Millennium Cross
The towering Millennium Cross overlooking the city of Skopje is a must visit to get up close while you are in the Macedonian capital. The best part is that the cross in itself is not the main attraction on Skopje’s neighboring mountain: Mount Vodno. So let’s get into the details on how to get here, the cost and the different options available to you.
The Millennium Cross stands at 66 meters tall making it one of the largest in the world. It was built as a symbol of 2000 years of the Christian religion in Macedonia and over the world. As such the cross is a symbol of faith and unity. Nowadays it serves as a religious monument to the locals as it overlooks and is visible from everywhere in Skopje. It also attracts tourists and give a reason for people to flock up Vodno mountain and admire the cross and the scenic views of the city of Skopje.
How to get to the Millennium Cross
There are a couple of options here on how to reach this landmark. The most realistic and the go to for a lot of tourists is to catch the funicular from the base of Mount Vodno. Another is to hike up the mountain either from the base of the funicular or if you are more adventurous, some people hike all the way from Matka Canyon. I did not opt for this option as I was traveling with a group of friends which weren’t particularly keen on hiking a lot. To be fair however, the hike seems daunting and unnecessary with some people pointing out that the trail is not well marked and can easily get off the beaten path.
How to reach Mount Vodno By Bus
So, you did not opt to do the hike? Can’t blame you. Luckily the good Macedonian people constructed a funicular just for us to sit back relax and enjoy the views passing by as you go up Mount Vodno.
You can reach the base of the funicular by bus. You can get bus number 25 from the center of Skopje near the Macedonian Square. Buses like everything else in this country are super cheap and the ticket will cost you around 35 MKD (around €0.60) and will drop you off in the parking lot next to the funicular.
The timetables to the buses can be found here. Make sure to take note on the last buses available, as they aren’t frequent and don’t tend to stick to the time. As such there is a second option the one to come and go from Mount Vodno, the one I opted to take.
How to reach Mount Vodno By Taxi
If you want to escape the hassle of catching a bus, taxis are super cheap even more if you are splitting the costs between 2-3 people. The ride there and back won’t cost you more than €15 combined. The main reason we caught a taxi was that we wanted to see the sun set on top of the mountain which made for gorgeous viewing (more on this below)
On the other hand, getting a taxi didn’t prove that easy either. We had a number of one of the taxis but wasn’t picking up. Luckily a lovely lady at the kiosk present next to the beginning of the funicular ride helped us out and called a taxi operator for us. One other tip I would recommend when visiting Macedonia is to have a local esim and make sure you are connected to the internet at all times but especially in these scenarios.
Doing some research on the subject it now appears that Skopje has its own ride hailing app similair to Uber, called Wizi. Make sure to check out for yourself as I haven’t personally used them but the reviews on Reddit and similair sites seems good so it is a viable option to download the app and use whilst in Skopje.
Mount Vodno Cable Car
Now that you have reached the base of Sredno Vodno, here are some must know details.
To reach the Millennium Cross you can either start a strenous hike or catch the cable car. The cable car does not operate on Mondays and on the last Tuesday of every month. I have no clue on why this is. It is not easily findable either but this is a must know. The most reliable times and opening hours I found was on google maps which seem to update constantly. Otherwise here are the working hours:
- From November till March: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., last ride 4:45 p.m.
- From May till September: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., last ride 7:45 p.m.
- April and October: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., last ride 5:45 p.m.
The cost of the cable car is around 120 dinars (€2). Make sure to get the last ride down as you dont want to hike Vodno down in the dark.
Views from Mount Vodno
Apart from the Millennium cross, Mount Vodno is an attraction in of itself. It offers different trails for hikers and several benches and gazebos to admire the views. For the best views make sure to go during sunset. The sun sets directly over the city of Skopje and makes for spectacular viewing.
Once up the funicular, head to the Millennium Cross to see it up close as well see the panoramic views of Skopje underneath you.
To enjoy the best sunset views, and watch the sun sink beneath the horizon walk in the opposite direction it takes around 10-15 minutes and you will reach a gazebo where you can sit and relax. I think I am revealing some sort of secret here as this spot is too good to be true and no one was there. We had the whole place to ourselves for the peace and quiet and admiring the sky turn from blue to orange to dark
If you haven’t had enough of Skopje’s natural beauty and are looking for more hiking opportunities or a place to relax then make sure you visit Matka Canyon. Be sure to check out our blog post about Matka Canyon and its trails here
