Ohrid is a small town that rewards slow travel. The old town is walkable, the lake is clean enough to swim in all summer, and within half an hour you can be at a monastery beside crystal-clear springs or on a mountain pass looking down at two lakes at once.
10 things to do in Ohrid
1. Walk the old town to St. John at Kaneo
Start at the harbour, climb through the cobbled lanes and follow the path to the little 13th-century church on the cliff — the classic Ohrid view. Come back along the lakeside boardwalk.
2. Samuel's Fortress and Plaošnik
The fortress walls crown the hill with views in every direction. Just below, Plaošnik is where St. Clement taught in the 9th century; the rebuilt church stands among early Christian floor mosaics.
3. St. Sophia and the Ancient Theatre
The 11th-century Church of St. Sophia has remarkable medieval frescoes. The Hellenistic theatre nearby hosts concerts and plays during the Ohrid Summer Festival in July and August.
4. A boat on the lake
Small boats leave from the harbour for short rides along the old town and to Kaneo. In season, longer boat trips run along the coast to St. Naum.
5. St. Naum monastery and the springs
About 30 km south, near the Albanian border, the monastery of St. Naum stands beside springs fed by water from Lake Prespa that flows underground through the mountain. Rowing boats take you across the clear, cold pools.
6. The Bay of Bones
On the way to St. Naum, this open-air museum reconstructs a prehistoric settlement built on wooden stilts over the water.
7. Galičica National Park
The mountain between Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa. The road over the pass has viewpoints where you see both lakes at once — one of the best views in the country.
8. Swim at the lake
From June to September the water is warm enough for swimming. The beaches south of town, towards St. Naum, are quieter than the town front, and the villages along the shore have small pebble coves.
9. Struga and Vevčani
Struga, 15 km away, is where the Black Drim river leaves the lake. Up in the hills, the village of Vevčani has springs, stone houses and a famous winter carnival in January.
10. Ohrid pearls and local wine
Ohrid pearls are handmade by a few local families from a secret paste made with the scales of a small lake fish — look for the family workshops in the old town. Wineries around the lake and in nearby villages offer tastings.
How many days do you need?
One day covers the old town, Kaneo and the fortress. Two days add St. Naum and the Bay of Bones. With three, you have time for Galičica, a beach afternoon and Struga or Vevčani.
Local tips from our drivers
- Stay in or near the old town. Everything in town is walkable, and you avoid the parking problem entirely.
- Go to St. Naum in the morning. Tour buses and boats arrive from late morning onwards in summer.
- Bring cash in denars. Churches charge small entrance fees and the boatmen prefer cash.
- Book festival dates early. During the Ohrid Summer Festival in July and August, hotels fill up quickly.
- Off-season is lovely too. From November to March the town is quiet and local; some beach bars and boats close, but the churches stay open.
How to get there
| Option | Time from Skopje | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Private transfer with us | 2.5–3 h | Door to door from Skopje or Skopje Airport, €125 (Economy) / €130 (Comfort) per vehicle, flight tracked. |
| Bus | ~3–3.5 h | Several daily departures from Skopje bus station; no direct bus from the airport. |
| Rental car | 2.5–3 h | Easy outside town; parking near the old town is very limited. |
| Fly to Ohrid | — | Ohrid has its own airport, but with fewer and mostly seasonal flights; many visitors fly into Skopje instead. |
Last updated October 2026 · Written by the Skopje Airport Transfers team
