Matka Canyon
Matka Canyon is a 66-square-kilometer canyon in North Macedonia, established in 1994. It is one of the most looked-up sights in the country.
Planning a visit
The best time to visit Matka Canyon is during the summer months. July and August offer the warmest weather, with daily highs of 28 °C and fewer rainy days, typically around 6 days per month. In contrast, winter months like January and December are significantly colder, with highs of 5 °C and lows dropping to -4 °C. Rainfall is spread throughout the year, with November and December seeing the highest amounts at 71 mm and 73 mm, respectively.
The canyon is located 13 kilometers from the capital, Skopje. The nearest airport is Skopje International Airport, situated 27 kilometers away in Ilinden. Visitors can combine a trip to the canyon with nearby attractions such as the Millennium Cross, which is 8.3 kilometers away. Other accessible sites include the Skopje Fortress and the Old Bazaar in Skopje, both approximately 13 kilometers from the canyon. Further afield, Tauresium is 26.3 kilometers away, and the Šarena Mosque is 28.5 kilometers away.
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 28 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 5 | 6 | 11 | 16 | 21 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 23 | 17 | 10 | 5 |
| Average low, °C | -4 | -3 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 7 | 1 | -3 |
| Rainfall, mm | 41 | 44 | 49 | 59 | 63 | 59 | 48 | 38 | 50 | 67 | 71 | 73 |
| Rainy days | 12 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 10 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
