The oldest lake in Europe isn’t high in the Alps of Switzerland, nor is it in the rocky and mysterious Iceland. It happens to be in quite the unassuming place, located between the countries of North Macedonia and Albania. The North Macedonia side of the lake was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 and is the most popular domestic vacation spot for North Macedonians.

In fact, getting to Lake Ohrid from almost any city in North Macedonia is positively easy, with a complete bus system from many of the larger cities in the country. The best time to visit Lake Ohrid is of course during summer, but year round there is still so much to see and do.

Most tourists to Lake Ohrid end up staying in Ohrid city, which is a great place for the views and culture. However it can be a bit pricey for those on a shoestring budget, so if you are looking to save money don’t worry. You can stay in Struga just a short drive away, or in Pogradec in Albania.

5 Facts About Lake Ohrid That Will Make You Want To Visit

Lake Ohrid is famous for two endemic (and tasty) fish species.

As you walk by the many restaurants in Ohrid city you’ll notice plenty of offerings for two fish specialties. These are the Ohrid trout and the Plashica. Ohrid trout is a type of brown trout that tastes more like salmon than your standard rainbow river trout. And you’ll pay the price to try this delicacy to boot. Prices range from 1800 to 3000 Macedonian Denars per kilo - about $35-$60!

On the more affordable side is the plashica, a small fish endemic to the lake that is also celebrated for the properties of the scales as it is for the taste. Many locals enjoy this fish by simply frying and eating whole. So act like a local and don’t forget to eat that fish head.

There were once 365 churches in Ohrid - one for every day of the year.

Developed by the Southern Slavs after conquering Ohrid from the Roman Empire, Ohrid was at one point home to 365 different churches. All these churches were located within the town boundaries of Ohrid, and were built to showcase the literacy of the region.

Today there are far fewer churches, but the ones that are left are gorgeous. Perhaps the most iconic is the church of St. John at Kaneo, overlooking Kaneo Beach. You can reach this church by climbing down from the fortress, or by walking along the cliffs across the bridge of dreams.

Pay particular attention to the frescoes adorning the walls of many of the churches. It was believed in the middle ages that drinking a “tea” made from the paint chips of the saints would protect people from the plague.

Shop for Ohrid pearls

Buying jewelry is not usually a must do thing in a tourist location, but Ohrid has another unique claim to fame. It is the only place in the world to buy Ohrid pearls. These are not true pearls of course, but rather a man-made pearl using an emulsion containing the scales of the aforementioned plashica fish.

The pearls are far cheaper than the genuine article, but have a radiance regardless. Much of the jewelry is set into silver, but if you want you can get gold as well. In fact, these pearls are so well regarded worldwide even Queen Elizabeth has a few strands in her private collection.

Ohrid has ties to the Kingdom of Macedon

It’s usually a contentious issue between Greeks and North Macedonians, but there is archeological evidence tying Ohrid to the ancient Kingdom of Macedon. While excavating Samuel’s Fortress, international archeologists found evidence of a prior fortification built by King Philip II of Macedon.

It makes sense as this was a prime location for a settlement, and it’s common knowledge that Philip II declared war against the Illyrians to further expand his empire. Unfortunately it was short lived as the Romans subsequently took over, and held the land until the Southern Slavs moved in during the 6th century A.D.

Lake Ohrid is considered the most bio-diverse lake in the world

Being the oldest and deepest lake in Europe comes with some benefits. Namely the ability to claim itself as the most bio-diverse lake in the world. Like other old lakes such as Baikal and Tanganyika, Lake Ohrid is home to endemic species spanning the entire food chain.

Over 50% of fauna found in Lake Ohrid are found nowhere else on earth. This is most likely due to the ease of living in the fresh, clean, oxygen rich waters. This also makes Lake Ohrid a top diving spot for biologists looking to discover a new species without the cost prohibitiveness of venturing into the deep ocean in a submersible!