Swimming in Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia
Swim in one of the oldest, clearest lakes in the world, below a clifftop church in Ohrid's old town.
Lake Ohrid is one of the oldest lakes on Earth, and it might be the best place in the Balkans for a long, easy swim. It is huge, deep and fed largely by underwater springs, which keeps it remarkably clear: on a calm morning you can see pebbles and fish several metres below you. Shared between North Macedonia and Albania, it is protected by UNESCO for both its nature and its history, and in summer the water warms up to sea-like temperatures without any salt or swell.
The classic swim is right below Ohrid's old town. A short path leads around the cliffs to Kaneo, a tiny pebble beach beneath the church of St John at Kaneo, perched on the rocks above the water. Swim out a little, turn around, and you get the most famous view in the country from the water. Further along the shore, longer beaches and quieter villages toward Trpejca and the far southern end give you more room and fewer people.
At the southern tip, the monastery of St Naum sits beside crystal-clear springs that feed the lake, reached by road or by boat from Ohrid town. Combine a swim with a paddle in a rented kayak, a boat trip along the shore, or an evening in the old town. The season runs June to September, with July and August the warmest and busiest months.
Full day, about 7.5 hours
Easy, calm lake water
From €72
June to September
None, great for families
Self-guided
Ohrid old town
Beaches free; loungers, boats extra
Who is it for?
Best for: Families, slow travellers and anyone who wants long, warm, relaxed swims in clear water, with a historic old town to come back to in the evening.
Skip it if: You want waves, surf or a remote wild spot. Ohrid is calm and civilised, and the beaches near town get busy in July and August.
How the day runs
Start in Ohrid old town in the morning, when the lake is calmest.
Walk the shoreline path to Kaneo beach below the church of St John.
Swim out for the view of the church from the water.
Spend the afternoon on a quieter beach further along the shore, or take a boat to St Naum and its springs.
Return to the old town for sunset over the lake.
Lake Ohrid swimming questions
Ready to swim Ohrid?
Book a full-day boat trip to the Bay of Bones and St Naum, with a barbecue lunch on board.
