Places · North Macedonia

Natural Wonders of North Macedonia: The 4 Most Beautiful Places to Visit

4 places in the atlas

North Macedonia is a landlocked, largely mountainous country in the heart of the Balkans. Its great natural treasure is Lake Ohrid on the Albanian border — millions of years old, up to 288 m deep and home to more than 200 endemic species — framed by the mountains of Galičica National Park. Closer to the capital, the Treska River has cut the limestone Matka Canyon, now partly flooded by a reservoir lake. Below are the 4 natural wonders of North Macedonia in the atlas — the most beautiful places to build a trip around, each with what makes it remarkable, when to go, and how to reach it. Best overall time: June to September for swimming and boating on Lake Ohrid; spring and autumn for walking and climbing around Matka Canyon.

Lake Ohrid

Southwestern North Macedonia, on the border with Albania

One of the oldest lakes in the world — deep, clear water on the North Macedonia–Albania border, home to more than 200 species found nowhere else.

Lake Europe

Matka Canyon

West of Skopje, North Macedonia, on the Treska River

A steep limestone canyon on the Treska River just outside Skopje, with a glassy reservoir lake, kayaking, climbing and Vrelo Cave, believed to be among the deepest in Europe.

Canyon Europe

Mavrovo National Park

Northwestern North Macedonia, between Gostivar, Debar and Kičevo, on the borders with Albania and Kosovo

North Macedonia's largest national park: a high country of beech and fir forest, the 25-km Radika gorge, a mountain reservoir lake with a half-drowned church, and Korab, the highest peak in the country at 2,764 m.

Mountain Europe

Pelister National Park

Baba Mountain, above Bitola, southwestern North Macedonia

North Macedonia's oldest national park, on Baba Mountain above Bitola: forests of the rare Macedonian pine, high granite ridges, and two glacial lakes known as Pelister's Eyes just below the 2,601-m summit.