What to See in Ohrid, Jewel of North Macedonia, Ohrid, North Macedonia

What to see in Ohrid, North Macedonia’s lake pearl? Ohrid is a small town located on Ohrid’s namesake lake. The lake itself is a good excuse to visit Ohrid, but the town itself is a splendor!

I visited Ohrid during my 1398-kilometer bike tour of the Balkans. I definitely put Ohrid among the most beautiful points of the tour, which I have described here!

The list of what to see in Ohrid starts from the upper part of the city, namely the Upper Gate. As soon as you enter the Gate you can appreciate the Hellenistic Theater of Ohrid: it was built 200 years before Christ by the Greeks and was renovated by the Romans, who used the theater for both gladiator shows and Christian executions. The theater is still used today during the Ohrid Summer Festival.

A five-minute walk away (still uphill) is the mighty Samuel Fortress: it was built in the 4th century AD, but was renovated in the 10th century by Samuel of Bulgaria. There is an entrance fee: I, unfortunately, happened to be there on a Monday, which is a closed day.

Descending from the Fortress of Samuel, one encounters the Monastery of St. Pantaleon: its construction dates back to the Middle Ages, but currently one can appreciate its latest renovation (or rather reconstruction), which took place at the turn of the century. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).