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Ohrid Culture & history

Our most recommended Ohrid Culture & history

From Skopje: Private Full-Day Tour of Ohrid and Saint Naum

1. From Skopje: Private Full-Day Tour of Ohrid and Saint Naum

Starting from Skopje, the tour begins with a 2-hour drive to Ohrid. Visit the church of Saint Sophia and the Roman amphitheater. Explore the Icon Gallery, to discover some of the most famous and valuable icons in the world. Then see the beautiful frescoes at the 13th century Saint Clement’s Church of the Holy Mother of God Most Glorious. After this, continue to Tsar Samuel’s Fortress, named after the first tsar of the Macedonian Slavs. Then head to the Church of Saint Jovan at Kaneo, in a stunning location on the cliffs directly above the lake. From here, return to the town on foot or by boat. After a little break, visit the Bay of Bones Neolithic settlement to see how life was lived in 1,200 B.C. Continue along the picturesque lakeshore to the Monastery of Saint Naum, situated where the river Black Drin flows into Lake Ohrid. The springs at Saint Naum are part of the National Park Galicica. In the chapel of the church is the tomb of Saint Naum, with frescoes of his life and his miracles. Return to Skopje at the end of the tour.

Tirana: Lake and Town Ohrid Day Trip

2. Tirana: Lake and Town Ohrid Day Trip

Following a pickup from your accommodation in Durrës or Tirana, embark on a guided tour of the charming city of Ohrid. Explore the charming city on a guided tour with a local guide. Pass by the glorious Church of Saint Sophia and the National Workshop for a handmade paper-making demonstration. Enter Samuil’s Fortress and walk along its historic 4th-century walls. Discover the Ancient Theatre of Ohrid, built in the Hellenistic style. Walk up to the cliff-top Church of Saint John at Kaneo for panoramic views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Enjoy free time for lunch and explore this pretty lakeside town before returning to Tirana in the late afternoon.

From Skopje: Full-Day Private Tour of Mavrovo and Ohrid

3. From Skopje: Full-Day Private Tour of Mavrovo and Ohrid

You will be picked up from your hotel and continue to the National Park of Mavrovo, passing the cities Tetovo and Gostivar. After arriving at Mavrovo, you will have a short visit of the place, visiting the center of Mavrovo, looking at the Winter facilities and seeing the new and old Church of St. Nicolas. After that, drive on to River Radika then continue on to one of the most beautiful monasteries in Macedonia – St. Jovan Bigorski and Ohrid. Placed on the Bigor rocks on canyon valley of the River Radika, next to the exuberant forests in the North–West slopes of Bistra Mountain. After that, you continue to Ohrid, where you have a city tour. Your tour starts before the monument of St. Cyril and Methodius, and it then heads to the Lower gate, City museum, Church of St. Sofia, Antic Theater, Upper gate, Church of St. Virgin Mary, Perivleptos, the Gallery of effigies, Samoils fortress, Plaoshnik and finally the tour ends with a walk through Ohrid’s market-place. You will then return to your hotel.

Frequently asked questions about Ohrid

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Other Sightseeing Options in Ohrid

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What people are saying about Ohrid

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 16 reviews

Long but worthwhile trip. First we go to the Mavrovo National Park (unfortunately we had bad luck with the weather there, so this was only done briefly), then we looked at an orthodox monastery on the mountain. Very nice complex with a church that is over 1,000 years old (rebuilt again and again after destruction) and received very interesting explanations from a monk in English. Ohrid a beautiful city in which there was a 2-hour tour by the guide (lake, old houses, book printing in the Middle Ages, Art Colosseum only older, etc.). Was very informative. also had free time for food and coffee on site.

Fantastic day discovering Mavrovo and Ohrid

Many thanks to our tour guide and driver for taking us on an informative and enjoyable trip from Skopje to Mavrovo and Ohrid that also included a visit to a beautiful monastery and stops by three man-made lakes. We learned a great deal about Macedonian history both ancient and recent. This provided us with an excellent overview of the region.

We spent a whole day with dance, boss and our super driver that day, and Vaska, super guide and speaks perfect German, in Ohrid and Mavrovo. Vaska could explain and show us a lot about everything and has a great knowledge of all of Macedonia, the religion and the people. We had a lot of fun and we would book the tour again anytime!

I really impressed by this Tour: beautiful places, friendly local people and rich history + warm, professional guide and driver

knowledgeable guide and professional driver, great experience