Day trips from Bar: the 6 best excursions
What is the best day trip from Bar?
Skadar Lake is the obvious first choice — only 30 minutes from Bar, and the boat trip plus winery combination is the most distinctively Montenegrin half-day available. Stari Bar ruins with the ancient olive grove is a close second for those interested in archaeology and history.
Bar as a base: the south coast’s quiet hub
Bar is Montenegro’s main port — the ferry terminal for connections to Bari in Italy, the southern terminal of the Bar-Belgrade railway, and the commercial hub of the south coast. It is not a resort in the conventional sense (the beach at Bar town is functional rather than spectacular), but its position makes it useful: Skadar Lake is 30 minutes north, the Albanian border is 40 minutes south, and the landscape shifts dramatically from coast to lake to mountains in very short distances.
The day trips from Bar lean toward the quieter, less-visited side of Montenegro — fewer cruise groups, more local character.
All drive times are from central Bar.
1. Skadar Lake — closest lake access on the coast
Drive time: 30 minutes to Virpazar
Duration: half-day to full day
Best for: nature lovers, birders, easy contrast with the coast
From Bar, Skadar Lake is closer than from any other coastal town — only 30 minutes to the main boat launch village of Virpazar. The lake is the largest in the Balkans, a UNESCO-protected wetland of pelicans, cormorants, water lilies, and medieval monastery islands. Wooden boats navigate the submerged canyons and open lake channels throughout the day, with 2–3 hour trips as standard.
From Virpazar, the Crmnica wine region begins immediately — a hillside zone above the lake where small family wineries grow Vranac grapes in limestone soils. A morning on the lake followed by a winery lunch makes a completely satisfying day without setting foot more than 30 minutes from Bar.
From Bar: Skadar Lake Land & Boat Tour2. Stari Bar + ancient olive grove — archaeology on the hillside
Drive time: 10 minutes from central Bar
Duration: 2–3 hours
Best for: those interested in history and a contrast to beach days; an easy morning
Stari Bar (Old Bar) is a genuine ruin — not a reconstruction — of a medieval city that was inhabited continuously from the 4th century until an 1879 earthquake drove the population down to the new coastal town. The site sits in a landscape of olive groves on a slope below Mount Rumija: crumbled city walls, the shell of the 5th-century church (the oldest Christian structure in Montenegro), Ottoman-era bathhouses, and the foundations of noble houses.
The olive grove surrounding the ruins contains some of the oldest certified olive trees in the world. The oldest authenticated tree at Stari Bar is over 2,000 years old — still producing fruit, with a trunk that requires several people to embrace — and several others exceed 1,500 years. The grove is listed as a natural monument.
This is an easy, inexpensive, and under-visited outing. Admission to Stari Bar is minimal; the olive grove is free to walk through.
3. Ulcinj + Velika Plaža — the long beach in the south
Drive time: 35 minutes to Ulcinj
Duration: half-day to full day
Best for: beach lovers seeking something different; those interested in Bar’s Ottoman heritage
Ulcinj is the southernmost town in Montenegro — a place with a distinctly different character from the rest of the coast: Ottoman architecture in the old town, a Turkish-era fortress above the sea, and a population that is primarily Albanian-speaking. It has the energy of a town that faces south toward Albania rather than north toward the rest of Montenegro.
Velika Plaža (Great Beach) stretches 13 kilometres south of Ulcinj — the longest beach in the Adriatic, mostly wild and undeveloped, with sections of genuine dune vegetation. At the southern end, Ada Bojana is an island in the Bojana River delta formed by the wreck of a Turkish ship in 1858, now a naturist beach.
The combination of Ulcinj’s Ottoman old town (1–2 hours) and a long lazy afternoon on Velika Plaža makes a very good full day from Bar.
4. Bar to Belgrade scenic train — the most beautiful railway in Europe
Departs: Bar train station
Duration: full day (one-way 11 hours to Belgrade; day-trip feasibility: partial route)
Best for: rail enthusiasts; those who want to see the Morača Canyon and highland scenery
The Bar-Belgrade railway is widely considered one of the most beautiful rail journeys in Europe — 476 km of mountain railway crossing 254 tunnels and 435 bridges, climbing from sea level to 1,032 metres through the Morača Canyon, past Kolašin, over the Tara valley, and into Serbia.
A full Bar-Belgrade journey is not a day trip (11 hours one-way). But the most spectacular section — from Bar north to Kolašin through the Morača Canyon — takes about 3 hours and represents the scenic climax of the route. Taking the train to Kolašin (a ski and hiking town at 960 metres), spending 2–3 hours exploring or having lunch, and returning the same day is a legitimate and very rewarding rail day trip from Bar.
Check current timetables at the Bar station — services typically run twice daily in each direction.
5. Crmnica wineries — wine country above the lake
Drive time: 30–40 minutes to the Crmnica zone
Duration: half-day
Best for: wine lovers; those who want a gentle and scenic afternoon
The Crmnica district — a hillside zone above Skadar Lake’s southern shore, between Virpazar and the lake’s eastern reaches — is the heart of Montenegro’s wine production. Small family wineries line the road, growing Vranac (Montenegro’s signature red, with deep colour and earthy tannins), Krstač (an indigenous white grape), and a few international varieties.
Most wineries offer informal tastings by appointment or on a drop-in basis in season — call ahead if possible, or simply stop at those displaying a sign. The road through Crmnica is scenic regardless of wine interest: terraced vineyards above the lake, views toward Albania, and the quiet of a region that tourism has barely touched.
A Crmnica half-day pairs naturally with a morning on Skadar Lake (Virpazar is the entry point for both).
6. Sveti Stefan — the famous island view
Drive time: 35 minutes north
Duration: half-day (2–3 hours)
Best for: those who want the Montenegro postcard image; a scenic coastal drive
The view of Sveti Stefan — a medieval island village connected to the mainland by a sandy causeway, now the Aman resort — from the headland above the causeway is one of the most photographed scenes in the entire country. The best viewpoint is on the road 200 metres above the causeway, accessible by a short walk from a pull-off. No admission required, free, and extraordinary in afternoon light.
From Bar, Sveti Stefan is a 35-minute drive north along the coastal road. Pair with a walk through Budva Old Town (10 minutes further north) for a fuller half-day.
South Montenegro Private TourPractical notes
Car rental in Bar: limited compared to Budva and Tivat. Book in advance. Alternatively, hire a local driver through your accommodation for the day.
Ferry from Bar to Bari: the Italy ferry runs regularly from Bar — if you have flexibility, a night crossing to Bari opens up a different kind of “day trip” (Puglia as a day). Check Jadrolinija and Montenegro Lines schedules.
Skadar Lake boat tours: available directly from Virpazar harbour without advance booking in season. Arrive by 9:00 for the full-day option.
Internal links: Skadar Lake boat tour — Sveti Stefan guide — Day trips from Budva
Frequently asked questions
How far is Bar from Skadar Lake?
About 30 minutes to Virpazar, the main boat launch point. This makes Bar one of the closest coastal bases to Skadar Lake — closer even than Budva (1 hour) or Kotor (1h30).
Is the Bar-Belgrade train worth doing as a day trip?
The partial route (Bar to Kolašin, 3 hours each way through the Morača Canyon) is one of the best rail experiences in the Balkans. As a return day trip, it is genuinely excellent. The full 11-hour Bar-Belgrade journey is best done one-way.
What is Ulcinj like?
Ulcinj is Montenegro’s most distinctively Mediterranean-meets-Ottoman town — a place that feels different from the rest of the coast. The old town fortress, Albanian character, and the 13 km of Velika Plaža make it worth visiting if you are based in Bar. Less packaged than Budva; more authentic in character.
Are the Crmnica wineries open to visitors?
Most are informal operations that welcome visitors by appointment or on a drop-in basis in season (May–October). A few have established tasting rooms. Call ahead if you have a specific winery in mind, or simply drive the Crmnica road and stop where you see signs.
Can I visit Stari Bar on my own?
Yes, completely. There is an entry fee to the ruins (small, paid on-site). The site is open year-round, with shorter hours in winter. The olive grove surrounding the ruins is free to walk through at any time.