Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia 

While I’d advise travelers to pass on the capital Skopje, you shouldn’t miss gorgeous Lake Ohrid on North Macedonia’s western border with Albania.  Advertised as one of Europe’s oldest and deepest lakes, its pristine water comes from the surrounding snowcapped Albanian Alps, and vistas on a clear day rival anything you’ll see in Switzerland.  A UNESCO World Heritage site, this remote part of Macedonia feels genuine and untouched by European travel hoards. In the lake’s gateway, Ohrid City, we found influences from the Greeks, Venetians, Ottomans, and Soviets.  Plenty of great food, local hospitality, and value for the buck, however, EU restrictions on fishing in the name of conservation made for a lack of fish in local restaurants.  It’s not easy to travel to Lake Ohrid, but worth the effort once there.