About Ohrid

We would like to draw your attention to one of Macedonia’s greatest truths, the truth of Ohrid, an immortal town, a magical hill whose primordial pulsation links ancient and modern times forever. Ohrid has been a living town for two thousand and four hundred years. It is the legimate descendant of the shining Lychida, a town whose achievement were woven into the tapestry of a powerful ancient civilization.

Ohrid was the most important official capital of the first Slav Macedonian state, of Samuel’s empire. And Ohrid was the centre of Macedonia’s nineteenth century revival. Ohrid bears the name “The Balkan Jerusalem”. Through the activity of St. Clement of Ohrid, the first pan-Slavonic university in Europe was situated here.

According to the well-known 17th century Turkish travel-writer, Evliya Celebi, the Ohrid shopping and commercial quarter then occupied quite a large area of the lower town. Here were to be found all the essential craft workshops as well as shops Celebi lists 150 shops, three free lodging-houses and three caravanserais or hostelries. There were also seven coffee-houses where the educated people would gather. The inns were situated in the hilly part of the town where the Christian population dwelt.

The majority of the dressed-stone shops in the business quarter were built in the course of the 19th century. Most of the shops which have survived were owned by Macedonian trades people as can be ascertained from the names on the upper parts of their facades. In addition to the trader’s name, the year – and sometimes even the month – when a particular shop was built, has been recorded.

How to get to Ohrid

Car:

The roads in general in Macedonia are safe and good. The main international highway the E-75 crosses the country. Network of well maintained roads links its towns and its popular tourist areas.

At the border it would be appropriate to exchange some smaller ammount of money in local currency because you will need some for the paytools. There is 2 paytools between the border and Skopje if you enter Macedonia from Serbia or Bulgaria (via Kriva Palanka) and 4 between Skopje and Ohrid (via Kicevo).

You can drive from Skopje via Bitola but that is longer way.

The Albanian border from the both sides of Ohrid lake is just 30 km distance to Ohrid.

Taxi approximate 20-50 mkd start (depends from the company) + 25 mkd 1 km.

Distances:

• Skopje - Ohrid 170 km
• Bitola - Ohrid 65 km
• Tirana - Ohrid 130 km
• Sofija - Ohrid 320 km
• Thessaloniki - Skopje 260 km
• Thessaloniki - Ohrid (via Bitola) 280 km

Bus:

If you choose to travel by bus, connections to Skopje are available from several cities in Europe (Brussels, Vienna, Sofia, Istanbul, Belgrade). Those who will travel from, or through Germany can contact the travel agency Deutsche Touring, found in most cities, which have buses to Macedonia twice a week; those from Austria can contact Europe travel agency. (Note: If you travel through Serbia and Montenegro check whether you need a visa!)

Belgrade - Ohrid:

"Galeb" Ohrid in 21:30h
Return ticket: 2830,00 serbian dinars

Ohrid - Belgrade:

"Galeb" Ohrid in 15:30h (via Bitola) i 17:30h (via Kicevo)
One way ticket: 1500 Mkd denars (25€)

Belgrade - Skopje:

4:45, 7:05, 11:20, 13:30, 14:20, 15:30, 16:00, 17:30 & 20:30h.
The price for a return ticket is between 1580,00 & 2780,00 Serbian dinars

Skopje - Ohrid:

06:00, 10:00, 14:00, 14:45, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30 & 18:30h
One way ticket is 420 mkd denars and return is 630 mkd denars + reservation fee.

Ohrid - Skopje:

05:00, 07:15, 07:30, 10:45, 15:00, 17:00h

Skopje - Belgrade:

2:00, 4:00, 5:10, 7:45, 9:25, 10:15, 13:10, 16:45, 20:10, 21:15, 23:30, 24:00h

Sofija - Skopje:

Everyday at: 08:00; 16:00; 19:00; 22:00h

Ohrid - Sofia:

Every day at 19:00h.
One way ticket price 1.280 mkd (21 €).

Sofia - Ohrid:

Every day at 17.00h.

Visit this links for more transportation choices

• www.sas.com.mk (there is Macedonian & English translation)
• www.skopje.com.mk/angliski/prevoz.asp

Train:

You can use the connections to Skopje from Vienna, Budapest, Ljubljana, Zagreb, Belgrade, Thessaloniki or Athens. They arrive at Central Railway Station in Skopje (phone: +389 2 164255) every day.

Belrade - Skopje:

7:05, 14:00 & 21:00h.
Price for return ticket: 2600,00 serbian dinars
Additional Sleeping kabin - Kushet: +840,00 Serbian dinars

Skopje - Belgrade:

7:15, 11:50, 22:50h (express)

Visit this links for full destination timetable:

• www.mz.com.mk
• www.skopjeonline.com.mk

Airplane:

Skopje Airport (phone: +389 2 148333) is only 18 km away from the city center. There are regular and charter flights from every major European city to Skopje and Ohrid by domestic and foreign air companies (MAT, Adria Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Olimpic, Airways, Turkish Airlines, JAT etc.). Other airports near Skopje are: in Sofija (Bulgaria), which is 250 km away from Skopje and Thessaloniki (Greece) 260 km. There are regular bus connections from Sofia to Skopje twice a day. The airports in Ljubljana (Slovenia), Zagreb (Croatia) and Belgrade (Serbia and Montenegro) can also be used for connection. (Note: some countries citizens may need transit visas for Bulgaria and Serbia and Montenegro).

Belgrade - Ohrid:

Monday at 14:40, Thursday at 14:10h.

Belgrade - Skopje:

Everyday in 21:15 or 21:30h.

Ohrid - Belgrade:

Monday & Thursday at 16:45h.

Skopje - Belgrade:

Every day at 6:00h.

Visit following link for full destination arrival and departure timetable.

• www.airports.com.mk

The price of returned ticket is different and it depends from the period of the year and the company but its between 150€ - 250€. Ask in your local travel agency.