Skip to search
List
7 nights

6 must-have experiences in North Macedonia

Step into nature or go back in time, tuck into local food or even try making it yourself – Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia is chock-full of places to see and things to do. Our handpicked experiences make it easy to tick off all the best bits, and we’ll even pick you up from your hotel and drop you back after.


There’re so many great things to do on a holiday to North Macedonia, so to discover the experiences you really mustn’t miss there’s nothing better than chatting with someone who’s been there. So we caught up with Liv after her trip there, to find out what made the top of her must-do list.


1, Monastery of St Naum

‘For me, the best trip was to the Monastery of St Naum,' says Liv. 'We took a boat there from Ohrid, with views of the Galičica National Park along the way. At the monastery, we went inside to see St Naum’s tomb and then walked through the lovely gardens and spotted the peacocks wandering around.


'Then we hopped on another boat through the springs on the Black Drim river. Our guide even told us that the water’s so fresh you can drink it… so of course we did, and it tasted great!


'Finally, we went for lunch on a raft over the water. They recommended that we try the grilled fish with potatoes and salad and it didn’t disappoint.’

2, North Macedonian cooking class and wine tasting

‘I loved getting to try my hand at making some North Macedonian dishes at the Kaj Mestono restaurant in Peštani,' says Liv. 'My favourites were the green pepper and garlic dip called makalo and the fresh tomato, cucumber and feta salad. I’ve even made the salad several times since I’ve been home.


'And of course, we got to eat all our creations alongside a glass of wine. It was called Alexandria and was probably the nicest white wine I’ve ever tried – light, refreshing and it paired so well with our food.


'The restaurant is right on the lakeshore so we could watch the views over the water while we ate.’

3, Ohrid city tour

‘I found my absolute favourite view on the Ohrid city tour,' reveals Liv. 'We went to the Church of St John at Kaneo, which is on a cliff above the city so you can see all the way across the lake to Albania and watch the boats out on the water. I could’ve sat there and stared at the view for hours.


'We also went to the Church of St Sophia, which dates back to the Middle Ages and is one of the most important historical sites in the country, and to the Ancient Amphitheatre of Ohrid. It’s fascinating to think it was originally used for gladiator fights in Roman times and now hosts events like the Ohrid Summer Festival.’

4, Bay of Bones Museum

‘The Bay of Bones Museum was really interesting. It’s a replica of houses on stilts over the water and our guide told us that small tribes would live in huts just like them in 700BC – imagine that! And the water is crystal-clear – t’s so beautiful.’

5, Bike tour and wine tasting

‘We cycled through all these little villages and then back along the lakeshore into Ohrid, and it was such a nice way to see some different places,' says Liv.


'Then we got to go to a winery hidden away in the forest. I was surprised how big the wine industry is in North Macedonia – apparently lots of people even make their own. And the wines here are some of the best I’ve ever tasted.’

6, Traditional dinner by the lake

‘We went back to the restaurant where we did the cooking class and had dinner, and the views were even more special in the evening – it’s the perfect spot for those sunset shots. They played folklore music and the traditional dancers put on an amazing show. They even brought people up to join in. It was fantastic.'

Other day trips around Lake Ohrid

Skopje

Spend a day in the country’s capital city and get a tour of the highlights – from the old bazaar to the National Museum of Macedonia and the monument to Mother Teresa, who was born here.


Kayaking

Take to the water and follow your guide along the shore of Lake Ohrid, paddling past beaches, coves and the Bay of Bones Museum – a replica of Bronze Age homes built on stilts over the water.


A day in Albania

The Albanian border cuts right across the lake, so head to the other side to see the waterside city of Pogradec, then stop for lunch in the village of Lin. Round things off with a scenic drive back up the western shore of the lake to Ohrid.

Want to experience the sights, culture and food of North Macedonia for yourself? See more of the can’t-miss spots and find out more about holidays to Lake Ohrid.


Head to our Lakes & Mountains homepage to discover more about our favourite holidays.


Author: Courtney Sparham


Last updated: 26.03.2024

Holiday Type

Destination

Show more