Ohrid sits on Lake Ohrid in southern Macedonia. Along side the capital city of Skopje, Ohrid is a massively popular city for visitors to the country. There’s history, the beach, the lake, and so many things to do that it’s no surprise that it ends up on every traveler’s Macedonia itinerary.
So if you’re planning a trip to Macedonia, here’s the best things to do in Ohrid.
What to Do in Ohrid, Macedonia
For first time visitors, these are the things you should focus on during your trip to Ohrid. Of course you will find more than what I’ve included here, but this where you should really focus your time. You’ll see churches, historic buildings, and more.
Visit the Church of St. Sophia
Ohrid is a city in Europe so of course I have to start off this list with a church. You’ll find a few churches on this list, but I’m going to start with the Church of St. Sophia. This church is in the heart of Ohrid’s Old Town and is famous for the frescoes decorating the interior. Like so many orthodox churches throughout the Balkans, stepping inside gives you a look at this centuries old art.
I’ll be honest. After more than two months traveling in the Balkans, I’m a bit burnt out on historic frescoes, so I opted to skip the 150 MKD entry fee and just take in the church from the exterior. The building itself is nice and if you walk through the courtyard, you may get a glimpse of the turtles that call this place home.
Visit the Church of the Virgin Mary Peribleptos
Near the Upper Gate of the Fortress, you’ll find the Church of the Virgin Mary Peribleptos. This is an Orthodox Church that is famous for the depiction of biblical stories inside its walls.
Unfortunately I can’t give any first hand information on this church because when I went to visit, people were taking photos for a wedding. I decided not to intrude and let them enjoy their moment. But, if you’re in Ohrid, stop by and see the church.
Walk Along the Boardwalk
At the edge of the Old Town, you’ll find a boardwalk that leads you right along the edge of Lake Ohrid. In the morning, few people are walking and it’s a great place to be. Pass by restaurants and the beach as you make your way from the Old Town toward the Church of St. John at Kaneo.
The boardwalk isn’t long, but it was one of my favorite spots in Ohrid. If you’re looking for a longer walk along the lake, you can follow a pedestrian only promenade east of the Port of Ohrid. This is also nice, I think the boardwalk is more picturesque.
Visit the Ancient Macedonian Theatre of Lychnidos
While the original theater was destroyed, it’s been mostly rebuilt and you can visit this theater in the Old Town. In my opinion, it’s not as extravagant as the ancient theater in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, but this Ancient Roman Theater helps to give a glimpse of what life might have been like centuries ago.
Walk along the stands and imagine people hundreds of years ago packed in to watch a fight or performance.
Visit the Church of Saints Clement of Ohrid and Panteleimon
I’ve already covered a few churches on this list, but I have yet to talk about my favorite church. In the heart of the Old Town, you’ll find the Church of Saints Clement and Panteleimon. It’s actually located within the Plaoshnik Archaeological Park (covered next), but I feel that this church deserves its own spot on the list.
The church itself is beautiful and it’s my favorite in Ohrid. Both the outside and the inside have something unique. Rather than centuries old frescoes, you’ll find more modern icons in this church. But for me, the mosaics on display is what really stood out. Outside, the church itself is lovely, but the landscape beyond is even better.
Entrance to the Church of Saints Clement and Panteleimon is 150 MKD. There’s a ticket office outside the main gate where you a pay your fee.
Explore Plaoshnik Archaeological Park
If you’re visiting the Church of St. Clement, you’ll have a ticket for the Plaoshnik Archaeological Park so take a few minutes and walk around the area. There’s not much to see if I’m honest and there’s no informational signs, but you can see the few remains that have been preserved. For me, the highlight was the mosaics that were preserved.
Entrance to the park costs 150 MKD and includes your entrance into the Church of Saints Clement and Panteleimon.
Get a View of the Church of St. John at Kaneo
The most iconic view in Ohrid can be found at the Church of St. John at Kaneo. Located right along the water, the view here is stunning and it’s a picture perfect postcard view for Ohrid. The blue waters of the lake provide a beautiful background for the church itself. While you can walking around the church, climb the hill behind it for an even better view.
I recommend visiting earlier in the day. At 10:00 there were a handful of tourists milling about, but in the middle of the afternoon, the area will be busy with tourists and tour groups making your photos not as nice.
Climb to Samuel Fortress
Sitting on top of a hill overlooking the rest of the city of Ohrid is the Samuel’s Fortress. There’s not much left of the fortress today but several of the walls still stand and from here, you can get great views of Ohrid and the lake the below.
