Your Last BordersTHINGS TO DO IN OHRID MACEDONIA
Ohrid is a beautiful city and an even nicer lake in southern North Macedonia, at the border with Albania. A UNESCO World Heritage Site both culturally and naturally, there’s lots of great things to do in Ohrid Macedonia and this post contains the top ten of them. This place is the ultimate North Macedonia holiday destination for many good reasons.
If you are looking for stunning city where to spend a couple days discovering ancient churches, fortresses, roman ruins and vibrant bazaars, Ohrid is your place. However, if you’d like to spend some time by the water, savour delicious cuisine, swim, sail, fish, and sunbathe, Ohrid has you covered too. The pearl of Macedonia is waiting for you, keep this post handy and enjoy Ohrid to its fullest.
Best things to do in Ohrid city
1. Explore the Old Town
If you were only in Ohrid for a couple hours, which would certainly be a huge mistake, you should spend these exploring the city’s old town. Therefore, walking around its winding streets, spotting the many old houses of red roofs and wooden balconies, and doing some shopping along the bazaar ranks top among the things to do in Ohrid Macedonia. The old bazaar is indeed the perfect place where to buy food, antiques and souvenirs in Ohrid North Macedonia.
Ohrid, home to 40,000 inhabitants, is one of the best places to visit in North Macedonia. The old town is from year 800. And is home to many small galleries, artisan hops, courtyards with fruit trees, and elegant Ottoman houses. Photography enthusiasts will love this part of the city, as it’s really photogenic. And so will foodies, as the best restaurants in Ohrid lie on these old cobbled streets.
Expect plenty of churches, mosques, and villas in the area, dating anywhere from the 9th to the 19th century. Robevci or Uranija houses are among the must see Ohrid attractions, and both offer accommodation. The centre square, with its clock tower, fountain, and 1,000 year-old tree are the perfect place for people watching. Ensure to take a good look down and enjoy the stunning views over Lake Ohrid when exploring the old town. At the end of the day, Ohrid is both a cultural and natural UNESCO World Heritage Site, something really unique.
2. Chill by the waterfront
Cultural sights to admire in Ohrid are endless and I’ll certainly tell you all about them very soon. Yet, first things first. You might forget an ancient monastery after seeing a few but you’ll certainly remember the waters of Lake Ohrid.
Right by the old town, at the main square, you’ll find lots of cool waterfront restaurants. These make the perfect spot to enjoy delicious yet inexpensive grilled goodies, drinks, and sunset.
However, if you are looking for proper beach clubs, Ohrid also has you covered. Consider checking out Cuba Libre Beach Bar, at only 15 minutes walk from the city centre. It offers lounge chairs by the water, sunbeds, umbrellas, a dock to jump into the lake, wifi, and delicious food and drinks. It’s the perfect place to enjoy nightlife in Ohrid.
3. Visit St. John Kaneo Church
The church of St John Kaneo is one of the most famous churches in Ohrid and has become a city landmark. You’ll also find this Ohrid attraction under the names of St John the Theologian or simply Kaneo church. You’ll find it on a cliff over lake Ohrid, overlooking a fishing settlement and the azure waters. Thus, walking around this church and exploring its decorations is one of the best things to do in Ohrid Macedonia.
This medieval church was built around 1450 in byzantine style to honour the Apostol St John. I’s decorated with stunning frescoes and beautiful wood carvings. However, most of the iconoastis was severely damaged over time and repainted during restorations in 1889. And so was the 19th century bell tower, which now dates from 1964.
Watching sunset by the church, photographing it from the upper fortress, and taking the steep steps down to Kaneo beach are in every list of Ohrid things to do, so make sure to tick them all off your travel wishlist.
4. Admire the Church of Saints Clement and Panteleimon
Right above Kaneo church and before reaching Samuil’s fortress, travelers will spot another highlight among the Ohrid places to visit: the monastery of Saints Clement and Panteleimon. This holy site was built on the remains of an early Christian basilica around the year 893, following the arrival of Saint Clement in Ohrid.
