Sports and leisure activities Northern Macedonia

This tennis club (АБЦ Тениски Клуб/ABC Teniski Klub) has five clay courts, one of which is covered, a pleasant café-restaurant, a soccer pitch, a basketball hall and another for table tennis. It is located near the municipal zoo and the City Park (bus access: line 8 or 15a, "Gimnasjia Orste Nikolov" stop). Racquet rental, competition organization, tennis lessons, evening sessions. Alternatively, there are other tennis clubs, including right in the center of City Park.

This sports federation (Федерација за Планинарство на Северна Македонија/Federacija za Planinarstvo na Severna Makedonija, Federatës Bjeshkatare të Maqedonisë së Veriut) groups all 56 mountaineering associations in Northern Macedonia. It provides a list of guides for excursions in the country's various mountain ranges, as well as a list of mountain refuges. The website also features a number of itinerary descriptions for the Skopje area.

Located in the Debar Maalo district, this diving club is the only one in Northern Macedonia to be internationally certified by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). It organizes not only courses, but also diving trips to Lake Ohrid, with the Struga Scout campsite as base camp (two days diving, three nights' accommodation). The club rents and sells certified diving equipment, and organizes outings throughout the year (program on the website).

Located below Mount Bistra, this resort (Ски Центар Заре Лазеревски/Ski Centar) is the most modern in the country. Also known as "Resort Mavrovo", it has 13 lifts (including a chairlift operating in summer), 15.5 km of downhill ski runs (from 1,255 to 1,878 m altitude) and 7 km of Nordic ski runs. It is managed by the Hotel Bistra, located at the foot of the slopes. This is where ski passes and equipment can be rented.

Kožuf Mountaineering Club (ЗПСК Кожуф, Здружение Планинарски Спортски Клуб Кожуф/Združenie Planinarski Sportski Klub Kožuf) is the local association that manages the trails on the Macedonian part of Mount Kožuf, on the border with Greece. It has only one guide authorized to lead summer hikes on this mountain: Risto Karkalašev ([email protected]). On the Greek side, you can contact Iraklis Misidis ([email protected]). He is based in Ioannina and was trained in France, at the National School of Skiing and Mountaineering.

This small resort (Ски Центар Нижеполе/Ski Centar Nižepole) lies between 1,300 and 1,610 m above sea level, below Mount Mala Griva (1,916 m). Managed by the state-owned Streževo water company, it has two t-bars and two slopes (total length: 5 km). The lower part has a café-restaurant and is lit up on certain evenings for night skiing. Ski equipment can be rented from local hoteliers. It's often full at weekends, and the parking lot is tiny.

This small resort (Ски Центар Копанки/Ski Centar Kopanki) lies between 1,415 and 1,770 m above sea level below Mount Stiv (2,468 m). Managed by the nearby Hotel Molika, it boasts a chairlift and a drag lift. Although the slopes are only 1.2 km long, they are steeper and more technical than those at Nižepole. The site is also more beautiful and is the starting point for several hiking trails through the national park.

The Šar Mountain Guides Association in Northern Macedonia is part of the Ljuboten Mountain Club (pkljuboten.org.mk), founded in 1925 and based on the same premises in Tetovo. It comprises twelve Macedonian and Albanian mountain guides, all of whom speak English and some a little French. They have all been trained by the Alliance Française office in Tetovo. They can accompany you on excursions of varying levels across the massif, including snowshoeing in winter.

Located in the City Park, this stadium (Национална Арена Тоше Проески/Nacionalna Arena Toše Proeski) is the largest in the country with 36,400 seats. Created in 1947 and modernized in 2012, it hosts sporting events and concerts. It is also the stadium of soccer clubs FK Vardar and FK Rabotnički. Originally called "Park Stadium", it was renamed "Philip II Stadium" in 2009 in reference to Alexander the Great's father. Since 2019, it has been named in honor of local pop singer Todor "Toše" Proeski (1981-2007).

North Macedonia's largest ski resort (Ски Центар Попова Шапка/Ski Centar Popova Šapka, Kodra e Diellit Ski Qendra) extends between 1,672 and 2,510 m above sea level. It includes plenty of accommodation, two 2- and 6-seater chairlifts, six pull-ups and 18 km of pistes, including one for night skiing at weekends. But cat skiing is the speciality here: snow groomers take you into the wilderness for off-piste skiing in powder snow.

This tourist agency is specialized in kayaking and sports activities. It has a kayak competition course on the Treska River, below the Matka Lake dam, near the village. The agency is owned by Lazar Popovski, a kayaking champion born in 1975 who has participated in four Olympic Games (1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004). He offers courses on site, but also day trips to the lakes of Ohrid, Prespa, Dojran, Mavrovo and Veles.

This small horse-riding agency is run by Dursim Rushani, who speaks good English. In fine weather, he organizes excursions to the Šar Mountains, for example to Lake Karanikola or the hamlet of Lešnica/Лешница (6 km west of Gostivar). He owns around fifteen horses well adapted to the harsh local conditions. Dursim Rushani also offers meals at his small equestrian center and accommodation in Bozovce. Reservations by e-mail ([email protected]) or on Facebook (facebook.com/horse.riding.bozovca).

This 10,000^m2 park (Авантуристички Парк Скопје/Avanturistički Park Skopje) features three obstacle courses, including one for children, and a 60 m-long zip line. It's located along the Vardar, in the Karpoš IV district, beyond City Park and the Boris-Trajkovski sports center. Helmets and harnesses are provided. Right next door you'll find a climbing center, skatepark, tennis courts, soccer and volleyball pitches, a children's playground and a café. Bus 8 or 15a, "Bazen Karposh" stop.

This ski resort (Ски Центар Крушево/Ski Centar Kruševo), also known as Stanič/Станич, is tiny with a 618 m run, two minipistes for beginners and two pull-ups. But it's located directly in the town, 700 m east of the center (you pass it on your way to the Makedonium). What's more, there are two restaurants on the summit, at an altitude of 1,400 m. Ski equipment can be rented from the Vila Gora hotel (among others), and the Montana Palace has ski instructors.

Founded in 2008, this agency is the oldest in Europe to offer snowmobile outings. It enables skiers and snowboarders to reach peaks inaccessible by road or lift, and to descend some 4 km of powder snow per day in the Šar mountains from Popova Šapka. Safety conditions are up to Canadian standards, with each participant equipped with an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel. Reservations required for a minimum of five participants.

This station (Ски Центар Кожуф) is closed since 2020. Created 2009, it fell victim to a corruption case. But its trails are easy hiking trails in summer. Starting from the bottom, at 1,500 m above sea level, you can reach the Greek border at the end point of the two abandoned lifts. To the southeast, K-92 rises to 2,102 m. In the south, the Zelen Breg reaches 2,171 m and is located right next to the Kožuf peak. Magnificent landscapes at 360 degrees.