Lake Ohrid in Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia
Lake Ohrid straddles the mountainous border between southwestern part of North Macedonia and eastern Albania.
It is one of Europe's deepest and oldest lakes, with a unique aquatic ecosystem of worldwide importance, with more than 200 endemic species.
Lake Ohrid was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979, and in 2010, NASA named one of Titan's lakes after it.
In 2014, the Ohrid-Prespa Transboundary Reserve between Albania and North Macedonia was added to UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
The towns situated at the lakeside are Pogradec in Albania, along with Ohrid and Struga in North Macedonia.
The lake is otherwise densely surrounded by settlements in the form of villages and resorts in both basin countries.
Lake Ohrid is the deepest lake of the Balkans, with a maximum depth of 288 m and a mean depth of 155 m.
It covers an area of 358 square km containing an estimated 55.4 cubic km of water.
It is 30.4 km long by 14.8 km wide at its maximum extent with a shoreline length of 87.53 km, shared between North Macedonia and Albania.
Of the total surface area, 248 square kilometres belongs to North Macedonia and 110 km2 belongs to Albania.
There are endless amounts of things to do here.
Whether you’re interested in being active, cultural or lazy, you’ll find something to suit your mood.
We were at the lake in the wintertime, and there were still loads of things to do.
If you come in the summer, you’ll never be bored.
Sveti Naum Monastery (St. Naum)
This Eastern Orthodox monastery was established in 905 by Saint Naum…who is also buried in the church!
Entering into the complex you’ll pass under a stone archway, across a little river and past many peacocks.
The monastery itself is lovely, but once you reach the actual church, which has incredible views of the mountains and lake, you’ll be completely in awe.
Inside are stone columns, well-preserved frescos on the walls and ceiling and of course, Saint Naum!
The story goes that if you kneel in front of the cushion, and press your ear to it, you’ll be able to hear Saint Naum’s heart beating…
This was our favourite site during our time at Lake Ohrid, do not miss it.
You’ll find this monastery 30 kilometers south of the city of Ohrid, and you can get here by car, taxi, or by boat.
Sveti Jovan Monastery (St. John Monastery)
Another picture-perfect monastery, but this time it’s Macedonian Orthodox.
You’ll find this church clinging to a cliff above Kaneo Beach just outside of Ohrid city.
The views of the lake from here are outstanding, and if you want to find a peaceful place to just hangout and relax, this is it.
The walk here is great as well.
You can wander through the old town, and along the lakeshore, before arriving at the church.
To complete the circle, head up the hill along a path into the forest.
You’ll eventually arrive at the fort.
Samuel’s Fortress
This was the capital of the first Bulgarian empire, when Tsar Samuel ruled in the 10th century.
Today this is a popular spot for tourists.
The fortress is well intact and the views from here are sublime.
Church of St Sophia
This church is one of the most important monuments in all of Macedonia.
It’s been home to a number of faiths since 850 – Christian, Bulgarian Orthodox, and Muslim.
Inside you’ll find architecture, art and frescos from the Middle Ages.
Ancient Theatre
This theatre was constructed in 200 BC, and is from the Hellenistic period (between the death of Alexander the Great and the start of the Roman Empire).
Only the lower section of the theatre exists, but it’s still very impressive.
Actually, during the Roman times, this theatre was used for Gladiator fighting!
Check out the Traditional Homes
Ohrid’s architecture is unique.
The lanes are narrow and very tight, with houses actually built hanging over the roads.
The houses are all painted white to help with the intense heat of the sun, and there aren’t many open areas or yards due to lack of space, and to help avoid the strong winds from the lake.
A few noteworthy homes to check out are Robevci & Uranija houses, and the homes along Car Samoil and Ilindenska streets.
Swimming, Snorkelling and Diving
If you visit Lake Ohrid during the summer you’ll be able to fully enjoy all of the water activities.
Even though Lake Ohrid can be visited year-round, all of the water activities can only be done in the summer.
Hiking and Walking
There are a few trails around the old town of Lake Ohrid, but for a more exciting adventure, why not walk around the entire lake?!
If you don’t have about a week to spend hiking and camping along the shoreline, you can make your way to the village of Elshani on the east coast.
This is a great starting point for numerous trails around the area.
You can also hike to the villages of Konjsko or Pestani from here.
Epiphany Festival
If you’re able to (and if you don’t mind the chilly weather), try to time your trip to Lake Ohrid for the Epiphany celebrations.
This festival is celebrated by Christians around the world, with those in Macedonia (and the east) commemorating the baptism of Jesus.
Brave (crazy?) men jump into the 7° C water (with air temps around -7 ° C), in search of a wooden cross that was thrown into the lake by a priest just moments before.
The man who collects the sunken cross is blessed and given good luck for the rest of the year.
He also gets to go house to house to receive money!
No matter which time of the year you decide to visit Lake Ohrid, you’ll have a memorable experience.
Even in the dead of winter it’s still incredibly sunny and the skies are pure blue.
The snow-capped mountains just add an extra element to this already picturesque destination.
Meanwhile, if you come in the summer months, you’ll be able to do some hiking, swimming and sunbathing!
Plus, more shops, restaurants and hotels will be open for tourists.
Lake Ohrid is a natural wonder of not only the Republic of Macedonia, but Europe as a whole.
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