If you want a beautiful, peaceful holiday that’s jam packed with culture as well as stunning scenery then North Macedonia needs to be on your to do list.
This amazing Balkan beauty is one of Europe’s lesser-visited countries, and it’s tiny as well but good things often come in small packages and this is certainly true for this little region.
A former Yugoslavian country, North Macedonia is famed for being home to one of Europe’s oldest and deepest lakes, Lake Ohrid.
Nestled in the mountainous border between North Macedonia and Albania, the peaceful destination is described as “the most beautiful place on Earth” by one Tripadvisor user.
The lake is home to more than 200 endemic species and hosts a unique ecosystem that thrives in the crystal clear 288 metre deep water.
Lake Ohrid and the surrounding town are both recognised as UNESCO World Heritage sites – but despite this accolade, the region is quiet and peaceful even in the high season. Despite this, there’s plenty to do and see.
The lake offers kayaking and paddleboarding for the more adventurous holiday makers – but if culture is more your thing then don’t worry – Lake Ohrid has plenty of that too.
One of the most popular destinations is the beautiful Church of St John which is perched above the lake, offering awe inspiring views over the expanse of water.
The church is thought to have been constructed before the year 1447 and is dedicated to John of Patmos whom some consider to be the same person as John the Baptist. This church is one of 360 in Ohrid, so if it doesn’t scratch the itch there are hundreds more to explore.
Also worth a visit is the chillingly named Bay of Bones. This museum is housed on the shores of the lake and is a recreation of the prehistoric settlement on the lake where people lived above the water on stilted homes.
The remains of the settlement were discovered at this spot and were gradually excavated by an underwater team between 1997 and 2005; the museum is an elaborate reconstruction of the settlement as archaeologists think it would have looked between 1200 and 600 BC.
The name comes from the number of animal remains which were recovered from the settlement. Ohrid is easy to get around on foot, so you won’t be spending big on transport either.
After a long day of exploring the hiking tracks and churches of Ohrid why not stop in to one of the many restaurants littered around the region and taste some North Macedonian delicacies like burek – a thin flaky dough stuffed with various savoury fillings.
Accommodation in the town is cheap as well with a hotel setting you back around £30 a night at the cheaper end of the scale.