Ohrid
Mountains, lakes and a welcoming legion of stray dogs.
Nestled in North Macedonia, Ohrid is a city with a rich history and beautiful nature.
It's famed for its UNESCO-listed old town, the tranquility of the lake, and a wealth of historic churches, monasteries, and mosques.
If you're already in the Balkans, it's worth a week. Otherwise, it's too quiet to be worth traveling exclusively for.
If you're already in the Balkans, it's worth a week. Otherwise, it's too quiet to be worth traveling exclusively for.
If you're already in the Balkans, it's worth a week. Otherwise, it's too quiet to be worth traveling exclusively for.
If you're already in the Balkans, it's worth a week. Otherwise, it's too quiet to be worth traveling exclusively for.
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Summary
North Macedonia was the starting point for a tour of the Balkans in 2021. Prior to the trip I would not have been able to locate the country on the map, but at the time of Covid it was one of the few countries allowing unrestricted access from the UK making it a useful destination to start travel from.
Accommodation
Reasonable selection of airbnbs in the centre of the town. If visiting outside of the peak season you should have your pick of apartments at a very reasonable price.
Places to work
There's only one real option for coworking in the town at present, although there is a large range of cafes. If planning to work from home, I would not assume the internet would be of sufficient quality.
Value
Like the rest of North Macedonia, food and drink is very reasonable priced throughout, however compared to larger cities, there isn't an enormous selection of choice. Prices for local excursions and bicycle/car hire prove to be very good value.
Working hours
North Macedonia operates on Central European Time (CET), aligning with Western Europe.
🇪🇺 Consider working European hours from Asia?
Where to stay
Old Town
Center
Where to work
CoWorkOhrid
The only coworking facility intown, CoWorkOhrid is a great destination to get work done, around a 15 minute walk from the centre of town.
During winter there's great views of the snow topped mountains in the distance with great views of the sunset. Complementary coffee available also.
The only drawback is a lack of lunch options in the immediate area so you'd be best off to come prepared.
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Remote work visa
If staying for a prolonged period, you may want to consider a dedicated visa for this destination.
This country is actively working on a visa support for remote workers.
Check your government website for details of how to obtain a tourist visa.
Citizen Remote is a great source of up to date knowledge for everything to do with remote work visas.
Safety
Off-work
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Hike in Pellister National Park
An natural haven renowned for its diverse flora and fauna with numerous hiking trails and serene lakes, best accessed if visiting from the neighbouring town of Bitola. If visiting during the winter months, be prepared for intensely snowy conditions.
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Day trip to Skopje
The North Macedonian capital is well worth a visit in it's own right, known for its grand ornate statues and buildings. If in town for a few days, head to the Matka Canyon Trail.
Visit the Holy Mother of God Zahumska
This church dedicated to St. Mary was built in 1299 and is located at Zaum on the eastern shore of the lake at the foot on Mount Galicia. Easily accessible via car or bike and some river boats run during more popular periods.
Duration & season
Early March was bitterly cold, with the surrounding mountain peaks covered in snow for the entirety of the month. Some sunnier days were had towards the end of the trip but I couldn't recommend arriving any earlier than April. The peak of summer is hot, with temperatures regularly up to 30 degrees,
Food & drink
People
There is a small local population in the town, with high seasonal fluctuations over summer with holiday markers arriving from predominantly in neighbouring Balkan countries. During the month I was there I would be relatively confident I was the sole remote worker in town.
Local people were friendly and welcoming with English spoken in the majority of cafes and bars.
Exercise
Trpejca
National Park Pellister
Ohrid - Bitola
Verdict
Positives
- Amazing scenery.The lake and neighbouring mountain ranges provide inspiring vistas.
- Very peaceful.Outside of the peak summer season, it is an area of much tranquility and seclusion.
- Outside of the Schengen Zone.If for whatever reason you have reached your limit of time available within the Schengen group of countries, North Macedonia is an alternative.
- Cheap.One of the least expensive countries in Europe.
Negatives
- Super quiet.If that is not explicitly what you are looking for, then you may be left dissapointed.
- Not a great deal of international cuisine.I enjoyed the local food, but don't expect too great of a variety apart from some burgers and Italian.
- Really cold in winter.Bitterly, bitterly cold. Even in March, it was prohibitively cold.
- No remote worker community.Very high chance that you may be the only person in town working remotely from there.
Tips
- Arrive after April.Whilst the snow makes it an incredibly scenic backdrop, it hampers your ability to properly enjoy hiking the mountains.
- It would be a great day trip from Skopje.There's no real reason to spend more than a couple of days here unless you're looking for some form of retreat and isolation.
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