Visit Lake Skadar National Park: Bookings & Rates

Are you planning to discover Montenegro? Enjoy it to visit the Skadar Lake National Park, one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe!

Skadar Lake is one of the five national parks in Montenegro. A magnificent place, it allows you to discover, during a cruise, a unique fauna and flora in Montenegro. This article lists all practical advice (visit period, rate, what to do...) to visit the Skadar Lake National Park.

Ready for the big trip? Follow the guide to discover one of the treasures of nature.

History of Skadar Skadar Lake National Park

Historians believe that Skadar Lake ( Skadarsko jezero ) is the place of the first human settlement in Montenegro. The first inhabitants are the Illyrians, before the region is part of the Roman and Byzantine empires. The first Slavs settled there in the 11th century and, in the 12th, the Serbs of the Nemanjić dynasty allow the region to leave the Byzantine Empire and become part of an independent Serbian state, called Zeta. The region was then conquered by the Ottomans in the 13th century.

The history of the lake is quite unknown until the Ottomans left in 1875. The Berlin Congress sets the border between Montenegro and Albania on Skadar Lake. The town of the same name, founded by the Slavs, is now part of Albania, which renames it Shkodër. The lake has always remained a strategic place. During the two World Wars, Skadar Lake is also the theatre of bitter battles. In 1983, the Yugoslavia created the Skadar Lake National Park to preserve its biodiversity.

Our advice to visit Skadar Lake National Park

Best times

Montenegro can be sunny all year round. However, flora is more beautiful in the spring and early summer.

• It is May to October that the weather will be the most pleasant.
• July and August, the temperature regularly exceeds 33°.
• For those who have the choice, we recommend visiting the Skadar Lake National Park June and September, months off tourist season, less hot than in July/August and with a guaranteed sun (or almost).

Concerning the schedule, morning is advised because this is the time when the sun is oriented to the west. The colors are even more beautiful! However, you can visit Skadar Lake National Park at any time and even in the evening. ♪ hours are more extended in summer only in winter.

The time of stay

The Skadar Lake National Park can be visited by means of a short cruise . It is therefore not necessary to stay on site. However, it is quite possible to rest there by setting up one or two days in Virpazar.

To take in his backpack

• Winter: A good coat!
• Summer: water and a hat.

What to see and what to do at Skadar Lake National Park?

The cruise on the lake

For many, the cruise will be your only activity in the park. Indeed, it allows to see the essentials, the boats follow all or almost the same circuit. The classic cruise lasts 2 hours with one or two stops, one of which is a swim spot in the summer. Small boats depart almost all from the fishing village of Virpazar. In general, there is no No more than ten people per boat.

Very quickly, we feel taken away by the natural beauty of the lake. Its green colors, its nenuphars, its birds... Visit the Skadar Lake National Park allows you to discover a beautiful nature reserve. The fans of ornithology will be delighted because there are many birds! It is also a very photogenic place and it is for this reason that the morning is advised. It is important to immortalize its most beautiful memories with the best possible light.

In view of the number of agencies, there is the embarrassment of choice. In general, the captain gives each person a bottle of water. There are several types of cruise, from classic to private towers. On boats, there can also be to eat, like local doughnuts ( Priganice ), and even wine! With moderation of course, especially summer!

Virpazar

This small village is a must-see, no matter if the visit lasts only a few hours, cruise included. Virpazar is the place where all agencies can visit Skadar Lake National Park. The village being tiny, it visits in only 15 minutes , including its old bridge that it is impossible to miss. However, it is a place for tranquillity in the evening and you can easily rest there by spending the night.

There are also many small restaurants, which are often linked to agencies. In general, it is a fixed menu (" meat menu or " fish menu " ) for 7 or 8€ , which is very affordable. For a little more expensive, you can even have lunch on a real boat, Silistrija ! Promised experience without sea damage since the boat does not sail.

The Fortress Besac

10 minutes walk, climbing, enough to reach the Besac fortress of Virpazar, built by the Ottomans in 1487. Used as a prison during the Second World War, it was recently restored by European funds.

If the building has nothing extraordinary in itself, it is the view of Virpazar and the lake that one does not forget! For barely 1€ It's worth it. The opening is at 10 a.m. and closure 6 p.m.

Pavlona Strana and the surroundings of the lake

Visiting Skadar Lake National Park without visiting Pavlona Strana is almost inconceivable! The view from Pavlona Strana is the most beautiful of the whole lake. The setting is beautiful and invites you to imagine, with this abandoned hotel facing this beautiful view. There are many monuments around the lake, such as monasteries, churches and old bricks. But it is complicated to find information about them and the best thing is to ask a local once on site.

Before you go to Pavlona Strana, it is important to know two things:

• On the one hand, it’s close toone hour drive Virpazar.
• On the other hand, the road is windy and difficult. In case of doubt, you must not hesitate to go there taxi. After negotiation, one return to 20€ since Virpazar is possible. The view is wonderful, so you should not stop at this small difficulty.

Diving to the discovery of Skanderberg

You can visit Skadar Lake with an original activity! In 1942, Montenegrin partisans flowed the Skandererg boat, which connects Rijeka crnojevica to Montenegro to Shkodër in Albania. The wreck, well preserved, still manages twelve meters deep.

To access it, it is necessary to register with the Pro Diving Montenegro agency located in Pržno. From this village, count 1 hour 30 until Karuč. From this village, a boat takes you in 10 minutes instead of diving, the latter during 40 minutes . Diving is really for enthusiasts because the fare is high: 150€ per person. The agency only organizes it at the customer’s request and if the conditions permit.

How much does a ticket cost to the Skadar Lake National Park?

To visit Skadar Lake National Park:

• Entry pays only when you are on a cruise and the amount is on 4€.
• By buying the ticket to Virpazar on the day of the visit, the cruise in itself usually costs 10€. Both tickets are separated.
• If, however, you want something more private, there are many guided tours on private boats. Prices can then climb up to 100€ per person. These prices seem very high but they often include transport from Kotor. Moreover, as it is a private visit, you can navigate the whole lake, especially where cruise ships do not go.

How to book an online ticket to visit Skadar Lake National Park?

• ♪ agencies do not sell tickets online and you can buy a ticket on the spot on day J.
• On the other hand, it is possible to pay a private trip on a third party website.

How do I access Skadar Lake National Park?

• Car: the national park being very wide, access depends on your itinerary. Virpazar and Pavlona Strana are 30 minutes away from Podgorica but the route is not the same. From Kotor, count 1 hour 30. Pavlona Strana is only accessible by car.
• Taxi: count about 20€ from Kotor, 10€ from Podgorica.
• Train: From Podgorica, you can get to Virpazar by train in 25 minutes. The prize challenges all competition (less than 2€) but, be warned, it is an old train, not really maintained, with smokers regularly inside! For the price, we accept. From Virpazar train station, you have to walk 800 meters to reach the village.
• Bus: for less 5€, it is possible to take a bus from several cities in Montenegro to reach Virpazar.

Where to stay near Skadar Lake National Park?

For those who want to do more than one day trip , the only place where you can stay is Virpazar. Very charming, this small fishing village has a lively heart of town. Indeed, you will find a small shaded square, typical restaurants, a fine grocery store and a tourist information point. For a small enchanted parenthesis, we recommend staying at least one night. Do not hesitate to consult Airbnb or Compare hotels to make an idea.