Lake Ohrid

Lake Ohrid, shared between North Macedonia and Albania, is one of the oldest and deepest lakes in the world, formed some three million years ago and plunging nearly 300 metres. This extraordinary age has made it a living museum of biodiversity, home to hundreds of endemic species found nowhere else, including the prized Ohrid trout, earning it UNESCO World Heritage status for both nature and culture. Ringed by mountains, its clear blue waters offer swimming from pebbly beaches, boat trips to the lovely clifftop Sveti Naum monastery, and lakeside relaxation.

What you actually see

• The clear blue water - the swimming and boating on the ancient lake.
• Sveti Naum Monastery - the lovely monastery near the Albanian border.
• The endemic wildlife - the Ohrid trout and unique lake species.
• The lakeside beaches - the pebbly shores and resorts.

When to go

June to September, the warm summer season, for lake swimming, boat trips and lakeside relaxation, with the water warmest in high summer; the shoulder months are quieter and pleasant. The lake and the Sveti Naum monastery are beautiful year-round, though the swimming season is limited to summer.

Honest expectations

The Macedonian shore around Ohrid town is the most developed, so those seeking quieter, wilder stretches should explore toward Sveti Naum or the Albanian side; the endemic Ohrid trout is under pressure and eating it is discouraged for conservation. The lake's astonishing age, clarity and biodiversity, its beaches and its lovely monastery, though, make it a genuine natural and cultural treasure.

Nearby

Ohrid town, the Galicica mountains and Albania's Pogradec are around the shore.