Ohrid - North Macedonia's Pearl in the Mountains
- Work To Wonders
- Mar 21
- 2 min read
Outside of the Balkans, few people have heard of Lake Ohrid. Yet with over-tourism being a major issue in neighbouring Greece, they are about to - and we advise you to go there before it gets crowded.
This lake is very picturesque. In the mountains between Albania and North Macedonia, it not only provides fresh water and fish to the surrounding countryside, a serene place of worship for Orthodox Christian monks at Sv. Naum monastery, and a town steeped in ancient history, it also has one of the quintessential views in the Balkans.
Yet - and this astonished us - the town is very easy to get around. It never seems to be packed. Walks around the pretty lake are very relaxing. Cruises on the lake don't seem to be too full. Restaurants serving delicious Mediterranean, Balkan and Aegean food are often busy, but people aren't turned away. Moreover, our flight to this beautiful up-and-coming destination was half empty!
This is truly a unique, beguiling and fascinating place to visit, as well as the gateway to see the gorgeous Matka Canyon and to tour the quite remarkable country of Albania.
It won't be long before this place becomes very popular. We advise you to go there before that happens.
How to get there
You can get to Ohrid from two airports: Skopje and Ohrid itself (which is a very small airport). Some people base themselves in Skopje and travel down to Ohrid for the day. We advise doing the opposite as Ohrid is a lot more scenic.
There is only one airline that flies to Ohrid (TUI) and only one airport that they fly from (Manchester). However, it's possible that this may change.
How we did it
We travelled down to Manchester by train the day before, stayed in the airport overnight and then caught the flight out very early the next day, but if you're not a little crazy like us, you could book a hotel.
We booked a package deal with TUI and stayed at the Hotel Tino and Spa.
We cruised to Sv. Naum and around the lake with Armada.
Our tour to Matka Canyon was booked through Fibula Travel.
Our tour to Albania was booked through Vik Experience - and this is quite an experience!
Our Top Tips
Be prepared for rain, as forecasts will always tell you that it's likely, but be aware that it probably won't. Being in the mountains, Ohrid has a bit of a micro-climate, and it's rather nice!
Most food here is local and very good. You will not find big Western chains here - and that is a good thing. Visit Fisherman's House Kaneo for the most delicious home-cooked food in the city and an absolutely stunning twilight view. However, it's a very small restaurant, so make sure you get there early.
North Macedonia is not part of the Schengen zone. Most European travellers should be able to enter without a visa. Check their immigration rules for more information.
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