Both St. Clement and St. Naum teached the cyrillic alphabet to over 3,500 local students here, making this church the first Slavic university. In addition to being a literary school, the church was also a liturgic site and a cementery hosting the graves of over 500 monks.
The monastery complex has been restored over time, and most of its domes are from the medieval era. It’s worth going inside to admire the golden garments, icons, and relics in exhibition. Moreover, there’s a cool grass floor area from where to see the original fundaments of the church. The church is open daily form 7am to 5pm and there’s no entrance fee.
5. Go back in time at the amphitheatre
Visiting the old amphiteatre is one of the most famous what to do in Ohrid activities. Understandable, as it’s not every day one gets to seat on an ancient amphietratre, wonder around its lanes, stand on the stage, and wonder how attending a show must have been like back in the days.
Ohrid’s open-air Roman amphiteatre is from the 2nd century BC. Thus, it was originally used for gladiators fights, wild beasts shows, and Christina executions. Nevertheless, nowadays this has dramatically changed and the amphiteatre is an unbeatable venue for summer festivals and concerts.
Standing among residential houses and by one of the entrances to Ohrid’s fortified city, this amphiteater is the only remaining Hellenistic theatre in the country. Believe it or not, it was only discovered in 1980 and has since been open 24/7 and free to visit. Make sure to explore it properly, as it’s one of the best things to do in Ohrid Macedonia.
6. Step into the Church of Saint Sofija
Welcome to yet another church in this Ohrid what to do list. The city’s nickname is ‘Jerusalem of Europe’ and rumor has it there were once over 365 churches in Ohrid. Thus, if you think about it, I haven’t included that many in this list of the best things to do in Ohrid, meaning you should definitely check out this one too.
The church of Saint Sophia, from year 852, is one of the most important churches in Macedonia as it’s where Ohrid Archbishops were enthroned. Its highlight are its large 11th century frescoes which include images of six roman Popes. It’s grand narthex from the 13th century is one of the nicest in the country, and so is its decorative facade of elegant bricks dedicated to Saint Sofija.
The church became a mosque during the 15th century. Back then, some of its frescoes were redone to honour its new purpose. Likewise, the dome was substituted by a minaret, and the altar was removed. Nevertheless, it became a church again shortly after and it still has a permanent religious service. Make sure to schedule your visit from 9am to 5pm if you’d like to get into this church. You definitely should, as it’s so unique it’s even pictured in the country’s banknotes.
7. Climb to Samuels Fortress
Visiting Samuel’s Fortress is one of the best things to do in Ohrid Macedonia. From its top, and by the beautiful flag of Macedonia, you’ll get stunning panoramic views over the city and lake. Thus, the fortress is one of Ohrid’s most popular landmarks. Moreover, the entrance fee is below $2 and it’s open daily from 9am to 4.30pm so there’s no excuses to miss it when visiting Ohrid.
The original fortress was built in the 4th century BC by Philip II of Macedonia. On its ruins, back in year 900, King Samuel of Bulgaria built the current fortification and used it as the headquarters of the Macedonian Empire. The site undertook further renovations in 2003, when new battlements where added by the eighteen tower and four gates that still stand.
Best things to do in Ohrid’s area
8. Enjoy the best beaches of Lake Ohrid
One of the best things to do in Ohrid’s seaside is to follow the over-water boardwalk around the lake. This goes from the main pier to secluded beaches near the city and also offers access to Samuel’s fortress and some of the churches in town vis steep steps. Almost every beach by the walk is stunning and has a small restaurant where to refresh and fuel up, don’t miss out on them.
