The Best, Safe and Cheap Place To Visit In Europe

Let me tell you of a place hardly known to most. It is a city in a small country, somewhere in the Western Balkans. A place of astonishing beauty and cultural wealth. A place that, for now, is mostly frequented by locals and diasporans. A place where you can have a swim without having to endure hordes of drunks singing their favourite Schlager tunes. This place is Ohrid, Macedonia:

I was in Ohrid a few years ago and its beauty blew my away. It has a somewhat Mediterranean flair, even though its tucked away in a mountain range far from the sea. But there’s also a distinct Ottoman ambient, thanks to the many carefully restored buildings of that time:

You can easily take a swim in the lake and relax at one of its beaches. You can go ride a bike along the shore or take a hike in one of the national parks that surround Ohrid. The shores of the laked are dotted with mountains and century-old forests that appear as if no one had ever set foot in them.

Ohrid has also got some stunning Orthodox architecture which will satisfy your need for cultural sights. Also, check out that castle on a hilltop. Gorgeous view of Lake Ohrid and the city guaranteed.

Plus, the restaurants there sell some of the best Cevapcici in the region…

Ohrid is stunningly beautiful, reasonably cheap, has great cultural offerings, is easy to reach thanks to a nearby airport and is definitely not something you’ll come across every day. Have fun!

Also, as for safety..there have been troubles in Macedonia but the city of Ohrid is far away from the hotspots. There’s as much (or little) crime as in most other Western European cities of its size. It is also a place where you don’t need a car, you can easily walk around to get to most places.