Sightseeing in Ohrid - what to see. Complete travel guide

When traveling in Macedonia, tourists often say that Ohrid is the most beautiful city in the country. It is situated on the picturesque shore of a lake with the same name. When arriving in Ohrid, tourists usually immediately notice a big number of interesting houses and buildings that amaze guests with their unusual looks. The Macedonian city is not deprived of historic landmarks, many of which are very old. Thanks to its rich historic heritage, Ohrid is incredibly popular with tourists. In recent years, tourism has been a major contributor to the budget of this Macedonian city. The number of people visiting Ohrid is increasing every year.

Before the foundation of Ohrid, there was an Illyrian colony called Lychnis in the region. First mentions of this settlement date back to the third century BC. In 148 BC, the Roman army attacked Lychnis and completely captured the territory. A devastating earthquake, which happened in the colony in 518, almost wiped Lychnis off the face of the earth, so the colony required complete rebuilding. The first Slavic tribes appeared in the territory of modern Ohrid at the end of the 5th or the beginning of the sixth century. In 861, the former Roman colony became a part of Bulgaria. This is when the settlement changed its name to Ohrid.

Over the next twenty-five years starting from the 90s of the 10th century, Ohrid became famous as the capital of the Bulgarian Empire. Samuel was the emperor at that time. In 1018, the Byzantines captured the city. Their period of reign in Ohrid was marked by the construction of new churches. Ohrid returned to the territory of Bulgaria only a hundred years later. Serbians conquered the city in the XIV century, but their reign wasn’t long. Closer to the end of the century, the Turkish army occupied the city and kept its control over Ohrid until 1912. This was a period of decline for the once prosperous city. The First Balkan War in 1913 changed the city’s status. Ohrid joined the territory of Serbia. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Ohrid is the main resort destination in Macedonia because the lake with the same name is the only large water basin in the country. As the country doesn’t have access to the sea, all beaches are located on the lakeshore. In the central part of the waterfront, the houses are built very close to the water. That is why there are concrete piers with ladders that go into the water instead of a usual beach. Are you searching for a comfortable beach? The majority of such beaches are located in the city’s suburbs. All beaches are usually crowded. As a rule, there are always many parents with small children because the soft sand and shallow water near the coast make it comfortable and safe for children to play here.

Local people regularly organize interesting boat rides in the lake for guests of the resort. Tourists can always take a boat ride independently. For this purpose, simply rent a boat directly at the waterfront. It is up to vacationers whether they want to rent a boat with a paddler or to paddle themselves. If you know how to ride a boat, you can enjoy a ride without any helpers. The lake has crystal clear water, and divers will surely notice this. Indeed, Ohrid Lake is a great place to dive. Having rented diving equipment right on the beach, it is time to explore the diverse fauna of the lake.

When you feel tired of leisurely lying on the beach or riding a boat, take a stroll in the city and explore local landmarks. Moreover, Ohrid has a rich cultural heritage. There is an ancient amphitheater that is also famous as the only Hellenistic theater in Macedonia. The spectacular monument was built yet during the Lychnis period. Nowadays, this is the only proof that there was an ancient colony on the site of modern Ohrid during the prehistoric times.

The amphitheater still hosts interesting entertainment programs. This is a popular venue for various holidays and celebrations. Every year, a popular music festival takes place here. This event brings together popular musicians from different countries. The seats are installed peculiarly. They face the lake and have the sun behind, so viewers can enjoy performances with comfort and nothing interrupts them regardless of the position of their seat. If you get to the top levels of the ancient formation, you can see not only Ohrid Lake but will also have the whole city at your feet.

Many European countries have charter flights to the Macedonian city of Ohrid. If you don’t have time to wait for the direct flight, consider flying to Belgrade. Upon arrival, you will need to take a domestic flight to Ohrid. The total journey time can be up to six hours in this case. Besides the main tourist route with a stop in Belgrade, Ohrid airport receives flights from Zurich (Switzerland), Ljubljana (Slovenia), and Tel Aviv (Israel).

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City tours, excursions and tickets in Ohrid and surroundings

Reference information

Map of all castles

Survived castles around Ohrid
♥ Castle 'Varoš Fortress' , 1.3 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Castle 'Elbasan Castle' , 60.3 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Castle 'Marko’s Towers' , 67.1 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Castle 'Treskavec Fortress' , 69 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Castle 'Dajti Castle' , 78.4 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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Map of all parks

National and city parks around Ohrid
♥ National Park 'Galichica' , 20.2 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ National Park 'Pelister' , 37 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ National Park 'Ethniko Parko Pindou' , 132.1 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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Sights around Ohrid from our guide 'Extreme places on Earth'

Ilinden Memorial

From the series “The most famous buildings of communism”

Check on the map: Ilinden Memorial on map

Distance from Ohrid center - 46.7 km.

Ilinden is located in an extensive park today. Therefore, it is more interesting to visit it in the warm season. Paths for walking are laid among spreading trees and shrubs. It is very convenient to see the monument and the numerous monuments of the complex thanks to them. Even though the monument was built more than forty years ago, it continues to be the most important object for residents. Most people visit it on national holidays. … Read further

Sightseeing in Macedonia: things to see

The piedmont region of the country is home to several old monasteries that were named after St. Andrew, St. Jovan Bigorski, St. Nikola Shishovski and St. Geoge’s Church. All the buildings were constructed in the 12th – 15th centuries and keep many precious religious artefacts, collections of icons and furniture. Finally, travellers, who enjoy attending various excursions, are recommended to visit the city of Ohrid. It is located on the shore of a beautiful lake and was founded by ancient Romans. Nowadays Ohrid attracts numerous visitors who come to see its main landmarks – Samuel Fortress, Sveti Sofia Basilica and Sveti Jovan Kaneo Church. A visit to these wonderful historic buildings will surely leave many warm memories. … Open

Sightseeing in Ohrid - what to see. Complete travel guide

City tours, excursions and tickets in Ohrid and surroundings

Sights around Ohrid from our guide 'Extreme places on Earth'

Ilinden Memorial

Sightseeing in Macedonia: things to see

Search touristic sites on the map of Ohrid

Sightseeing in regions nearby Ohrid