Matka Canyon Day Trip in Skopje: All You Need To Know

Are you planning a day trip near Skopje? Well, then you should consider adding Matka Canyon to your itinerary. Located about 20 km west of the city, Matka Canyon is a stunningly beautiful natural site that is sure to awe any traveler who comes through town.

To get to Matka Canyon, you can take a bus or hire a taxi from Skopje’s main bus station. However, if you want to make the most of your trip, then one of the best ways to experience Matka Canyon is by booking a tour with a local guide. This way, you’ll get all the facts and stories about the area as you explore.

Once at Matka Canyon, you’ll find abundant wildlife and an ever-changing landscape with views that are just breathtaking. From the canyon, there are numerous hiking trails to explore and activities like boat rides that you can partake in. Moreover, the canyon is dotted with a few monasteries that make for delightful pit stops during your exploration.

What Makes Matka Canyon So Special?

It’s no wonder that Matka Canyon is one of the most visited tourist attractions near Skopje. The area surrounding Matka is home to some of the best preserved natural habitats in the country with unique karst formations by virtue of its geographic location. The canyon walls are still standing hundreds of million years since their formation due to the wealthy limestone obtention.

Moreover, visitors can engage in various activities such as kayaking, caving, rock climbing and fishing in Matka Canyon as it’s also home to around 25 caves, including Vrelo Cave and Sivica Grotte – both considered to be some of the most beautiful in the area.

In terms of flora and fauna, Matka offers a great conservation spot for some rare species like the diurnal Dalmatian pelican. Offering something to everyone, the combination of historical sites and natural reserves makes Matka Canyon a destination worth heading out for!

Things To See In Matka Canyon

When visiting Matka Canyon, there are a few must-see spots that no person should miss. We’ve rounded up some of these below.

Matka Lake

Matka Lake is one of Macedonia’s most impressive bodies of water, located 8km away from Skopje’s city centre. Here you can engage in activities such as boat rides or kayaking, or take some time to appreciate the natural beauty; cut off from urban life by its surrounding mountains and gorges.

The area is also culturally important, with pre-Christian sites like St. Andrew’s Monastery located on the edge of the lake. Furthermore, there are also beaches dotted around Matka Lake with nearby restaurants and cafes offering some of the best Balkan-style cuisine in the area.

Vrelo Cave

Vrelo Cave is one of the main attractions at Matka Canyon — a massive limestone cave just waiting to be explored by visitors. Inside, one can find formations like stalagmites and stalactites along with interesting creatures like bats hidden away in its discoveries.

Organized tours are also available for those wanting a professional guide to show them around.

Sivica Monastery

The small but notable Sivica Monastery is perhaps one of the most beautiful monuments in Macedonia. It sits atop a small plateau just 2km from Matka Lake near the exit of the canyon, providing magnificent views of the surrounding area from its veranda.

The monastery was first built in 1595 and contains many works from some of the country’s finest masters of crafts and renaissance painters. The entire monastery spans around 300m and has a unique mix of Roman and Byzantine architecture making it a must-visit stopover when at Matka Canyon.

How To Get To Matka Canyon From Skopje

Fortunately, getting to Matka Canyon from Skopje is fairly straightforward. As mentioned earlier, visitors can either take a bus ride which takes around 45 minutes or hire a taxi which takes around 30 minutes depending on traffic conditions.

If however you want to take it slow and enjoy more of the city while making your way to the canyon, then consider booking one of Get Yourself Guide’s private day tours from Skopje. The all-inclusive tour will pick you up at your accommodation and take you for a full day adventure away from city life into nature’s embrace at Matka canyon. Moreover, it’ll provide plenty of interesting facts and stories about the area on the way to canyons.

Wrapping Up

Hopefully this guide has helped you gain more insight into how you can make your most out of a day trip to Matka Canyon near Skopje! Whether it’s kayaking down its pristine waters or exploring unique caves or historic monasteries; there’s sure plenty to do here for even the most discerning adventure seekers.

So if you’re looking for an escape into some remote beauty and an exhilarating adventure; head on over to Matka Canyon for an experience that you won’t forget in a hurry! Don’t forget to book your Matka Canyon Private Tour here.