Ohrid Day Trip from Skopje: Is It Worth It? (Review)

Thinking about scooting over from Skopje to Ohrid for a day? So, you might be wondering if the long bus ride and a day trip is really worth it, very? Let me give you the lowdown based on my adventure there – what’s great, what to look out for, plus tips to make your day as smooth as possible.

The Allure of Ohrid: Why You Should Visit

Okay, what makes Ohrid such a popular place? Basically, Ohrid is amazing. With its stunning lake, loads of history, and the whole chill vibe, Ohrid attracts folks, you know? The lake, which is one of Europe’s oldest and deepest, looks like the sea in a way and it is so clear and blue. Then there is the old town that feels, it’s almost, like you are wandering around a living museum.

The big highlights are places like Saint John at Kaneo – the spot has one beautiful church perched on a cliff overlooking the lake. The Church of Saint Sophia is also really beautiful which, you know, displays some awesome medieval art. And then, there is Samoil’s Fortress where you can climb up to get this really wide view of the town and lake, that it has too. So, beyond the “must-sees”, the best bit might just be wandering the cobblestone streets, soaking it all up a little.

Is a Day Trip Feasible?

Alright, so here is the deal: Skopje to Ohrid is kind of a schlep, really. The bus takes around three hours, a bit, maybe a little more depending on traffic, that it could be. So that’s six hours on the bus, round trip, really eats into your time. Basically, when you get there, if you’re coming for just a day trip, make your time worth it. It’s arguably tight, but doable, yeah?

What I did to make things easier: I hopped on an early bus, like the one that leaves around 7 AM. That way you are in Ohrid by 10 AM. Spend the day seeing stuff. You should get on a bus that leaves Ohrid around 6 PM or 7 PM that night. Very early and very late but you get to see the most of it. I would definitely say try to schedule in main places like the fortress and the churches I was talking about. Save some time too for a walk along the boardwalk, or a relaxed lunch by the lake – take in a few views of the beautiful lake. The views there are fantastic.

Getting There: Bus from Skopje to Ohrid

Okay, so the bus situation – you’ll want to head to the main bus station in Skopje. The bus station it is actually pretty easy to find, but I would say to get there, you need some extra time, alright? To buy the tickets I mean. Very helpful people at the counter there too. Bus tickets are generally inexpensive, maybe around 500-700 denar each way. I would double-check the times the day before, alright? Because things shift easily and I don’t need people angry at me!

A very good thing to know, when you head back to Skopje. The buses tend to get super busy! Definitely, that you need to arrive, at least, thirty minutes early, just to secure a spot, okay? When it is tourist season, so in summer, the buses get incredibly crammed. What I will tell you too, the ride it can be bumpy – like it swerves. But it goes past some lovely views. Bring some headphones to tune out the noise.

Must-See Sights in Ohrid (Even on a Tight Schedule)

Okay, if you are really squashing the visit, what do you see in Ohrid first? So, here are my must-see spots:

Saint John at Kaneo: That place has the most beautiful views of Ohrid, I think. Definitely, that I’d put it high on your list to get that one perfect postcard shot, it is.
Samoil’s Fortress: A good bit of walking to get up there. It gives this crazy, amazing view of everything below – the town, the lake.
Church of Saint Sophia: Worth seeing too if you are keen on art and architecture, basically. The frescoes inside are some really really old stuff.
Lakefront Promenade: After walking to see all of these old churches, taking a wander along the water is also good! Watch people and take it all in a little. Lots of little coffee places so that you can catch up.
Ohrid Pearl Shops: If you want things, pearls made in Ohrid, made differently than pearls made elsewhere, I’d recommend getting some, but only at the reliable pearl shops so you don’t get scammed, seriously!

Here’s a little tip to fit all this stuff in: start super early. I think a little planning also helps. It almost helps me when I figure out the walking routes in advance. But keep some time free so that, too, it helps to wander too.

Food and Drink: Tastes of Ohrid

When I got to Ohrid, all that walking about made me very hungry, alright? If you’re a big fan of seafood, it’s almost mandatory, really to try the Ohrid trout – I liked how local places cooked it with simple herbs so that it tastes original, kind of. For stuff that is really Macedonian, so you should grab some Tavče Gravče (baked beans) and Shopska salad. I can honestly say it tasted great and authentic!

If it is okay with you to relax, so, there are lots of places along the lake that serve food with these lovely, expansive views. It’s kind of enjoyable to sip a coffee or maybe a local Macedonian wine while taking in some vibes! It really helps sooth my spirit while I am walking.

Potential Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Okay, real talk: A day trip isn’t always seamless. It almost helps when you look into any potential issues before jumping in.

Bus Travel is Tough: I have been clear so far that it takes so long! Try to make the most out of that long travel time so that it would feel better! That could be that, too, you bring an engaging book to read. Or so that you download all these podcasts that you keep meaning to listen to! So, if that bus sounds a little hard – consider renting a car to see it – but so that, too, you know that parking is tricky!
Lots of People: Oh man, especially in summer. Everywhere! All I wanted to do, when I walked somewhere, was yell, okay? Get to stuff super early or visit it during the shoulder months where they do not come so frequently! That would be in late spring or early autumn!
Changing Plans I think so, anyway, to be flexible. I find to leave a little leeway to any plans so that it gets smoother and so that it feels better for your mind!
Language things. Usually, younger people understand how to speak English and may engage you. Not so the elderly or bus and taxi drivers. Just be armed with Google Translate and simple common sense to guide the journey better.

Is the Ohrid Day Trip Worth It? My Verdict

So, you will likely want to know what I think so far about taking a day trip from Skopje, truly. It is also dependent on how that kind of travel works so that you don’t tire yourself completely. But, in a way, is it worth the effort to be very tired? The travel is kind of worth it, yet it gets a bit tiresome when you squeeze everything to look at in so little time, so.

If it is so that you are very pressed in terms of how much time you want to dedicate so that you visit Macedonia, and can see Ohrid only in a very very limited time – then very fast Ohrid is a little bit better to visit at all than skip it. However, so that, too, it gets considered when one can be in Ohrid even for a full weekend. Do it. I had to quickly sample it, but I plan to enjoy it more for days in the future. That that sounds amazing so that you truly unwind in a great location.

Basically, seeing Ohrid for one day when the other alternative doesn’t exist. So just do it!