Macedonia · City Tours

Full day tour of Skopje and Matka canyon

8 Hours Round trip from Pickup service provided in Skopje. Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Explore Skopje’s Old Bazaar and Ottoman-era landmarks
  • 02 Cross the historic Stone Bridge and visit Macedonia Square
  • 03 Learn about Skopje’s past from a native English-speaking guide
  • 04 Visit the Mother Teresa Memorial House
  • 05 Enjoy free time for lunch and traditional Macedonian cuisine
  • 06 Travel to Matka Canyon, one of the country’s natural highlights
  • 07 Take a boat trip through the canyon
  • 08 Visit a cave during the Matka Canyon boat excursion

Discover the contrasts of Skopje on a full-day tour that combines the city’s historic landmarks, Ottoman heritage, and modern monuments with the natural beauty of Matka Canyon. Explore the Old Bazaar, cross the Stone Bridge, visit Macedonia Square, and learn more about the people and events that shaped the city.

After free time for lunch in Skopje, continue to Matka Canyon for a scenic boat trip through one of North Macedonia’s most beautiful landscapes. Complete the experience with a visit to a cave before returning to Skopje.

Discover the contrasts of Skopje on a full-day tour that combines the city’s historic landmarks, Ottoman heritage, and modern monuments with the natural beauty of Matka Canyon.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 8 Hours
Tour type Shared
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Not included
Transport Not included
Wheelchair access No
Cities Skopje, Matka Canyon
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

At 9:00 our guide will pick you up from your hotel/accommodation in Skopje. Your first stop will be in the Old Bazaar area of the city. You will have the chance to hear the stories about Yugoslavia and the modern way of life in the country from a native, which will make your experience much more fulfilled. In addition, you will compare the two historical interpretations and make your own conclusions. The highlights you will visit are the Old fortress, Sultan Murat Mosques, and the Old Bazaar, where we will have the chance to see Caravanserais (inns) from the Ottoman period when Skopje was one of the main trade centers on the Balkans.After the Bazaar, you will climb on the highest hill of the city where the old fortress was situated. The remains of the fort are from the Middle Ages and the Ottoman period. You will learn about the history of those times and turbulences of the region.A mosque from the Ottoman-era, built during the 15th century. It is a masterpiece of the architectural achievements of the early Ottoman empire.To enter the new part of Skopje we will cross the Vardar River by the Stone bridge, the only preserved bridge from the Middle Ages. We will visit the new neo-classical square Macedonia. There we will admire the biggest statue of Alexander the Great and his father Phillip II. You will stop and learn the history of the ancient Macedonians and the adventures of their rulers. Despite that these rulers have never ruled from the lands of modern North Macedonia, the heritage of those famous people is in the foundations of the modern nationality of the Macedonians.We will continue to Mother Teresa memorial house. She is the most famous person born in Skopje. Her work and contribution to the world deserve huge respect. In the house museum, you will learn about her story and will track her life by the big photography collection. The walking part of the tour will finish at the Gate Macedonia (newly built triumphal arch). After the walking tour, you will have 2 hours of free time during which you will have the chance to have lunch and taste the traditional Macedonian cuisine. Feel free to ask your guide for recommendations.After finishing with Skopje your guide will drive you to Matka Canyon. The driving time is around 40 minutes. This is one of the most beautiful places in Macedonia. You will admire it on a boat trip inside the canyon. The boat will stop us at the entrance of a beautiful and unique cave. Your guide will show you the inside of it. After that, we start our boat journey back to the car. During it, we will pass by probably the deepest underwater cave in the world. Unfortunately, you will not be able to see it in detail. When you get to the car our guide will drop you at your hotel in Skopje.

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Boat trip in Matka canyon
  • Entrance fees
  • Air-conditioned vehicle

What's Not Included

  • Lunch

Know before you go

  • STROLLER OR PRAM ACCESSIBLE
  • PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NEARBY
  • INFANT SEATS AVAILABLE
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not suitable for pets
  • Infants must not sit on laps

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Pickup service provided in Skopje.
Tour start
Pickup service provided in Skopje.
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 8 hours finish where they began, in Pickup service provided in Skopje..

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