How to Camp in Ohrid

Ohrid, Macedonia

Ohrid, Macedonia, is an ancient city on the border of a deep blue lake surrounded by steep mountains. The town holds a special place in Macedonian history. Ohrid has existed since ancient Macedonia in the 4th century BC, and it is the site of the first Slavic university, founded in the 9th century. In addition to its historical importance, Ohrid has great natural beauty. Lake Ohrid, one of the oldest and deepest lakes in the world, is here and the border of Galicica National Park is only a mile from the town. Campgrounds are located along the shores of Lake Ohrid, south of the town.

Instructions

1. Pack for camping. Decide whether you want to camp in an RV or tent. The campsites near Ohrid have trailers for rent, so you will not need to bring camping supplies if you plan to stay in a trailer. If you choose to tent camp, pack a tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad.

2. Fly into Ohrid St. Paul the Apostle Airport if coming from the United States or another foreign country. While this airport does not have direct flights to the U.S., it is more convenient than flying into the capital of Skopje and transferring to a bus. Airline connections to Ohrid are available through Vienna, Amsterdam, Zurich and Dusseldorf.

3. Pass through customs and immigration at Ohrid's airport. If you are a U.S. citizen, or from an E.U. country, and you are staying for less than 90 days, you will not need a visa to enter Macedonia.

4. Select your campground. Lake Ohrid has three main campgrounds on its shores. Elesec, the closest to the town of Ohrid is six miles away, Gradiste is 12 miles away and Ljubanista is 18 miles away. None of these campgrounds have online or phone reservations available from overseas. Since each campground has room for several hundred people, choosing your campground on the day of your arrival should not pose a problem.

5. Hire a taxi at the airport. Taxi rates are rarely metered, so make sure that you agree upon a price with the driver before going anywhere. Taxi drivers will often try to overcharge tourists. Haggling for a price is acceptable.

6. Instruct your driver to take you to the Elesec, Gradiste or Ljubanista campground. All three are on the road to Sveti Naum south of the main town of Ohrid.

7. Select the campsite or trailer that you prefer and pay for it in advance.

References

• Lonely Plante: Introducing Ohrid
• Lonely Planet: Getting There & Away
• Ohrid: Accomodation and Food