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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
2. Ohrid Town
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.
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.
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 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 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 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 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.
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.
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.
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).
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