Lake Skadar
Montenegro · 5 m
Description
Lake Skadar (Skadarsko jezero) is the largest lake in the Balkans, shared with Albania and held on the Montenegrin side as a national park. Reed beds and water lilies fill the shallows, and the birdlife includes one of Europe's last colonies of Dalmatian pelican. Boats leave the village of Virpazar for the open water, the island monasteries of Beška and Starčevo, and the ruined island prison of Grmožur. A road climbs the northern shore to viewpoints above the Rijeka Crnojevića meander. Vineyards behind the villages make the red Vranac, and the railway from Bar to Podgorica runs along the lake.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 3 days (optimal 2 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: May – September
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Boat trip from Virpazar onto the lake
- Water lilies covering the shallows (approx. June - July)
- Virpazar village and its causeway
- Dalmatian pelicans and the lake birdlife
- Beška and Starčevo island monasteries
- Grmožur island fortress
- Rijeka Crnojevića and its old bridge
- Pavlova Strana viewpoint over the meander
- Vranac wine from the Crmnica villages
- Murići beach on the southern shore
- Kayaking among the reed channels
- Lake crossing on the Bar to Podgorica railway
Getting there
- Airports:
- TGD
- Train stations:
- Virpazar