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What many visitors might not be aware of is that in Macedonia, it’s actually possible to visit beaches that are inside hotels, apartments, or even parks. One example is the beach inside Hotel Granit Ohrid.
A lot of beaches in Ohrid Macedonia are known and named after the hotels, companies, or apartments maintaining them. For example, “Golden Beach” which was formerly part of the series of beaches called Gorica got its name because Apartment Park Golden Beach built and developed itself in that area at some point. The same is true for Inex Olgica Beach.
Inex Olgica Beach was also formerly part of and known as “Gorica two.” But since Inex Olgica Hotel & Spa took over the area, the beach is now called “Inex Olgica Beach.” You can check a more detailed explanation in my previous post about Nemo Beach here.
How to Get to the Beach at Hotel Granit Ohrid?
It’s easy to miss the beach inside Hotel Granit Ohrid especially if you are not planning to check in at hotels near the beaches in Ohrid.
To visit the beach in Hotel Granit Ohrid, there is no need to check in at the hotel. And it’s possible to get to the beach by car, bus, or taxi.
By Car
Hotel Granit Ohrid is about five to seven kilometers away from Ohrid’s city center. It takes about 10 minutes by car to get there. When entering the premises, you need to pay 150 DEN for a full-day parking and you can go straight to the beach, choose a spot without needing to go inside the hotel for registration (unless you’re checking in).
By Bus
It’s not ideal to go to the beach at Hotel Granit Ohrid by bus. If you’re planning to do so, the closest bus stop would be Sv. Stefan.
From Ohrid’s city center, go to either of two of the bus stops near Gimnazija High School (Gymnasium), wait for a bus or a van, and pay the driver to get off at Sv. Stefan. You can check this post on how to catch buses and vans to Ohrid beaches in summer. Just make sure to read the disclaimer.
However, from Sv. Stefan, you have to walk 1.3km more to reach Hotel Granit. There is no special sidewalk for pedestrians to get to the place, so you’ll have to keep an eye out on the road as you’ll be sharing it with motorists.
By Taxi
Your next best option to get to the beach at Hotel Granit in Ohrid is to get a taxi. There are a number of taxi companies in Ohrid you can find on Facebook, or you can ask the reception of the place you’ll be staying at.
You can also catch a cab in Ohrid city centre. They might charge you a bit more than they should, so be sure to get on a cab that has a meter or negotiate on the price before taking one.
Uber, Grab, or other well-known mobility-service providers are not common nor popular in Macedonia.
What can you do on the Beach at Hotel Granit Ohrid?
One of the factors that makes the beach at Hotel Granit Ohrid stand out is its exclusivity. Since it’s inside Hotel Granit, it’s not easily advertised as one of the top beach destinations in Ohrid. Its inaccessibility to public transport (i.e. no bus stops nearby) is another factor that contributes to this exclusivity.
However, that’s also a good thing. It’s especially good for families who value privacy over anything else. The beach inside Hotel Granit Ohrid doesn’t get easily crowded, which makes it a great place to consider for your next beach trip.
Relax and Sunbathe
After you pay for the parking, the next thing you need to pay for is your space. You can either pay for sunbeds or sunshades (parasols). It costs about 100-150 DEN for the whole day.
You’ll see that the beach inside Hotel Granit Ohrid actually extends quite long and that it’s filled with sunbeds waiting to be occupied – everywhere you go.
Hotel Granit doesn’t play any loud music for beach goers. So if you’re expecting the partying vibe Nemo Beach or Gradiste Beach offers, you won’t find it there. Occasionally though, there is loud music coming from inside the hotel. Summer is Macedonia’s peak season for weddings or Christenings, so it’s possible that you’ll hear traditional music being played during noontime or afternoons.
Nonetheless, when there is no occasion, the beach has a very peaceful ambiance which makes it a great place to relax and sunbathe.
Water Activities & Sports
You don’t need to check in to be able to access some of the hotel’s facilities, water, or sports equipment. After you’ve chosen and paid for a spot, you can find that the beach has a lot to offer.
For starters, it’s possible to use the hotel’s pool which costs 400 DEN at the time of writing. The hotel also has equipment for people who are into water activities such as kayaks, paddle boats, and jet skis.
It’s also possible to use their facilities for tennis and ping pong for 500 DEN and 200 DEN for an hour, respectively.
Enjoy small meals
When it’s time for lunch, you’ll find that Hotel Granit Ohrid maintains a cafeteria under a series of pergolas covered in healthy plants. The ambiance is simple and beautiful, and the place is quite big and spacious so it never really feels crowded even when there are a lot of people.
The cafeteria offers only small meals though. When we checked out their menu, the only options were burger, toast, coffee, tea, fries, and ice cream.
So for anyone with a bigger appetite, it’s better to go inside the hotel to order a bigger meal or bring your own snacks or sandwiches because there aren’t any convenient stores in the area or within the beach.
Rating the Beach in Hotel Granit Ohrid
There’s so much to love about the ambiance at the beach in Hotel Granit Ohrid. Aside from the facilities and equipment you can rent out, there’s also a small playground parents can bring their kids to play at. Despite its great atmosphere, I’d only give them a two out of a five star experience. Why? Here are some of the things I noticed:
The first one is that their restroom is not very well-maintained. The locks of each cubicle are broken and the toilets are not flushed nor cleaned.
Finally, the cafeteria does provide a great ambiance, but they only provided it on one side of the beach. There are trees and well-trimmed plants by the entrance, but as you go further, it starts to diminish. The lack of greeneries (and sceneries like that of Ljubanista beach) in other parts of the beach makes it look a bit lifeless. The place can benefit from more consistent landscaping and gardening to improve its overall vibe.
