Lake Ohrid: The utmost travel guide
The Republic of Macedonia (or, FYROM) is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, which is bordered by Greece, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Albania as well as Serbia. even though there’s no ocean in sight, this country has a gorgeous body of water that’s deserving of a visit.
Lake Ohrid is one of the deepest as well as oldest lakes in all of Europe. It’s 30 kilometers long as well as 15 kilometers wide, as well as is partially had by Albania. However, the majority of the water sits within Macedonia’s borders.
Given the size of Lake Ohrid as well as the many sites to see, as well as things to do, having a automobile will truly provide you the flexibility to explore this natural gem at your own pace. We had 3 nights at the Lake, however might have made with lots of more!
Read on to discover why Lake Ohrid must be on your travel bucketlist.
Where to stay at Lake Ohrid
We wished to base ourselves in the actual old town of Ohrid, which has gorgeous architecture, lots of sites to see, as well as the most lodging options. The roads right here are cobblestone as well as the entire town is extremely picturesque. In fact, Ohrid was really provided as a UNESCO heritage site in 1980.
There are many locations to stay here, with the majority being apartments, guesthouses or villas. We selected Mal Sveti Kliment Guesthouse because of its proximity to the lake itself, the fair cost of the spaces ($30 – $60) as well as the invitation we got from the manager to take part in Epiphany!
The only issue with staying in the old town when you have a vehicle is discovering parking. The lanes are extremely narrow as well as there aren’t lots of areas available. We had to park outside of the old town as well as walk in, which took only about 5 minutes (maximum).
There are other locations to stay around the lake, however the old town of Ohrid has the most going on, is the most beautiful, as well as uses the most amenities for travellers.
To find accommodations in the old town, as well as in towns around Lake Ohrid, inspect out:
HostelWorld for budget plan rooms, Booking.com for budget plan as well as midrange, as well as HotelsCombined to compare a range of booking sites.
Must-See sites of Lake Ohrid
There are limitless amounts of things to do here. Whether you’re thinking about being active, cultural or lazy, you’ll discover something to fit your mood.
We were at the lake in the wintertime, as well as there were still tons of things to do. If you are available in the summer, you’ll never be bored.
Sveti Naum Monastery (St. Naum)
This Eastern Orthodox monastery was well established in 905 by Saint Naum…who is likewise buried in the church! Entering into the complex you’ll pass under a stone archway, across a bit river as well as past lots of peacocks.
The monastery itself is lovely, however when you reach the actual church, which has extraordinary views of the mountains as well as lake, you’ll be totally in awe.
Inside are stone columns, well-preserved frescos on the walls as well as ceiling as well as of course, Saint Naum! The story goes that if you kneel in front of the cushion, as well as press your ear to it, you’ll be able to hear Saint Naum’s heart beating…
This was our much-loved site during our time at Lake Ohrid, do not miss it. You’ll discover this monastery 30 kilometers south of the city of Ohrid, as well as you can get right here by car, taxi, or by boat (around as well as hour, $8).
Sveti Jovan Monastery (St. John Monastery)
Another picture-perfect monastery, however this time around it’s Macedonian Orthodox. You’ll discover this church clinging to a cliff above Kaneo beach just outside of Ohrid city. The views of the lake from right here are outstanding, as well as if you want to discover a tranquil location to just hangout as well as relax, this is it.
The walk right here is fantastic as well. You can roam with the old town, as well as along the lakeshore, before coming to the church. To total the circle, head up the hill along a path into the forest. You’ll ultimately show up at the fort. entrance fee: 100 MKD ($1.80).
Samuel’s Fortress
This was the funding of the very first Bulgarian empire, when Tsar Samuel ruled in the 10th century. Today this is a prominent area for tourists. The fortress is well intact as well as the views from right here are sublime. entrance fee: 30 MKD ($0.55).
Church of St. Sophia
This church is one of the most crucial monuments in all of Macedonia. It’s been house to a number of faiths considering that 850 – Christian, Bulgarian Orthodox, as well as Muslim. inside you’lldiscover architecture, art as well as frescos from the middle Ages. entrance fee: 100 MKD ($1.80).
Ancient Theatre
This theatre was built in 200 BC, as well as is from the Hellenistic period (between the death of Alexander the fantastic as well as the begin of the Roman Empire). only the lower section of the theatre exists, however it’s still extremely impressive. Actually, during the Roman times, this theatre was utilized for Gladiator fighting! entrance fee: Free.
Check out the standard Homes
Ohrid’s design is unique. The lanes are narrow as well as extremely tight, with homes really developed hanging over the roads. The homes are all painted white to assist with the intense warm of the sun, as well as there aren’t lots of open areas or lawns because of lack of space, as well as to assist avoid the strong winds from the lake.
