Situated on the shores the famous Ohrid Lake and nearby (FYROM) Macedonia, Pogradec is a city in the east of Albania that has a lot of interests. Surrounded by hills on both the southern and western side and water in the eastern and northern side, the city is nonetheless easily accessible from Tirana, Albania’s capital. Once a popular lakeside resort town during the communist era, wandering around the place is like walking through time while experiencing the richness of the natural wonders nearby.
This specific area is full of contrasts, from the chaotic, unappealing and austere urbanism to the bright blue water of the Ohrid Lake, to the brand new hotels to the ancient churches scattered around. From Albania to Macedonia…well, this place is a truly interesting area where it’s worth spending time, and in this article, we’ll look at 8 great activities to do during your visit.
Map location
1. Ohrid city in Macedonia (FYROM)
Made a UNESCO heritage site in 1980, Ohrid is a small resort city on the hilly Macedonian shores of Lake Ohrid. The city’s compact old town cascading down a graceful hill will entertain you with medieval churches, monasteries and open-air ruins making Ohrid Macedonia’s most seductive destination. You’ll also enjoy tasting from plenty of the traditional restaurants and lakeside cafes and being just a few steps away from the edge of serene Lake Ohrid.
Ohrid city
Address: Ohrid, Macedonia (FYROM)
2. Springs of Drilon
Just 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) away from Tushemisht, the Springs of Drilon are the origin of the Drin River, which flows into the Ohrid Lake. There you’ll enjoy the Drilon tourist resort and its many decorative trees and plants, fitting really well with Drilon’s clear water springs. Walking through the strolling paths, along characteristic bridges, is a quiet and peaceful moment worth taking while discovering the surroundings.
Springs of Drilon
Address: Tushemisht, Albania
Website: Drilon
3. Tushemisht
Tushemisht is based in southeastern Albania in the Pogradec municipality and is filled with miniature concrete canals, where it’s lovely to have a leisurely walk. Besides its natural features, Tushemisht contains restaurants and bars located on the water, cafes inside the city near cobblestone and marbled narrow streets, and spectacular churches and monasteries coming along the blue-green typical beaches of the Lake Ohrid.
Tushemisht
Address: Tushemisht, Albania
Website: Tushemisht
4. Lake Orhid
One of Europe’s deepest and oldest lakes (30 kilometers (18 miles) long and around 288 meters (945 feet) deep), Ohrid was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979 and might be one of the greatest attractions of the whole area. Located both in Albania, FYROM Macedonia and Greece, the lake preserves a unique aquatic ecosystem of worldwide importance, making it one of Europe’s greatest biological reserves.
Additionally, to its obvious scientific and geological interests, Ohrid is a place of historic significance but also of outstanding natural beauty, always with something to enjoy. Either enjoy a fishing session on the lake, to taste its clean and clear waters, or simply gaze at its astonishing mountain settings. The lake has captivated and attracted visitors for a long time.
Ohrid Lake
Address: Albania–Macedonia border
Website: Ohrid Lake
5. Bay of Bones Museum
Home to civilization since prehistoric times, Lake Ohrid features remains of ancient settlements that were gradually excavated by an underwater team, and finally lead to the construction of the Museum on the Water (an elaborate reconstruction of the ancient population’s settlement, as archaeologists think it would have looked between 1200 and 600 BC). Moreover, the several years of underwater archaeological investigation provided a vast range of information about the life of prehistoric people living in this area. The Bay of Bones is another exceptional archaeological complex, located in an attractive cultural landscape on the eastern shores of Lake Ohrid. It’s a great place for underwater archeology and tourism, presenting the prehistoric life of the ancestors from these areas.
Bay of Bones Museum
Address: Р501, Macedonia (FYROM)
Website: Bay of Bones
6. Church of St. John at Kaneo
Overlooking Lake Ohrid, above a small fishing settlement nearby the city of Ohrid in Macedonia, the Church of St. John is an Orthodox church situated on the cliff over the beautiful Kaneo Beach. Consisting of a combination of Byzantine and Armenian architectural styles, this 13th-century building is one of the most magnificent churches in all of Macedonia and with its beautiful decoration made of sculptures and stone carvings, it remains an inspiring place for spiritual contemplation.
There you’ll find a peaceful time while contemplating the lake from above and the beautiful art collection (the Communion of the Apostles, the portraits of St. Clement, St. Erasmus, Constantine Kavasilas, etc.) of the church, enjoying the richness of one of the greatest places of the whole Balkan region.
Church of St. Jovan, Kaneo
Address: Kaneo Plaosnik Pateka, Ohrid 6000, Macedonia (FYROM)
Website: Church of St. Jovan
7. Saint Panteleimon
Another interesting building nearby Ohrid is the Byzantine church of Saints Clement and Panteleimon, an ancient monastery where the first students of the Glagolitic alphabet (they used to translate the Bible into Old Church Slavonic) were taught. It’s a pleasant place to have a walk and to discover the religious and traditional history of the area within a relaxing atmosphere.
Church of Saints Clement and Panteleimon
Address: Kuzman Kapidan, Ohrid 6000, Macedonia (FYROM)
8. Tsar Samuil Fortress in Ohrid
If you decide to visit Ohrid, then you must visit the Samuil Fortress, a famous and huge old fortress on the shore of the Lake Ohrid, dating from the reign of Tsar Samuel around the 10th-century. Today, this historical monument is one of the major tourist attractions of the area and consists of 18 towers and 4 gates (considered one of the largest preserved fortifications in Macedonia). You’ll be amazed walking through this majestic building with its 10-16 meters (52 feet) high walls and its ancient graves and remains of old settlements. The Tsar Samuil Fortress also offers great views over the lake and Ohrid, and represents a historical site that you must do during your visit in Macedonia.
Tsar Samuil Fortress
Address: Samoil Fortress, Ohrid 6000, Macedonia (FYROM)
Website: Samuil Fortress
Travel between worlds
Between historic buildings and natural wonders, Albania and Macedonia, earth and water…the area surrounding Pogradec in Albania to Ohrid in Macedonia is a jewel lost in this part of the Balkans, and worth visiting through these 8 top-ranked attractions!