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Things to do in Bitola

Our most recommended things to do in Bitola

From Skopje: Private Full-Day Trip to Bitola

1. From Skopje: Private Full-Day Trip to Bitola

Your driver/ guide will pick you up from your hotel or any location of your preference in Skopje, and then take you by comfortable air-conditioned car or minivan to Bitola. In about less than 3-hours driving, as a first stop in Bitola and an introduction to the city’s history, you will be able to visit and learn about the ancient settlement Heraclea Lyncestis and the well-preserved floor mosaics, fine examples of early Christian art. After visiting Heraclea, driving by the City Park, your driver/ guide will transfer you to the City Museum from where you will enjoy a walking tour through Shirok Sokak, among the nice colorful romantic and neoclassical buildings, housing cafes and restaurants, with time to taste some local bites or just relax with a coffee and people watching. The tour will further continue through the sites to the Old Bazaar, finishing at the Green Market, where you won’t miss the chance to buy a “pepper necklace” or some of the fresh, organic and seasonal products. Transfer back to your hotel or any location of your preference in Skopje.

Bitola & Krusevo Tour From Skopje

2. Bitola & Krusevo Tour From Skopje

Once we arrive at Bitola, on the right, you can see Mount Pelister and Pelister National Park, which is the smallest but oldest national park in Macedonia . It is famous for its ancient Molika pine trees and many other different types of flora and fauna and it conserves some rare glacial lakes, Pelisterski Ochi (the Pelister Eyes). It is a famous winter ski resort with hotels and ski-lifts. In Bitola we visit the church of St. Dimitri, dating back to the 19th century and renowned for being one of the biggest churches in the Balkans. Then we just have a quick glance at Yeni Mosque, built in 1559 which is now an art gallery, then the Yahdar-Kadi Mosque (built in 1562) and the Isak Mosque . At the heart of the town is the Clock Tower. The River Dragor runs through the town. Sirok Sokak (a long pedestrian area) is renowned for the beautiful old houses that belong to the 19th-century architecture. Bitola is a town of consulates, also the town where the Manaki brothers, famous for their pioneering work with the camera, opened their Studio of Art Photography in 1905. In honor of their work in photography, and later, cinematography, the first international film camera festival in the world was started here in 1979 and is held every September. After this, we go to the ancient Macedonian town of Heraclea Lyncestis by bus. It was the first major town established in the rich Pelagonia valley in the 4th century BC. It was founded by Philip II of Macedon, the father of Aleksandar III of Macedon. Archaeological excavations are still going on at this site and so far a Roman Bath, a Roman amphitheathre, a Courtroom and a small and big Basilicas from the 5th century have been discovered. The basilicas have the most beautiful and well preserved mosaic floors which are also the biggest in the Balkans and considered to be ones of the most valuable in the world from this period. After Bitola, We will continue to Krushevo, the city with the highest altitude in the country. Firstly we will visit monument Meckin Kamen. Continue in city and see Makedonium – The Makedonium almost looks like a heart valve, except it’s white and has around 10 massive stained-glass skylights poking out from its circular base. In North Macedonia, it has become a symbol of statehood. It overlooks the town of Kruševo from over 4,000 feet, which makes it fairly prominent, but that’s where the symbolism ends, visit the tomb of Toshe Proeski, also enjoy the beautiful mountainous terrain. Also visit and St. Preobrazenie monastery and enjoy in wonderful panorama of the region.

From Skopje: Bitola and Ohrid Day Tour

3. From Skopje: Bitola and Ohrid Day Tour

We start the tour with pick up you from your accommodation, continue the trip in way to visit Bitola, where you will have a sightseeing tour of Bitola - visit the church of St. Dimitri. Then we just have a quick glance at Yeni Mosque, built in 1559 which is now an art gallery, then the Yahdar-Kadi Mosque and the Isak Mosque. At the heart of the town is the Clock Tower. The River Dragor runs through the town. Sirok Sokak (a long pedestrian area) is renowned for the beautiful old houses that belong to the 19th-century architecture. Bitola is a town of consulates, also the town where the Manaki brothers, famous for their pioneering work with the camera, opened their Studio of Art Photography in 1905. In honor of their work in photography, and later, cinematography, the first international film camera festival in the world was started here in 1979 and is held every September. After this, we go to the ancient Macedonian town of Heraclea Lyncestis. It was the first major town established in the rich Pelagonia valley in the 4th century BC. Continue the trip to Ohrid - starting a tour with visit of the church of St. Sophia which dates from the 11th century and then we go up to the Roman amphitheater which dates back to the 3rd century BC. Afterwards we continue walking to the Icon Gallery, which shows a range of some of the most famous and valuable icons in the world right after the ones on Athos and in Russia. In the vicinity of the gallery is the church of St. Clement’s Church of the Holy Mother of God Most Glorious which dates from the 13th century and possesses some of the most beautiful and valuable frescoes from the 13th century not only in our country but in the Balkans as well. After that we carry on walking to Tsar Samoil’s Fortress which was named after the first tsar of the Macedonian Slavs, who having conquered Byzantium, brought most of Macedonia under his rule. Then we walk to Plaoshnik, the place where we visit the newly built St. Clement’s Monastery Church which is dedicated to St. Clement, the patron of Ohrid, and St. Panteleimon and which stands beside the original site of St. Clement’s University, the first university of the Macedonian Slavs started in the 9th century AD. Inside the church you can also see the tomb with St. Clement’s relics. Beside the church you can see the foundations of the 5th-century basilica with beautifully preserved mosaic floors and some swastikas also discovered on the floors. From here we head towards the Church of St. Jovan at Kaneo, which was built at the end of the 13th century, and is one of the most frequently visited churches in Ohrid because of its beautiful location on the cliffs directly above the lake. After this we go back to the town on foot. Another option is to return to the town by boat and at the same time to make a tour of the lake providing you with a great view of the town. After a short brake leaving for Skopje.

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Other Sightseeing Options in Bitola

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