Skopje: Matka Canyon, Millennium Cross & Traditional Village Tour
Description
This tour is a combination of some of the most famous landmarks around Skopje, like the Millennium Cross on the top of Vodno Mountain and the natural reserve Matka Canyon, but in a different way – we’ll drive through the woods and pastures of Mount Vodno with fantastic views over Skopje valley and Matka Canyon, great spots for photographers. -NOTICE! As of April 29 the cable car at Millennium Cross will not operate until further notice. Visiting the Millennium Cross will not be possible this period! NOTICE: The cable car does not operate on Mondays, the last Tuesday of the month or when the weather is not suitable (wind, thunder, lightning). - Be aware! The places we visit on weekends and holidays tend to have a high number of visitors, so we may need to walk more due to the large number of buses.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Matka Canyon is surrounded with mountains, great spots for photographers. beautiful nature and breathtaking landscapes. Boat trip ( 20-60minutes) Visiting Vrelo cave which is considered to be one of the deepest underwater caves in Europe and the world. Short coffee break at the restaurant by the lake and we will have 10-20 minutes walk to our transfer point.
Our next stop is The Church of Saint Panteleimon which was build in Macedonian/Byzantine style in XII century. The church is famous for the coloring, dramatic composition and purity of expression displayed in the frescoes which are outstanding examples of Byzantine medieval monumental painting in the late 12th century.
This tour is a combination of some of the most famous landmarks around Skopje. Our first stop is Vodno (576m) Where we will take the first photos from above.
We will take the cable car to the top and we will spend around 30 minutes. The ticket cost 100mkd (1.6 euro). (cable car is not operational since April 2026)
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(194)
If you have to choose between this and Ohrid, definitely go for Ohrid. The tour however was very nice, the Canyon is beautiful. Our guide was very informative and fun. It was a great day out
Great tour guide Bona and professional operator Riste. Excellent place to visit with Title: The Best Tour in Macedonia with Bona & Riste! I had an absolutely wonderful experience with my guide Bona and our driver Riste. Bona is not just a guide, she is a true Balkan Expert — so knowledgeable, so passionate, and explains everything with so much heart. She made every place come alive with history and stories. is an amazing driver, very safe, professional and friendly. Together they are the perfect team. Bona took care of everything and made me feel like family. I learned so much and enjoyed every single moment. If you visit Macedonia, ask for BONA and RISTE — you will not regret it! Thank you again Bona and Riste for an unforgettable day! Mohsin from Dallas
the only thing that this tour includes is pretty much the Matka canyon and not even, because somehow you’re gonna have to pay extra (boat not included). The Millenium cross apparently hasn’t been accessible since months ago… nobody told us this (obviously) and to continue with, the so beautiful traditional village is a recreation of what the villages used to look like with no more than 5 buildings with some little shops. I really recommend not booking this tour…just get a bus or a different tour.
Good boat ride, the cave is pretty and it is worth it. The area is clean and the lake is pretty.
I booked this trip completely spontaneously after finding it on Tripadvisor that morning, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of the entire trip. The guide Marija was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and good at including all the participants. It never felt like a standard guided tour, but more like a pleasant experience where everyone became part of the group. The best was the people I met. I traveled alone, and through the conversations on the bus and along the way I became acquainted with other travelers who were also traveling alone. What started as a random booking 45 minutes before departure ended with new friendships and memories for a lifetime. We met daily for the rest of the week and went on to Ohrid where we stayed for a few days together. Highly recommended for both solo travelers and others who want an authentic and pleasant experience in Macedonia.
It has been a very pleasant experience. Bona, the assigned guide, has been interested in our satisfaction at all times. Unbeatable.
Great tour with knowledgeable and personable guide. A hot day so cooling off in the Canyon and caves was welcome
Nice tour. The guide Marija was delightful. We enjoyed the boat ride and the canyon. Be aware the cable car to the top of the mountain is not operating. We also expected a little more time for lunch and there was only time for coffee or light snack. I would recommend participants bring a sandwich or light lunch to enjoy for scheduled breaks.
A very nice trip through the matka gorge. A very, very nice big one delivered. The church was fantastic. Unfortunately due to maintenance on the cable car not being able to visit the Millennium Cross, that gave us more time at the other 2 locations... Too bad we only got this information about the millennium cross in the bus and there was no alternative or compensation for it.... Everything else was really beautiful.
Oustanding trip, with oustanding views. We even had an earthquake during our 20 minute rain storm on the boat!! Our tour guide was awesome, thank you Steff
