The back story
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The back story
Ohrid & Prespa: the back story
Monasteries, frescoes and lake springs: the long story of Ohrid and its mountain shores.
Area guide · North Macedonia
Ohrid & Prespa: Our Favourites
Lake Ohrid’s old town and churches, the monastery of St Naum and the national park of Galičica. For Skopje itself, see our Skopje guide.
Plan your trip:Ohrid St Paul the Apostle Airport
Show 11 places on a map
What to see and do
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3 photosFrescoes of 1191
Church of St George, Kurbinovo
A modest church above Lake Prespa, its interior painted with frescoes dated 1191.
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3 photosEvery 13–14 January
Vevčani Carnival
A masked winter carnival held each 13 and 14 January to mark the old-calendar New Year.
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3 photosSince 1961
Struga Poetry Evenings
Struga’s international poetry festival, home of the Golden Wreath award for living poets.
Str. Brakja Miladinovci, 6330 StrugaExplore View on map
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3 photosOhrid’s postcard
Church of St John at Kaneo
A 13th-century church alone on a rocky point above Lake Ohrid, loveliest at sunset.
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3 photosWhite houses, steep lanes
Ohrid old town
Steep cobbled lanes of white houses rising from Ohrid’s harbour to its fortress.
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3 photosCrown of the hill
Samuel’s Fortress
Massive medieval walls on the summit of Ohrid’s hill, with the lake spread below.
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3 photos11th-century frescoes
Church of St Sophia
Ohrid’s medieval cathedral, painted with frescoes from the 11th century.
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3 photosSt Clement’s monastery
Plaošnik
St Clement’s monastery site, with early Christian mosaic floors around a rebuilt church.
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3 photosFrescoes of 1295
Holy Mother of God Perivlepta & the Icon Gallery
A church painted in 1295 by Michael and Eutychios, beside a gallery of medieval icons.
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3 photosPrehistoric pile dwellings
Bay of Bones
A prehistoric village on wooden piles, rebuilt over the lake about 15 km south of Ohrid.
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3 photosFounded in 905
St Naum Monastery
St Naum’s monastery of 905, on a terrace at the lake’s southern tip, with peacocks in the garden.
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3 photosWhere the river leaves
Struga & the Black Drim
The lakeside town where the Black Drim leaves Lake Ohrid, home of an August poetry festival.
Nature, lakes and beaches
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3 photosSnake Island
Golem Grad
The country’s largest island, in Lake Prespa, with old churches, juniper woods and pelicans.
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3 photosMountain village
Vevčani & the Vevčani Springs
A hill village at 800 metres above Struga, known for its springs and old stone churches.
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3 photosRow over the springs
The springs of St Naum
Crystal springs rising through sand beside St Naum, explored by rowing boat.
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3 photosTwo lakes, one view
Galičica National Park
The mountain park between Lakes Ohrid and Prespa, with a pass road overlooking both.
Eat and drink
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3 photosA terrace on the water
Letna Bavča Kaneo
A terrace restaurant on the water at Kaneo, with the lake and the church in view.
Where to stay
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Video 2 photosLake views, spa
Hotel Tino & Spa
A lakefront hotel on Ohrid’s quay with a French-inspired brasserie and a small spa.
Kej Makedonija 55, 6000 OhridExplore View on map
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3 photosOwn sandy beach
Hotel Granit
A four-star lakeside hotel at St Stefan, 5 km from Ohrid, with its own sandy beach.
Sv. Stefan BB, 6000 OhridExplore View on map
Getting there and around
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Gateway to the lake
Ohrid St Paul the Apostle Airport
Ohrid’s international airport, run by TAV, for flights straight to the lake region.
Where to go next
Questions and answers
Which airport should I use for Ohrid?
Fly into Skopje and out of Ohrid’s St Paul the Apostle Airport, run by the same operator, to avoid doubling back. Routes change with the season.
Share your Ohrid & Prespa tips
Been there? Share your experience and tips with other visitors.
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