Montenegro
The best of Montenegro
Skadar Lake
Skadar Lake
4.7
(562 reviews)
About
Lake Skadar, the largest lake in the Balkans, spans between Montenegro and Albania, with two-thirds of its body in Montenegro. Known for its stunning beauty and rich biodiversity, it is a haven for nature lovers and birdwatchers
Insider Tips
The lake is carpeted with white and yellow water lilies, reeds, willows, and edible water chestnuts. It is also home to over 280 bird species, including a quarter of the world's population of pygmy cormorants and the rare Dalmatian pelican, making it one of Europe's most important wetland bird habitats. You will occasionally spot tortoises, otters, foxes, weasels, moles and groundhogs
The small fishing village of Virpazar is the main gateway to the lake, especially in the tourist season. It offers the best range of places to eat and sleep around the lake. As a prime wine-producing region, you will also find many family-owned, boutique wineries offering tastings around the lake
Did you know?
The lake has been settled by people for centuries, being part of the Slav kingdom of Zeta until it was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in the 13th Century, with the Montenegrins holding onto Žabljak Crnojevića and engaging in skirmishes around the lake until the Turks were finally defeated