If you’ve been following my blog, you might notice that I have a thing for quirky and unique accommodations — I even have a whole category dedicated to quirky hotels, apartments, and hostels around the world!
On my last trip to Northern Macedonia, I expected the typical Balkan-style guesthouses, average hotels, some party hostels, and maybe a few luxury 5-star hotels to round it out. Nothing out of the ordinary, right?
Oh, how wrong I was!
Whether it was by coincidence or serendipity, I stumbled upon one of the quirkiest, eccentric, and most unique accommodations in Skopje: Dali Apartments.
Although we stayed here for only one day, it felt as if we — quite literally — spent a night at the museum.
From the hand-painted ceiling to the *ahem* unique decor (a real sword), kooky color schemes, and small details, it really felt as if I was teleported inside a Dali painting.
If you’re curious to learn more about my review of the Dali Apartments (and maybe book your own stay!), then keep reading. I promise it’ll be worth it. :)
ABOUT THE DALI APARTMENTS
Dali Apartments is the brainchild of Zoran Iliev Roger (also known as Roger Piano), an artist, businessman, local personality, and an interesting guy who hails from Northern Macedonia.
While I’m not quite sure how he achieved local fame (my Macedonian is very rusty 
), I do know that he started working on the apartment in 2001 and completed it in 2006.
According to a local newspaper write up, “[Dali Apartments] is one of the most unique apartments in the world… where every millimeter represents a journey through time, a combination of different styles and mysticism.”
Although we stayed in the biggest suite, Dali Apartments is actually made up of three individual apartments — one penthouse (which is what this blog post covers!) and two smaller apartments on the lower stories.
The three apartments are spread over 250 square meters (2,700 sq ft), and feature over 50 different themes, including elements of Chinese mythology and Egyptian culture, ancient Macedonian symbols, astrological signs, and much more.
To give you a little background, Roger wrote about his artistic process: “The internal space has been made in the ‘spirit’ of my family, in each segment, depending on the function of the room. The solutions are a mixture of practicality, technique and art. Originality is present according to my personal feelings for that mixture.”
Although the apartment is still fairly unknown outside of North Macedonia, it’s gaining ground. In fact, it was featured in a Forbes article a few years ago!
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PRICE
We stayed at the Dali Apartments in November 2020 and paid a total of $40 for a one night stay (including fees and taxes).
However, this price might go slightly up, especially since we booked in the off season (and during the middle of a pandemic, but that’s a different story!)
Also, like I mentioned before, it’s important to note that Dali Apartments is actually made up of three different apartments.
We stayed in the main accommodation (Luxury Duplex Apartment with Balcony), but there are also two other apartments: the Comfort One-Bedroom Apartment with Balcony and the One-Bedroom Apartment with Balcony.
The price is very reasonable, especially when you consider how cool the place is! Even if you don’t stay here during your entire trip, it’s worth booking at least one night to check it out. :)
Check out all three apartments and book your stay here
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LOCATION
The Dali Apartments are situated in the center of Skopje (North Macedonia), on Luj Paster street.
I personally think this is one of the best apartments in Skopje if you’re selective about the location, because you’re right in the heart of the city while still enjoying peace and quiet — it’s at the end of a quiet pedestrian street and you have no neighbors in the building!
Those who are planning to check out the capital will be happy to hear that the main square (Square Macedonia) is a 5 minute walk, the Memorial House of Mother Teresa is a 2 minute walk, and the Old Bazaar is a 15 minute walk away.
Likewise, there are plenty of cafes, restaurants, bakeries, and stores around the apartment. I recommend the Tinex Deli (3 min walk) for groceries, Mikel Coffee (2 min walk) for coffee, and Markt Kitchen (8 min walk) for delicious and healthy food.
The Main Bus Station in Skopje is a 20 minute walk (5 min drive), while Skopje International Airport is a 25 minute drive from the apartment.
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CHECK-IN & CHECK-OUT
In a nutshell, the check-in was very quick and convenient.
