Tip-Based UNESCO Old Town Walk

Overview

This is a tip-based walk through Ohrid's old town, meaning booking costs nothing and you pay the guide at the end whatever you feel the walk deserved. It runs for 2 hours and 30 minutes, starting beside the monument of St. Clement on the central square. There is no pickup, so everyone makes their own way to the statue.

The route takes in the city's layered past, from Ancient Greek and Roman times through Byzantine, Ottoman and Slavic influence. You visit the fortress of Tsar Samuel, built in the XI century, where the walk pauses for the view over Lake Ohrid, one of the largest and clearest natural tectonic lakes in Europe. From there the route drops into the oldest part of the old city and the ancient theatre, which dates from the 2nd century B.C.

The final stretch runs through narrow streets and into craft territory. Two workshops are on the route, one making paper by hand using an old technique and another working in wood, and the walk also covers the famous Ohrid pearl, including how it is made. The full route has five stops, though the listing only names the first three.

Itinerary

1. Meet at St. Clement statueThe guide waits beside the monument of St. Clement on the central square. Total walk duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes.
2. Bellusso Silver & PearlsA stop centred on Ohrid pearls, pieces made from the fish of Lake Ohrid. The guide explains how the pearl is produced.
3. Handmade paper workshopThe National Workshop For Handmade Paper, run by Ljupcho Panevski, keeps a papermaking technology from the 2nd century B.C. that originated in China.
4. Church of Saint SophiaThe most famous church in Ohrid, and the place where the Ohrid Bishop was founded.
5. Two further stopsThe route has five stops in total. The listing names only the first three, so the remaining stops are revealed on the day.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most out of this walk before you book.

• Bring cash. Booking is free and guests pay the guide at the end whatever they think the walk was worth, so plan for that payment before you set out.
• Walking pace. The route covers a fortress, an ancient theatre and a set of narrow streets within 2 hours and 30 minutes. Expect steady walking with stops for explanations at each of the five points on the route.
• Getting there. There is no pickup or transfer. The meeting point is the monument of St. Clement at the central square, and the walk starts from there.
• Photography. The fortress stop gives what the guide describes as the best view over Lake Ohrid. Have a camera ready for that section.
• History-heavy content. The walk covers Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and Slavic layers of the city in a single outing, along with the craft workshops.
• Craft stops. Two workshops are on the route, one for handmade paper and one for woodcrafts. These are part of the walk itself rather than separate visits you arrange.

Common issues. The listing names only three of the five stops, so part of the route is a surprise and you cannot fully plan around it. There is no pickup included, which means anyone staying outside the centre must arrange their own transport to the central square.

Common Questions