Ohrid Holidays

With beaches, churches, historical sites and an Old Town, there's lots to explore on holidays to Ohrid (pronounced Ock-rid).

Cobbles, cafés and culture

Spend the day wandering the cobbled streets of Ohrid's Old Town, down hidden pathways and through stone archways. And don't forget to look up as well as around you – the terracotta roof tiles and brightly coloured flowers on the balconies are a pop of colour against the white and stone buildings. Stop for a coffee and sweet treat at one of the local bakeries near St Clement square, and chat to the friendly locals. Choose one of the family-run restaurants or cafés for lunch, and tuck into regional specialities like Ohrid trout or fresh bread with makalo, a tasty garlic dip.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Ohrid was once home to 365 churches, and although you won't find as many churches here today, the ones it does have are historically and culturally important – they even helped it become a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. The biggest of Lake Ohrid's cities, it dates right back to the 3rd century BC and is one of Europe's oldest human settlements. Visit the 13th century Church of St. John of Kaneo, it's set high on the cliff edge and you'll get the best view over Lake Ohrid from up here, or the ancient Church of St. Clement, with rounded turrets and patterned towers it looks like a castle.

Take it to the lake

Whether you swim, sail or wander along the promenade, the lake is front and centre in Ohrid. It's one of Europe's oldest lakes and, thanks to its biodiversity and the huge range of wildlife, it's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the shore near the Old Town with a stroll along the water's edge, then find your favourite beach spot to soak up the sun. There are beaches in both directions – head right from the Old Town along the wooden promenade to find the closest ones, small pebble beaches tucked against the cliff edge. Hop aboard a boat to take a tour of the lake, or set sail on a sunset cruise to watch the evening roll in and the sky turn from blue to pink.

Out and about

Lakeside promenade
Boat trips
Wildlife spotting
Beaches
Lake bathing
National park
Walking tours
Hiking
Paragliding
Old Town
Market
Local history museum
Churches
Monastery
Fortress
Amphitheatre
Archaeological site

At a glance

Wander down cobbled streets full of tucked away cafés and traditional restaurants
See Lake Ohrid from above at the St. John of Kaneo church, dating back to the 13th century
Try North Macedonian specialities, including tasty pastries, salads and stews

Saraiste beach

Just a short stroll from Ohrid's Old Town and port you'll find the small and pebbly Saraiste beach, perfect if you fancy a quick dip. Steps lead down into the water from the sunbathing area, and the beach looks out across the lake and towards the mountains. It's a great spot to chill out with a drink and admire the view, and there are restaurants right next to the beach so you can easily grab a bite to eat too.
Potpesh beach

Walk along the lakefront promenade from Ohrid's Old Town to get to Potpesh beach, a small stretch of pebble shoreline with a sun loungers for hire and a great view of the lake. Soak up the summer sun on the beach, lounge in the shade under the trees, or wade out into the water for a swim. And there's a restaurant just behind the beach with tables looking out over the water – we love an al fresco lunch.
Kaneo beach

A 15-minute stroll away, tucked just below the cliff edge is Kaneo beach, a tiny rocky shoreline with sun loungers and a floating pontoon. The view of the lake and surrounding mountains from here is fab, and if you look up to your right you can see the tip of the church of St. John of Kaneo too. There are traditional seafood restaurants to either side with shady terraces that jut out over the lake, ideal for lingering over lunch and enjoying the scenery.

