Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Lake Prespa?
The A3 road links Ohrid, Resen and Bitola. Ohrid Airport is 55 km from Resen, and the nearest railway station, in Bitola, is 50 km away. The border crossings are Medžitlija to Greece (45 km) and Stenje to Albania (23 km). The lake villages are close to Resen: Pretor and Slivnica are 16 km away, Krani 20 km and Dolno Dupeni 34 km.
Can I swim in the lake?
Yes. Swimming and diving are allowed in the active management and sustainable use zones. The main sandy beaches are on the eastern shore: Pretor, Krani, Slivnica and Dolno Dupeni. See tourist places.
Where can I see the Dalmatian pelican?
The Dalmatian pelican is present at the lake all year. The best place to watch it, together with herons and pygmy cormorants, is the reed belt of Ezerani Nature Park on the northern shore. Please watch from the bird hides and marked places and do not disturb the birds. See Ezerani.
Can I visit Golem Grad island?
Golem Grad belongs to Galičica National Park. Almost all of the water around the island is a strict protection zone, except the transit waterway. For visits to the island, please contact Galičica National Park.
Can I fish?
Recreational fishing is allowed with a permit, from the shore and up to 150 metres from it. Fishing is not allowed at the spawning grounds during the spawning period, and never in the strict zone of Ezerani. Daily limits apply – see the visitor rules.
Can I collect plants, mushrooms or animals?
Only in the buffer zone, and only with a permit.
Where can I stay?
The Prespa region has 1,446 beds in 6 hotels, 2 motels, 3 autocamps and 48 private hosts. Autocamps are in Krani and Slivnica. See accommodation.
When is the best time to visit?
Spring and autumn bring more than 90 migratory bird species. Summer is for the beaches. Autumn brings the Prespa Apple Harvest. In winter about 8,000 tufted ducks stay on the lake, and snow falls from late November to late March.
Where can I get maps and information?
At the info centres: Ezerani Nature Park, the village of Ezerani, the monitoring station in Stenje, the info centre of Galičica National Park in Stenje, and the House of Culture "Dragi Tozija" in Resen. The interactive map is on the Prespa GIS Portal.
Can I arrange a group or school visit to Ezerani?
For group and school visits to Ezerani, please call the Municipality of Resen – Sector for Environment on +389 47 551 490 and ask what is available on your dates.
What is not allowed in the protected areas?
Hunting, cutting trees, burning reeds or other plants, leaving waste, releasing non-native plants or animals, using harmful substances, damaging habitats, taking sand and building. Read all the visitor rules.