17 Best Things to Do in Ohrid, North Macedonia

Ohrid, North Macedonia is one of my very favorite places to visit in the Balkans. Every time I visit Ohrid I’m blown away by the beauty and charm of the place and it keeps impressing me every single time.

Whether you are looking for cultural, relaxing, or active holidays – Ohrid falls into all of these categories and surely is one of the best places to visit in Macedonia. I can’t praise this place is enough, it is simply amazing.

And so I finally put together a guide to all the best things to do in Ohrid, Macedonia. If you are planning a trip to the Balkans don’t miss this place. This is a true gem and I’m sure you will fall in love with Ohrid as much as I did!

Why visit Ohrid

Not only Lake Ohrid is an insanely beautiful place but since this area has huge historical importance you can expect to find there many Ohrid attractions and centuries-old monuments. The town and its surroundings are the perfect area for the Macedonia holidays – you can enjoy the sightseeing and then relax at the lakeside (or even swim in Lake Ohrid) or go hiking in the nearby mountains.

Even if Ohrid is one of the largest cities in Macedonia it doesn’t feel that way. When wandering around you might feel like you are transferred back in time as the place is so idyllic.

The city and the lake were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and are one of the few places that are both on the Cultural and Natural list.

How to get to Ohrid

Getting to Ohrid is actually rather easy. The local Ohrid airport serves flights to only a few European destinations, especially in the summertime but it’s worth checking if there are direct connections from your local airport.

Otherwise, you can take the bus from Skopje, there are at least ten connections per day and the journey takes a bit over 3 hours. There are also a few buses per day from Bitola as well as other destinations in North Macedonia.

The bus station is located some 2 km away from Old Town. In the summertime, it’s better to buy the ticket a few days in advance as the buses can get full.

If you are coming from Albania you have two options. Either take the direct bus from Tirana to Ohrid (apparently there are two of them each day) or take the bus to Struga (usually buses going to Skopje stop there) and then catch the local bus or taxi to Ohrid.

Or you can take the bus to Pogradec and walk/take the taxi to the border, walk through the border and then catch the bus/taxi from Saint Naum Monastery to Ohrid. I did this last time and it was just fine.

How to get around Ohrid

Most of the Ohrid attractions are within a walking distance in or near Old Town.

If you want to visit a bit more distant places like Saint Naum Monastery you can take the local bus or boat there. The nearby Galičica National Park is best reached by car, you can also join a tour.

Things to do in Ohrid

With the long and interesting history and all the beauty around, Ohrid really has a lot to offer. If you are wondering what to do in Ohrid this comprehensive list of things to do in Ohrid and beyond should help you plan your time there.

Wander around the Old Town

The Old Town in Ohrid is such a pleasant place, perfect for a slow wander around.

Back in the old times, when Turks came to Ohrid they allowed the Christian population of the town to live only inside the city walls, on the steep area. That is why this part of Ohrid feels a bit claustrophobic, with narrow lanes and tall houses towering above them, but at the same time, that’s what makes this area so unique.

Some of the buildings have a distinctive shape with upper floors being slightly wider than lower ones. But altogether these beautiful houses and charming lanes create such lovely scenery and getting lost in the Old Town really is a pleasure.

It is possible to visit some of the traditional houses, such as Robevci or Uranija houses – it’s definitely worth stepping inside to get a taste of how life in Ohrid used to look like in the past. Some of the old houses offer accommodation options so you might want to consider staying in one of them during your trip to Ohrid.

Shop at the Old Bazaar

Unlike the amazing Skopje Bazaar, the Old Bazaar in Ohrid is rather small, consisting only of one street, starting at the waterfront near the big Macedonian flag. But still, this is probably the most vibrant part of the town, and it gets an extra charm on the market days when there are even more people around.

Only a few old, stone stores remained on the street, a fine testimony of the past times.

Among all the other things you can buy here some local souvenirs too. There are also a few craft shops, making the place more special. And once you are tired you can sit down in one of a few cafes and watch the busy world around you.

Find all the beautiful churches

Ohrid has a long history of being the spiritual center of the region. Between 1019 and 1767 this was the seat of the Archbishopric of Ohrid, an autonomous Orthodox Church.

It is said that in the past there were 365 churches in town, one for each day of the year hence the place was often called “Jerusalem of the Balkans”. Still today Ohrid is known for its numerous churches.

Some of them are so tiny they can fit maybe five people and you will be surprised when you find them randomly squeezed between houses.

If you would like to visit some of the most beautiful, important, and valuable churches you should head to the Church of Saint Sophia (one of the most important monuments in North Macedonia, dating to the 9th century), Church of Saint Mary Perivleptos, or Church of Saints Constantine and Elena. But the truth is every single one of Ohrid churches is worth seeing, you just might not have time for each of them.

See the iconic Church of Saint John at Kaneo

Even if this is not the most valuable of all Ohrid churches, the 14th-century temple dedicated to Saint John at Kaneo is probably the most iconic and picturesque place you can find in North Macedonia.

Because of its beautiful location, on the high cliff above Lake Ohrid, the panorama of the small church with blue waters in the background is probably the most popular picture from Macedonia that you can see in all the folders. And in real life, this sight is even more beautiful, it takes my breath away every single time.

The best place to see the famous panorama and take good pictures is from above the church, when you descend from the fortress towards the lake.

Admire the stunning view from the fortress

Samuel’s Fortress, towering above the town and Lake Ohrid, is probably the best viewpoint you can find in Ohrid.

The first fortress was built in this place already in the 4th century BC but the current fortification date to the 10th century when Ohrid was the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire rules by Tsar Samuel (the fortress was renovated recently though).

Inside you can walk the fortification and see some remnants of the old times but the main reason to visit the fortress are the amazing views of the surrounding area. You can admire the red rooftops of Ohrid’s Old Town, vast blue waters of the lake, and amazing mountains beyond.

Be impressed with the ancient amphitheater

When wandering the Old Town in Ohrid you will stumble across the ancient amphitheater, one of the most impressive of all the Ohrid attractions. It dates back to the year 200 BC and is the only remaining Hellenistic theatre you can find in North Macedonia (other, like the one in Heraclea Lyncestis in Bitola are from the Roman times). What’s even more impressive is that the amphitheater was accidentally discovered only in 1980!

This is a wonderful place to sit down, relax a bit, and admire the beautiful panorama of the Old Town and Lake Ohrid below.

The Ohrid amphitheater still serves its original function and is often used for numerous events, such as Ohrid’s Summer Festival – if you happen to visit Ohrid during one of those events be sure to attend them, it must be a great experience!

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