Our Ohrid day tour from Tirana crosses into North Macedonia for a guided walk through Ohrid's old town with a local guide, then free time by the lake and in the old bazaar. The afternoon follows the shore to the Bay of Bones and the Monastery of St Naum, and the way back to Tirana passes Albania's side of the lake, with a photo stop above Lin village. An English-speaking tour leader travels with the group all day. This article follows the day stop by stop, with photos from our recent departures.
If you are still deciding whether to go, our planning guide to a day trip to Ohrid from Tirana covers the route, the border and timing. This article shows what happens once you are there.
The Ohrid day tour at a glance
| Starts from | Hotel pick-up in Tirana or Durrës |
|---|---|
| Countries | Albania and North Macedonia, with a border crossing each way |
| Guides | English-speaking tour leader all day, plus a local guide in Ohrid |
| Main stops | Ohrid old town, the lake and old bazaar, Bay of Bones, St Naum Monastery, Lin |
| Included | Transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, border crossing tax, guided walk of the historic sites |
| Not included | Lunch, personal expenses, optional church visits |
| Bring | Passport or ID card, comfortable shoes, water |
One day, two countries, and a town that has been a centre of faith and learning for more than a thousand years.
How the day runs
- Pick-up in Tirana or Durrës and the drive east to the Qafë Thanë border crossing above the lake.
- Guided walk through Ohrid's old town with a local guide.
- Free time at the lake and the old bazaar for lunch, a swim in summer or optional church visits.
- A drive along the shore with a short stop at the Bay of Bones.
- St Naum Monastery, its central church and the view over the lake.
- Back into Albania along the Albanian shore, with a photo stop above Lin, then the drive home.
The guided walk through Ohrid's old town
The old town climbs a hill above the lake in steep cobbled lanes, white-walled houses with timber upper floors, and churches tucked into almost every corner. Local legend says Ohrid once had 365 churches, one for every day of the year. Your local guide sets the route to suit the group and the day, so the order can change, but these are the places a walk through the old town usually takes in.
The old town lanes
The lanes are the experience in themselves: stone steps, overhanging houses, small workshops and glimpses of the water at every turn. Read more about Ohrid's old town.
The Church of St Sophia
One of the most important medieval monuments in North Macedonia, St Sophia is known for its 11th-century frescoes. See the Church of St Sophia.
The Ancient Theatre
Ohrid's Hellenistic theatre is set into the hillside with the lake behind it, and it is still used for summer performances. See the Ancient Theatre of Ohrid.
Tsar Samuel's Fortress
The fortress walls crown the hill above the old town. It takes its name from Tsar Samuel, who ruled from Ohrid around the turn of the first millennium, and its ramparts give the widest views of the town and the lake. See Tsar Samuel's Fortress.
Plaošnik and the Church of Sts Clement and Panteleimon
On the green hilltop of Plaošnik, St Clement of Ohrid founded a monastery and a school in the late 9th century, one of the earliest centres of Slavic literacy. The church that stands there today was rebuilt on the old foundations. See the Church of Sts Clement and Panteleimon.
The Church of St John at Kaneo
The little church on a cliff above the water is the picture most people take home from Ohrid. See the Church of St John at Kaneo.
Free time at the lake and the old bazaar
After the walk, the group has free time down by the water and in the old bazaar. This is the moment for lunch at a local tavern, a swim in the lake in summer, a coffee on the promenade, or a look at the shops selling Ohrid pearls, the town's best-known souvenir. Entry to church interiors is optional and fits into this free time; tickets are not included in the tour price.
Along the lake: the Bay of Bones and St Naum
The Bay of Bones
The road south follows the eastern shore of the lake to the Bay of Bones, a reconstruction of a prehistoric village built on wooden piles over the water. The short stop is a chance to hear how people lived on the lake thousands of years ago. See the Bay of Bones.
The Monastery of St Naum
At the southern tip of the lake, close to the Albanian border, the Monastery of St Naum has looked over the water for more than a thousand years. You visit the central church of the monastery, take in the view of the lake from the grounds, and meet the peacocks that wander between the buildings. See the Monastery of St Naum.
Back through Albania: Lin village
From St Naum the tour re-enters Albania and follows the Albanian side of the lake. On the way back to Tirana the road climbs towards Qafë Thanë, where a stop above Lin, a fishing village on a small peninsula, gives one of the best photographs of the day. Lin is also known for the mosaics of its early Christian church. To spend longer on this side of the lake, read our guide to Lake Ohrid's Albanian shore: Pogradec, Lin and Drilon.
Who looks after you on the day
Two people make the day work. Your tour leader, who travels with the group from pick-up to drop-off, handles the border, the timing and the practical questions. Your local guide in Ohrid leads the walk through the old town and knows its history in depth.
Guided tour or going on your own?
| Our guided day tour | On your own | |
|---|---|---|
| Border | Handled by the tour leader, crossing tax included | You drive and handle the crossing yourself |
| Old town | Walk with a local guide who knows the history | Self-guided with a map or app |
| St Naum and Lin | Included in the route | Possible by car, harder by public transport |
| Flexibility | Set route, with free time for lunch and a swim | Your own pace and timing |
Tips for the Ohrid day tour
- Bring your passport or ID card, whichever your nationality allows for North Macedonia, and a visa if you need one. E-visas are not accepted.
- Wear comfortable shoes. The old town is steep and the cobbles are smooth and slippery.
- Carry water and some cash. North Macedonia uses the denar; small purchases are easier with cash.
- Pack swimwear in summer if you want a swim during the free time.
- Dress modestly for church visits: shoulders and knees covered.
Ready to go? Book the North Macedonia: Ohrid and St Naum day tour, or see our confirmed departures to join a group on a fixed date. For a longer journey through the region, Ohrid is also a stop on our Visit the Balkans in 3 Days tour.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Ohrid day tour from Tirana include?
Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Tirana or Durrës, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, the border crossing tax, an English-speaking tour leader, a local guide in Ohrid and a guided walk of the historic sites. Lunch, personal expenses and optional church visits are not included.
Do I need a passport for the Ohrid day trip?
Yes, you cross into North Macedonia and back. Bring your passport, or an ID card if your nationality allows entry with one, plus a visa if you need one. Electronic visas are not accepted.
What do you see on the guided walk in Ohrid?
The old town's lanes and churches, usually including the Church of St Sophia, the Ancient Theatre, Tsar Samuel's Fortress, Plaošnik and the Church of St John at Kaneo. The local guide adapts the route to the group and the day.
Is lunch included on the Ohrid tour?
No. You have free time by the lake and in the old bazaar to eat at a local tavern of your choice.
Can you swim in Lake Ohrid on the tour?
Yes, in the warmer months you can swim during the free time after the walking tour. Bring swimwear and a small towel.
Do you visit St Naum Monastery?
Yes. The tour drives along the lake to the Monastery of St Naum, where you visit its central church, enjoy the view of the lake and see the peacocks that live in the grounds.
Can I go inside Ohrid's churches?
Church interiors are optional and can be visited in your free time after the walking tour. Entry tickets are not included in the tour price.
Where does the Ohrid tour start?
We pick you up from your hotel in Tirana or Durrës in the morning and bring you back in the evening.
