Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia: Europe’s hidden gem you need to visit
- Nov 13, 2025
- 4 min read
Everyone knows about Lake Como or Geneva, but very few people I know knows about or have heard of Lake Ohrid. But this hidden gem, located between the Albanian and North Macedonian border, offers a very tranquil and soulful travel experience making it worth your while. So, in this post let me introduce you to this peaceful and beautiful part of Europe, and explain why Lake Ohrid is worth visiting.
Before we begin, grab your free Travel Wellness Routine Builder — your roadmap to mindful, balanced travel. Inside, you’ll find grounding rituals, emotional self-care prompts, and practical tips I use to stay centred and inspired on the road.
As I mentioned Lake Ohrid is located between two Balkan countries, about one-third belongs to Albania, and the remaining two-third lies within North Macedonia’s borders. So, you can approach it from both countries. The best area to stay in is probably Ohrid, which is to be found in the North Macedonian part. From here you can take day trips to the rest of the lake and explore it that way. It is important to note that North Macedonia is not in the EU, so entering the country may require some extra steps compared to when you travel within the EU. As always make sure you check official websites for visa/entry requirements.
Now, onto my typical '3 reasons to visit..' list!
It is the perfect slow travel destination
We're talking long walks by the lake, taking a boat ride or a swim during the day. The air is fresh and there is a certain peaceful atmosphere that surrounds the whole lake. If you are looking for a peaceful, 'reading a book in a day' type of travel destination, you may absolutely fall in love with Lake Ohrid. You can also enjoy wandering around in Ohrid old town or take a day trip to St Naum Monastery. My favourite part may have been the latter, this monastery surrounded by so much natural beauty has such a divine and tranquil atmosphere, even with tourists around I felt very connected to a higher power here. As always I will let the photos speak for themselves.
It is budget-travel friendly
Especially if you compare it to the above mentioned lakes like Como or Geneva, the prices here are much friendlier and I think you get better value for your money as well. For me it's not always even about the fact that some places are more affordable, but the fact that even service seems to be better when I visit more budget-friendly options. I see a correlation between having less tourists and wanting to make sure you have the best experience as a guest, even if you're not paying a really high price. I experienced this to be the case in the Lake Ohrid area, which is another reason why I would highly recommend adding it to your bucket list.
The weather
I mean, North Macedonia literally has the sun symbol on its flag because it has one of the highest number of sunny days per year in Europe. 280 sunny days per year to be exact, so even if you end up visiting off-season, you are likely to enjoy some sun. I actually visited the lake during the last week of October, and the weather was amazing. Not too hot, so climbing up the hills did not feel like a massive challenge, but warm enough to want to sit by the lake soaking in all the vitamin D I can get. Summer months like August or July tend to get really hot, so you might want to avoid the high season, but other than that you have a high chance of a sunny holiday all year round.
And you might be wondering about solo female travel safety. Lake Ohrid is generally considered to be safe, but like any tourist destination, you should be aware of your surroundings and take basic safety measures, especially in crowded places. This time I visited with a friend, and we came across nothing, but friendly locals. It is definitely an area where I would return to in heartbeat, even solo for a mindful, slow travel holiday.
I hope this little list of reasons to visit Lake Ohrid, the hidden gem of Europe convinced you to add it to your bucket list. I personally found it to be one of the most peace and soulful places I have ever been to, and somewhere I would return to in a heartbeat.
