Lini is a picturesque village on Lake Ohrid, just 22 kilometers from Pogradec. It has become one of the most visited attractions for both locals and foreigners.

Recent archaeological discoveries revealed that Lini hosts the earliest pile-dwelling settlement ever found in Europe. This finding has drawn even more international visitors.

Minister of Economy, Culture and Innovation, Blendi Gonxhja, shared images from Lini on social media. They show tourists exploring the site, taking photographs, and admiring the ancient mosaics.

“Lini, Europe’s oldest settlement, has turned into a magnet for visitors this summer. Its charm lies not only on the shores of Lake Ohrid, but also in the Early Christian Basilica, a rare monument with stunning 5th–6th century mosaics,” Gonxhja wrote.

This season, 4,735 tourists visited the Basilica of Lini. Among them, 3,298 were foreigners and 1,437 locals.

In recent years, guesthouses have flourished in the village, welcoming hundreds of travelers from across the globe.

Lini greets visitors with breathtaking views the moment they descend Qafëthana towards Pogradec. Its small peninsula, once believed to be an island covered in dense vegetation, holds centuries of history.

Legends say that when Julius Caesar’s soldiers first reached the hill, they were so enchanted that they cried “Lyhnidas,” meaning “Lake of Light.”

/a.c/