Ohrid

Often hailed as the Jerusalem of the Balkans, legend has it that Ohrid once boasted 365 chapels; a new worshipping spot for every day of the year. Only a small fraction of those remains. They're knitted together by the serpentine streets of the centre, occasionally rising on a bluff, other times tucked into a shadowy alley. The importance of some can't be overstated – the Church of Saint Sophia, for example, is considered one of the great treasures of Macedonian Orthodoxy.

The warmer months breathe life into the city like you wouldn't believe. Much of it is driven by the acclaimed Ohrid Summer Festival that runs from July to August. It's a prestigious stage for some of Europe's greatest classical musicians and it fills the streets (and the hotels) with culture vultures. That's not it, though. Greater Lake Ohrid is a top summer draw for North Macedonians eager to cool off. It has its own hotels that recall the Italian riviera and pebbly beaches in charming resort towns like Trpjeca. There are also hiking trails in abundance throughout the surrounding mountains if you're feeling a touch energetic.