Macedonia Popova Šapka

Popova Šapka is a high-alpine plateau on the Šar Mountain range above Tetovo. The main ski-station sits around 1 780 m a.s.l., while the ridge north-west of the top chairlift rises to ≈2 380 m, offering an unobstructed 360° panorama of the Polog Valley, Titov Vrv (2 748 m) and dozens of Šar peaks over 2 500 m. In winter the wide, treeless bowls turn into one of the Balkans’ best freeride zones; in summer the same slopes are a carpet of alpine flowers and a perfect vantage point for sunrise over the valley fog.

Best light: winter sunrise (soft pink glow on the snowy ridge) and summer sunset (side-lit layers toward Kosovo).

Lenses: 14–24 mm for the sweeping bowl; 70–200 mm to compress the layers of Šar summits and capture distant Titov Vrv.

Parking is reached via an 18 km paved mountain road from Tetovo at Kodra e Diellit - Ski Cente.