Mavrovo National Park

North Macedonia's largest national park, with a half-submerged church in its lake, Bigorski Monastery and the mountain village of Galičnik.

Mavrovo National Park lies in western North Macedonia on the border with Albania. Established in 1949 and covering about 730 km², it is the country's largest national park. It spans the southern Šar Mountains and the Korab, Bistra and Deshat ranges, and includes Mount Korab (2,764 m), North Macedonia's highest peak. Heavily forested, it is home to the Balkan lynx, brown bears, wolves and other wildlife. The main visitor areas fall into two parts: in the north, Lake Mavrovo at about 1,200 m, with the iconic half-submerged Church of St. Nicholas on its shore and Mavrovo, the country's largest ski resort; in the south, the Radika Valley, where the A2 highway leads in turn to St. Jovan Bigorski Monastery, the village of Rostuše and Duf Waterfall, with roads up to the traditional Mijak mountain villages of Galičnik, Janče and Lazaropole. Summer (Jun–Sep) is good for hiking, climbing and activities on the lake, and the Galičnik Wedding Festival in mid-July is the liveliest event; winter (Dec–Mar) is all about skiing, and the half-submerged church looks especially photogenic in the snow; in autumn, the Radika Valley's fall foliage is also beautiful. Getting there: it's about a 1.5–2-hour drive from Skopje along the A2 to the lake area; public buses are infrequent, so driving yourself is recommended. Plan on 2–3 days, staying in Mavrovo village or Mavrovi Anovi. Mountain weather is changeable, so bring proper gear for hiking, and carry your passport when climbing near the border.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries