Rental car parked at a viewpoint above Skadar Lake
Montenegro Travel
A Montenegro Road Trip That Includes Skadar Lake
The country is small and the roads are slow. Here is a loop that works, with the lake in the right position.
Kotor to Skadar Lake: Planning the Long Day
1 h 15 min to Virpazar · Best for: Travellers based in the bay who want mountains, lake and coast in one loop
Kotor bay and old town from the fortress trail
Kotor to Skadar Lake is the longest of the common day trips at about seventy-five minutes each way, and the one that most rewards leaving early. Take the Lovćen serpentine and Cetinje on the way out and the drive itself becomes half the attraction.
Things to do
- Drive the Kotor serpentine at dawn — 25 hairpins, empty road, the best view in Montenegro.
- Stop in Cetinje for the old capital and the monastery.
- Descend to Rijeka Crnojevića for the meander viewpoint in morning light.
- Boat from Virpazar in the afternoon, return via the coast road.
Getting to Skadar Lake
- Fast route: Budva and the Sozina tunnel, about 1 h 15 min.
- Scenic route: Lovćen and Cetinje, about 1 h 40 min and worth every extra minute.
- Organised tours run daily from Kotor in season, typically €50–70.
Day trips
- Lovćen, Cetinje, Rijeka Crnojevića and Virpazar as a single loop.
- Virpazar boat plus Crmnica wine tasting.
- Overnight at the lake and return via Budva the next day — the version we recommend.
FAQ
Can you do Skadar Lake as a day trip from Kotor?
Yes, though it is a long day at about 1 h 15 min each way. Leave by 07:00 and take the Lovćen–Cetinje route out.
What is the most scenic route from Kotor to Skadar Lake?
The Kotor serpentine to Lovćen, then Cetinje and down to Rijeka Crnojevića — roughly 25 minutes longer and vastly better.
Related guides
Day trippers walking the Virpazar waterfront
Montenegro Travel
Skadar Lake Day Trip from Budva, Kotor, Bar or Podgorica
It works from anywhere on the coast — if you leave earlier than you want to. The hour-by-hour plan.
The famous river meander viewpoint above Rijeka Crnojevica
Skadar Lake
Rijeka Crnojevića: The Meander, the Village and the Viewpoint
The most photographed bend of water in Montenegro, a nineteenth-century bridge, and eleven residents.