Ohrid in The Republic of North Macedonia is home to one of the oldest lakes in the world. It is believed to reach depths of 288 meters. The lake also boasts some of the clearest freshwater beaches I have ever seen. In the summer, locals and tourists alike relax the afternoon heat away on boats or the beaches.
The city is also known as The Jerusalem of the Balkans. Ohrid is famed for once having 365 churches - one for every day of the year. Now, several picturesque churches are preserved in Ohrid Old Town and open for tourists for a small fee.
While I would recommend staying in Ohrid for two to three days to properly relax on the waters, it is possible to have a swim, explore the Old Town sights, and catch a beautiful sunset all in one day!
Suggested: Read how to travel to Ohrid from Albania here
Most supermarkets accept credit cards, but cash is preferred by most business owners. The local currency is Denar. Approximately 60 denar = 1 Euro. There are ATMs scattered around the city to withdraw money.
For data, I used Airalo for a few days of data. Some hotels and hostels have spotty Wi-Fi so the data came in handy!
Ohrid is a relatively affordable city. Hostel bunks are around 11 Euros a night and nicer hotels can go up to 40 Euros a night. I went in the middle of September and stayed at Old Town Hostel and paid about 12 Euros for my bunk. It was centrally located, well kept, and had a nice social atmosphere.
Ohrid has two parts: New Town and Old Town. For the sake of time, I would recommend choosing accommodation in Old Town. Not only is it more accessible, but it is more beautiful!
I first left my hostel at 10:30 AM and found the streets were still relatively empty save for a few people sipping an espresso at a cafe on the main street.
Any restaurant on this main street will have a nice place to grab breakfast and a coffee to start your day.
Around 9:30-10 AM finish up breakfast and walk towards The Church of St. Sophia.
There will also be stands popped up selling local Ohrid pearls. These are not regular pearls, instead, they are local family secrets largely produced by grinding shells and forming them into balls.
At least eight coats of secret emulsion are used to give them their characteristic shine.
Spend your time admiring The Church of St. Sophia, then walk up the nearby street to The Ancient Macedonian Theater of Ohrid.
The hill is a little steep, but not too long. The Hellenistic theater, originally built in 200 BC, is well preserved.
Find a crack in the wall to see an ancient tomb!
Once finishing the ancient theater, head a bit more upwards to the Old Town entrance. From here you will see signs guiding you to the rest of the Old Town.
I recommend first going to The Church of Holy Mother of God PERIBLEPTOS. This is a Byzantine church known for its wall murals. From here you can get a great view of the fortress.
From there, visit the Church of Saints Clement and Pantaleimon.
This is a picturesque church overlooking Lake Ohrid (though not the most picturesque. That’s reserved for sunset!)
There is a small entrance fee to go inside the church grounds. It is a nice walk around some ruins and there are beautiful murals inside the church itself.
From the church, walk a little bit uphill to Samuel’s Fortress.
This was once the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire during Tsar Samuel’s rule in the 11th century. Today, it towers over Ohrid with a grand Macedonian flag waving in the wind.
Here, you can walk along the fortress walls and take in a 360 view of the city.
Note: The fortress is closed on Mondays!
Right next to Samuel’s Fortress is the quaint, cozy Fort Cafe.
The prices are average for restaurants in the area, coupled with a priceless view. Expect to pay around 7 Euros for a drink and a meal.
This is your time to enjoy the waters just at the heat of the day.
There are a few docks and different points perfect for jumping in the water. Just be mindful of nearby boats.
Look for stands advertising stand-up paddling, kayaking, and paragliding. Boat tours are also popular!
After a long afternoon on the lake, indulge in a meal by the water.
If you're a backpacker looking for a budget eat, I recommend Mr. Papo for takeout gyros.
Finish your meal just before or after sunset, because you do not want to miss the sun going down by The Church of St. John - the most famous and picturesque area of Ohrid.
What I recommend is first stop by the small pier to watch the first part of sunset. Then, walk ten minutes uphill to catch the rest of the colors at the cliff above the church.
After a long day, relax at one of the several rooftop bars.
Try out Skopsko, The Republic of North Macedonia’s most popular beer!
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