Strumica sits in a broad valley in southeastern Macedonia, close to the borders with Bulgaria and Greece. The surrounding valley is one of the most fertile areas in the country — warm, Mediterranean-influenced climate produces early vegetables, tobacco, poppies, and the aniseed used to make Mastika, Macedonia's national spirit.
The town itself is pleasant but low-key, with a compact centre built around the vast Goce Delčev Square, a busy market, and the medieval Carevi Kuli fortress on the hill above. The main reason to stop is the nearby monasteries: the Monastery of the Holy Fifteen Martyrs of Tiberiopolis, set in woods above the town, and the 11th-century Vodoča and Veljusa monasteries, with fragments of original Byzantine frescoes. The Strumica Carnival, held before Lent, is one of the liveliest traditional events in Macedonia.