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Ohrid Town and Lake Ohrid: Travel Guide

A  View of Ohrid Town from Tsar Samoil's Fortress in North Macedonia.
A View of Ohrid Town from Tsar Samoil's Fortress

We drove to Lake Ohrid from Tetovo (see my blogs Serbia to North Macedonia - Week 3 and Tetovo & Skopje, Macedonia: Travel Guide) and stayed 3 nights in the very pleasant Ohrid Town.


Contents



 

1. Introduction


Despite some unsettled weather we really liked Ohrid Town and Lake Ohrid. Ohrid Town is an attractive town with a lot of character. With its picturesque lake setting it would be a great place to spend a week sightseeing and swimming in the summer.


When we were there in early May the accommodation was cheap and meals were reasonably priced. It would probably be more expensive in peak season. I am sure Lake Ohrid would be a very popular vacation destination for North Macedonians in the summer.


Some of the main things to do when staying in Ohrid Town are:

  • Wandering around the streets of historic Ohrid Town.

  • Walking on the walls of Tsar Samoil's fortress.

  • Visiting the Roman theatre.

  • Visiting 4 historic churches, some dating back to the Byzantine era.

  • Walking along the lakeside promenade south of Ohrid Town.

  • An excursion to the monastery of SV Naum on the Albanian border.

  • Beaches and swimming in Lake Ohrid in summer. We weren't there in summer unfortunately!

  • A day trip to the towns of Struga, Kalista and Radozda on the north western side of Lake Ohrid.


 

2. Ohrid Town


2.1. Ohrid Town Centre

Ohrid Town's main shopping street is Makedonski Prosvetiteli which runs north from the quay. Ohrid Town's historic centre is to the west of this main street and it is an enjoyable area to explore.


It is a pleasant walk along the promenade on Lake Ohrid which begins at the south end of Makedonski Prosvetiteli. It extends several kilometres southwards past what used to be Tito's summer residence.


The Promenade at Ohrid Town in North Macedonia.
The Promenade at Ohrid Town

The Quay at Ohrid Town, North Macedonia.
The Lakefront at Ohrid Town

Makedonski Prosvetiteli Street in Ohrid Town, North Macedonia.
Makedonski Prosvetiteli Street in Ohrid Town

A Street in Ohrid Town, North Macedonia.
A Street in Ohrid Town

2.2. Tsar Samoil's Fortress

The fortress was built in the late 10th century by the Bulgarian Tsar but was extensively restored in 2003. There are very few buildings within the castle walls. The main reason to visit is to walk along the top of the walls and the towers. There are good views of Ohrid Town and Lake Ohrid.


It cost Eur 2 to enter the fortress. There is a sign at the entrance warning that the steps and walls can be slippery. It was raining when we went and it was very slippery.


Tsar Samoil's Fortress in Ohrid Town, North Macedonia.
Tsar Samoil's Fortress

The Walls of Tsar Samoil's Fortress in Ohrid Town, North Macedonia.
The Walls of Tsar Samoil's Fortress

The Walls of Tsar Samoil's Fortress in Ohrid Town, North Macedonia.
The Walls of Tsar Samoil's Fortress

A  View of Ohrid Town from Tsar Samoil's Fortress in North Macedonia.
A View of Ohrid Town from Tsar Samoil's Fortress

2.3. The Churches & Roman Theatre

Ohrid Town has three beautiful churches dating back to the Byzantine era.


The 13th century Church of St John at Kaneo has a spectacular setting but it attracts a lot of tour groups. A board walk on the lake leads from Ohrid Town, skirting around the cliff edge. There is an entry fee of Eur 2 but a Tripadvisor review stated that it wasn't worth it.



The Church of St John at Kaneo, Ohrid Town, North Macedonia.
The Church of St John at Kaneo

The Church St Sophia is an important 10th century Macedonian church. It was converted to a mosque in Ottoman times and the Byzantine frescoes were whitewashed. The frescoes have since been restored and are the main reason to see the interior. The entrance fee is Eur 3.


The Church St Sophia in Ohrid Town, North Macedonia.
The Church St Sophia in Ohrid Town

The Church of Holy Mary Peryvleptos was built in 1295 and has some very beautiful old frescoes. There is an entrance fee of Eur 3 and reviews indicate that it is worth seeing the interior.


