The most Jaw-Dropping Balkan Lakes
Do you love exploring vast open countryside, rugged mountains and peaceful lakes? (Who doesn’t, right?) Then the Balkans is the place for you. Some of the world’s most beautiful scenery is hidden in this lesser known part of the world. To get you started, we have put together a list of the most spectacular Balkan lakes.
Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia and Albania
Let’s begin with the oldest lake in Europe – and one of the oldest in the world – Lake Ohrid. Situated across the border of Albania and North Macedonia, Lake Ohrid is vast and beautiful.
The town of Ohrid is a popular summer spot for Balkan tourists and many enjoy swimming in the lake or relaxing by the shore. The water is warm in the summer and we really enjoyed a refreshing swim followed by an iced coffee at one of the bars on the shore. There are also many trails around the lake to explore.
The lake is 288m deep at the deepest point and is home to hundreds of different aquatic species. There were a lot of fish dancing around that could be seen from the surface of the crystal clear water.
We stayed in the Hotel Monastery Sveti Stefan which has an incredible view across the lake. You can book online through Air BnB and if you haven’t used Air BnB before, try this LINK to get £35 off you first trip!
Lake Shkoder, Albania and Montenegro
Staying in Albania, Lake Shkoder is situated in the north of the country and crosses the border to Montenegro. Shkoder is the largest lake in Southern Europe and covers an area of up to 600 km2 at its fullest.
The lake is named after the Albanian city of Shkoder which is one of the most ancient cities in the Balkans. However, most of the body of water lies in Montenegro.
While taking the bus from Tirana to Podgorica, there is an opportunity to stop in Shkoder and explore the beautiful surrounding mountains and view the incredible lake. It is also easy to do this as a day trip from Tirana, as long as you don’t mind the early start!
Lake Shkoder is also very close to Montenegro’s capital city, Podgorica. You can certainly catch a train from Podgorica to the village of Virpazar with relative ease and enjoy a day exploring this beautiful Balkan lake.
Lake Koman, Albania
This Albanian lake is a little different, but just as spectacular. Lake Koman, or Konami Lake, is a manmade lake in the Albanian Alps. It is often compared to the Fjords of Scandinavia because of the dramatic surrounding canyons.
The reservoir was completed as late as 1988 but is already home to many different species. These include otters, kingfishers and the Golden Jackal.
Lake Koman has a ferry service which is very popular with Balkan tourists. It runs between the towns of Koman and Fierza and for two and a half hours you can gaze at the dreamy green water and the rugged canyons.
Lake Leqinat, Kosovo
Just across the North Eastern Albanian border is Kosovo. A country often associated with war, its natural beauty is repeatedly overlooked. One of the most beautiful Balkan lakes is situated in the far west of Kosovo, just on the Montenegrin border.
Lake Leqinat is not the oldest, deepest or longest of the Balkan lakes, but it is super pretty! Surrounded by pine trees and rugged, rocky peaks, this lake sits up high at 1,970m.
Two nearby mountains are also popular with climbers. Leqinat at 2,341m and Guri i Kuq at 2,522m. The nearest village is Kuqishtë with a population of only 9 people (as recorded in 2011 but sadly it seems empty now).
The walk from the village to the lake takes around 3 – 4 hours depending on weather and how many stops you take. There is a nice restaurant called Te Liqeni on the way to the lake which you will see after about 45 minutes of walking. It’s a really friendly place with great views and will set you up nicely for the rest of the hike.
Popovo Lake Bulgaria
The hike to Popovo Lake in Pirin National Park, Bulgaria, is comparatively easy. This makes it a popular area for Bulgarians and visitors. Of the eleven Popovski Lakes, Popovo is the largest, and the second deepest in Bulgaria.
The lake is small but surrounded by steep, rocky mountains that reflect perfectly in the water on a calm day. It is a perfect spot to have a small picnic before setting off again. Just make sure you leave nothing behind and keep it beautiful.
Pirin National Park is a two hour drive from the popular skiing town of Bankso. There are many spectacular hikes in this region including the trail to Popovo Lake. It will take around 4 hours and you can find all the instructions HERE.
Plitvice Lakes Croatia
One of the most popular attractions in Croatia, Plitvice Lakes, has been granted UNESCO World Heritage status. The wildlife here is very special and includes deer, bears, wolves, boar and several rare bird species. There are 16 lakes in total within the national park and they are connected by a series of waterfalls over a distance of 8km.
The lakes are close to both Zadar and Zargreb. You can find instructions detailing how to get the lakes HERE.
