Best Small City in Europe, 2014
Winner : Ohrid, Macedonia
An incredibly easy choice. Let’s break it down, because Ohrid’s resume of attractions is stupendous. A mysterious three million year old lake fed by underground spring water. A compact city with a preserved history thousands of years old, including castles, historic churches, and monasteries. Great value accommodation. Developed tourist infrastructure. Range of restaurants, nightclubs, nature walks, lake-front cafes, all in an old town of winding streets paved with cobblestones and stunning Ottoman-era architecture. Friendly laid-back locals, seasonally good weather, swimming, snow-capped mountains, boat rides, roman amphitheaters, and plenty of day-trips. One of the very few places on Earth with two UNESCO listings – for both culture, and natural environment. Need I say more? I’m convinced that Ohrid is one of those rare places that really is for everyone. I liked it so much the first time around, I returned again – with some trepidation, wondering whether my own hype would live up to reality. It did. My travelling companions, who had just visited Lake Como in Italy, said “this is much better than Como”. So there you have it. Ohrid, Macedonia is the most clear winner on this entire list.
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