Lake Ohrid Sees a Record Summer Season in 2026 — Hoteliers Report 'Highest Visitor Numbers in Years'

Lake Ohrid is having one of its strongest tourist seasons in a decade this summer. Hoteliers and private accommodation owners in Ohrid, Struga and the surrounding areas say capacity was near-full throughout July and into early August, with a noticeably higher number of visitors from the region — Serbia, Kosovo, Albania — alongside a steady rise in visitors from Poland, Czechia and the Baltic states, who have increasingly discovered Ohrid in recent years as an alternative to better-known, pricier Adriatic destinations.

Why visitor numbers are rising

Local hospitality operators link the growth to several factors: improved air connectivity through Skopje Airport, where Wizz Air expanded both destinations and flight frequency this year; growing interest in less "overtouristed" destinations following years of mass tourism in Europe's better-known coastal cities; and continued investment in the Ohrid lakefront and promenade.

The lake, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1979 for both its natural and cultural significance, remains a unique combination of natural beauty and rich historical heritage — from Plaošnik and the Church of St. Clement and Pantelejmon, to the old churches scattered across the surrounding hills and the old town itself.

The challenges behind the success

Local authorities have meanwhile announced additional steps to protect the lake — chiefly around wastewater treatment and controlling illegal construction along the shore, issues environmental organisations have flagged for years as critical to the lake ecosystem's long-term survival alongside the tourism boom.

For many local family businesses — fish restaurants, boat rental operators, small family-run guesthouses — this season means financial stability for the year ahead. According to several local hospitality operators, every successful season means the ability to invest in improving service for the following year, with continuity, not a one-off boom, being the key.

MKNews Hub · Travel · 2 August 2026