It is a place of incredible natural beauty. However, the vast number of visitors means there is a steep entry fee to help with upkeep and protection of the area and its wildlife. Expect to pay €10.50 from January to March and November to December, €24 in April May and October and a whopping €40 from June to September.
Lake Bled, Slovenia
This must be one of the most photographed of all Balkan lakes. It is easy to see why! Lake Bled is situated in the Julian Alps in the North western area of Slovenia. It is surprisingly shallow, compared to other Balkan lakes, and has a maximum depth of 30m. Only a one hour drive from Ljubljana, it is a highly popular tourist attraction in the Balkans.
Bled Island lies in the middle of the lake where the iconic Church of the Assumption sits. The island is accessible by pletna which is similar to a gondola. This transport can be taken from the town of Bled on the shores of the lake. There is also an incredible castle in the town which sits at the top of a cliff overlooking the lake.
Zaovine Lake, Serbia
Zaovine Lake in the west of Serbia has been nicknamed the “Jewel of Tara”. Tara National Park is spread over 220km2 of mountains, forests, canyons and lakes. Zaovine Lake and Perućac Lake are within the park along with Tara Mountain. Both lakes are manmade but are a fisherman’s paradise. They are also great for water sports as the surface is still and vast.
There are a few chalets nearby so it is a great place to spend a night or two and enjoy the beautiful location. Tara National Park is near the border with Bosnia Herzegovina so it is also possible to visit from Sarajevo.
Trnovačko Lake, Montenegro
Montenegro is home to so many natural beauty spots. Many of the most breath-taking Balkan lakes are in this area. However, Trnovačko Lake is a little different. Located in the northwest of the country, near the border with Bosnia, this lake is not large but it is certainly perfectly formed.
The stunning mountain scenery surrounding the lake reflects flawlessly in its green blue water. And the best part, the shoreline marks out the perfect shape of a heart.
Trnovačko is a glacial lake that freezes during the winter and it sits at an altitude of 1517m. Mostar, Dubrovnik and Sarajevo are all about 2.5 hours by car. This lake is certainly off the beaten path and will take five to six hours of hiking from the town of Pluzine – itself a beautiful location. The hike is long but the reward is phenomenal.
The most Jaw-Dropping Balkan Lakes
The Balkans are much more accessible than you might think and are absolutely full of natural beauty. Travel between countries is easy and very cheap, however, public transport is not exactly efficient. But that’s all part of the fun! You don’t need to travel for weeks on end to see a good chunk of this beautiful part of the world. Check out our blog that shows you How to Make the Most of 8 Days in the Balkans.
Final note: Things change in the Balkans all the time and there is not much information online in English. We would definitely advise checking with a local where possible. We found people to be really friendly and super helpful.
Have you visited any Balkan countries? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!
Each and every one of them is breathtaking. The photos are awesome. I am surely bookmarking this for later. Thanks a ton for this post!
Every lake looks gorgeous; it is really difficult to pick out a favorite. All the photos look magical. I am surely bookmarking this for future reference.
Yes there is! Also very beautiful. I hope you get there soon!
I am in love with these Lakes. Especially Bled. Have heard, there is a village called Bled. Planning to visit Slovenia soon.
Each one is more beautiful than the last – truly jaw-dropping. Visiting The Balkans and seeing these stunning lakes is definitely high on my list.
What gorgeous photos! Stunning!
Oh my goodness that top photo is just stunning! I went to Lake Bled many years ago and it was lovely!
Those lakes are so beautiful! I haven’t seen any of them yet. I hope I will have the opportunity in the future!
All those lakes are very beautiful! Lake Bled is my all time favourite lake!
These are gorgeous! I have only gone to Lake Bled and Plitvice, but am keen to check out some of the others.
Def saving this for later, how stunning! I want to see them all after this post <3
Your photos are absolutely stunning! I’m definitely putting this on my bucket list. 😍 Thank you for sharing this with us!
I’ve had Lake Bled on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. One of these days, it’s going to happen!!!
WOW – truly stunning. I can’t get over how gorgeous Plitvice Lakes Croatia looks! Hopeful I can see all of these lakes in person one day!
Wishing I could teleport to one of these amazing lakes rn! Thanks for the future inspiration!
Visiting Croatia is so high on my bucket list, but this post has made me want to visit Albania, as well! Thank you for sharing 🙂
OMG!!! All amazing lakes – the pictures are stunning and now I just want to jump on a plane and spend some time exploring all the lakes and gorgeous nature around.
Have been to few of them and loved the natural beauty around. Loved visiting Lake Bled and Plitvice .
Wow! With those beautiful photos and spectacular scenery who wouldn’t want to explore the Balkan Lakes!