Pogradec is located on the shores of Albania’s incredibly beautiful and pristine Lake Ohrid. The picturesque mountain backdrop makes this city well worth visiting, especially during winter after a snowfall. Pogradec Christmas Market is a small event that is increasingly popular with locals.
During summer, most of the attractions in Pogradec revolve around outdoor activities and Lake Ohrid. But during the winter months, the nearby mountains offer great skiing and snowboarding opportunities. You can still take a trip on the lake in December, but you might need to organise a private boat tour.
While you’re in the area, I recommend crossing the border into North Macedonia. Here you can visit the town of Ohrid, a bustling town with great bars and restaurants and plenty of historic sights worth visiting.
Pogradec Christmas Market 2022
The Christmas markets in Pogradec are small but cosy. It’s mostly locals visiting, but you’ll see a few tourists around, particularly from elsewhere in the region.
Walk along the main boulevard to see the Christmas lights and the decorated tree, and enjoy some of the local food, snacks and warm drinks.
Dates and Location
Pogradec Christmas Market dates: Waiting for 2022 dates.
Opening times: 10am to 7pm.
Location: Bulevardi Europa near the lake.
Reason to visit: The beautiful location on the shores of Lake Ohrid. A great chance for a white Christmas.
Specialties: Local wine of Buti, perla and moskat raki (strong alchohol), tavë korani (a baked dish).
Where to stay: Hotel Hymeti’s Palace is a central hotel, located 3-minutes from the Christmas market.
Hotels near Pogradec Christmas Market
Pogradec is a safe, walkable city on the Albanian side of Lake Ohrid. I’d recommend staying close to the lake near Sheshi Odeoni, the main waterfront square. This area has some nice cafes, restaurants, and incredible water views.
I suggest staying at Hotel Hymeti’s Palace as it’s located on the main boulevard where the Christmas markets are located and it’s only a few steps away from the lake.
Location of Pogradec Christmas Market
Research where else you might like to go with my Albania Christmas markets guide. Discover beautiful destinations, things to do and the best ways to experience Albanian food, history, and culture.
Albania tourism has some information on things to do in Pogradec and how to get there. They also have some limited details on ways to experience Pogradec at Christmas.
Sustainable Travel Tips
The choices we make have an environmental and social impact on the places we visit. Try to implement these responsible travel measures when visiting the Christmas markets.
- Shop mindfully. Only purchase what you really need.
- Walk, cycle, and use public transport to get around.
- Stay in a sustainable hotel powered by renewable energy.
- Avoid using plastic or buying items made or packaged with plastic.
- Try to eat locally sourced organic food where possible.
- Limit your consumption of meat and dairy.
- Explore more than just the main tourist areas.
- Support the arts and attend local events.
If you would like to leave a review of Pogradec Xmas Market, feel free to comment below.
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Recommendations are independently chosen based on personal travel experiences and extensive research. This post contains affiliate links to hotels and tours in Pogradec, Albania. This means I get a small commission from any bookings at no extra cost to you.
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