Sublime Ohrid is North Macedonia's most seductive destination. It sits on the edge of serene Lake Ohrid, with an atmospheric old quarter that cascades down steep streets, dotted with beautiful churches and topped by the bones of a medieval castle. Traditional restaurants and lakeside cafes liven up the cobblestone streets, which in high summer can be very lively indeed.

Sveti Naum, 29km south of Ohrid, is an imposing sight on a bluff near the Albanian border and a popular day trip from Ohrid. Naum was a contemporary of St Kliment, and their monastery an educational centre. The iconostasis inside the church dates to 1711 and the frescoes to the 19th century; it's well worth paying the fee to enter. Sandy beaches hem the monastery in on two sides and are some of the best places to swim around Lake Ohrid.

THE CITY OF ARTISTS AND THE ENDLESS LAKE Pogradec is a tranquil, historical, and cultural city. It’s the perfect destination for romantic souls, having inspired generations of artists with its surrounding natural beauty. Some cities are undeniably special. As soon as you take your first steps in them, inhale the first breath of fresh air, the first smell of a nearby body of water, and the first sight of its beauty, you know that these places must have inspired great poetry! Pogradec, the city of artists, resting on the shores of Lake Ohrid, is certainly one of these. It’s an ideal place for the romantic soul, who seeks and relishes nature’s peace and tranquillity. One of Albania’s most revered national poets, Lasgush Poradeci, sang odes to Lake Ohrid in many of his works: “Upon the road of autumn’s forest, sleeps the endless lake”. Similar to the famous Romantics, Wordsworth, Byron, and Keats, Poradeci’s verse was inspired and sustained by the great natural beauty that surrounded him. He never left Pogradec, and in turn, Pogradec never left him. The city of Pogradec lies on the western shore of Lake Ohrid, which is the heart and soul of this city. Poradeci was not the only one who recognised the value of this beautiful lake. In 1980, UNESCO proclaimed it a Natural Heritage Site, and from 2019 the Albanian part was inscribed in the list as well. Ohrid is the deepest (285m) lake in the Balkans, and is split between Macedonia (in Ohrid and Struga), and Albania. It took around 4 million years for this lake to form its present shape, from the moment the soil began to shift on the western side of the Dinaric Alps. Now, it is a veritable, picture-perfect swan lake, as well as an ecosystem that includes over 200 species – making it a real national treasure. With an enviable and quite extraordinary three hundred sunny days per year, and warm climate, Pogradec is a prime destination for thousands of Albanian and foreign tourists. While there’s a multitude of fine gastronomic traditions, the world-famous delicacy in Pogradec is a golden-skinned, salmon-coloured fish called Koran (also known as the Ohrid trout), found only in Lake Ohrid. Any waiter in the area will be proud to tell you the famous story, of how Koran even travelled to Buckingham Palace at the request of Queen Elizabeth II, who became such a fan of this unique fish that she had it imported to her residence!

One of the most interesting lakes of the world Lake Ohrid, in its vastness and mystery, is a monumentally seductive attraction. Mirrorlike and dazzling on sunny days, it's a truly beautiful place – especially in and around the ancient town of Ohrid, with its cobbled streets, distinctive architecture, city beach and lakefront bars.