Things to Do in Ohrid and on Its Lake
Ohrid stands on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid, with Galicica National Park rising behind the town and Albania across the water to the south and west. The lake surface is about 693 m above sea level and the water is up to 288 m deep. Prices below are in Macedonian denars (MKD), at about 61.5 MKD to the euro. Carry cash for small boats, kiosks and church entrances.
Tandem paragliding
Tandem flights start from the Galicica ridge or from Velestovo and land at Ljubanista beach or near Ohrid. Booking sites list them from about EUR 80 to 110. A park flying fee of about EUR 5 is reported, so ask whether it is already in the price. Flights depend on the weather, so keep a spare day.
Ohrid pearls in the Old Town
The Ohrid pearl is a local craft, and only the Talev and Filev families are widely reported to hold the method. Both have shops in the Old Town. The Talev family traces it to 1924, when the grandfather bought it from Jovan Subanovic, a Russian emigre, and the Filev family learned it from him. Plenty of other shops sell lookalikes and hand out a “certificate”, which proves nothing. If you want a genuine pearl, go to the Talev or Filev shop and ask where the piece was made. Aramco World tells the story in full.
Swimming
The season runs from about late June to mid-September, and the surface water reaches roughly 22 to 24 C in July and August. The usual spots are Gradiste, Labino and the beach beside St Naum, where there are changing shacks. The shore is pebbly and drops off steeply, and most free beaches have no reliable lifeguard. Swim where you can stand, keep children within arm’s reach and do not swim alone.
Rowboats at the Black Drim springs
At St Naum the Black Drim rises from springs, and small boats take visitors out over the clear water for about 30 minutes. The ride costs about 600 MKD per boat, shared among the passengers. St Naum is about 29 km south of Ohrid. You can reach it by lake boat from the main pier, which takes about 90 minutes each way, or by public bus, which is faster but has few departures.
Trout on the menu
Many restaurants serve Ohrid trout. The endemic trout is protected and overfished, so ask where yours comes from. Brown trout is a good alternative.
Before you go
The US State Department rates North Macedonia at Level 1, exercise normal precautions, and its advisory page carries the current wording. Hours at churches and museums are shorter from October to March, and some sites close on Mondays, so check on the day.
Read more: Sightseeing in Ohrid covers the churches, fortress and theatre.
Booking help
Paragliding flights and boat trips can be compared on GetYourGuide .