nice place for rest you can also learn something about local traditions and other interesting places in the area.
Written 20 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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