Ohrid

Byzantine churches, a UNESCO lake and old bazaar craft workshops

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Ohrid is one of the most rewarding lakeside towns in the Balkans to explore, and this local guide brings together the best things to do, where to eat and where to stay in one place. Highlights include the Church of St. John at Kaneo, Tsar Samuel’s Fortress and the Old Bazaar. Food lovers should not miss Kaneo Restaurant & Letna Bavča and Restaurant Antico. Below you will find 32 hand-picked local recommendations across sights, restaurants, hotels and tours, which you can filter by category and budget to plan the perfect trip, whether you have a weekend or a week.

Ohrid at a glance

Ideal stay: 2 to 4 days
Best time to visit: May to September
Highlights: Church of St. John at Kaneo and Tsar Samuel’s Fortress
Where to stay: the Old Town or the lakefront promenade
Local picks: 32 hand-chosen recommendations
Getting around: walkable Old Town, plus lake boats and taxis

Where to stay in Ohrid

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Kaneo Restaurant & Letna Bavca

This is the restaurant people mean when they say they ate at Kaneo – a fish-forward Macedonian and Mediterranean kitchen with terrace tables set at the waterline, directly under the cliffs below…

★ 4.4

La Vista Luxury Villa

Set into the hillside above Ohrid, La Vista Luxury Villa is a small boutique property built around an infinity pool with views stretching over the Old Town and the lake beyond. It’s…

★ 4.9

Lake Ohrid: Try Diving at the Bay of the Bones

The Bay of Bones is an open-air museum built over the lake on wooden stilts, recreating a Bronze Age pile-dwelling settlement, and this skip-the-line experience lets you try scuba diving in the…

★ 5.0

Monastery Winery Tour and Wine Tasting

This three-and-a-half-hour tour pairs Ohrid’s lakeside scenery with a visit to a local monastery winery, including hotel pickup and a guided tasting of regional wines. Nearly two hundred travellers have rated it…

★ 4.9

Noa – Lounge Bar

A large lounge on the Old Town lakeside with a terrace built out over the water, a young crowd and a wine-heavy list. It gets loud in the evenings, which is the…

★ 4.3

NOA Lounge Bar

NOA’s terrace extends out over the water on the Old Town waterfront, making it one of the best spots in Ohrid to watch the sun go down over a cocktail. It holds…

★ 4.3

Octava Lounge Bar

On the lakefront promenade, Octava Lounge Bar is a well-reviewed spot for evening drinks, rated 4.4 on Google from more than 750 reviewers. Its position right on the Kej Makedonija walkway makes…

★ 4.4

Ohrid on Flat Paths: Handicrafts & Culture

This small-group walking experience combines a gentle route through the Old Town with museum entry and stops to see Ohrid’s handicraft traditions up close, including the filigree and pearl-making work the town…

★ 5.0

Old Bazaar (Carsija)

The historic commercial street running up from the waterfront through the heart of the Old Town, still low-built and still recognisably a bazaar – stalls and shops selling Ohrid pearls, woodcarving and…

★ 4.6

Old Bazaar Street

Running downhill from the main square to the lakefront, Old Bazaar Street is one of the oldest working market streets in the Balkans, lined with independent shops selling silver filigree, Ohrid pearls,…

Old Town of Ohrid

Ohrid’s Old Town is a hillside tangle of cobbled lanes and Ottoman-era timber houses, their upper floors leaning out over the streets in the traditional style, all free to wander at any…

Old Town Panoramic Boat Cruise and Tito’s Residence

With over three hundred reviews and a near-perfect rating, this hour-long boat cruise is one of the most popular ways to see Ohrid from the water. The route traces the Old Town…

★ 4.9

Paragliding Lake Ohrid

For the best possible view of the lake, this skip-the-line paragliding flight launches from the hills above Ohrid and drifts over the water, the Old Town rooftops, and the surrounding mountains. It…

★ 5.0

Restaurant Antico

Housed in a preserved building in the heart of the Old Town, Restaurant Antico is widely regarded as one of Ohrid’s oldest restaurants, serving Macedonian dishes and fresh lake fish in a…

★ 4.3

Restaurant Čun

On the lake shore in the Old Town, Restaurant Čun specialises in pastrmka, the trout species found only in Lake Ohrid, alongside fish soup served on a balcony overlooking the water. It’s…

★ 4.3

Restaurant St. Sofija

Named for the cathedral it sits close to, Restaurant St. Sofija serves trout, stuffed peppers, and other Macedonian staples in an elegant Old Town dining room with occasional live evening music. It…

★ 4.2

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Find hotels in Ohrid Book tours and experiences

Ohrid travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Ohrid?

Two to four days is enough to see the Old Town, the lake and the fortress at a relaxed pace.

Where is the best area to stay in Ohrid?

The Old Town or the lakefront promenade along Kej Makedonija put you within walking distance of most sights and restaurants.

What are the best things to do in Ohrid?

Browse the local picks above, from the Church of St. John at Kaneo and Tsar Samuel’s Fortress to where to eat and stay.

What is the best time to visit Ohrid?

Late spring through early autumn brings warm enough weather for the lake, with July and August the busiest months.