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Northern Macedonia is a not yet obvious travel destination, but did you know that this Balkan country has an incredible amount to offer? Ohrid, one of the larger cities in northern Macedonia, is the perfect base for a nice sun vacation but is also the ideal starting point for a tour of the country. The city of Ohrid is located on Lake Ohrid of the same name, which is also one-third in Albania. Around the lake you will find beautiful archaeological finds and impressive mountain landscapes, as well as authentic villages and an interesting culture to get to know. Are you curious about northern Macedonia? Then discover the most beautiful places around Lake Ohrid in this article!
Lake Ohrid: one of the oldest and deepest lakes in Europe
Lake Ohrid is the tourist attraction of northern Macedonia. Around one of the oldest and deepest lakes in Europe you will find cute fishing villages, rolling mountain landscapes, interesting sights and, of course, the historic city of Ohrid. The lake, which is two-thirds in northern Macedonia and one-third in Albania, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. Incidentally, this applies only to the part that belongs to northern Macedonia.
1. Discover Ohrid: the coziest city in northern Macedonia
The city of Ohrid has a long and interesting history as a religious center, which is why it is also known as the Jerusalem of the Balkans. Founded thousands of years ago by ancient Macedonians, Ohrid has been part of the Roman, Byzantine, Bulgarian and Ottoman empires over the centuries. Each of these empires has left its own religious and cultural influences on the city and life as you can experience it today in northern Macedonia. Religious influences are especially evident in the - as many as 365 - churches and monasteries in and around the city of Ohrid.
Ohrid's old town, built up against the hill, is where you want to wander as far as we are concerned. Indeed, this area is dominated by narrow cobbled streets, photogenic houses and beautiful vantage points. The old city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a reason!
Therefore, a good starting point for exploring Ohrid is Samuel's Fortress. Climb the former ramparts of one of Ohrid's oldest medieval fortifications and enjoy panoramic views of the city, the lake and the vast surroundings. Walk further down and you will pass by the ancient theater of Ohrid. This ancient Greek theater was built in 200 BC and is a venue that still hosts regular events.
Not to be missed is Ohrid's most famous church: the Church of St. John Kaneo. This is the church you find on many covers of travel guides about northern Macedonia. The church dates back to the 13th century and is idyllically located on a cliff on Lake Ohrid. The Sveta Sofia, where you can admire centuries-old frescoes, and the Monastery of St. Clement are also an absolute must-see.
Delicious food in Ohrid
Ohrid's promenade is located in the new and somewhat more modern part of the city. You will find many cozy terraces along the waterfront where you can sit down for a snack and drink while enjoying views of the lake. An atmospheric place where live music is also played on weekends is Nova Riviera.
Another place to remember is the Italian restaurant Pizza Via Sacre at the foot of the Sveta Sofia Church. Want to score a typical local snack? Then find a pekara on the shopping street and order börek!
2. Visit the Galicica National Park
Near Ohrid you will find the Galicica National Park, a beautiful nature reserve that lies on the border between northern Macedonia and Albania. The national park consists of the Galicica Mountains and separates Northern Macedonia's two largest lakes, Lake Ohrid and the lonely and deserted Lake Prespa. This lake is also known as the sleeping lake. Nature in Galicia is incredibly green and a feast for the eyes. Many wild animals live in the mountains, such as bears, wolves and deer.
Through winding roads and sharp hairpin turns, you can make your way through the national park. Stop here and there for amazing panoramic views. One spot not to be missed is the 'Korita picnic place and spring', here you will find a natural water source with many white flowers and as many as thousands of butterflies.
Tip: Are you booking your vacation to Ohrid through Corendon? Then consider booking the tour of the Galicia National Park in combination with a sunset dinner. You will dine alfresco at La Costa Terrace overlooking Lake Ohrid.
3. Take a look at Bay of Bones
One place that will take you back in time is at the Bay of Bones museum. This is a reconstruction of stilt houses on the water. This is what it should have looked like from the 12th to the 7th century BC. The name of this archaeological site comes from the many animal bones found at the bottom of the lake. It is very interesting to walk around here and get an idea of how people must have lived centuries ago.
The museum is beautifully situated in a bay. You will therefore find that a visit to Bay of Bones is often a stop during a boat excursion on Lake Ohrid. But you can also get there by car, should this be your preference. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 09:00 to 16:00.
