Gostivar is a city in the Republic of Macedonia, located on the both banks of the Vardar river in the upper Polog plain region. Gostivar is seat of Gostivar municipality and it’s the second largest city in the Polog plain.

According to the 2002 census, Gostivar had 35,487 inhabitants. Gostivar lies at an altitude of 530 meters above the sea level.

Gostivar is situated on the E-65 motorway, which was double-laned in 1995, from Gostivar to Tetovo (24 km). Gostivar has good road and railway connections with the other cities in the region: Tetovo, Skopje (67 km), Kicevo, Ohrid (107 km-no railway) and Debar (68 km). Gostivar is a merchant and industrail city. From the second half of the 19th century, a lot of merchants started moving in and opening new stores. Many trading stores were opened and Tuesday became the market day. These new circumstances brought significant changes in Gostivar. The мerchants from Veles and Tetovo and the craftsmen from Kicevo and Krusevo among the others, contributed in founding of the Gostivar bazaar.

Being a small town at the beginning of the 20th century, thanks to the merchant that have contributed in its development, today Gostivar has developed into a modern city, and has become important destination in this part of Macedonia.

Climate & When to come in Gostivar

The Gostivar surroundings are under the influence of the warm continental and mountainous climate. Šar Mountain is one of the most important Alpine mountain ranges in Macedonia together with neighboring Mount Korab and Bistra mountains, that are covered with snow from November till March or April every year.

Gostivar tourist attractions

• BEY MAHALA MOSQUE The Bey Mahala Mosque was built in 1688 by Ebu Bekir. It’s also known as the Clock mosque, due to the nearby Clock tower. 0.23 km NNE from main square / Gostivar
• GOSTIVAR CLOCK TOWER The Clock tower, was built by Abu Qebir an Ottoman Bay (ruler) in 1683. It’s located in the center of Gostivar and has been renovated while ago. 0.19 km NNE from main square / Gostivar
• GOLEM KORAB PEAK The highest peak in Republic of Macedonia – Golem Korab or Korabska Vrata (2,764 m). The Korab mountain is adjacent to the Šar Mountain. Climbing is organized by the mountain club PSD “Korab”. 27.98 km W from Gostivar center
• HOLY MOTHER OF GOD CHURCH The church is cathedral in the city and it’s located in the Gostivar’s square. 0.06 km E from main square / Gostivar
• MAVROVO NATIONAL Mavrovo encompasses the most beautiful parts of western Macedonia, the mountains Bistra, Korab, South Šar Massifs, Dešat, the river Radika, Mavrovo Lake and the villages Mavrovi Anovi, Mavrovo, Leunovo, Nikiforovo, Galičnik, Rostuše, Gari, Janče, Tresonče, Bituše and Lazaropole, with total area of 73,088 hectares. In order to preserve the natural wealth of the region, it has been designated as a National Park with the Law passed on March 3rd 1952, on account of “the historical and scientific significance of the forests and wooded areas around the plain of Mavrovo, the specific landscape and the natural beauty of the region, the diverse flora and fauna and ethnological characteristics”. In this area nature has created numerous beauties of different character. The relief, the climatic conditions, the hydrological and vegetative features, enhanced by human creativity, all contribute to making this region a particularly special place where the gifts of the nature and the resourcefulness of humans can be admired. The National Park Mavrovo encompasses numerous rivers, which present a real jewel in the crown of beauty for the mountain landscape, with their wild rapids, water-falls and incredible transparency: always full with clear and cold water, the springs never get muddy. One of the most impressive parts of the park are the striking gorges of the river Radika. The most dramatic is the Baric gorge. The horizon in front of the observer completely closes leaving open only the blue sky and the steep ascending rocks, in some places 1,500 m high. The valley of the river Radika is almost completely covered with woods, except for its lower part. The river is rich with river trout, which makes it attractive for the sports fishermen. At the height of 2,300 m the river Ribnica emerges, a real alpine river, with light-green, clear and shiny water. The river valley is covered with woods and usually fresh in temperature, with tame, pleasant and beautiful landscapes. On the mountain slopes at a very great height, there are 17 glacial lakes, as a further ornament of the mountain landscapes. The biggest lake within the national park is the artificial Mavrovo Lake, which with its clear water, surrounded with forest, is one of the special attractions in this part of Macedonia. The National Park Mavrovo is characteristic for its extremely rich flora and fauna. Besides the presence of several floral elements from different climatic regions, the most important feature of the floral-geographical position of the park is the presence of several endemic and relic forms. Of special interest is the presence of the elements from the original tropical vegetation: the tertiary and glacial relics. 24.94 km SW from Gostivar center
• VRUTOK GORGE OF VARDAR RIVER Vrutok, the spring of the largest river in Macedonia, Vardar is in the wider Gostivar surroundings. There, at an altitude of 683 meters, from the base of the mountain Shar rises the river Vardar. The spring of the river Vardar, is one of the greatest natural beauties of the Gostivar region and one of it’s kind in Macedonia. From the spring the riverbed of Vardar widens. 6.83 km WSW from Gostivar center