Sweet Seasons
Favorites in Ohrid
I’ve spent the last two weekends at Lake Ohrid (and only got one speeding ticket while driving, how about that? 😅 and in the same little car I’ve been driving this whole time), so I thought I’d make a list post of my favorite things to do and see at the lake.
Early mornings by the water: I love sitting on a bench on the promenade next to the water in the cool of the morning, sipping coffee, reading my Bible, and watching the men bring their boats to the dock for day trips. Unfortunately there are also sometimes men in Speedos but after all, it is Europe….
Макало од лук: the most scrumptious garlic dip of all time, special to Ohrid. Some fluffy warm bread with makalo? Doesn’t get better.
Swimming at the rocky beach: yes, the pebbles can be a struggle to walk on, but once you get past them, the water is so refreshing and you can watch boats go by and the fish swim below. There small sea snakes, but as the saying goes, they’re more afraid of us…
Pearl shopping: even if it’s just window shopping, there are so many gorgeous and unique pearl pieces here – anything you can think of, Ohrid’s many pearl shops have it. I’ve gotten a couple pieces myself, and as gifts, of course.
Hiking around Kaneo: after stopping at the iconic church St. John at Kaneo, there’s a trail that takes you around the hill (and theoretically, up to the fort, although I’ve never made it up there due to being slightly directionally challenged). I love this hike because it offers a lovely view of residential Ohrid and Struga, Ohrid’s neighboring city.
Pastrmka: basically like branzino, it’s a fish indigenous to Ohrid and amazing when grilled or roasted whole with a slice of lemon on the side. Another delicacy is tiny fish (a little bigger than anchovies) that are fried and eaten whole, kind of like popcorn shrimp.
Gelato from Letnica: the cheesecake/nutella combo is elite. Caramel with Strachiatella is also incredible. As a post-dinner treat? Unbeatable.
Monastery Winery: a 20 minute drive from Ohrid, I highly recommend spending an afternoon here. The folks who run it are so kind and knowledgeable. They make 10 wines, a rakija, and a gin, and with such select offerings, the flavors are perfectly curated. They let us try a port they haven’t bottled yet, and… no words, just notes of raspberry and a little smokiness.
The sporting event/cultural event happening that particular weekend: one of the great things about Ohrid as a tourist destination is that there is always an event happening during summer weekends, whether it’s a marathon or a Lenny Kravitz concert.
Pasta at Di Angolo: the carbonara, the bolognese… you can’t go wrong with pretty much any pasta you choose here. It’s tucked away in the Old City so it isn’t too packed at any given time, and has rustic outdoor seating.
Have I convinced you to visit yet?? Relaxing by the water never gets old… I always love coming back to Skopje, but Ohrid is a pretty special place, too.
(Song Credit: Carole King)
