Ohrid on Flat Paths: Handicrafts, Culture, and a Unique Experience｜North Macedonia

Begin your tour at the famous Old Chinar Tree, one of the oldest landmarks in Ohrid and a traditional meeting point for locals for centuries. From here, enter the Old Turkish Bazaar, the heart of trade and craftsmanship during the Ottoman period and still an active part of city life today.

Make your first stop at a leather workshop, where you’ll learn about leather processing and traditional products. Leather work is one of the oldest surviving crafts in Ohrid and remains active to this day, preserving techniques passed down through generations.

Continue through the bazaar to explore other living crafts, including a short presentation of copper products, where you’ll learn about traditional methods of shaping and decorating copper by hand. As you walk along the main bazaar street, hear about the history of the old traditional shops and warehouses (magazi), around twelve of which still exist in this area, each with its own story and role in the city’s commercial past.

Next, visit the Filigree and Macedonian Ruby Museum, where you’ll discover the delicate art of filigree jewelry made from thin silver wire. The presentation also includes the unique Macedonian ruby, a precious stone deeply connected to local tradition and identity.

Continue through the bazaar toward the main city square, where your guide will provide an introduction to the city’s history and an overview of the Old Town and its importance throughout different historical periods.

From the square, enter the Old Town, with a stop at a traditional Ohrid pearl workshop. Here, learn about the century-old family tradition behind the famous Ohrid pearl, produced using a secret technique preserved for nearly 100 years.

Walking through the narrow streets of the Old Town, pass by Dolna Porta, the former lower city gate, and continue past historic churches and museums, including the Robevci Family House Museum, one of the finest examples of traditional Ohrid architecture.

Proceed to the Museum of Handmade Paper, where you’ll experience a live demonstration of paper-making using ancient techniques and see an authentic Gutenberg printing press over 170 years old, still functioning today.

After the presentation, continue toward the Church of St. Sophia, one of Ohrid’s most important medieval monuments. Along the way, hear stories about the city’s history, culture, and traditions that shaped Ohrid into a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Conclude your tour with a relaxed walk back to the main square of Ohrid, leaving with a complete understanding of the city’s craftsmanship, traditions, and living history.