Wedded Wonderland

Luxury holidays in North Macedonia

North Macedonia travel packages

Watch the sun set over Lake Ohrid from the cliff below St John at Kaneo. Join our guided small group route south into Albania, with hotels and guides in place for you.

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Reserve for A$200

It comes off your final price, and is refunded in full if you don't go ahead.

Watch sunset over Lake Ohrid

Evenings in Ohrid belong to the lake. Swallows wheel over the water, the stone church of St John at Kaneo turns gold on its cliff, and fish from the lake arrive grilled at waterside tables. Lake Ohrid is one of the oldest lakes in Europe, and both the lake and the old town are UNESCO listed.

Ohrid's lanes climb past Byzantine churches to Samuel's Fortress at the top of the hill. Skopje, the capital, is a few hours north, where the Old Bazaar is a maze of Ottoman mosques, inns and craft workshops beneath the Kale fortress. Close to the city, Matka Canyon offers boat trips between cliffs and medieval monasteries.

Compare Ohrid with Skopje

Ohrid is the lakeside stay, and Skopje is the place for history and markets.

  • Skopje

    An Ottoman bazaar, the old stone bridge over the Vardar and the fortress above the city, with Matka Canyon close by.

  • Ohrid

    A lakeside town of Byzantine churches and frescoes on one of Europe's oldest lakes, clear and calm in summer.

Swim in Ohrid in high summer

The lake is warmest in July and August, and late spring suits walking in the old town.

  • JanuaryAvoid

    Cold with snow in the mountains, quiet on the lake.

  • FebruaryAvoid

    Winter weather, many lakeside hotels closed.

  • MarchMixed

    Cool and changeable, spring begins in Skopje.

  • AprilGood

    Mild days and green hills, Orthodox Easter.

  • MayBest

    Warm and clear, ideal for Ohrid and the old towns.

  • JuneBest

    Long days and a calm lake for swimming.

  • JulyGood

    Hot in Skopje, lively by the lake with the Ohrid Summer Festival.

  • AugustGood

    Warm water on the lake, busy in the town.

  • SeptemberBest

    Warm days, quieter streets and the grape harvest.

  • OctoberGood

    Autumn colour around the lake, cooler nights.

  • NovemberMixed

    Cool and wet, a quiet time for Skopje.

  • DecemberAvoid

    Cold and grey, snow on the higher roads.

Start your trip in Skopje

Many routes connect once in Europe or the Gulf before Skopje or Ohrid. Your travel expert finds the best connection from your home airport.

  • Sydney (one stop): about 25 h
  • Melbourne (one stop): about 25 h
  • Brisbane (one stop): about 26 h
  • Perth (one stop): about 21 h
  • Los Angeles (one stop): about 16 h
  • London (non-stop): about 3 h
  • Dubai (one stop): about 8 h

Link Ohrid with Greece or Bulgaria

Thessaloniki is a few hours south by road, and Sofia lies to the east.

  • Greece

    Athens, Delphi and Meteora, then Crete and the Cyclades.

  • Bulgaria

    Rila Monastery, Roman Plovdiv and the Black Sea coast.

Ask about North Macedonia first

What are the entry rules for North Macedonia?
It depends on your passport, and Australian, UK, US and EU passport holders can visit without a visa for up to 90 days in any six-month period. Foreign visitors must be registered with the police within 48 hours, which your hotel does at check-in. North Macedonia is not in the Schengen area. Check your own government's travel advice before you book, as rules change.
When is Lake Ohrid warm enough to swim?
Swimming season on the lake runs through high summer into early September. For walks in the old town with fewer people, choose the shoulder months either side.
How many nights does Ohrid deserve?
Three nights gives time for the old town, a boat trip along the shore and the monastery of St Naum at the lake's southern end. Add a night in Skopje for the Old Bazaar and Matka Canyon.
Can we plan an anniversary around Lake Ohrid?
Yes. A private boat past Kaneo at sunset, then grilled fish on a waterside terrace, suits an anniversary well. Your travel expert can add a winery lunch in the Tikveš valley.
Is North Macedonia easy to combine with Albania?
Yes. Ohrid sits close to the Albanian border, and our small group route crosses by road to the Albanian coast. Albania is also visa-free for many passports, Australian, UK, US and EU among them, but check your own government's travel advice for both countries.
What currency do they use in North Macedonia?
The currency is the Macedonian denar. Cards are accepted in Skopje and Ohrid hotels and restaurants, but carry cash for markets, churches and village stops.
What is Skopje's Old Bazaar like?
It is one of the largest old bazaars in the Balkans, a maze of Ottoman mosques, caravanserais and craft workshops below the Kale fortress. Stop for Turkish coffee and baklava in one of its small cafés.
What should we eat in North Macedonia?
Try tavče gravče, beans baked in a clay pot, and ajvar, a roasted red pepper relish, alongside grilled fish by the lake. Wines from the Tikveš region, especially the red Vranec, go well with both.

Tell us about your trip to North Macedonia

Tell us when you want to go, for how long and who is travelling. Your travel expert replies in writing with a trip shaped around you.

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