Abstract Essential oil of Achillea chrysocoma Friv. was investigated for composition and antibacterial activity. Twenty-eight identified compounds constituted 91.5% of the oil. The main compounds of the oil were borneol (10.1%), terpinen-4-ol (9.2%), cis-p-menth-2-en-1-ol (8.2%) and trans-p-menth-2-en-1-ol (7.9%). Antibacterial tests showed pronounced activity of the oil against Gram-negative bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.