Kokino
Kokino
4.5
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4.5
22 reviews
Excellent
10
Very good
9
Average
3
Poor
0
Terrible
0
DDTMd
MD17 contributions
Sept 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 Netherlands235 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.
sommerfugle
Wil, Switzerland38 contributions
Sept 2013 • Friends
This place is amazing! If it was advertised more it could become very famous. It's very far in the east and you have to drive for a long time to get there. Trust the direction once you've followed the sign to Kokino - you'll continue driving for a long time (an hour or so, if I remember correctly) and not see a sign again! But you're on the correct street, there are no turns you could have taken.
When you arrive you see a sign at a parking space. You park and hike up the mountains for maybe 15-20 minutes. We met a very friendly man who is selling books on the attraction up there. He generously tells about the place and doesn't want any money for it. You can buy books from him though if you want to show your gratitude.
It's an place which was used in the stoneage to visualize the calendar and to do rituals. You also have a beautiful view from there.
Probably it can be very hot there in the summer. There is no shadow. We were there in September and it was warm, but very comfortable.
When you arrive you see a sign at a parking space. You park and hike up the mountains for maybe 15-20 minutes. We met a very friendly man who is selling books on the attraction up there. He generously tells about the place and doesn't want any money for it. You can buy books from him though if you want to show your gratitude.
It's an place which was used in the stoneage to visualize the calendar and to do rituals. You also have a beautiful view from there.
Probably it can be very hot there in the summer. There is no shadow. We were there in September and it was warm, but very comfortable.
Written 27 November 2013
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.
Kemeny
Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia2,013 contributions
Sept 2014 • Family
Visiting kokino Observatory is a good, half day program from Skopje, you can link it with the visit of Stone Dolls and city of Kretovo. One of the richest archeological site from the Bronze age in the country. Coming from Skopje, turn left at the sign of Kokino, but keep in mind, you have to travel at least another 30 minutes to reach the parking place (not paved). You have to park the car some hundreds meter from the observatory, you have to walk up to the mountain from here. The hill/observatory is interesting, you have a good scenic view, if you want to see the observatory part, you have to visit it at night. (Visit the homepage, it will give more information.)
The key role of this observatory was to facilitate the increase of the agricultural crops and to the
improvement of the community life safety and quality. Ancient observers by constant
monitoring of the Sun and the Moon movements were in a position to foresee the
coming of the ritual and ceremonial days. Therefore the calendar contributed to
the community religious life organization.
Archaeo-astronomical analyze of the site clearly identified two so called Time
Markers used at the observatory for the purpose of time measuring. The evidence
leads us to the clearly emerging fact that on the Kokino Megalithic Observatory
people knew about the Lunar Calendar with the 19 years of cycle. They knew that the
same calendar day is appearing in the same phase of the Moon, and could be seen
through one of the markers every 19 years. These are the bases of the Kokino Lunar
Calendar.
The key role of this observatory was to facilitate the increase of the agricultural crops and to the
improvement of the community life safety and quality. Ancient observers by constant
monitoring of the Sun and the Moon movements were in a position to foresee the
coming of the ritual and ceremonial days. Therefore the calendar contributed to
the community religious life organization.
Archaeo-astronomical analyze of the site clearly identified two so called Time
Markers used at the observatory for the purpose of time measuring. The evidence
leads us to the clearly emerging fact that on the Kokino Megalithic Observatory
people knew about the Lunar Calendar with the 19 years of cycle. They knew that the
same calendar day is appearing in the same phase of the Moon, and could be seen
through one of the markers every 19 years. These are the bases of the Kokino Lunar
Calendar.
Written 1 October 2014
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.
DanielD525
London, UK1,429 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
Still bemused why this attraction has only 3 reviews, considering it goes down in history as the 4th oldest megalithic structure..
From Skopje this drive is no more than 70 mins away. Coming off the main road, it takes about 25 mins drive down B roads.
A small car park is located at the bottom of the mountains. We then proceeded to trek up the mountain (Taticev Kamen) for about 20 mins, which is amazing as the actual observatory sits on top of the mountains. Definitely another amazing place in Macedonia that offers fantastic views. There were only a handful of tourists in the area, which consisted of mainly young people. No gimmicks or tourist traps for miles, which seems to be unheard of these days. No entrance fees or parking tickets - just a natural wonder that will hopefully gain more recognition, as people understand how the calendar was created many many years ago that creates this heritage today..
From Skopje this drive is no more than 70 mins away. Coming off the main road, it takes about 25 mins drive down B roads.
A small car park is located at the bottom of the mountains. We then proceeded to trek up the mountain (Taticev Kamen) for about 20 mins, which is amazing as the actual observatory sits on top of the mountains. Definitely another amazing place in Macedonia that offers fantastic views. There were only a handful of tourists in the area, which consisted of mainly young people. No gimmicks or tourist traps for miles, which seems to be unheard of these days. No entrance fees or parking tickets - just a natural wonder that will hopefully gain more recognition, as people understand how the calendar was created many many years ago that creates this heritage today..
Written 26 June 2014
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.
Peckata P
Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia12 contributions
May 2013 • Couples
It's a beautiful place and worth visiting, if you can find it. It has no road signs to it, The road is not been serviced for 50 years by my opinion and 2 cars can pass but hope not to have the need to pass by a bus, there's no space. The place is one of the oldest observatories in the world, and it is treated as it does not worth anything. There are no projects for restorations or even for preservations for this place, so if you wanna see it go sooner it might collapse some day.
Written 22 November 2013
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
Kathmandu184 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.
JonDoe04134
Umeå, Sweden4,309 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.
Hi everyone, are we able to go up to Kokino at night?
Written 2 April 2017
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