The options at a glance
| Way | From | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 60 | Transport Centre | Matka (last stop) | 17.8 km of bus route |
| Car or taxi | Macedonia Square | Car park at the end of the road | 16.8 km by road |
| Car or taxi | Skopje International Airport | Car park at the end of the road | 46.2 km by road |
| On foot | Bus 60 last stop | Church of St Andrew | 1.1 km on foot |
Road and walking figures are routed along the mapped road and path network between the points named; the bus figure is the length of the route in JSP’s timetable data.
By bus 60
Bus 60 belongs to JSP Skopje, the city’s public bus company. It starts at the Transport Centre, the combined bus and railway station east of the centre, crosses the city past the National Bank, the Macedonian Academy and the Goce Delchev bridge, runs out through Karposh and Gjorche Petrov to Saraj, and climbs past Glumovo to the last stop at Matka. JSP’s data list 33 stops and 17.8 km of route.
Times. On Sunday 1 November 2026, JSP’s timetable had the bus leaving the Transport Centre every two hours from 06:30 to 22:30 and Matka every two hours from 07:30 to 21:30, with the trip timed at 55 minutes. A late bus from Matka at 23:20 ran only as far as Gjorche Petrov. The timetable changes with the day of the week and the season, so look up your day in the JSP journey planner on skopjebus.mk or in the Skopjebus app.
Fares. JSP’s price list charges 35 denars for a single ride paid with an electronic card or the Skopjebus app, and 50 denars for a paper ticket; a day ticket costs 120 denars. A card without your name on it costs 150 denars, and one with your name 200 denars. Fares checked November 2026.
Where to get off. Stay on to the last stop, Matka. The stop before it, Matka Manastir, is closest to the Matka monastery. From the last stop it is 1.1 km on foot to the dam and the church of St Andrew, along the road and then a paved path beside the river.
By taxi
Skopje taxis run on meters under three tariffs set by the Council of the City of Skopje, each a starting fee plus a rate per kilometre, with the tariff in force tied to the price of fuel. The road distance from Macedonia Square is 16.8 km. Ask the driver to run the meter, or agree the price for the trip, and the return if you want to be collected, before you set off.
By car
From the centre, follow the road west through Karposh and Gjorche Petrov towards Saraj, then turn south along the Treska past Glumovo. The route measures 16.8 km from Macedonia Square to the car park at the end of the road, by the bus terminus. Beyond it, the way to the dam and St Andrew is on foot, 1.1 km. No public body publishes parking charges for the car parks at Matka; check the signs on arrival.
On foot from the bus stop
From the last stop, walk on along the road beside the river, then along a paved path past the exhibition centre in the old power house (0.6 km from the stop) to the dam and the church of St Andrew (1.1 km). The lakeside trail starts there, but it has been closed since 26 February 2026 for falling rock: see the Matka Canyon trail. The Matka monastery is 0.4 km on foot from the stop, the other way: see St Andrew and the monasteries.
Before you go
- Coming back: note the time of the last bus from Matka for your day before you set off.
- What it costs once there: nothing for the canyon itself; the boat to Vrelo cave, kayak hire and the cave visit are paid on site.
- The weather: July and August afternoons average about 31°C; see weather and best time.