'Underrated' hidden gem spot has secret beaches that's perfect on a budget

Taking a holiday presents a marvellous chance to escape your everyday duties and enjoy yourself. You might have favourite destinations you adore returning to, discovering fresh locations and experiencing diverse cultures proves endlessly captivating. And while tourist hotspotsfeature on countless bucket lists, stunning hidden treasures often go unnoticed.

This "underrated" destination brims with adventure, heritage, coastlines and won't break the bank. This gorgeous location is Ohrid, situated in North Macedonia within the Balkans.

The city boasts an extraordinary lake dating back 3 to 5 million years, so vast that visitors frequently confuse it with the ocean. Travellers can hire kayaks to paddle out and discover the waters themselves or arrange guided boat excursions.

Along the shoreline, cobbled pathways wind between vine-draped structures, stone archways and boutiques offering traditional jewellery. Tourists can explore ancient fortresses, churches and monasteries before sampling regional delicacies at family-owned tavernas.

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Em, who delights in sharing her finestbudget travel advice online and commands over 103,000 TikTok followers, cannot praise the destination highly enough after being wonderfully surprised during a recent trip.

The globetrotting enthusiast, who has explored 12 nations this year, declared: "This is the number one place you need to visit before it gets busy, if you want a relaxed and chilled out holiday with stunning scenery but you're also on a budget then skip Spain or Greece and come here instead."

She revealed: "This is one of Europe's least visited countries but I'm not sure why to be honest. It's one of the most underrated places I've ever been. It's set on a stunning lake which has loads of cute, hidden beaches and it's perfect for wild swimming plus it's meant to have healing properties."

She also mentioned that there's plenty to do in the town without it feeling overly crowded. She even spotted a fortress with breathtaking views.

Another reason Em adored Ohrid was its affordability. She pointed out: "Accomodation is really affordable. I stayed in a lovely hostel for around £10 or you can easily find nice Airbnbs for around £20 a night. The food and drink is also delicious and super cheap.

"I got a cappuccino from this cafe with an outside terrace on the lake for £1.80 and the whole place to myself."

"Been coming here for years, it's my favourite place," one person commented on Em's post. "This looks/sounds incredible," chimed in another.

One other said: "Was in Macedonia in July, loved it, fabulous food, drink etc. The people are so so friendly, and very safe to visit."

Another added: "Ohrid it's a beautiful place to visit. St. Naum also, near Ohrid, a place with gorgeous views, old churches."

Another remarked: "Just spent a fortnight in Macedonia, stayed in Sveti Stefan just outside of Ohrid. Loved Macedonia and the people. Really want to go back when I can, Skopje looks great."

How to get there

At present, TUI remains the sole airline offering direct flights to Ohrid, with September typically being the most affordable month for travel.

According to Skyscanner: "£84 is currently the cheapest price for a round-trip flight to Ohrid Airport. For a one-way plane ticket to OHD, the lowest fare is £46."

Getting from Ohrid Airport to the city centre is straightforward via taxi or private transfer, usually taking about 15 minutes, though no public bus service operates between the two locations.