Most Beautiful Lakes to Visit in Albania

Albania has beautiful lakes like Lake Ohrid, Lake Shkoder, Lake Butrint, and the Prespa Lakes, which are great places for tourists. Apart from Tirana and the stunning coast, Albania’s lakes offer fantastic vacation spots too.

Albania has over 240 natural and 800 artificial lakes, a lot for its size. This means lots of options for water sports, sunbathing, wildlife watching, and fishing. With its coastline, Albania is perfect for a summer holiday. Albania’s lakes are vital for tourism and ecology in the Balkans. Some are protected as national parks or UNESCO sites.

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Top 6 Most Beautiful Lakes in Albania

Albania has over a thousand lakes, but most are artificial and not historically or naturally significant. Still, many are very beautiful. The lakes highlighted below in Albania each have something special, like diverse wildlife, historical value, or easy access from Tirana.

1. Lake of Shkodra

Lake Shkodra is the largest lake in southern Europe, covering 368 sq. km/142 sq. mi. It’s shared by Montenegro and Albania, with the Albanian part spanning 149 sq. km/57.5 sq. mi. The lake is surrounded by mountains, villages, and cultural sites, making it a favorite for visitors and artists seeking inspiration. It’s a peaceful escape from city life.

The area around Lake Shkodra, particularly between the towns of Shiroka and Zogaj, offers scenic pathways for pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy nature up close.

The lake is home to diverse wildlife, including 50 fish species such as eel, bass, sturgeon, perch, and carp, with 18 species unique to this lake. It’s also a haven for birds, hosting 270 species like pelicans, cormorants, spoonbills, egrets, herons, and terns. The area boasts various flora, from willow and oak forests to lilies, orchids, and crocuses.

The Montenegrin part of Lake Shkodra became a National Park in 1983, followed by the Albanian part in 2005. The lake provides energy to nearby areas like Shkodra and Malësi e Madhe, supporting around 150,000 Albanians.

Explore Lake Shkodra by renting a bike or joining an excursion. Enjoy swimming at secluded beaches, cycling, bird-watching, and savoring local fish dishes.

2. Ohrid Lake

Lake Ohrid sits on the border between Albania and North Macedonia and is one of the most famous lakes in the Balkans. It’s a significant natural feature for Albania, with deep cultural importance.

This lake is exceptionally deep, reaching 288 meters at its lowest point, making it the deepest lake in the Balkans and one of Europe’s deepest. It’s also one of the oldest lakes globally, dating back five million years, like Lake Baikal and Lake Tanganyika.

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Lake Ohrid is a hotspot for unique species, with over 200 types found only there. This diversity makes it possibly the world’s most diverse lake for its size.

Lake Ohrid’s rich history and diverse wildlife earned it a UNESCO World Heritage Site status in Albania.

There are several towns around Lake Ohrid where visitors can stay to explore, like Pogradec, known for its cultural and historical sites, as well as Lin, Tushemisht, Drilon, and Pojska.

To reach Lake Ohrid:

• Tirana is 110 kilometers away (about 2 hours by car).
• Durrës is 145 kilometers away (about 2.4 hours).
• Sarandë is 285 kilometers away (about 4.5 hours).
• Shkodër is 210 kilometers away (about 3.5 hours).
• Skopje is 170 kilometers away (about 2.7 hours).

3. Lake Butrint

Lake Butrint is a salt lagoon in southwest Albania, linked to the Ionian Sea by the Vivari channel. It’s classified as a lake due to its large size (about 16 sq. km/6 sq. mi).

Surrounded by dense vegetation, rocky coastlines, and ancient sites, Lake Butrint is a unique ecosystem. Rainfall and inland creeks mix saltwater from the sea with freshwater in its sediments, creating a dynamic habitat for plants and animals.

Read also: Explore Albania: List of World Heritage Sites

The lake is known for farming tasty mussels, with a potential to produce 10,000 tons per year. In the southwest corner of the lake are the ancient ruins and fortresses of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can explore both the historic sites of Butrint and enjoy the natural beauty and scenic views of the lake.

4. The Great & Small Prespa Lakes

Lake Prespa is part of the Ohrid-Prespa Transboundary Reserve, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It’s a beautiful lake in Albania.

This lake sits on the borders of Albania, North Macedonia, and Greece. It’s divided among these Balkan countries. The Albanian part is protected as Prespa National Park, home to diverse wildlife and plants, with over 1,100 plant species.

Read also: How do I Get From Shkoder to Shala River (2024 Guide)

Near Lake Prespa is Small Prespa Lake, in Albania and Greece. This shallow lake is famous for hosting the largest colony of Dalmatian pelicans in the world.

These lakes are among Albania’s most beautiful spots for outdoor activities like fishing, wildlife watching, hiking, and cycling.

Unlike busy Lake Ohrid, Lake Prespa and Small Prespa Lake are peaceful and quiet. They’re ideal for a tranquil nature getaway.

5. Komani Lake

Koman became a lake because of a dam on the River Drin. It flows through forested mountains, creating narrow gorges like Scandinavian fjords. The lake is 13 sq. km/5 sq. mi with a narrow point of 50 meters/164 feet. Ferries and small boats go from Koman village to Fierza regularly. Passengers see stunning gorges, beaches, guesthouses, and wildlife, feeling like they’re in a Jurassic world.

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Lake Koman and nearby villages offer activities like kayaking, camping, and festivals. Summer is the best time to visit for tours and activities. The popular spots along the lake route are Valbona Valley National Park and the Albanian Alps’ peaks.

6. Lake Bovilla

Most beautiful lakes in Albania are natural. There are a few pretty artificial ones too. Lake Bovilla is a prime example. It’s a reservoir in Dajti National Park. The lake supplies Tirana’s drinking water. It’s about 19 kilometers northeast of Tirana.

Lake Bovilla doesn’t have much biodiversity. Only a few types of fish live there. Swimming is not allowed. But it’s very photogenic. Around Lake Bovilla, people enjoy hiking, picnicking, camping, and rock climbing.

Read also: Renting a Car in Albania: The Complete Guide 2024

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