National Park
Mavrovo National Park
North Macedonia's largest national park, with hiking trails around Mavrovo Lake and a modest ski resort for winter visitors.
Founder, from Ruma, Serbia
Mavrovo National Park is North Macedonia's largest and oldest national park, founded in 1949 and covering a huge swathe of forest, gorges and high mountains in the west of the country. At its centre lies Mavrovo Lake, and its highest point, Mount Korab at 2,764 metres, marks the border with Albania.
In summer, hiking trails lead through beech forest to waterfalls, the Radika river gorge and the Korab summit, a long, demanding day often done on organised hikes. The half-submerged church of St Nicholas, which appears and disappears as the lake rises and falls, is the park's most photographed sight. In winter, the Mavrovo ski resort offers the country's best-known slopes.
Mavrovo is about an hour and a half from Skopje. Visit from June to September for hiking, or December to March for skiing. Stop at the Monastery of St John Bigorski in the Radika valley, famous for its intricately carved iconostasis. Combine it with Matka Canyon near Skopje or Lake Ohrid further south.
When to go
May through October for hiking, with a small ski season December through February.
Getting there
Roughly 1.5 hours from Skopje by car.
Plan your visit
What it costs, how long to allow, and where to base yourself.
Free entry; guided Korab hike from €210
Full day; about 9 hrs for Korab
Mavrovo village
Skopje, 1.5 hrs
Where to stay in Mavrovo: lakeside village or ski slopes
Stay in Mavrovo village for the easiest access to the lake, summer trails and the winter slopes. Hotel Fersped suits skiers who want to step straight onto the snow, while LAKEVIEW Hotel works year round with its own restaurant. Families and self-caterers get better value from apartments in nearby Mavrovi Anovi. Mavrovo is about an hour and a half from Skopje, so it pairs well with Matka Canyon.
LAKEVIEW Hotel & Apartments
Hotel
Price Range:
Mid-range
Hotel with a restaurant and terrace in Mavrovo village. Works for summer hikes and winter ski days alike.
In Mavrovo village
Hotel Fersped
Hotel
Price Range:
Upscale
Ski-to-door hotel with mountain views. The pick for winter, when the slopes are right outside.
Ski-to-door in Mavrovo
Villa Nur - Lake View Apartments
Apartment
Price Range:
Budget
Self-catering apartments with lake views and full kitchens. Good value for families and longer stays.
In Mavrovi Anovi
Who it's for
Best for: Hikers who want big, empty mountains within 90 minutes of a capital city, and anyone combining summer trails with a winter ski trip. Mount Korab, on the Albanian border, is the highest point in the country.
Skip it if: You expect Alpine-level infrastructure. Trail marking is patchy outside the main routes, and the ski resort is modest by European standards.
Nearby places
Easy to combine on the same trip.
Mavrovo questions
What can I do at Mavrovo?
Hike around Mavrovo Lake and up to Mount Korab in summer, or ski the Mavrovo resort in winter.
Can I ski here?
Yes, the park has a ski resort for winter visitors, alongside its summer hiking trails.
Is this North Macedonia's largest national park?
Yes, it's the country's largest and oldest national park, centred on the artificial Mavrovo Lake.
How much does it cost to visit Mavrovo?
Walking around the lake and the villages costs nothing. Guided hikes into the high mountains, like the Korab trip we link to, include a park fee in the price, and in winter you pay for ski passes at the Mavrovo resort, which are low by European standards.
How hard is Mount Korab?
A long, demanding day: about 19 kilometres and 1,500 metres of climbing to 2,764 metres, roughly three hours up and a little less down. The guided hike we link to starts in Mavrovi Anovi with a 4x4 transfer to the trailhead at the Srezimir checkpoint and costs from around €210 per person as a private trip, with a certified guide, park fee and snacks included. The summit sits on the Albanian border, and in bad weather guides may switch to the lower Sandaktaš peak.
Is Mavrovo worth visiting?
Yes. It is North Macedonia's largest and oldest national park, with beech forest, the Radika gorge and Mount Korab, plus the country's best-known ski slopes in winter.
What is the sunken church?
The half-submerged church of St Nicholas, which appears and disappears as the artificial lake rises and falls. It is the park's most photographed sight, best seen when water levels are low.
Is the Bigorski monastery nearby?
Yes. The Monastery of St John Bigorski in the Radika valley is famous for its intricately carved iconostasis and sits on the road through the park.
Ready to explore Mavrovo?
A private guided hike to Golem Korab, North Macedonia's highest peak, with 4x4 transfer to the trailhead and park fees included.
