Albania is fortunate to have the three largest lakes in the Balkans on its territory. Two of them – Ohrid Lake (Liqeni i Ohrit) and Prespa Lake (Liqeni i Prespës) – are located not far from each other in the south-east of the country. The lakes straddle international borders and are shared by Albania, North Macedonia and Greece. Both lakes and their surroundings are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites due to their natural and cultural richness. Some of Albania’s most exceptional genius loci are to be found in the village of Lin and the island of Maligrad.
5 things not to be missed at Ohrid and Prespa Lakes
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Location and characteristics
Ohrid Lake
Ohrid Lake is a captivating destination renowned for its natural beauty and cultural significance. Nestled amidst the picturesque surroundings of mountains and historic settlements, Ohrid Lake holds a unique appeal for tourists seeking a blend of natural splendour and cultural richness.
The lake, with a surface area of 358 square kilometres, is one of the oldest in Europe. It is 30 kilometres long, 15 kilometres wide, and sits at a height of around 700 metres. At a maximum depth of 285 metres, it is exceptionally deep due to the tectonic action that created it. The water from Prespa Lake, which is located at an altitude about 150 metres higher, enters the lake through karst cavities and underground streams. The Black Drin River (Drini i Zi) is the lake’s sole outflow.
In general, the North Macedonian part of Ohrid Lake is more developed in terms of tourism. The UNESCO city of Ohrid, after which the lake takes its name, is also located there. The Albanian part is more tranquil, with several long beaches good for swimming. The town of Pogradec serves as a gateway to the Albanian part of the lake.
The lake is home to the endemic Ohrid trout (salmo letnica), a highly sought-after culinary delicacy known for its salmon-like pink meat. Albanians call it koran. Since overfishing nearly drove it extinct in the past, fish farms are currently the primary place where it is preserved. Tava e Peshkut, a fish roasted with vegetables in a clay pot, is a delicacy in the area.
Prespa Lake
Lake Prespa is 273 square kilometres in size and is shared by Northern Macedonia and Greece in addition to Albania.
In contrast to Ohrid Lake, Prespa Lake is an oasis of untouched nature and a traditional way of life. The area has long been considered a godforsaken place where foreigners rarely visit. This is slowly changing, with several guesthouses or a system of marked trails currently in place. But the peaceful atmosphere of the lake and its surroundings is still preserved today.
The designation Prespa Lake is not entirely accurate, as there are actually two lakes: the Big in the north and the Little in the south, separated by a narrow sandy isthmus. Both lakes are fed by underwater springs as well as several terrestrial streams. The only outlet is an underground river that flows under the Dry Mountain (Mali i Thatë) into Ohrid Lake, located at an altitude of 150 meters lower.
Albanians used Prespa Lake as a natural reservoir. In times of heavy rainfall, it diverted the water from the Devoll River into the lake, while in the dry period, it drew water from it. Fortunately, this practice was abandoned due to water pollution and siltation of the lake. In recent years, scientists have pointed to a significant drop in the lake’s level due to a lack of rainfall and intensive agriculture.
Prespa Lake and its surroundings have been declared a national park (Parku Kombëtar i Prespës), which is characterised by high mountains, narrow islands, vast wetlands, meadows, reed beds and dense forests. It is a haven for bird watchers: The Dalmatian pelican, cormorants, herons, and various waterfowl find refuge in the park’s wetlands.
The Macedonian minority inhabits the villages on Albania’s part of the lake, so you will also see road signs and other inscriptions in Cyrilics in the are. The largest settlement on the Albanian side of Prespa Lake is the village of Pustec (Liqenas, in Albanian).
Transport do Ohrid & Prespa Lakes
Buses to Pogradec run from Tirana (TEG terminal) via Elbasan about once an hour. Some of these continue to Korçë, Ersekë or Bilisht. There are also direct buses to Pogradec from Berat, Vlorë, Shkodër and Durrës. Buses or minibuses run to Korçë roughly every 30 minutes.
The train connection from Durrës to Pogradec has not been in operation for years due to the disrepair of the railway line.
If you’re travelling to Pogradec from North Macedonia, you have two options: the first is via Struga, from where you can take a taxi to the Qafë Thanë/Kjafasan border crossing. On the other side of the border, there are Albanian unofficial taxi drivers usually waiting to take you to the petrol station at the junction on the main road Elbasan–Pogradec. Here, you can stop any bus or minibus heading towards Pogradec.
The second and much more interesting option is via the Tushemisht/St. Naum border crossing on the south side of the lake. From Ohrid, buses run (at 5:00, 6:00, 12:15, 15:30 and 18:00 on weekdays and 6:00, 15:30 and 18:30 on weekends) to St. Naum’s Monastery (unofficial taxi drivers supplement the offer in between). In high season, you can also take a ride on the cruise boats, which depart between 9:00 and 10:30 from the port of Ohrid. The sail offering views of the Galičica mountains is an experience in itself, and the monastery is worth a visit in any case. It’s only about a kilometre walk from the monastery to the border crossing, and Albanian taxi drivers will be waiting on the other side until at least early afternoon to take you the few kilometres to Pogradec.
Public transport to Prespa Lake is less frequent and more complicated in comparison to Ohrid Lake: There are two buses a day from Korçë to Pustec and Goricë, leaving early in the morning and at midday. There is also a transboundary minibus to Resen and Ohrid in North Macedonia, leaving Pustec around 5:00 AM and serving all the communities up to the border crossing in Stenje.
You can also get dropped off at a petrol station near the village of Zëmblak on the Korçë-Bilisht road, where informal taxi drivers will most likely be waiting. The beautiful serpentine road over the Zvezda Pass (Qafa e Zvezdës) is 17 kilometres long.
The road from Zëmblak up to the North Macedonian border is asphalted and in good condition.
Sights by Ohrid & Prespa Lakes
Useful Links
Accommodation
Use Booking.com to find the best places to stay by Ohrid & Prespa Lakes.
Flights
Find the cheapest flights to Albania on Kiwi.com. It combines various airlines into a single itinerary.
Car Rental
Discover Albania with cheap & reliable car rentals through Rent from Locals.
Mobile data
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Experiences
Book a day trip to Ohrid & Prespa Lakes on Viator.com.