After we checked out of our previous accommodation, we texted the property manager, walked over, and he was already waiting for us near the door of the building.
Since it was low season (November) and nobody else was staying in the other apartments, he even let us take a look at the different designs and decor. :)
When we were checking out around midnight, the property manager was kind enough to call us a taxi to the airport.
THE APARTMENT
I know you guys are excited to finally see the inside of the apartments, so let’s get on with it!
The best way to describe the layout of this place is that it’s a cross between a two-story and a loft apartment: the main bedroom and one bathroom is upstairs, while the living room, kitchen, and another bathroom are on the first floor. There’s a huge spiral staircase to connect the two stories together.
When you walk into the apartments, your senses are overloaded with everything all at once: the colors, the textures, the space, and so much more!
Seriously, it feels as if you’ve stepped into a museum/apartment — all you want to do is just stare at all of the little details (and believe me, there are many!)
The living room (above) is very spacious and doesn’t feel overwhelming. I think this might be due to the pastel blue ceiling, which resembles fluffy clouds and really ties the space together. Doesn’t it just make you want to lie on the couch and daydream?
If you look at the far end of the living room, you’ll notice a curious sight: an elevator!
Yes, you guessed it — this property has its own private elevator. Although it wasn’t working when we were there (technical issues ), I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have a lift that goes directly to your apartment. In front of the elevator there are two huge vases with motifs of Asian culture, which (surprisingly) go well with the rest of the decor.
Before we go upstairs, let’s take a quick peek in the kitchen…
Although it might seem like a regular kitchen at first, take a closer look and you’ll start to notice some unique symbols. Perhaps the most interesting is the giant Ohrid trout on the backsplash, which is native to North Macedonia and a speciality in the region — and is featured on the 2 denars coin! Behind the trout are the colors and flag of Macedonia.
Besides the typical kitchen cabinets, there’s also an island bar with accents of wood and metal.
Let’s take the staircase and check out the bedroom. Be sure to pay attention to the steps, as they have their own story: the pole in the center is made from wood and represents the ‘tree of life,’ the outer part of the steps are decorated in crystal and quartz, and the railing has hand-carved wood motifs!
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THE BEDROOM
Upstairs is the apartment’s only bedroom, which takes up the entire floor (along with an ensuite bathroom). One of the sweetest elements in this area is the ceiling, which is decorated in three-dimensional roses and fancy frames — and there’s a story behind them.
In his book, Roger wrote that, “I used to give roses very rarely, and this remark made by my wife inspired me to make the whole bedroom with rose motifs.” Isn’t that cute?
To the left of the bed is a beautiful stained glass divider that separates the bedroom and the bathroom. If you look closely, you’ll see a heart and two lovebirds as the main ‘characters.’
After strolling around the bedroom, let’s take a step outside for the final part.
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THE BALCONY
One of the best things about the apartment (besides its grandiose design, of course) is the gorgeous view of downtown Skopje and the nearby Orthodox Church!
An interesting fact is that the top balcony is an identical copy to the chariot of Alexander the Great, who was rumored to be half Macedonian. At the top of the building, there’s also a giant crown, and above the balcony is a colorful mosaic with the words ‘Alexander’ in Macedonian.
If you look at the floor, you’ll see the Macedonian sun symbol again on the mosaic tiles that line the balcony space.
That’s all for today — what did you think of the apartments?
BOOK NOW
Now that our little tour is over, don’t you want to book it and see for yourself? You can!
Click one of the links below to book:
Booking.com || Agoda
Even if it’s for one night, you won’t regret it. As one reviewer wrote, “This apartment makes it worth it alone to visit Skopje” — and I agree!
But that’s not all: if you visit the Booking link for Dali Apartments, you can also reserve the other two rooms (i.e. the Egypt-style room).
If you want to learn more about the Dali Apartments, including Roger’s artistic process, the meaning behind the symbols, and some personal anecdotes, he has a book titled Infinity — you can check out the PDF version here. :)
