Camping Lakeside

You could laze around the lake for days when here, but if you do manage to rouse energy levels there’s a fair bit to get stuck into nearby. Stroll along to local village Kalista first, then wander the four and a half kilometres or so to get to Struga, a peaceful place home to a 13th-century church, riverside beaches and the biggest poetry event in the world at Struga Poetry Evenings. In the opposite direction from Kalista, it’s just over a kilometre’s walk alongside the lake to reach the 16th-century Monastery of Kališta. The biggest settlement on the lake is Ohrid 25 minutes’ drive away, a handsome waterside city that’s been nicknamed the Jerusalem of the Balkans as it was once said to have 365 churches, one for every day. As well as dozens of churches still standing, sights to see include the Robevi family house and archaeological museum (a must for its Ottoman structure) and the Ancient Theatre of Ohrid, the only ancient Greek theatre in Macedonia. The third town on the lake is Pogradec (40 minutes) over the border in Albania: head here for hill hiking, Pogradec Castle, dozens of cultural monuments and regular festivals. Hotel Izgrev Aqua Park and spa is a kilometre away.