スコピエ地方のおすすめウォーキング＆ハイキングルート

You really have to look to spot the swimmer.

A steel cross stands atop Vodno Mountain. Accessible via hiking trails and a cable car (€2). A snack bar is available. On a clear day, there are views of Skopje and the ski resorts of North Macedonia.

Back up to the campsite halfway along the red and white Gr path, follow lots of shade.

At the beginning of the Matka Canyon, there are various stalls, then a narrow path leads along the cliffs past the dam to the oldest artificial lake in the country. There, you can continue by boat or enjoy a meal and a drink at the restaurant. When I was there on a Monday, it was relatively quiet, so it was possible to cycle into the gorge. During peak season or on weekends, this would probably be impossible. There are ten caves in the Matka Canyon, the shortest of which is 20 meters long and the longest 176 meters. Visitors and tourists can explore the Vrelo Cave during a 20-minute boat ride in the Matka Canyon.

In the Way of the Cross meditation written by Pope Francis – on Good Friday 2025 in the Roman Colosseum – the Holy Father, who died a few days later (Easter Monday), invited us to allow ourselves to be contemplated by the crucified love of Jesus: + "Our darkness seeks the light. (...) now [the crowd] encounters the spectacle of a love never before seen, a beauty that moves them to rethink. To those who see you dying, Lord, you give the opportunity to beat their breasts and turn around, to strike their hearts so that their hardness may be broken. Jesus, grant us, who often observe you from afar, that we may always remember you in our lives, so that even death, one day when you will come, may find us alive." (Pope Francis)

It can get very crowded on weekends in spring and summer, with cars and tour buses backing up the small access road. But the views and scenery are incredibly beautiful. The water of the Treska River, which flows through the gorge, is ice-cold even in summer. A refreshing dip is still worthwhile. Worthwhile: There's a 20-km hiking trail from Vodno to the Matka Gorge and vice versa, offering breathtaking views of the gorge and the surrounding area. For example, you can hike from Skopje to the gorge and then take a taxi back.

It can get very crowded on weekends in spring and summer, with cars and tour buses backing up the small access road. But the views and scenery are incredibly beautiful. The water of the Treska River, which flows through the gorge, is ice-cold even in summer. A refreshing dip is still worthwhile. Worthwhile: There's a 20-km hiking trail from Vodno to the Matka Gorge and vice versa, offering breathtaking views of the gorge and the surrounding area. For example, you can hike from Skopje to the gorge and then take a taxi back.

A good starting point for a hike to the cable car or directly to the summit of Vodno. Several trails lead uphill from here. Caution: Some are for mountain bikers or are used by them. There is a parking lot here where you can leave your car.