Ohrid Lake and Old Town Tour: UNESCO Sites & St Naum

Ohrid's ancient churches and the deepest lake in Europe, in one day from Skopje

A full-day guided tour from Skopje to Ohrid and Lake Ohrid, UNESCO World Heritage sites since 1979, with visits to the old town's churches and monuments, St Naum monastery complex, and the source springs of the Black Drim river in Galichica National Park. Hotel pickup in Skopje, entrance fees, transportation and an English-speaking guide are included. The boat ride at St Naum costs extra and is optional. Departures run every Friday with guaranteed operation.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Ohrid city and lake

• Visit Ohrid old town and churches
• See Lake Ohrid and its ecosystem
• Explore Ancient theatre of Ohrid
• Tour Ohrid fortress
• Visit Saint John at Kaneo church
• Drive to St Naum monastery complex
• Optional boat ride on Black Drim river

The experience

Ohrid old town earned its nickname "Macedonian Jerusalem" for the density of churches and monasteries built across centuries: historically 365 of them, one for each day of the year. The tour walks you through the medieval streets to see the Ancient Theatre, built in 200 BC and the only Hellenistic-type theatre in the country; Samuilova Fortress on the highest hill, with foundations traced back to King Philip II of Macedonia in the 4th century BC; and Saint John at Kaneo, a 13th-century Orthodox church perched on a cliff directly above the lake. Each stop carries layers of history the guide unpacks as you move through them.

Lake Ohrid itself is Europe's deepest and oldest lake, straddling the border between North Macedonia and Albania. The water holds more than 200 endemic species found nowhere else on earth, and in 2010 NASA named one of Saturn's moon Titan's lakes after it. The afternoon drive takes you south along the shoreline to St Naum monastery, founded in the 9th century and now part of Galichica National Park. At the monastery, you can add a boat ride above the springs where the Black Drim river emerges and flows into the lake. This costs 5 euros, paid on the spot, and is optional.

The tour departs from your hotel or any address in Skopje and runs for a full day. You travel by car, minivan or van depending on group size, with an English-speaking guide for the entire route. Water and Wi-Fi on board are included. Children from age 3 are welcome when accompanied by an adult, and the child rate applies only when sharing with two paying adults. Every Friday departure is guaranteed to run.

What’s included

• Transportation from your Skopje hotel or address to Ohrid and St Naum.
• entrance fees to all sites in the itinerary.
• a full-day English-speaking guide.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Skopje.
• one bottle of water per person and Wi-Fi on board.

Before you book

Days and timesFridayDeparts at 08:00Last departure this season: 13 Nov

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 to 85 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Visit Macedonia DMC

Is this one for you?Small groups and families traveling together benefit from the guaranteed Friday departures and the fixed itinerary that covers Ohrid's old town, the lake and St Naum monastery in a single full day without needing to arrange separate transport or navigate between sites.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Lake Ohrid and why is it protected by UNESCO?

Lake Ohrid is Europe's deepest and oldest lake, straddling the border between North Macedonia and Albania. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 for its unique aquatic ecosystem with over 200 endemic species found nowhere else, and the cultural and historic area of Ohrid was added to the protection in 1980. It is also a Ramsar wetland site and part of a transboundary biosphere reserve.

What churches and monuments do we see in Ohrid old town?

The tour includes the Ancient Theatre built in 200 BC, the only Hellenistic-type theatre in North Macedonia; Samuilova Fortress on the highest hill, with foundations from the 4th century BC; and Saint John at Kaneo, a 13th-century Orthodox church built on a cliff overlooking the lake. The old town itself contains dozens of churches and monasteries spanning medieval centuries.

Is the boat ride at St Naum included in the tour price?

The boat ride above the springs of the Black Drim river at St Naum monastery is optional and costs 5 euros per person, paid on the spot when you arrive. The monastery visit and the surrounding Galichica National Park are included in the tour.

What time does the tour depart and how long is the full day?

The tour runs for a full day and includes hotel pickup in Skopje at the start. Exact departure times are confirmed when you book. The operator guarantees every Friday departure will run.

Is an English-speaking guide included for the whole tour?

Yes, an English-speaking guide is included for the entire full-day tour. For groups of two or three people, the driver also serves as the guide.

What is included in the tour price?

The price includes transportation from Skopje to Ohrid and St Naum by car, minivan or van; hotel pickup and drop-off in Skopje; all entrance fees to the sites visited; an English-speaking guide for the full day; and one bottle of water per person plus Wi-Fi on board.