Translating as Priest’s Hat in remembrance of a local legend involving an Orthodox priest who vanished off the face of the earth with the exception of his headgear many centuries ago, Popova Šapka is a hugely popular winter sports destination immediately west of Tetovo. Aome 70km west of the capital and situated at approximately 1,780m above sea level, the town exists with more or less the single purpose of providing a range of excellent facilities for anyone wanting to indulge in various snow-related activities. Boasting an average of 135 days of snow a year and the location for the annual Šarplaninski Cup international skiing competition, Popova Šapka features a total of six ski lifts and three chair lifts and is easily reached from Skopje in less than two hours making it an idea place for both short ski visits or something altogether longer and more ambitious. Interestingly, as well as being able to reach the town via a road that manages to stay open around the year, visitors can also visit Popova Šapka with the aid of a 7km cable car ride, which takes about 40 minutes and that’s located close to the Arabati Baba Tekḱe in Tetova.