Skadar Lake National Park
The best time of the year to visit the Lake Skadar National Park is from May to October. This is when the lake’s flowers and plants transform the landscape into a lush and diverse ecosystem.
The Skadar Lake has been listed as a Ramsar Wetlands site since 1996, stressing its importance as a unique and abundant landscape. It is home to hundreds of species of wildlife including rare birds such as the Dalmatian Pelican and heron.
Lake Skadar is the largest lake in Southern Europe measuring 48 kilometers in length and 14 kilometers in width. It makes up the natural border between Albania and Montenegro and shares roughly the same surface area.
Many historical landmarks, island monasteries, and small authentic hamlets can be found in the area around the lake. It’s here where you can taste some of Montenegro’s freshest and most delicious food and wine.
Entrance Fee: 5,00€ per person
Tip: You can also buy the yearly National Parks of Montenegro Ticket that allows for unlimited entries to all five national parks at a price of just 13,50€.
Historical Context
In medieval times when the Balsic and Crnojevic dynasties ruled over Montenegro, their seat of power was on the shores of the Skadar Lake. Only when Ottoman forces advanced and captured the wetlands around the lake, did Ivan Crnojevic, set up a position in Cetinje.
Visitors today can still see some of the heritage sites dating back to the Middle Ages. Zabljak Crnojevica is a relatively well-preserved fortress atop a hill overlooking the national park. The fortress stems from the early 15th century and it was, believe it or not, the place where Crnojevic ruled over his tiny country.
source: Wikipedia
Zabljak Crnojevica finally fell under Turkish control in 1478 and remained so for the coming four centuries until 1878 when it was seceded to independent Montenegro by the decision of the Berlin Congress. If you look closely, you can still see the remains of an Ottoman-era bridge in the vicinity of the fortress.
photo: Anto
The 18th-century Lesendro fortress was built on an island in the border region between Montenegro and the Ottoman Empire. It served as a stronghold against attacking Turks but fell under their control in 1843 before it was liberated together with Zabjak Crnojevica in 1878.
Grmozur, the former ‘Montenegrin Alcatraz‘ was an infamous prison island used by King Nicholas to incarcerate the biggest criminals (and his political enemies). It was almost impossible to escape from there but somehow one prisoner managed the flight using a prison door to paddle to the shore.
Things To Do
Lake Skadar National Park is popular with visitors who love to explore unspoiled nature by boat or kayak. Due to its importance as a habitat and migratory corridor for more than 250 species of birds, it is a bird watchers’ paradise as well.
Boat Tour
The most popular activity in the national park is to take a panoramic boat trip with one of the local tour companies that you can find in Virpazar. Individual boat trips are most popular – the price for up to 5-6 people comes at a price of about 30€ per hour.
There are a couple of routes to choose from. The short route (2.5h) takes you from Virpazar to Grmozur Prison Island, then to the Saint Nicholas Monastery and back. Longer tours often include one of the island monasteries such as Kom and take upwards of 4 hours.
Rent a Kayak
You can rent kayaks either in Virpazar or Vranjina on the other side of the lake. The Falcon Boat & Kayak company in Virpazar is a reliable and honest rental company where you can get single and double kayaks to explore the beauty of the lake on your own. They will give you recommendations and route suggestions.
You will paddle past meadows of white and yellow water lilies, reeds, and the bird sanctuaries around the islands of Kamenik and Cakovica. Depending on the month of the year, you can potentially observe dozens of different bird species as you glide through the scenic lake.
Info: If you want to visit the northern marshy coast and Karuc or other traditional fishing villages and hamlets instead, it is better to book a private boat tour. The distance would be too long for most to cross on a kayak.
Bird Watching
Being a designated and renowned habitat for many species of birds, including the Dalmatian Pelican, Lake Skadar is the perfect destination for bird watching. If you are interested in that, you should start early in the morning. You can either rent a kayak or get a private tour by motorboat.
The Skadar Lake has three designated birch sanctuaries: Manastirska Tapija, Crni Zar, and Pancevo Oka. This is where you will find most of the birds, most notably the Dalmatian Pelican, the Glossy Ibis, and the Squacco Heron.
Info: The best time of the year for watching birds is from April to June and from September to October.
Fishing
Fishing is allowed in Skadar Lake but you would need to buy a rod fishing license in the national park’s visitor center in Virpazar or Vranjina first.
- One Day: 5,00€
- One Week: 20,00€
- One Year: 100,00€
In spring and summer, the fish population in the lake is at its peak. If you know what you are doing, you can expect to catch Common Carp, European Eel, and both the Lake & Rainbow Trout. There is also the Skadar Lake Bleak, an endemic species to the lake. It’s the easiest catch but they don’t get very big.
How deep is Lake Skadar?
The average depth of Lake Skadar is 4 – 6 meters.
Virpazar
Virpazar is an idyllic fishing village and tourist resort located on the shores of Lake Skadar. It counts roughly 300 residents and is the main settlement in the national park. It is also where the National Park Visitor Center is located. You can book lake cruises, rent kayaks, and buy fishing licenses in Virpazar.
The village itself is characterized by the medieval Besac Fortress that towers above the river delta and the dynamic communist revolutionary memorial. In Virpazar, you will also find a couple of restaurants, accommodation, and a supermarket.