An important note is that Samuel’s Fortress is closed on Mondays. If you want to walk along the castle walls, don’t visit on a Monday. Unfortunately I didn’t realize this at the time and never got to visit inside the fortress walls.
Relax on the Beach
Ohrid sits on Lake Ohrid, so if you’re here during the summer months, it’s a great place to cool down. Spend some time relaxing on the beach, rent a paddle board, or just cool down in the water.
If you walk along the boardwalk, you’ll find a handful of options including lounge chairs for rent.
Wander the Old Town
I’ve already covered a handful of buildings within Ohrid’s Old Town, but I also recommend spending some time to just walk the streets. You’ll inevitably walk through the streets to get to many of the other sights on this list, but I think it’s worth separating the Old Town out from the churches, theaters, and other sights on this list.
Like so many cities in Europe, the Old Town is where you’ll find much of the charm of the city and Ohrid is no exception. This area is light on cars (though not entirely car free) and the main streets are lined with shops and restaurants. It was one of my favorite areas of Ohrid to just wander.
See the Oldest Tree in Macedonia
At the edge of the Old Town, you’ll find the Chinar Tree. This tree is over 1,100 years old and is the oldest tree in Macedonia. It may also be the oldest tree in the Balkans.
This is more of a photo stop, but I have to mention it anyway. And the tree is pretty unique looking too.
Eat Local Food
If you know me, then you know I’m not a foodie traveler and I rarely include food items on my lists of things to do. However, I’m making an exception in Ohrid. There’s a lot of similarities across the various cuisines in the Balkans, but Macedonian food stuck out to me the most and it’s my favorite in the region. While I normally get sick of local food and often crave comforts from home, I found myself constantly wanting to eat more local food while in Macedonia and think that says something fantastic about the food here.
I don’t typically go out of my way to give restaurant recommendations but I’ll give two here. The first is Restaurant Boem. It’s a bit outside the Old Town, but still very close. It’s affordable and delicious. The other option is Viva Ksantika kaj Tanja which is near the Port of Ohrid in the lower Old Town. Prices were a bit more here but the food was still delicious.
Of course there are so many more restaurants to choose from, but I highly recommend enjoying some local Macedonian food while you’re here.
Take a Day Trip to St. Naum Monastery
I typically don’t include day trips on my lists of things to do, but I’m making an exception because I don’t think it’s right to visit Ohrid and not take a day trip to St. Naum. This day trip combines historic sightseeing with a beautiful boat ride on Lake Ohrid. Cruise along the lake, stopping at the Bay of Bones before you reach St. Naum.
Here, you’ll find the centuries old monastery, more beach opportunities, a walking path connecting a few smaller churches, and some restaurants. For me, the highlight of the day trip was getting out on the water, but I enjoyed the entire day trip (even if I wasn’t feeling well that day). It’s one of the best things you can do in Ohrid.
How Long Do You Need in Ohrid, Macedonia
Give yourself at least two days in Ohrid. That gives you one full day for exploring the beautiful city and another to take a day trip to St. Naum. Of course, you could spend more time in Ohrid, particularly if you enjoy relaxing on the beach or taking a boat out on to Lake Ohrid.
At a minimum, plan to spend two full days in Ohrid (with one being a day trip).
How to Get to Ohrid, Macedonia
If you have your own vehicle, it’s easy to drive to Ohrid from wherever you are starting your journey. For those traveling by bus, Ohrid is still easy to reach.
If you’re traveling from Skopje, there’s buses nearly every hour between Skopje and Ohrid. I was able to purchase my ticket from Skopje to Ohrid the day of my journey at the bus station (go to the RuleTurs counter #2 at the Skopje bus station). However, I showed up a little too close to departure and the bus was sold out. I was able to get a seat on the next bus without issues.
You can also travel between Ohrid and Tirana, Albania. I booked through FlixBus, though the bus was operated by EuroBus. This route is also operated frequently.
As a note, if you are departing from the Ohrid bus station, you’ll need to pay a 50 MKD station fee. Even if you bought your ticket online, you’ll still be required to pay this fee at the station. They will check before you board the bus. Cash and card are accepted for payment.
How to Get Around Ohrid, Macedonia
Everything that a tourist would want to see is conveniently located within the city center. It’s easy to walk to all of the major tourist sights, so get a hotel that’s near the city center and the beach.
The only exception to this is the bus station. It’s a 25 minute walk from the city center to the Ohrid bus station. While I found this walk perfectly doable, this is one situation where you may want to consider a taxi.
Final Thoughts
I loved my time in Macedonia and Ohrid was no exception. The city is beautifully located with so much to see and plenty of opportunities for relaxation. It was my favorite stop in Macedonia and I have no doubt that I’ll return one day.