Bargain Buys

Located in the Old Town, the Old Bazaar's lively market is a great place to pick up tasty treats and handmade souvenirs. Starting by the 1,000 year old tree in the centre of the main square, wander through the indoor farmer's market and along the pedestrianised street with stalls selling clothing, bags, sunglasses and toys. Look out for the locally-made clay cooking pots – you won't find them anywhere else in Ohrid.
Mid-Range Buys

There are lots of clothing, souvenir and jewellery shops in Ohrid's Old Town. For something special, make sure to look out for shops selling traditional Macedonian embroidery. And keep your eyes peeled for the Ohrid pearl jewellery shops run by the Talevi and Filevi families. The city's well known for its pearls – each one is hand painted with a special mix made from shells, fish scales and a secret ingredient, which has been passed down through the generations in these two families. Prices vary, but start from around 920 MKD, which is around £12. And the filigree jewellery shops are also a great place to pick up some traditional North Macedonian jewellery without breaking the bank. It's a traditional Macedonian craft where silver threads are woven together to create jewellery pieces that look similar to lace, earrings start from around 700 MKD.

Laid-back evenings

Stroll through the Old Town in the evening to take a look in the shops or pick up a post-dinner ice cream. Grab a drink at one of the bars in the harbour, or wander along the wooden promenade that stretches towards Potpesh beach before turning in for the evening.
Lively evenings

Looking for a good spot to sip on your favourite tipple? Choose from laid-back jazz bars, beachfront cocktail terraces and a boogie on the club dancefloor. A popular pick close to the Old Town, the Jazz Inn has got great music, well-priced drinks and a friendly vibe that'll have you wanting to come back night after night. For great views of the lake you'll want to go to Liquid, a lively bar with fairylights out on the terrace, regular DJ's and live music, or the Harbour Club, a stylish pick on St. Clement square with a terrace that overlooks the lake. And to really dance the night away there's Havana Club in the harbour. It's really popular as it stays open until late, so if you're heading here you might need to queue to get inside.

Eating out

Lots of the restaurants are along the lakefront with views of the lake and surrounding mountains, and some of them are even built over the water. And your tastebuds are in for a treat too as North Macedonian food has strong Greek and Turkish influences and is full of flavour – think lots of freshly caught fish and slow-cooked dishes like tavče gravče, a traditional bean stew cooked in a clay pot.
Top notch dining at Kaneo Letna Bavcha

Located right on the lakefront and accessible only on foot, the Kaneo Letna Bavcha restaurant has a front row seat of Lake Ohrid and the church of St. John of Kaneo. It's dearer and more about fine dining than some of the other local restaurants. Eat al fresco on the terrace and tuck into tasty Macedonian specials – the restaurant's well-known for it's plashica dish. Served fried, the lake's small, native plashica fish is simply serviced with a squeeze of fresh lemon.
A family-run favourite

Tucked away next to the Church of Saint Sophia in the centre of Ohrid's Old Town is Sveta Sofija. It's a family-run restaurant and a great spot to embrace the local culture and rich history of Ohrid. You can eat inside or dine al fresco on the summer terrace, but wherever you sit you'll have the best view in town of the church. Sveta Sofija specialises in fish dishes, and we'd recommend choosing something locally-caught like Ohrid trout or plashica. They've got national dishes too like the bean-based tavče gravče and stuffed peppers, so your tastebuds are in for a treat.

On foot

The best way to explore Ohrid's Old Town is on foot, so much so that some of the beaches and lakefront restaurants aren't accessible by road. Explore the city with a walking tour to hear about local history and see all the best sights, from the Church of St. John of Kaneo to the House of Robev, the only house in Ohrid that's got three storeys.
Ferries

Book on to a TUI trip to spend the day down at southern end of the lake. Wander through the monastery, originally built by Saint Naum of Ohrid in 905 BC, or through the gardens where you can spot peacocks, fountains and plenty of photo ops before grabbing a bite to eat at the restaurant. And you can take a boat ride at the nearby springs of the Black Drim river that connect Lake Ohrid with Lake Prespa too, it'll last around 20 minutes and is a great way to see local wildlife.
Buses

The local buses in Lake Ohrid are blue and white and run by the Galeb bus company. Ask at your hotel reception for the nearest stop and a timetable, and look out for yellow markings on the road to see where to wait. They generally run every 30 minutes until around midnight, but after that you'll need to take a taxi.