Things to do in

Gorno Nerezi

Depart Skopje and travel in air-conditioned comfort to Vodno Mountain. Ride the cable car up to Millennium Cross on arrival, and enjoy panoramic views back across Skopje from one of the biggest Christian crosses in the world. Take the cable car back down Vodno Mountain to continue to the mountain village of Gorno Nerezi by air-conditioned vehicle. Visit the small 12th-century Church of St. Panteleimon on arrival and marvel at the historical frescoes of Byzantine art inside. Next, make your way to the Matka Canyon to enjoy a tasty lunch in a nice restaurant by the lake. Take an optional boat trip to the Vrelo cave or go for a nature walk along the many marked trails. Fill your lungs with fresh country air before the return trip to Skopje, and get dropped off at the triumphal arch of the Porta Macedonia on arrival.

Escape from the city into nature on this half-day trip through the woods and pastures of Mount Vodno. Admire the scenic views over the Skopje valley from the Millennium cross and the nature reserve at Matka Canyon. Start your adventure with pickup at your hotel for the drive up Vodno Mountain. Enjoy a stop at the 576-high summit to take some photographs of the vista. After that we are going to the biggest cross in Europe, the Millennium cross. We are going to reach with the cable car (if the weather is good) to take panoramic view over the city and whole Skopje valley. Next, move into witness the 12th-century Church of Saint Panteleimon. Admire its famous Byzantine-style coloring and dramatic composition. Get ready for nature with your final stop at Matka Canyon. Feel the fresh air and be surrounded by mountains and breathtaking landscapes. While there, complete your experience by taking the opportunity to go an optional boat trip (additional expense).

Your driver will pick you up from your hotel or any location in Skopje, with a comfortable A/C car/minivan and take you to the plateau where the Museum of Contemporary Art located. This offers a wonderful view of the central part of Skopje and here the story about the city begins. Afterwards, the Fortress Kale is visited. What follows is a visit to the Mustapha Pasha Mosque, and then the Church of the Holy Saviour. Another visit is the one to the Museum of Macedonia which consists of three parts: an icon gallery, an ethnological and historical departments. Then you continue you stroll through the Old Bazaar where two more caravansaries can be seen Turkish Baths – Chifte Hammam and Daut Pasha Hammam, dating back to the 15th century. The tour continues towards the modern part of the city on the right bank of the River Vardar. Before you cross the Stone Bridge, which is one of the oldest landmarks of Skopje, you can see the Holocaust Memorial Centre and the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle for Independence, IMRO and the Victims of Communism. On the other bank of the river is the main square Macedonia, with a lot of new statues and monuments. You will walk along the main street Macedonia which connects the square to the Old Railway Station. You can stay for a short visit at the Memorial House of Mother Teresa, with the tour ending in front of the Museum of the City of Skopje situated in the building of the Old Railway Station, which was partially destroyed by the earthquake in 1963. From Mount Vodno, you continue by cable-car system to the Millennium Cross and back to middle Vodno. Once back at middle Vodno you continue by the car/minivan to the village Gorno Nerezi, to see the church St. Pantelejmon. The tour continues with a visit to the canyon Matka, about 17 km from Skopje, continue to walk along the bank of the River Treska, which is famous for the competitions in kayaking that take place on it. You will follow the path that goes by the dam and the man-made lake Matka and reach the Monastery of St. Andrew.   After this, you will go on a boat ride along the canyon Matka (8km long) and enjoy the magnificent surroundings, as well as a visit to the cave Vrelo.

This tour will start from your hotel or any location of your preference in Skopje. Your guide will take you by comfortable air-conditioned car or minivan to the middle of Mount Vodno and then by cable car system to the Millennium Cross and back to middle Vodno. Once back at middle Vodno, the tour will continue by car or minivan to the village of Gorno Nerezi to see the Church St. Pantelejmon. Witness the frescoes that are among the highest achievements of Byzantine art at St. Pantelejmon.  Then, you will continue to the Matka Canyon, one of the most popular outdoors destinations about 17 kilometers from Skopje. After the visit of Matka Canyon, transfer back to Skopje, to your hotel or any location of your preference in Skopje.

One of the possibilities to take a look at this town of history and different eras is this traverse from the Matka Canyon up to the Millennium Cross on the peak of Vodno, or the Pantelejmon Monastery. It represents a beautiful hiking journey through the centuries and untouched nature. A touch of the new and old. A true one day adventure. A unique experience. The hiking tour begins at the old bridge on the river Treska. The sound of the water flow will imprison your ears. We will head to the path that will take us to the monastery of St. Nikola Shishevski. A true piece of art from the XIV century. Not many true data are known about the monastery, but what we can confirm is that the brother of King Marko, Andrej, helped the resurrection and renewing of the holy place. And that through the centuries there was never more than one monk living and taking care of this place. The housekeeper Zoki will serve you rakija and homemade coffee with our famous Macedonian generosity and will eventually, if he’s in a mood, tell you much about the typical houses in Skopje. The view to the Saint Andrea monastery from here is gorgeus. The rocks around the monastery will tell you a story that you will be able to put inside your head alone. If there are not many people in the moment (which can barely happen) you will hear the sounds of the inner peace in your ears. The path from here starts to get a little steeper. But, no worries. It’s still a beautiful rocky journey. In about 20 minutes we will arrive at the view point that will leave you speechless. The whole flow of the river Treska with its canyon, the nature, and the look on the monasteries of Nikola Shishevski and Saint Andrea will lie under your feet and within a catch of your fingers. This will give us the possibility to spend the next minutes in making photos and enjoying this unforgettable view. From here on our journey continues to the peak Kota. If we are lucky enough we can be accompanied by the cows of the local villages that can take us to the peak. Between May and October the cows are walking free everywhere around It’s like a little cow community. As we arrive the peak a beautiful perspective of Skopje will open in front of our eyes. And much more than that. Not just Skopje, but you will see the greatest peaks of Shar Planina in the West, Skopska Crna Gora in the North and Mountain Kitka in the East. Skopje is a city surrounded by mountains. You will witness the conection of the stone bridge with Vardar, conection between Chair municipality and the Kale fortress. This point will open two possibilities. Spending the next two hours hiking to the Millennium Cross or going downhill to the extraordinary St. Pantelejmon monastery. Both of the possibilities bring great perspectives. St. Pantelejmon, yes, not many people know this, but it is a small 12th century Byzantine church located in the monastery complex. Tour duration: +/- 6 hours Tour description: 10 kilometers, positive altitude 780m

Our guide/driver will pick you from your hotel or other location in Skopje. First you will visit Millennium cross, with cable car you will climb on the Vodno hill and from there you will admire on breathtaking views on Skopje and Skopje plain. On the top there is a coffee place and small shop. After visiting the Millennium cross we drive to the nearby village of Gorno Nerezi to see the beautiful Church of St. Pantelemon, situated in a Monastery complex. In the church you will see amazing frescos and you will learn more about Byzantine art. And the highlight of the tour will be the Matka Canyon. We will explore this beautiful place on foot, or take a boat ride to the Vrelo Cave. In the end, we will get back into our comfortable vehicle and drive back to Skopje.