Ohrid, North Macedonia

Ohrid

An ancient lakeside town with a church perched on a cliff above the water.

  • May–Oct
  • 2 nights
Explore on the map
Nearby hidden places
TiranaAlbania · CityTirana86 kmMatka CanyonNorth Macedonia · Nature spotMatka Canyon102 kmSkopjeNorth Macedonia · CitySkopje111 kmZagori (Papingo)Greece · Hidden townZagori (Papingo)128 kmGjirokastërAlbania · Hidden townGjirokastër129 kmLake KomanAlbania · Nature spotLake Koman137 kmBlue Eye SpringAlbania · Nature spotBlue Eye Spring142 kmLlogara PassAlbania · Nature spotLlogara Pass144 km

Things to do

2 days in Ohrid

Day 1

  1. MorningWalk the lakeside path to the Church of St. John at Kaneo, perched above the water.
  2. AfternoonVisit Samuel's Fortress, the ancient theatre and the church of St. Sophia.
  3. EveningHave dinner on the lake shore at sunset.

Day 2

Take a boat to the monastery of St. Naum and its springs.

What to eat

Lake fish and tavče gravče, baked beans in a clay pot.

Local tips

Make the most of Ohrid

Beat the crowds

July and August are busy. May, June and September are calmer and lovely.

Best photo spot

The church of St. John at Kaneo on its cliff above the lake.

Getting there

Ohrid has a small airport. Buses run from Skopje, about 3 hours.

Don't miss nearby

The Bay of Bones, a rebuilt prehistoric village on stilts, and the monastery of St. Naum near the Albanian border.

Good to know

The lake is one of the oldest in Europe. Boats from the harbour go to Kaneo and St. Naum.

Secret spots

3 secret spots near Ohrid

Our most hidden places around Ohrid: fewer people, same wow. Unlock them with a route in Google Maps and a PDF guide of Ohrid to take with you.

45 km away
77 km away
85 km away
Unlock the secret spots · €2.99+ VAT · one payment, valid for a year

Plan your visit

Getting to Ohrid

Getting there

  • Ohrid Airport (OHD)9 km away
  • Tirana Airport (TIA)95 km away
  • Tirana85 km away
  • Skopje110 km away

Reachable by car or public transport; a car gives you more freedom to explore the area. Distances are in a straight line.

At a glance

Best timeMay–Oct
TypeHidden town
Good forOld towns & architecture, Nature
Getting thereCar or public transport
Stay2 nights
CountryNorth Macedonia

Questions

Ohrid: good to know

Is Ohrid worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you like historic old towns and nature. An ancient lakeside town with a church perched on a cliff above the water.

How many days do you need in Ohrid?

Plan 2 nights. Our free 2-day plan above shows how to spend your time.

When is the best time to visit Ohrid?

The best time to visit is May to Oct. July and August are busy. May, June and September are calmer and lovely.

How do you get to Ohrid?

The nearest airport is Ohrid Airport (OHD), about 9 km away. Ohrid has a small airport. Buses run from Skopje, about 3 hours.

What is there to see near Ohrid?

Nearby hidden places include Tirana (86 km), Matka Canyon (102 km) and Skopje (111 km).

More hidden places in North Macedonia (3)