Move Over Lake Como: This European Lake Town Is Far Cheaper And Just As Stunning!

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Want to discover past the norm this summer time? National Geographic is hyping up Europe’s ‘final frontier’.

Rather than settle as one other face in a row of Parisian sidewalk cafes or dodging water weapons in Spain’s fixed protests, why not enterprise off to the Balkans, a sprawling area of lesser-known locations with out sacrificing magnificence, delicacies, and experiences?

Albania has arguably turn out to be the trendiest Balkan nation, however subsequent door lies North Macedonia, clinging to “hidden gem” standing aside from digital nomads within the know residing their greatest life.

Still largely unexplored by mainstream vacationers, scraping the underside of the ranks when it comes to Europe’s least visited nations, North Macedonia is house to one in all Europe’s prettiest cities and simply so occurs to be one in all my favourite discoveries in all my travels.

Let’s dive into why Nat Geo is lastly giving this underrated lake city the popularity it deserves.

Unveiling Europe’s Dreamiest Lake Town

Can you consider a dreamier lake city than Lake Como?

I can as a result of I’ve been, and was blown away by how this undiscovered paradise has fallen by way of the cracks of guidebook authors for much too lengthy.

At first look, crossing the Albania-North Macedonia border is nothing to shake a stick at, and I’ve shaken many sticks in my day rising up within the Texas countryside.

But when you go the rugged roads of stray canines and beat-up vehicles, you shortly notice Ohrid is actually a diamond within the tough.

Not solely is that this Macedonian gem equally beautiful as locations like Lake Como, nevertheless it’s far cheaper. In reality, it would not even come shut. I bear in mind having a feast of moussaka, grilled veggies, and a spherical of beers with out hitting double digits.

Of course, service was interrupted by fixed smoke breaks, however hey, Europe gonna Europe, ya know?

Nat Geo highlights Ohrid primarily due to its phenomenal meals, and so they’re not fallacious. But Ohrid’s enchantment goes method past a foodie vacation spot; the structure is astounding, the locals are welcoming, wandering in any respect hours is protected, and sure, it is unimaginable to dent your checking account right here.

Hotels? Don’t sweat that both. Easily discover charming boutique stays and low-cost luxurious underneath $60.

But the true draw is Lake Ohrid itself. Europe’s deepest lake beams of crystal-clear water like a heat drawn tub and a serene setting with epic sunsets, the place locals collect within the timeless Old Town district to witness the red-tiled townscape glow orange.

Every Day Is Sunday In Ohrid

In case you have not seen, the world is filled with chaos in the mean time. No matter the place you might be on the planet, a standard approach to alleviate the nervousness of fixed destructive headlines is go to church.

Well, Ohrid is thought for as soon as having 365 church buildings, one for every day of the yr. Though there is no phrase on what locals did on Leap Day — Rock, Paper, Scissors?

Many of those centuries-old church buildings nonetheless stay and are well-preserved. You do not even have to go on an official tour to seek out them; merely wander the winding maze of cobbled streets and you will bump into them very quickly in addition to a gorgeous mosque anchoring Old Town, as there’s a robust range of traditions and tradition right here displayed in faith, life-style, and delicacies therefore the ‘moussaka’ reference earlier, a standard Greek staple with Arab roots.

While Ohrid’s spiritual establishments are marvels in their very own proper, you are doing your self a disservice if you happen to do not pack your strolling sneakers and hike uphill to Samuel’s Fortress, the place you may reward your self with a scenic patio seat at Fort Cafe.

A tour of the fortress is advisable.

Nat Geo Hyped Food, So Let’s Talk Food!

Wandering Ohrid, you will discover quintessential sidewalk cafes we have all grown to like throughout Europe, however you will additionally discover an array of delicacies from neighboring nations.

When I visited, I felt like I used to be in Athens or Istanbul when scouring restaurant menus, although my favourite meal was at Damar with a breezy hilltop patio providing unmatched views of town.

I ordered Brown Trout straight from, you guessed it, Lake Ohrid. It could not have been higher ready.

While I opted for affordable native beer over the arduous stuff, Nat Geo additionally hypes up mastika, a Macedonian liquor product of tree resin, and native wines sourced within the nation’s lesser-known wine area outdoors the capital metropolis, Skopje.

Can You Swim In Lake Ohrid?

There’s nothing extra inviting than pristine waters on sun-drenched shores, particularly with splendid temperatures within the mid-80s all through summer time.

North Macedonia could also be a landlocked nation, however you will not be wishing you are in Santorini or neighboring Albania’s paradisal coast once you see how pristine Lake Ohrid’s waters actually are.

There are small seashores dotting the lake on each the Macedonia and Albania sides, however if you need in on a secret, be sure to take the hidden boardwalk lining the lake to keep away from the treacherous hills.

Ultimately, you’ll attain a quieter aspect of city with secluded seashores like Beach Labino and Beach Potpesh.

There are additionally frequent boat excursions, however the most well-liked are sundown cruises, so be certain to book early!

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based mostly in San Diego has visited 36 nations and written over 1000 articles with a concentrate on sharing his personal journey experiences and shining a lightweight on lesser-known gems.

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