Lake Ohrid is a hidden gem!
After spending 2 days in Ohrid, we think we’ve found the perfect hidden gem. It’s stunningly beautiful, has very few tourists, is very inexpensive and has so many activities! Consider adding Ohrid, North Macedonia to your travel bucket list!
This trip took place in July 2025
Ohrid, North Macedonia is just a short drive (maybe 2-3 hours) from Tirana, Albania, or similarly, 2-3 hours from Skopje, North Macedonia and makes for a great place to vacation. We had 2 days here and we felt like we saw many of the main sites, but if you had more time, there is plenty to keep you busy!
We combined this with a road trip around Albania – check out that blog here and our full YouTube vlog below:
Driving our rental in the old town is a little scary (super tiny streets!) but once we made it to our airbnb we were ecstatic. This location and view is incredible. If you’re in the area, do yourself a favor and book this airbnb. Villa Rose – Ohrid
Our first evening was spent along the waterfront. We got a delicious dinner, wandered through the main shopping streets and saw the first of many famous churches. Admiring Lake Ohrid was really wonderful. It is one of Europe’s oldest and deepest lakes! It is estimated to be 3-5 million years old, AND at its deepest, it is almost 1000 feet deep!
The highlight of our night though was a sunset boat cruise. There are tons of people down at the riverfront offering boat rides. We just wandered around until we found someone nice who was offering a good price. We went out on a pontoon boat for 30 minutes – just the 4 of us – for only $25! It was great to see the beautiful city from the water including the red tile roofs and the churches and fortress. This was a highlight of the trip.
On our full day in Ohrid, we started with breakfast along the waterfront. The food was maybe a 5/10 but the views were 11/10!
Ohrid is very walkable, with all of the main sites being within walking distance from the main town. However, it is pretty hilly! After breakfast, we started our walk. First, beginning on the boardwalk right along the waterfront. You take the boardwalk past a few nice beach areas and bars and then begin your ascent up to the Church of St. John, one of the most photographed spots in the Balkans. It is a small, medieval church perched on a cliff overlooking the lake. It is a crowded spot – probably the most tourists we saw anywhere. But there are some peaceful areas to sit and overlook the lake if you walk a bit away. You may need to wait to take your pictures, but – it’s worth it.
From there, we hiked uphill to Samuel’s Fortress, once the seat of a powerful medieval empire. Standing on its walls, we had panoramic views of the lake, the town, and the surrounding mountains. It’s a long walk up, and it’s hot in the summer, so grab some drinks before you head up. The fee is inexpensive to enter and it’s really impressive.
In the afternoon, we strolled through the old Bazaar and visited the National Workshop for Handmade Paper , It’s one of the few places in the world still making paper the way they did in the 16th century — using water, cotton, and patience. Bonus: they’ll give you a demo!
We enjoyed another good dinner and walk along the lake. It was nice to grab some gelato and just sit along the shoreline. Ohrid is a really special place that should absolutely make it on your travel bucket list.