Virpazar is the host of the annual Wine & Bleak Fest which is traditionally organized in February to celebrate the region’s culinary traditions. The endemic bleak fish is a local delicacy and pairs well with a light Crmnica Wine.
Restaurant Jezero
Besides bleak which is mostly served deep-fried, Virpazar is known for palatable smoked carp and smoked eel. Probably the best restaurant in Virpazar is the Restaurant Jezero which has a long tradition of serving fresh Montenegrin Cuisine and delicious local fish straight from the lake.
If you would like a recommendation, you can’t go wrong with the mixed fish antipasti and the smoked carp which is so soft that it melts in your mouth. Try one of the local wines from the Skadar Lake region.
Visit a Winery
Talking about wines, the sunny and mild climate in the region around Podgorica and Lake Skadar and its mineral-rich soils produce dark fruit flavors and gorgeous notes of Mediterranean scrub. If you are a wine connoisseur or just want to spend an afternoon or evening tasting a glass or two, visiting a local winery would be a good idea.
The Eco Resort & Winery Cermeniza is an intimate family-run winery where you can taste deliciously-prepared food with freshly-caught fish from the lake matched with amazing wines from their local vineyards. For the foremost experience, schedule a wine tasting plus dinner.
You should also consider staying overnight. The facility has a beautiful outdoor swimming pool, overlooking the breathtaking landscape. There is also a hot tub for colder days.
Visit a Monastery
There are dozens of ancient lake monasteries many of which are still inhabited by Orthodox monks. They belong to the oldest religious structures in Montenegro, highlighting the cultural importance of the Skadar Lake region.
Vranjina Monastery
Vranjina is the largest island on Lake Skadar (now connected via road and rail) and is not far from the Moraca River Delta. The Church of Saint Nicholas is the only one of the former three medieval churches that made up the Vranjina Monastery.
photo: Autor: Ribo Raicevic
The monastery was founded between 1221 and 1223 with the blessing of the first Serbian archbishop Saint Sava and served as the temporary seat of the Zeta Metropolitanate before Ivan Crnojevic moved it to Cetinje.
Woefully, the monastery has been destroyed several times by the Ottoman army who even erected a fortification on the same location. After Montenegro’s liberation from Turkish occupation, then-ruler Prince Nicholas restored one of the monastery churches, the one you can see today.
photo: Goran Cetkovic
The monastery church is simple but charming and has a beautiful interior. Being located at Vranjina Hill, the monastery overlooks the lake and the surrounding area. You can even see the Fortress Zabljak Crnojevic from the back side.
Tip: It’s most easily accessible by boat from Virpazar or Vranjina.
Beska Monastery
The Beska Monastery is probably the most picturesque of all the monasteries in and around Skadar Lake. It consists of the two churches of St. George (14th century) and the smaller St. Mary’s (15th century).
source: Bar Travel
Starcevo Monastery
The 14th-century Starcevo Monastery finds itself on a tiny islet on Lake Skadar. It was founded by an ascetic who used to live and survive on Starcevo Island. The monastery is still active and inhabited by monks, 700 years after its founding.
Moracnik Monastery
The Moracnik Monastery with the church dedicated to the Virgin Mary sits on a small piece of land close to Murici Beach and Beska Monastery in the southern part of the lake. It dates back to the early 15th century and was formerly surrounded by a stone wall and still features a tower with a chapel on top.
source: Bar Travel
Can you swim in Lake Skadar?
Being located within a National Park, Lake Skadar is exceptionally clean and it is possible to refresh yourself and swim in the lake. The biggest beach is Murici Beach which is close to the monasteries of Starcevo and Beska in the southern part of the lake. Murici Beach is made up of very small pebbles of a lighter shade.
source: Bar Travel
Pjesacac Beach is a hidden gem close to the rustic village of Godinje that not many people know of. It is only accessible by boat. From the beach, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Lake Skadar and opposing Grmozur Island.
Skadar Lake Hotels
Finding a good hotel on the shores of Skadar Lake is not an easy task. The former Hotel Vir is currently undergoing reconstruction and will not be able to host guests anytime before 2024. If you want to stay within a 15-minute distance of the lake, you would need to book private accommodation instead.
There are several good rural vacation rentals nearby. One such option is the Eco Resort & Winery Cermeniza which by and large is a lovely wine estate but also offers lodging.
Several excellent midsize and larger hotels can be found within a 30-minute driving radius in Petrovac and Podgorica.
How to get to the Skadar Lake?
Lake Skadar is accessible by car, bus, and train. The most convenient option, for the most part, is by car. Should you find yourself in Podgorica or Bar, you could also take the train. In any case, you need to get off at Virpazar.
By Bus
From Herceg Novi, Tivat, Kotor, and Budva you can take a bus to Petrovac and then change to a bus heading to Podgorica. Get off at Virpazar. From Ulcinj, Bar, and Podgorica you will have a direct route a couple of times per day.
By Train
Virpazar, the largest settlement in the Skadar Lake National Park is connected to Bar and Podgorica by rail. Trains depart a couple of times per day.
By Car
From Kotor and Tivat, you can reach Virpazar within 1,5 – 2 hours, depending on traffic. During peak season in July and August, it can take up to three hours. Coming from Budva, you will rarely have bad traffic and you can expect to be there within one hour. The ride to Podgorica takes half an hour on average.