Mavrovo National Park is the largest national park in North Macedonia, and lies only around two hours by car from Lake Ohrid. From a lake with a partially submerged church and a dramatic monastery gorge to an accessible cave and one of the oldest mountain villages in the Balkans, there is plenty to discover here – whether you visit on a day trip or stay for several days. In summer, Mavrovo is a paradise for hiking and outdoor adventures; in winter, the mountains turn into a popular ski destination. I’ve put together the most important sights, activities, and practical information to help you plan your visit:

Getting to Mavrovo from Ohrid

Driving from Ohrid to the first sights around Lake Mavrovo takes around two hours by rental car. Most of the route follows well-maintained roads, making Mavrovo easy to visit as a day trip. If you have more time, however, staying overnight in the national park is an even better way to experience the region.

Top Sights in Mavrovo National Park

Lake Mavrovo & St. Nicholas Leten Church

Lake Mavrovo is a reservoir and the visual centrepiece of the national park. Its most famous photo spot is the small Church of St. Nicholas Leten (Св. Никола Летен), which can look like an island depending on the water level and is often surrounded by grazing horses. Hiking and cycling trails run around parts of the lake and are also suitable for a shorter walk.

Sveti Jovan Bigorski Monastery

Founded in 1020, Sveti Jovan Bigorski Monastery is considered the most important and largest monastery in North Macedonia. It is spectacularly situated on a steep mountainside above the Radika River gorge. The monastery is particularly famous for its intricately carved, six-tiered iconostasis and an icon of St. John the Baptist, which is believed to have miraculous powers. Today, around 30 monks and novices live here. Visitors are expected to follow a dress code – shorts and sleeveless clothing must be covered with cloths provided at the monastery. If you want to stay longer, you can even spend the night in the monastery’s guesthouse.

Sharkova Dupka – The Cave

Just above the village of Mavrovo lies Sharkova Dupka, a developed cave equipped with illuminated metal walkways. At around 20 metres (66 ft) below ground, you can admire stalactites, stalagmites and coral-like rock formations – and, if you are lucky, even spot a small horseshoe bat. Access is only possible with a local guide. Entrance costs around 250 denars per person.

Duf Waterfall near Rostuša

Near the village of Rostuša, the Duf Waterfall plunges around 28 metres (92 ft) into the gorge below. The amount of water varies considerably depending on the season, with the waterfall particularly impressive in spring during the snowmelt. From the parking area – which you can find on our Google My Map – a well-marked, mostly shaded trail follows a small stream to the waterfall. Allow around 1 to 1.5 hours for the round trip, including time for photos.

Galičnik Village

Galičnik sits at an altitude of around 1,400 metres (4,593 ft) on Mount Bistra and is one of the oldest villages of the Mijaks, an ancient Slavic ethnic group. Only around 48 people still live here permanently, but the village’s traditional stone houses and architecture have been remarkably well preserved. Once a year, on July 12, Galičnik comes alive for the Galička Svadba – one of the most famous traditional wedding celebrations in Europe. During the festival, a local couple gets married according to traditional customs, attracting thousands of visitors. Even outside the festival, Galičnik is worth visiting for its distinctive architecture, spectacular mountain scenery and local cheese specialities such as Kaškaval and Belo Sirenje.

Radika River Gorge

Between Lake Mavrovo and Sveti Jovan Bigorski Monastery, the road winds through the spectacular Radika River Gorge. This is one of the most scenic stretches of the national park, with dramatic rock faces rising above the road and dense forests covering the surrounding mountains.

Recommended Day Trip Route through Mavrovo National Park

Start your day at Lake Mavrovo and visit both St. Nicholas churches – the newer church and the famous submerged St. Nicholas Leten. Continue along the Radika River Gorge towards Sveti Jovan Bigorski Monastery, then hike to Duf Waterfall near Rostuša. If you still have enough time, continue to the mountain village of Galičnik before heading back to Ohrid.

I’ve marked the most important places from this itinerary on this Google My Map:

Things to Do in Mavrovo in Summer

From spring through autumn, Mavrovo National Park is primarily a destination for hikers, mountain bikers and outdoor enthusiasts. More than 52 peaks in the park rise above 2,000 metres (6,562 ft), with the highest being Golem Korab at 2,764 metres (9,068 ft) – the highest mountain in North Macedonia. Beyond the sights mentioned above, Lake Mavrovo itself is perfect for swimming, fishing and short walks along the shore.

Things to Do in Mavrovo in Winter – Zare Lazarevski Ski Resort

In winter, the area around the village of Mavrovo transforms into one of the largest ski destinations in North Macedonia. Zare Lazarevski Ski Resort sits at an altitude of around 1,255 to 1,860 metres (4,117–6,102 ft) and offers approximately 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) of slopes – around 17 km (10.6 mi) of easy runs, 3 km (1.9 mi) of intermediate runs and 5 km (3.1 mi) of difficult terrain – served by 13 to 14 lifts. The main ski season runs from early December to early April. Based on our latest price research, a day pass costs around €18 for adults and €13 for children (2026). At around 53 km (33 mi) from Lake Ohrid, the resort is also considerably closer to Ohrid than to Skopje, which is approximately 106 km (66 mi) away.

Practical Information – Entrance Fees, Accommodation & Getting There

National park entrance & hiking: Hiking in Mavrovo National Park now requires a paid registration. Tickets are available online via the official Mavrovo National Park website or directly from the information centre in Mavrovi Anovi.

Where to stay: If you want to spend more than a day in the national park, the village of Mavrovo offers several hotels and apartments close to the ski resort. Alternatively, as mentioned above, you can stay at the guesthouse of Sveti Jovan Bigorski Monastery. There are very few accommodation options directly in Galičnik, so visiting as a day trip from Mavrovo is generally the more convenient option.

Best time to visit: The best conditions for hiking and sightseeing are from May to October. For skiing and other winter sports, plan your trip between December and March. And if you want to experience the Galička Svadba, plan your visit around July 12.

Guided Day Trip from Ohrid – No Rental Car Required

If you would rather not rent a car, you can also explore Mavrovo National Park without your own vehicle. A full-day private tour is available from Ohrid, with hotel pickup at 9:00 am in Ohrid or Peštani. The tour lasts around 10–11 hours and includes an air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver and guide. The itinerary combines many of the region’s highlights in a single day. You’ll first head into Mavrovo National Park to see the partially submerged Church of St. Nicholas in Lake Mavrovo. The tour then continues to Sveti Jovan Bigorski Monastery, followed by a coffee break at the House of the Miyaks, where you can learn more about the region’s culture, and a photo stop at the Globočica Reservoir.

Our conclusion: Mavrovo National Park reveals a completely different side of North Macedonia from the lake landscapes around Ohrid – wilder, more mountainous and dramatically different depending on the season. We explored Mavrovo National Park as part of our 48-hour trip to Ohrid. If you want to see how we combined Ohrid’s Old Town, Sveti Naum and Mavrovo into a compact itinerary, check out our guide: 48 Hours in Ohrid – The Perfect 2-Day Trip on Lake Ohrid.

Would you rather visit Mavrovo in summer for hiking or in winter for skiing?
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