Cheap holiday Ohrid

When is the best time to go?

September is the secret season: the lake is still warm enough to swim (pleasant mid-September), the crowds from the Ohrid Summer Festival (mid-July to late August) are gone and guesthouses are noticeably cheaper. May and early June are also excellent with good hiking conditions, low prices and quiet church and fortress grounds. Avoid August if you can, it is the busiest and most expensive month.

The best neighbourhoods in Ohrid

• Stara Carsija (Old Bazaar) The compact historic heart with winding stone lanes, most churches, eateries and shops. Everything within walking distance.
• Kaneo The former fishing quarter below the iconic Kaneo church, right on the lake. Early in the morning you have the little waterside cafe and wooden boardwalk to yourself.
• Plaosnik The archaeological and religious centre of the city: the site of the first university in Europe (10th century) and the reconstructed Church of Saint Clement, surrounded by active excavations.
• Mesokastro The quiet residential area above the bazaar between the market and the medieval city walls. Excellent elevated panoramic views over the lake and old-town rooftops.
• Lakeside Promenade and Harbour The modern waterfront promenade with boat departures, ice cream parlours and the evening korzo stroll. Departure point for boats to Kaneo beach and to Saint Naum Monastery.

Top 5 sights in Ohrid

• Church of Saint Sophia A 9th-century Byzantine cathedral with one of the best-preserved 11th-12th-century fresco collections in the Balkans. Entry around 2.50 euros.
• Tsar Samuel's Fortress The medieval hilltop fort of the Macedonian-Bulgarian Empire (10th century) with panoramic views over the lake and old town. Entry around 2.50 to 3 euros.
• Church of Saint Clement at Plaosnik Rebuilt on the site of Saint Clement of Ohrid's original 9th-century church. The mosaic floor and surrounding excavations are remarkable. Entry around 2.50 euros.
• Bay of Bones Water Museum A compelling open-air museum on wooden stilts above the lake, a reconstruction of a prehistoric pile-dwelling settlement from the Bronze and Iron Ages. Closed on Monday. Entry around 2.50 euros adults.
• Saint Naum Monastery A working monastery 29 km south of Ohrid on the Albanian border, set in a nature reserve at the source of the Black Drin river. The peacocks that stroll the grounds are famous. Entry around 2.50 euros. Boat return from Ohrid harbour around 10 euros, departing around 09:00.

Flights and transport from the Netherlands

TUI Fly operates seasonal direct flights (June to September) from Schiphol (AMS) to Ohrid Airport (OHD) in approximately 3 hours 10 minutes, three times per week (Monday, Wednesday and Saturday). There are no direct flights from Eindhoven: travellers from Brabant and Limburg travel first to Schiphol or choose a connection via another European hub. Book as early as possible as summer flights sell out quickly. In the city, taxis are cheap: a ride through the centre costs around 2.50 to 4 euros. Agreeing on the price before you get in is normal. A boat from the harbour to Kaneo beach costs around 1 to 3 euros per person. A rental car is the best way to explore Galichica National Park and the southern shore of the lake.

How much does a holiday in Ohrid cost?

Ohrid is one of the most affordable destinations in the Mediterranean region. Stay in a budget guesthouse for 25 to 40 euros per night or a mid-range hotel for 40 to 65 euros. Eating out at a local restaurant costs 5 to 10 euros, the local Ohrid trout 8 to 12 euros per portion, beer or wine 1.50 to 2.50 euros. Sights cost almost nothing: all churches and the fortress around 2.50 euros entry. Boat trip to Saint Naum return around 10 euros. A week in Ohrid including flights from Schiphol realistically costs 710 to 885 euros per person, or 950 to 1,200 euros for a mid-range trip.