Monastery of St Naum – A Day Trip from Ohrid

Ohrid is a lakeside town on the banks of – funnily enough – Lake Ohrid in the southwest of North Macedonia. Everyone we spoke to before our arrival said we had to visit the Monastery of St Naum (also called Sveti Naum).

I had never heard of St Naum Monastery before, and in our two days in Ohrid before our cruise didn’t get a whole lot more information.

I was surprised to discover when we arrived that it’s more than just a historical site and that you should pack your swimmers if you also do this cruise.

Here’s what we found out during our visit that will help you with yours.

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Book your Cruise to St Naum Monastery here

Getting There

Ohrid is a resort town, nestled neatly between the banks of the lake and the hills surrounding it. The of Saint Naum Monastery is located 29km to the south of the town, also on the banks of Lake Ohrid.

During the busy summer months, there are a few different options to get to St. Naum. We chose to go there using the Ohrid to St Naum boat Aleksandrija from the main pier in the centre of town.

The boat left at 10 am from Ohrid, and from St Naum at 3:30 pm. The trip took about 90 minutes each way.

The boat proclaims to have commentary also in Dutch and English, and to some extent, it does, for basics such as welcome aboard messages, but mostly the commentary is in Macedonian.

As we travelled along the banks of the lake other sites were pointed out, such as the Bay of Bones Museum and the town jokingly called St Tropez by the locals.

At these points there was only a quick mention made in English, but a much longer commentary in Macedonian.

At some other points, there was no English commentary at all. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable ride each way, and I would happily recommend it.

Note the boat left almost exactly on time from both Ohrid and St Naum. Don’t be late or you will likely miss it.

It is also possible to catch a bus to the St Naum Monastery. They run every couple of hours in each direction during the day. A taxi will also take you to St Naum.

The Monastery of St Naum

Founded in 905 by St Naum of Ohrid, a disciple of Saints Cyril and Methodius, the Monastery of Saint Naum was a significant centre for Slavic literacy and Christian education, being both a hospital and school at different times.

Its beautiful setting by the lake has made it a place of pilgrimage for centuries, with the church itself housing the tomb of St Naum, known for his healing powers.

Over the years, the monastery has been rebuilt and restored several times, preserving its unique frescoes and rich Orthodox heritage, making it a popular cultural and spiritual landmark in the region.

The monastery itself sits high on a cliff overlooking the lake. It is an Eastern Orthodox Church with many old frescoes on the walls, and some of the best Macedonian icons are housed here.

It is quite small and was crowded with people, tourists and worshippers alike, during our visit. Photos were not allowed, so you will have to visit for yourself to see inside. Entry was free.

Inside the grounds of the Macedonian monastery is a fantastic area with amazing views over the lake. There is also a hotel which now takes up part of the old monastery buildings and a restaurant.

The gardens behind the monastery are lovely and a great place to relax in the shade in the heat of summer.

Slightly further afield are a few other smaller chapels if you wish to walk to visit them too. There are frequent maps and well-marked paths showing the way.

Go far enough and you will be exploring the National Park of Galicica, but that is better off being left for another trip.

One of the other attractions of the Monastery is the peacocks that roam freely around. We saw them in the distance and on the buildings but didn’t get close to them.

At this time of year, they have shed their tail feathers and they are still growing back. I’m sure a visit in spring would have them prancing around showing off.

The St Naum Springs

Not far from the monastery is St Naum Springs. This waterway flows into Lake Ohrid, but looking at it, it seems not to run at all. It is brilliantly clear and looks perfectly peaceful.

It is possible to hire a boat and be rowed around the lake created by the springs. The prices are per boat, so it’s best to get a group together for the ride.

The Beach

We didn’t realise that there is a fantastic beach here to take a quick dip to cool off. The water is warm and calm, and loungers line the shores. We sat on some for a while outside of one of the cafes.

The charge was 140MKD (about €2.50) each for the use of them. I’m not sure if all of the lounges need to be paid for as there was a whole big stretch that was not near a food or drinks outlet.

Food

There are a few different options for food, from the restaurant at the monastery to more places down near the spring.

If you continue to walk past the spring and through the far gate to the car park, there looked to be more local food places, but I only briefly glanced through the gates.

We ate at Connecting with Cuba Libre. There was a lot of information about how they were run by the same group that runs the popular Cuba Libre nightclub back in Ohrid.

The food was not too bad, and portions were generous at reasonable prices. I was expecting poorer quality and higher prices at such an obviously touristy restaurant.

This area is perfect for packing a picnic. There are grass areas and tables available.

I had heard that one of the restaurants was hiring out floating picnic tables, so you could sit at them and float around the springs while eating, but I did not see any so maybe they have stopped doing it.

Other Facilities

You will find a whole pile of little stalls, mostly souvenirs but there is also a small market shop with snacks.

There is no shortage of bathroom facilities, but these are some of the few that required payment in Macedonia, so make sure you take some small change along with you.

The Monastery of St Naum is only around 1km from the Albanian border. This probably explains the armed guard and fence we saw while walking in the gardens.

While others seemed to be freely passing the barrier, we decided to make our way back in the direction of the monastery.

We did not realise this may have something to do with border control until later. Just something to keep in mind as you walk around.

All in all, a day trip to the Monastery of St Naum is so much more than just looking at the monastery.

The Lake Ohrid boat trip there is scenic and relaxing, and I am guessing that the bus or taxi trip would have views overlooking the lake so be interesting too.

Once there, the monastery is worth a visit, but the springs, beach and restaurants will fill your afternoon with relaxation. Definitely a trip worth considering if you are looking for things to do in Ohrid.

Book your cruise across Lake Ohrid to St Naum here now

For more things to do in Ohrid, click here to see what I did during my visit.

Looking for some longer day tours from Ohrid? How about these?
Meteora from Ohrid
Tirana and Durres from Ohrid
Pogradec, Korcha and Pustec from Ohrid

Want to stay overnight at Hotel St Naum and enjoying this paradise for longer? Click here to see availability and prices.