Lake Ohrid is like the sea for Macedonia. Ok, that’s a bit of an overstatement, but as the country has no access to any other „big water”, Lake Ohrid attracts those, willing to relax by the water. And there are several tourist attractions along the shore. Ohrid is a place worth spending couple of days.

Facts about Lake Ohrid

Lake Ohrid is located on the border between Macedonia and Albania, although two-thirds of the shoreline belongs to the Macedonians. And it is on the Macedonian shore that the main tourist attractions are located. But let’s return to the body of water itself. It is a freshwater lake (which is not surprising, as it is inland), has a surface area of 358 square kilometres, and is 288 metres deep at its maximum depth. The average depth is 155 metres. The length and width at its greatest spans are 30.4 km and 14.8 km. The coastline is 87.53 km. That’s why sometimes it is called as macedonian sea 🙂 Do not forget, that Lake Ohrid is shared by Albania and North Macedonia.

It is perhaps still worth mentioning that Lake Ohrid has a different origin than most popular lakes in Europe, which are post-glacial lakes. This lake is a tectonic lake, i.e. formed by the work of tectonic plates. By the way, it is enough to look at the mighty Galichica Mountain range with an altitude of 2265 above sea level.

Now it is worth looking at the tourist attractions that the shores of Lake Ohrid hide. There are three major towns along the water: Pogradec in Albania and Struga and Ohrid in Macedonia. While the first two are towns without much history and can rather be bypassed, Ohrid is striking in its beauty. In my opinion, it is the most beautiful city in Macedonia.

Lake Ohrid what to see on the banks

Here is an overview of what to see on the coast of the ‘Macedonian sea’, as Lake Ohrid is sometimes called.

Ohrid – the most beautiful city in Macedonia

It is in Ohrid on the rocky escarpment above Lake Ohrid that you will find perhaps the most beautiful sight in Macedonia. The Church of St John the Theologian in Kaneo plays in a league of its own when it comes to picturesqueness. You can additionally hire a boat here and see it from the perspective of the water, not just against its backdrop. Although it is one of Ohrid’s many picturesque spots, as the city is dotted with history and it is only up to us whether we want to see it.

It is certainly worth going to Samuel’s Fortress (named after the most powerful ruler of the area) and looking at the old and new parts of Ohrid. And of course also at the lake itself. Inside, it’s not the most picturesque fortress I’ve ever seen, but it’s definitely worth seeing the view from its walls. And believe me, due to the fact that numerous cultures have clashed in this part of the world, the tourist attractions are impressive.

Ohrid is made up of narrow and winding streets, climbing upwards in traverses, and around them we will see old Ottoman houses. We can also sit in the numerous cafes and enjoy an espresso with the locals. Of course, there will be restaurants for the hungry, and boat cruises for those who are willing.

Oh, Ohrid is even a paradise for lovers of sacred architecture. The local Orthodox churches and churches, with their rich iconostasis and beautiful decorations, do not allow you to pass by indifferently. It’s worth paying attention to the details, because just because they look great today after renovations doesn’t mean they always have. There are parts left that show how old wax candles covered the beautiful frescoes in black for hundreds of years!

Bay of Bones – reconstruction of an ancient settlement

And if I’ve mentioned above that you can take a boat cruise, one of the cruises is this one, passing through the Bay of Bones. The Bay, is a reconstruction of an ancient settlement from around 3,200 years ago. It takes its name from the animal bones dug up at the site, which are the remains of waste discarded by the former inhabitants. In the settlement on stilts, we can see reconstructions of ancient houses with their furnishings. And in the small museum, you can see what was excavated during the archaeological work. Read more about the Bay of Bones in this article.

The Monastery of Saint Naum

As its name suggests, theMonastery of Saint Naum is a place of sacred travel. Although I am not one of the believers, Macedonians make quite a few pilgrimages to this place. The place is old, as its history is more than a thousand years old. Founded by … how else, Mr Naum in 905, already five years later it became his eternal resting place. Inside the church you will see frescoes, and it is said that if it is quiet, you will hear the saint’s heartbeat. Although others say it is the sound of an underground river flowing below.

And there are many such streams here. It’s worth taking a boat trip on the surrounding backwaters, although it’s not the cheapest attraction. Alternatively, you can take a longer walk, during which you will visit several picturesque temples. And the most interesting thing is that there are some where the floors hide springs and flow out through special holes in the walls.

I must admit, however, that for me of this boat trip, the most interesting thing was the cruise itself and the views of the Galichica mountain range reflected in the surface of Lake Ohrid.

Lake Ohrid – how to get there

Ohrid, in Macedonia, is one of the country’s larger cities, so getting here will not be a hassle. From the Macedonian capital Skopje, the route will take us about three hours. And that’s probably the fastest way to get here. Apart from by plane, of course, because Ohrid also has an airport. It is worth looking for connections with low-cost airlines.

Since Macedonia is a small country full of attractions, you can go to and from Ohrid to Bitola and Prilep, for example.

As for Struga, there are buses to Albania from there, and you can also reach Ohrid from there , for example from Tirana. Three buses to the Albanian capital leave here every day. Struga can be reached by local bus, which can also be a day trip from Ohrid.