A few noteworthy houses to inspect out are Robevci & Uranija houses, as well as the houses along Car Samoil as well as Ilindenska streets.
Swimming, Snorkelling as well as Diving
If you go to Lake Ohrid during the summertime you’ll be able to completely take pleasure in all of the water activities. even though Lake Ohrid can be checked out year-round (we were there in January), all of the water activities can only be performed in the summer.
Click right here for the very best beaches for swimming on the lake as well as click right here for some info on diving diving as well as snorkelling.
Dives expense $45 each, however the a lot more you do, the lower the expense per dive.
Hiking as well as Walking
There are a few tracks around the old town of Lake Ohrid (like the one leading to the Fortress above), however for a a lot more interesting adventure, why not walk around the entire lake?! inspect out this publish for beneficial recommendations as well as tips.
If you don’t have about a week to spend hiking as well as camping along the shoreline, you can make your method to the village of Elshani on the east coast. This is a fantastic starting point for many tracks around the area. You can likewise hike to the villages of Konjsko or Pestani from here.
Epiphany Festival
If you’re able to (and if you don’t mind the freezing weather), try to time your trip to Lake Ohrid for the Epiphany celebrations. This celebration is celebrated by Christians around the world, with those in Macedonia (and the east) honoring the baptism of Jesus.
Brave (crazy?) guy jump into the 7° C water (with air temps around -7 ° C), in browse of a wooden cross that was thrown into the lake by a priest just moments before. The guy who collects the sunken cross is blessed as well as provided great luck for the rest of the year. He likewise gets to go home to home to get money!
Where to eat at Lake Ohrid
There are many locations to eat, however in the wintertime months, only a few restaurants are open. during the summer, every restaurant is buzzing.
Objectif – Located along the promenade just outside of the old town. This stylish location has outside seating as well as was hectic even in the winter. Lunch for 2 people is around $10 as well as beers are $1.60 each.
Aleksandrija – This location has wood terminated pizzas for $6, vegetable dishes for $4.50 as well as bottles of white wine from $9.
Dr. Falafel – This bit location serves inexpensive as well as tasty falafels ideal in the primary square at the begin of the pedestrian-only street. $1.80 with hummus.
Gladiator restaurant – Located on the western side of the ancient theatre, this restaurant offers fantastic views. Come right here for a coffee or a meal.
Restaurant Damar – We had our much-loved meal here! choose the vegetarian platter ($6) which includes fried zucchini, cucumbers, tzatziki, olives, grilled eggplant, salsas as well as bread. The stuffed peppers with cheese ($4.50) are likewise extremely delicious.
Kaj Kanevche – This restaurant is a bit additionally out of the old town, however it’s a great walk along the boardwalk. try the eggplant mousaka, pinjur, fried zucchini, fish as well as the mixed omelette. try to get a table on the lakeside terrace!
If you’re on a truly tight budget, you might always o to the bakery as well as grocery store, or regional markets to purchase fruit, vegetables, burek as well as other pastries.
Getting to as well as From Lake Ohrid
As I stated at the begin of this article, having your own set of wheels is the simplestmethod to get to the lake, see all of the surrounding villages, as well as bring on afterwards. We rented a vehicle with EconomyBookings.com as well as Sharr reveal at the flight terminal in Skopje.
To get to Skopje from neighbouring Tirana, Albania, you can take a regional bus for $22.
A bus from Skopje to Lake Ohrid takes about 3.5 hours as well as costs around 520 MKD ($9.40). Buses run every couple of hours from Skopje. The bus station at Ohrid is outside of the old town (30 minute walk). A taxi in must expense around 120 MKD ($2) – always agree on a cost before getting into the taxi.
If coming from Bitola, there are about 6 buses each day. Click right here for the Galeb Bus website which uses lots of routes from Lake Ohrid to neighbouring countries.
Lake Ohrid genuinely is a Gem!
No matter which time of the year you choose to go to Lake Ohrid, you’ll have a unforgettable experience. even in the dead of wintertime it’s still exceptionally sunny as well as the skies are pure blue. The snow-capped mountains just add an additional aspect to this already picturesque destination.
Meanwhile, if you are available in the summertime months, you’ll be able to do some hiking, swimming as well as sunbathing! Plus, a lot more shops, restaurants as well as hotels will be open for tourists.
Lake Ohrid is a natural question of not only the Republic of Macedonia, however Europe as a whole.
For a lot more information, assist as well as inspiration, inspect out our articles!
Our 3 Days in Skopje: Macedonia’s questionable Capital
Road Tripping Macedonia – checking out Lake Ohrid as well as Mavrovo national Park
The utmost guide to travelling Macedonia
Travelling Eastern as well as central Europe: Highlights as well as travel ideas from 5 extraordinary Months
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