Ohrid - North Macedonia

I arrived in Ohrid by bus from Albania, traveling from Himarë to Ohrid. It was quite a long and tiring journey, so by the time I arrived, I didn’t have much energy left. I stayed at Old Town Hostel Ohrid, which I would definitely recommend. It had comfortable beds, a perfect location right in the center, and lovely owners who made me feel very welcome.

After checking in, I took a short walk around the city center, which was right outside the hostel. Since I was exhausted from the journey, I decided to take it easy, relax at the hostel, and get some rest. I ended the day by going to bed early and saving my energy to explore Ohrid properly the next day.

I started my second day by exploring the Green Market, which was recommended by the owner of my hostel. It’s a very local and authentic market, with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and a really pleasant atmosphere. I bought some delicious and very affordable cherries and also tried a traditional Macedonian dish called gomleze, which was really good.

After that, I continued walking around the city without a specific plan, simply enjoying the streets and discovering different corners of Ohrid. I also walked along the shore of Lake Ohrid, which was absolutely beautiful. The views of the lake and the surrounding mountains made the walk even more special.

During the afternoon, I stopped for a coffee at Liquid Café Ohrid. The coffee was great, but the best part was definitely the view, it’s located right in front of the lake, making it the perfect place to sit down and relax for a while.

Later, I continued exploring the city center and, towards the end of the day, met up with a friend to watch the sunset at the Church of St. John at Kaneo, one of Ohrid’s most famous landmarks and the postcard view of the city. Watching the sunset there was the perfect way to end the day.

On my third day, I spent the morning walking around the city center, exploring some of Ohrid’s beautiful churches and visiting the Ancient Theatre. Depending on the time of year you visit, you can even attend performances there, which would be a really special way to experience this historic place.

For lunch, I went to Plate Bistrô. It’s not a traditional Macedonian restaurant, but I would definitely recommend it. The food was really good, the prices were reasonable, and it was a great place to take a break from exploring.

In the afternoon, I spent a few hours relaxing by Lake Ohrid. I sunbathed, went into the lake to cool off, and simply enjoyed the beautiful surroundings. You can rent a sun lounger if you want, but I just brought my own beach towel and found a spot by the water, which worked perfectly for me.

On my way back to the hostel, I stopped for an ice cream before returning to pack and organize my things, since I had an early flight the next morning.

Travel tip: Ohrid has its own airport, which is very convenient if you’re flying out. However, there is no public bus connecting the city center to the airport, so you’ll need to take a taxi.