When exploring Montenegro with kids, people often stick to the Kotor Bay and skip places such as Lake Skadar. I’m so pleased we made the journey here. Lake Skadar (or Lake Shkodra) is one of the real wonders of Montenegro. Our Skadar Lake boat tour was one of the highlights of our trip, and I would highly recommend it.
In this post, we’ll be telling you everything you need to know about taking a boat trip on the Skadar Lake, Montenegro, including how to book, what to expect and some tips to enjoy it with kids, so read on!
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
FULL GUIDE TO VIRPAZAR & LAKE SKADAR
A PERFECT MONTENEGRO ITINERARY
TIPS FOR VISITING MONTENEGRO
OR READ ABOUT OTHER PLACES IN MONTENEGRO WE VISITED:
TIVAT – KOTOR – BUDVA – NIKSIC – TARA CANYON – DURMITOR NATIONAL PARK – ZABLJAK
Disclaimer: This post contains some affiliate links. If you shop through one of my links, I may earn a small commission. There is no additional cost to you, and these commissions help me to run my blog!
How to Choose the Best Skadar Lake Boat Tour
There are many different tour companies you can choose from, so how do you know which is the best Skadar Lake boat tour to choose?
I love going by a personal recommendation, Kingfisher Tours was recommended to us by our Airbnb host. I’m so pleased we took their advice; they were a great company, and I’m now happy to pass on the recommendation.
This is not a sponsored post; we purchased these tickets with our own money, and I have no obligation to share them here! We genuinely had a great experience, and this is an honest review of our Lake Skadar Boat trip with Kingfisher tours.
Kingfisher has 8 tours available on TripAdvisor, ranging from 1 – 6 hours. We chose a 2-hour tour as we’re exploring Montenegro as a family and felt a 4 + hour trip would be too long, but one hour is not long enough.
The two-hour tour costs just €15 + a €5 entrance fee to the National Park. The kids got to travel for free. This was such good value for money and even included a glass of wine for the grown-ups!
All the tour providers, including Kingfisher, have pop-up stands by the lake, offering you more information and selling tickets. Or you can book online. Note: the €5 National Park entrance fee has to be paid in cash just before you depart.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK OUR EXACT SKADAR LAKE BOAT TOUR
Where to Stay Near Lake Skadar, Montenegro
The best place to stay to explore the Skadar Lake is Virpazar. Virpazar is the tiny (but still the largest) town that borders the lake. This is also the town where all the boat tours depart. If you stay right in the centre, you’ll be able to walk to the lake; anywhere else you’ll need to drive, as it’s a hill on a main road.
Good to Know Before You Go on a Skadar Lake Boat Tour
Skadar Lake Boat Tour Tickets
We booked our tour online. Tickets were just £13/ €15 for adults and the kids were free. This is an absolute bargain price, especially as it includes a glass of wine! You also need to pay an entrance fee to the National Park, which is €5 for each adult and is given in cash at the start of the tour.
You can buy tickets directly from the tour stands by the lake; however, if you’re visiting in peak season, I would book online to avoid disappointment. I always use a company such a Get Your Guide as they offer free cancellations.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR TICKETS.
Is There Parking?
Yes, there is free parking available in Virpazar; however, it does get busy, so allow extra time to find a spot. As the town is really only one road, you will find parking easily!
What to Bring on Your Boat Tour
I would highly recommend bringing binoculars, especially if you’re a bird lover. There are lots of birds to see, including pelicans. I got these binoculars for our 4-year-old, and those and his camera kept him entertained throughout the experience. Luckily, he let me borrow them a couple of times!
It can get windy when you’re out on the lake, so I’d also recommend a jumper or jacket, especially for little ones.
If you’re doing a Skadar Lake boat tour with kids, as usual, you should bring whatever drinks and snacks you and your kids need.
Our Lake Skadar Boat Tour Review & What to Expect
The tour departs from Virpazar in a traditional wooden boat. The boat is shared with other passengers, but it is very spacious.
You sail out onto the lake and see the most beautiful, scenic mountain views. Where you’re treated to a glass of wine. You’ll also pass an old fortress and through a huge sea of beautiful lilies. Unfortunately, they hadn’t quite bloomed yet, but imagine this all golden with the beautiful flowers. There are also lots of birds you can spot as you sail.
Our guide was great, telling us lots of interesting facts about the area and pointing out birds along the way. Overall, the tour is approximately 3 hours long, but it went very quickly.
The scenery on this tour is stunning; it looks beautiful in photos but is even more impressive in person. Even for us, travelling with kids, it felt very tranquil and relaxing. This was a great experience!
Is a Skadar Lake Boat Tour Suitable for Kids?
Absolutely! This is truly an activity you can enjoy as a family, as a couple or even as a solo traveller. On our Lake Skadar boat trip, there was another family with a little girl, which was nice.
All the children loved sitting on the flat wooden front of the boat, as if they were the captains. Of course, make sure to supervise them as there is no railing.
Freddie (aged 4 years old) was overjoyed when the captain asked if he wanted to drive the boat! It was one of the highlights of the trip.
A couple of final tips for families touring with kids: taking snacks, kid-friendly binoculars, and a camera was all the entertainment they needed, but you could pack some additional things just in case. Finally, there are no toilets on board, so make sure to go beforehand.
Thank you for reading our Lake Skadar boat tour review. I hope you add it to your Montenegro itinerary and you enjoy this excursion as much as we did!
AGAIN, THE BOAT TOUR WE DID IS LINKED HERE
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
FULL GUIDE TO VIRPAZAR & LAKE SKADAR
A PERFECT MONTENEGRO ITINERARY
TIPS FOR VISITING MONTENEGRO
OR READ ABOUT OTHER PLACES IN MONTENEGRO WE VISITED:
TIVAT – KOTOR – BUDVA – NIKSIC – TARA CANYON – DURMITOR NATIONAL PARK – ZABLJAK
Happy Exploring,
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