Looking for inspiration on how to fill that three-month break? We asked current and former students what they did last summer
Macedonia
Galicica national park
Although Skopje, the underwhelming capital of Macedonia offers little to non-historians, the country's most popular destination, Lake Ohrid, is just hours away. When those hours are spent speeding through the majestic and rugged countryside by train, the ethereal folk songs of local women ringing in your ears, the journey is hard to forget. This Unesco world heritage site caters to all tastes and moods; spend a slow day lakeside pretending not to be impressed by the religious tolerance and harmony on display with mosques and churches strewn throughout the town and try not to salivate while tucking into the ubiquitous kebapi (kebab), which may whet your appetite for a night of intoxication. Climb aboard a boat party with the only other guests here – hedonistic Bulgarian and Albanians – and take in the stunning backdrop of the Galicica national park as it fades to black with another perfect sunset.
• For convenience and price Villa Old Town (ohrid.com/villas/villa-old-town.html), with English-speaking, relaxed staff, offers a sound deal at €20 for a double room
Adam Barr, Cardiff undergraduate and contributor to student magazine Quench