4. Visit the monastery of St. Naum
An unmissable attraction with a beautiful location on Lake Ohrid in northern Macedonia is the Monastery of St. Naum. The monastery is also located in the Galicica National Park and at the source of the Black Drim River. It is one of the most beautiful pilgrimage sites in the country. You can visit the monastery, see the beautiful frescoes and hold your ear to the tomb of St. Naum of Ohrid. Legend has it that if you are a true Christian, you can still hear the monk's heartbeat.
Today, the monastery itself also offers the possibility to stay overnight, but be prepared that this is according to the rules of the monastery. So staying overnight here is purely an experience, not a luxury. There is also a restaurant where you can eat traditional Macedonian food.
5. Sail a boat down the Black Drim River
Next to the monastery of St. Naum you will find a special piece of nature. A beautiful protected area where the underground Black Drom River rises to the surface and expresses itself in a crystal clear water spring. Seen from above (with the drone) you can see how deep the water source is and how beautifully green the area colors.
In the middle of this nature reserve is restaurant Ostrovo where you can enjoy traditional Macedonian cuisine. It is also the place where you can take a boat trip over the underwater springs. An absolute must-do!
6. Taste local wines at Monastery Winery in the mountains of Ohrid
Wine lovers beware, near the city of Ohrid you will find an incredibly beautiful winery beautifully located in the middle of the mountains. A special place where wine is made with a lot of passion. And where you are one of the few tourists.
After years of making wine for friends and family, since 2018 the winery has been Monastery Winery officially opened to visitors. The production of the wine is low and is therefore only sold to restaurants in the region. In addition, of course, the wine can be tasted at the location itself. And that is exactly what we recommend!
You can make a reservation online for a tasting. They offer several options and you can also expand these with a cheese and/or charcuterie board. Be sure to take a look inside the monastery, as it is still used today. Admittedly as storage, but also as a location for senior members of the church to meet annually.
7. Cross the border into Albania
Then, when you are so close to Albania, of course you want to set foot there. With the day trip 'Albania around the lake' of the travel agency Fibula Tours visit three different places in Albania.
The first town after the Albanian border is Pogradec. It is a quiet, historic and cultural town. It is well worth getting off the boardwalk and wandering the streets. This way you will catch a glimpse of local Albanian life.
The peculiarity of Lake Ohrid is that the part located in northern Macedonia is protected by UNESCO, but the Albanian part is not. This allows fishing for Ohrid trout in Albania. If you like fish, it is worth considering ordering it for lunch or dinner.
Another nice stop you can make along the lake in Albania is at the village of Lin. This is considered one of the most beautiful fishing villages in the country. You can wander around the streets here and climb up the hill to the ruins of a former basilica. Do you feel like walking on? Then you'll find an old bunker at the tip of the peninsula, and you can take in the insane views of the lake.
How do I get to Ohrid?
Ohrid has its own airport and if you are on a direct flight from Amsterdam, the flight takes about 2.5 hours, depending on air currents. There are currently no airlines where you can only book a direct flight to Ohrid. If you book a package trip through Corendon or TUI, you do fly direct.
Since North Macedonia is a fairly inexpensive vacation destination, booking a package that includes flight, hotel and transfer is quite interesting. In addition, you can always choose to book a rental car and go independently, or join the excursions offered by the tour operator on site.
Ohrid airport is located just outside the city. A transfer to accommodation in the town itself takes about 20 minutes.
What is the nicest place to stay?
We ourselves stayed just outside the city of Ohrid, namely at the four-star hotel Aqualina on the eastern shore of the lake. If you stay here, you can count on beautiful sunsets. Along the eastern shore of the lake you will also find the small village of Peštani, this is a cozy place with a number of restaurants.
Would you rather stay in the center of Ohrid? Then check out Villa Arte. This hotel has an ideal location in Ohrid. The town of Struga is also worth considering, here Hotel Drim is highly recommended.
Hotel Aqualina
The Aqualina hotel is about a 10-minute drive from Ohrid city center. It is a four-star all-inclusive hotel where you can enjoy facilities such as a buffet restaurant, swimming pool and beach beds on a pebbly beach. Rooms are basic but comfortable. Tip: opt for a room overlooking Lake Ohrid, then you will always have a view of the most beautiful sunsets.
Macedonia or northern Macedonia?
We know this travel destination as Northern Macedonia, but are you in the destination itself you will hear the locals say only Macedonia. Why? In the former Yugoslavia, the name of the country was simply Macedonia, but because Greece has a province of the same name they objected. After mutual negotiations, a compromise was reached in 2018. Since then, the country has officially been called Republic of North Macedonia. But because many Macedonians do not agree with this, they still use the old name.
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