The Church of Holy Mary Perybleptos in Ohrid Town, North Macedonia.
The Church of Holy Mary Perybleptos

The Church of Saints Clement and Panteleimon looks old and fascinating from a distance but it was actually constructed recently. There had been an ancient church on this site but the Ottoman Turks converted it into a mosque. The mosque became dilapidated and it was replaced by a new one at the beginning of the 17th century. In 2000 the mosque was demolished and replaced with this church.


There is an entry fee of Eur 3. I don't think the interior of the church is particularly worth seeing as it is so new.


The Church of Saints Clement and Panteleimon in Ohrid Town, North Macedonia.
The Church of Saints Clement and Panteleimon

The Roman theatre was built in 200 B.C. It was buried after the fall of the Roman empire and only discovered in the 1980s. Entry is free.


The Roman Theatre in Ohrid, North Macedonia.
The Roman Theatre in Ohrid Town


2.4. A Walk around Ohrid Town

You can do a circular walk around the north side of Ohrid Town which takes about an hour.


Start at the Quay in Ohrid Town and walk westward along the Lake Ohrid towards the Church of St John. When you reach the church walk up the hill and follow the paved path northwards around the hill above Lake Ohrid.


Stay high on the hill and don't take the path descending to Lake Ohrid. Later on follow a path eastwards which will take you to a road running north of the fortress. After the fortress you will be able to turn southwards back into Ohrid Town and descend back to the lakeshore.


Board Walk from Ohrid Town to the Church of St John at Kaneo, North Macedonia.
Board Walk from Ohrid Town to the Church of St John at Kaneo

View from the Path above the Church of St John at Kaneo, North Macedonia.
View from the Path above the Church of St John at Kaneo

View from the Path near Labino Beach at Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia.
View from the Path near Labino Beach

 

3. Half Day Excursion to the Monastery of Sv Naum


It is a half an hour drive from Ohrid Town to the Monastery which is very near the Albanian border. You could stop off on the way at Pestani, the Bay of Bones and Trpejca but they aren't anything special. The Bay of Bones Museum looks like a tourist trap.


There is a large car park at the monastery charging Eur 0.60 and there are toilets nearby for a similar small charge.


There are boat trips from Ohrid Town to the monastery that cost Eur 25. There used to be a daily ferry costing Eur 10 but I am not sure it still runs. If you are driving I suggest you come early in the morning to avoid the visitors arriving by boat.


The interior of the monastery's 16th century church is very beautiful and worth seeing. There is a small entrance fee. The grounds around the monastery are extensive and there are peacocks roaming around.


It is commercialised. There are shops lining the path from the car park to the church and there is a hotel and restaurant in the grounds. One of Lake Ohrid's best beaches is located at the monastery so take your swimming gear if the weather is good. It will be a popular location in the summer.


It doesn't take long to see the main church at the monastery. Some people spend a few hours there wandering around the grounds, seeing the other churches, swimming in Lake Ohrid, renting a row boat etc. We only spent an hour there as it wasn't summer.


The Monastery of Sv Naum on Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia.
The Monastery of Sv Naum

The Interior of St. Naum Church on Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia.
The Interior of St. Naum Church

The Interior of St. Naum Church on Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia.
The Interior of St. Naum Church

The Interior of St. Naum Church on Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia.
The Interior of St. Naum Church

The interior of Sts. Cyril and Methodius church on Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia.
The Interior of Sts. Cyril and Methodius church

A Peacock at The Monastery of Sv Naum, Lake Ohrid.
A Peacock at The Monastery of Sv Naum

A View of Lake Ohrid from the Monastery of Sv Naum, North Macedonia.
A View of Lake Ohrid from the Monastery of Sv Naum

 

4. Accommodation in Ohrid Town


We stayed in a 2 bedroom apartment that was a 10 minute walk into Ohrid Town along Lake Ohrid. We booked it through Booking.com and paid Eur 36 per night. I have reviewed the accommodation on my blog "UK to Greek Islands Accommodation - Part 1" (number 11).


 

5. Links to My Other Blogs on North Macedonia




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