Nevertheless, for those seeking bigger beach to sunbathe and swim along the Ohrid Riviera, the following are the best beaches in Macedonia:
- Gorica, with stunning views over the entire riviera
- Slavija, a really azure one
- Lagadin: long family-oriented beach with lots of activities for kids
- Eleshac: the closest beach to the best campsites
- Orevche: the favourite among local teenagers, usually hosts DJs and movies
- Golden Beach: home to many beach bars
- Potpesh Beach: awesome waterfront restaurants
By these beaches stand some of the best hotels in Ohrid and many candidates to become the next best restaurant in Ohrid. Thus, if you are looking for a lake beach getaway, look no further.
9. Visit St. Naum Monastery
Saint Naum Monastery is one of the most famous churches in Macedonia. This 10th century Byzantine monastery complex honours the Council of the Holy Archangels. St Naum himself, a Bulgarian intellectual involved in the developing the Cyrillic alphabet, looked after its construction in 905. Yet, the church was completely destroyed between the 10th and 13th centuries. The current church is from the 16th century, the dome from the 18th century, and some of its frescoes from 1806.
Besides its stunning location, what makes St. Naum one of the best places to visit in Ohrid are its frescoes, considered among the best in the Balkans. The monastery’s pillars are also quite interesting, engraved with Glagolic and Cyrillic letters. And so is St. Naum’s tomb, standing in a building attached with a wide and low dome attached to the main church. The local legend stands St Naum’s heartbeat is still audible through the walls of his tomb, would you give it try?
St. Naum stands 29km fro Ohrid city, on a huge rock at the lake’s southernmost point, close to the Albanian border. Thus, St Naum Monastery is accessible road and through the waters. The drive takes 30 minutes and there’s a huge car park at the entrance, if going by taxi it should be below $20 per way. There’s also a bus running several times a day for $2.60 per way. Alternatively, if you’d rather sail for 90 minutes, there’s lots of boat tours that can take you and a public boat departing Ohrid at 10am and returning at 4pm charging $11 return. With the latter, you’ll have about 3 hours at the premises which is plenty of time to explore the church, have some food, and even swim or sunbathe in the area.
10. Explore the Bay of Bones
The Bay of Bones is a modern overwater museum by the shores of Lake Ohrid. It simulates how the villages by the lake looked like in prehistoric times. This reconstruction stands on a site where many human, animal, and wood remains where found, suggesting 10,000 years ago there was already a village here. Thus, the name bay of bones.
Archeologists and historians believe that between years 1200 and 600 BC Ohrid hosted a settlement of pile dwellers living on top of the water on a platform made of wooden piles anchored to the lake. Over 6,000 of these wooden piles were found, suggesting these could have sustained over 20 wooden houses connected to the mainland by a movable bridge.
The bay of bones recreates such platforms and houses along with a museum showcasing prehistoric tools and way of living. The museum is open daily from 8am to 4pm and the entrance fee is below $2. The place stands at 16km south of Ohrid. Consequently, if you’re looking for something different to do around Ohrid, it’s certainly worth the detour.
Recap on the best things to do in Ohrid
Ohrid is one of the best places to visit in North Macedonia and a must in every Balkan trip. Its old town is a maze of winding cobbled hosting beautiful Ottoman villages, an old bazaar, and endless churches. Among Ohrid atractions, Samuel’s Fortress and the amphitheater are unmissable highlights, and so is Kaneo church. After a long day of sightseeing, make sure to sample some local food and perhaps some Macedonian wine too.
When the sun shines, head to the waterfront and find a hidden beach. These are perfect for diving in Ohrid lake, swimming, refreshing, and sunbathing without the crowds. And don’t forget to take a boat trip along the lake. Regardless of whether it makes it all the way to St Naum Monastery or just stays around the pier, enjoying the views from the waters is one of the best things to do in Ohrid. And one of the best things to do in all of North Macedonia as well.
Hope this posts helps you prepare your dream trip to Ohrid. If you have any further questions, please leave a comment below or reach out on my Instagram and Tiktok pages. Additionally, make sure to read about the best things to do in Skopje and the ultimate food to try in the Balkans. These will help further tailor your trip. Safe and happy travels everyone.
