MONTENEGRO FAMILY GUIDE
The Black Lake aka Crno Jezero is an undiscovered beauty of Europe, tucked away in the North of Montenegro. Visiting here was a magical experience but there were some things I wished we’d known before we went. So here is our guide to The Black Lake Durmitor National Park. Including, what to do, things we wished we knew before going and kid tips to enjoy your visit as a family.
When researching this area, there weren’t too many other blog posts and none I could find from a mum’s point of view, so this is a must-read before you go. Especially if you have kids.
We visited The Black Lake and the Durmitor National Park in April 2024 as part of our two-week family trip to Montenegro. Our boys were 4 years old and 14 months old at this time.
Surprisingly, we woke up to snow on our first day there, which made the views even more spectacular.
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It is possible to visit here as a day trip from Kotor. I’ve linked an option below, which in my opinion, is a real bargain. The trip is 13 hours and a lot of driving, personally, I wouldn’t do this with little kids but as a couple / solo traveller. It would be great!
GETTING TO THE BLACK LAKE DURMITOR NATIONAL PARK
The best place to stay is the small town of Zablajak. Here, there is a large supermarket and restaurant options. There is also a cute playground. Realistically, you need a car to explore North Montenegro as public transport is extremely limited.
The Park is a less than 10-minute drive from Zablajak. You can park in the car park and will then need to walk to the lake. Entry to the park costs €5 each for adults and parking is €2, cash only!
Kid Tip: Entry is free for them!
THE BLACK LAKE / CRNO JEZERO
The walk down to the lake is short, less than 15 minutes and easy. It’s a wide tarmacked path, perfect for pushchairs (strollers) or wheelchairs. The view is simply beautiful. I do not know why it’s called the black lake because the water is brilliant blue.
Kid Tip: You will pass a playground on the way from the car park to the lake.
We left the pushchair at the top and walked down to the water’s edge. When we arrived in the morning, it was quite quiet and peaceful. It was much busier when we left but still not too crowded.
There is a large cafe/ restaurant where we stopped for a drink and snack before heading round the lake.
HIKING THE BLACK LAKE DURMITOR NATIONAL PARK
I’d read that the walk round the lake was easy, although not suitable for pushchairs as there are some steps. It is NOT an easy walk. It’s a hike and in some places, you are almost climbing. The steps are huge steps, my 4-year-old was barely tall enough to get his leg up them. I wish I had taken a photo but I was carrying our 1-year-old and clinging on to the rope with my free hand.
I’ll be the first to admit, I’m a city girl, not a hiker, but my husband loves the outdoors and even he had to agree, it was a bit much with little kids. Below are images of the path where it’s easier.
Overall the walk took us somewhere between 2 – 3 hours.
I’m glad we did this but I wish we’d been more prepared. Don’t be like me, wear appropriate shoes and clothing. The path is sharp and rocky and I was wearing ballet pumps!
Kid Tip: it’s a long way for little kids to walk. My 4-year-old did extremely well. If you have a younger child you may want to consider bringing a carrier for them. I have this one for Jaxon which I think is great and it saved my back on this trip. It’s lightweight and easy to pack. However, you would probably be better off with a backpack-style one.
There are many places to stop and admire the views around the lake but make sure that you take plenty of drinks and snacks if you need them as there is nowhere to purchase these until you get back to the cafe at the end.
Below are some photos from around the lake.
We had a great time here and these photos are beautiful family memories however, this walk was hard work with kids. In my honest opinion, if you are not prepared for a hike, just go to the lake and see it, don’t try to go around it!
Thank you so much for reading this guide to the Black Lake Durmitor National Park. I hope it has been useful to you and has helped you plan your trip.
We had so much great information to share about Montenegro.
READ ALL OUR MONTENEGRO GUIDES HERE.
Happy Exploring,
