Bus from STRUGA to GOSTIVAR

Struga (Macedonian: Струга) is a town and popular tourist destination situated in the south-western region of the Republic of Macedonia, lying on the shore of Lake Ohrid. 

The city of Struga is located on the shore of Lake Ohrid, and through it flows the river Crni Drim.

The origins of the name Struga come from the Old Church Slavonic language. There are three theories regarding the name, all of which are supported by the local inhabitants of the Struga region.

• The first theory is that the name of the town originated from the geographic location of the town. Located at the foot of an open valley and subject to a windy climate, it was suggested that the name originates from the old Macedonian term: струже ветер (it blows wind).
• The second theory says that the name of the city origins from the straga, meaning a cross.
• The third theory comes from the word str'g which means water branch.

The old name of the city is Enchalon, the ancient Greek word for eel, a kind of fish that lives in the Lake Ohrid.

The main event of the cultural life in Struga is the world's largest poetry gathering, Struga Poetry Evenings, whose laureates have included several Nobel Prize for Literature winners such as:

• Joseph Brodsky,
• Eugenio Montale,
• Pablo Neruda,
• Seamus Heaney,
• Fazıl Hüsnü Dağlarca

and many others since 1966.

There are several cultural monuments in Struga and in its vicinity such as:

• the Monastery of Kališta, a few kilometers away from the town center, lying on the shore of Lake Ohrid. It is believed that it dates from the 16th century, with frescoes from the 14th and the 15th centuries.
• Another rock church is present in the neighbouring village of Radožda with frescoes from the 13th and 14th centuries.
• The Church of Sveta Bogorodica (St Mary) in Vraništa, is believed to be where prince Samuel was crowned.
• The church of St. George is also located in the town; built on top of Samuel's church, it has many icons from the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries.
• Near the village of Radolishta, a basilica from the 4th century was discovered, with a mosaic.

Struga's old architecture dates from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Gostivar is a city in the Republic of Macedonia, located in the upper Polog valley region. It is one of the largest municipalities in the country with a population of 81,042 and the town also covers 1.341 square kilometres. Gostivar has road and railway connections with the other cities in the region, such as Tetovo, Skopje, Kičevo, Ohrid, and Debar. A freeway was built in 1995, from Gostivar to Tetovo, 24 km long. Gostivar is the seat of Gostivar Municipality.

The Šar Mountain is one of the most important Alpine mountain ranges in Macedonia together with neighbouring Mount Korab and Bistra mountains.The range is 80 km long and 12 km wide and is covered with snow from November till March or April every year. Its highest peak, Titov Vrv, is situated on 2,760 meters above sea level.

Located in the northwestern part of Macedonia, Popova Shapka is another winter ski resort. It is situated on the Šar Mountain, 1,780 meters  above the sea level, just 35 kilometres from the capital Skopje. Popova Shapka has hotel accommodation.

Visitors not from the Republic of Macedonia, and elsewhere other countries, use the facilities. Popova Shapka has been a host to both the European and Balkan Ski Championships. Not far from the resort, there are a number of small glacial lakes around on the mountain.