The Bar area lies between the Adriatic Coast and Lake Skadar. The region offers a variety of ways to spend time by the water, explore trails and discover cultural monuments. The examples below can help you choose a focus for your trip.

Activities at Lake Skadar

Licensed operators organise boat trips on Lake Skadar; boats depart from Virpazar, among other places. Lake Skadar National Park has nine marked hiking trails that you can explore independently with a map. Maps are available at the visitor centres in Virpazar and Vranjina. This gives you a choice of different ways to explore: an organised trip on the water or an independent hike with a map.

There are also several options for cyclists: the national park has five cycling routes and two mountain bike trails; the cycling routes start in Virpazar, among other places. When planning, you can therefore choose according to your preferred way of getting around. Birdwatching on Lake Skadar can be arranged from a boat or from the Stanaj observation tower. Registration is required at least one day in advance. If you want to plan a birdwatching trip, allow for this lead time.

Murićka Beach adds a beach option to the activities at the lake. It has visitor facilities and restaurants serving food from the Lake Skadar area. Alongside hiking, cycling and boat trips, you can therefore also choose a well-equipped beach and dining options.

Culture and history

King Nikola’s Palace was built by King Nikola in 1885, right on the seafront. The Local History Museum housed in the palace displays the most important archaeological finds from the area. The building’s history and the collection come together in one place. If you are planning a visit to the museum, check current visiting arrangements in advance.

Seasonal opening hours for visits to the Old Town of Stari Bar are listed as 8 am to 9 pm during the season and 8 am to 5 pm outside the season. Check the current schedule before your visit, as the hours may change seasonally.

Natural and cultural monuments also offer a range of historical and scenic points of interest across the region. The Old Olive Tree in Mirovica is one of the natural monuments in the Municipality of Bar. The Old Well of Ostros is 12 metres deep and was built in 1001, in the 11th century. Besac Fortress stands on a hill above Virpazar and offers views of Lake Skadar. Starčevo Monastery is located on Starčevo Island in the lake. The options therefore range from a natural monument and a historic well to a fortress with lake views and an island monastery.

Planning your stay

Road connections are also relevant for getting around the region: three major trunk roads run through the Municipality of Bar. These include the Ulcinj–Bar–Budva route and the Bar–Petrovac–Virpazar–Podgorica route. These connections provide a framework if you want to include different parts of the area in your plans.

When choosing a hotel in Bar, you can first decide whether activities at Lake Skadar, the beach option or cultural and historical sites are your main priority. The trails, boat trips and birdwatching differ in how they are organised; seasonal opening hours also matter when visiting Stari Bar. With these priorities in mind, you can focus your search on the kind of stay you have planned.

Discover more destinations: Bar, Sutomore, Dobra Voda, Šušanj, Mišići, Virpazar, Pečurice, Zupci, Tomba, Limljani, Bukovik, Miljevci, Gluhi Do, Čanj, Dupilo, Bartula.

For the main travel overview: Montenegro.