Petrovac in 3 days: beaches, Kastio and Lake Skadar

Petrovac Beach lies directly in front of the town waterfront, with reddish sand and the islets of Katic and Sveta Nedjelja offshore. Houses, hotels and terraces line the shore behind it, so you have the sea in front of you and the life of the resort close by.

There are four hours for swimming and relaxing at the beach, approximately from 9:30 to 13:30. The beach is where you start the day. Getting here from accommodation farther away adds time.

The day starts at Petrovac Beach, beside the central town waterfront.

The walk back to your accommodation in the centre and time to change together take about 30 minutes, with lunch around 14:00. The guide to where to eat in Petrovac helps with choosing a restaurant on or near the waterfront.

The three-hour break includes the return and time to change, an hour for lunch and an hour and a half of rest. The harbour visit follows, starting around 16:30.

Kastio stands above Petrovac's harbour, on the site of a Venetian fortress from the 16th century. Alongside the garrison were warehouses for wine and other goods shipped out by boat. The neighbouring Lazaret served as a quarantine facility. The surviving walls tell the story of a bay where trade and seafaring came before today's resort.

The walk from the central waterfront to the harbour is estimated at 10 minutes, with another 35 minutes to view Kastio and Lazaret from outside. That is 45 minutes in total for the approach and a look around the walls by the harbour.

From the harbour, you follow the waterfront beside the town beach back towards your accommodation in the centre. The walk is estimated at 10 minutes. The evening is free after your return. Accommodation above the coastal area requires an extra climb and more time.

Lucice is a cove south of Petrovac, between headlands covered with pines and cypresses. The sandy beach sits between those green edges of the bay, with the forest visible from the shore. It is a change of setting from the town waterfront and a good choice for another long morning by the sea.

The day starts around 9:00. The walk here from central Petrovac is estimated at 20 minutes. You then have four full hours for swimming and relaxing, until 13:20. The activity takes 4 hours and 20 minutes in total.

The approach starts in central Petrovac and leads to Lucice Beach on the south side of town.

The return from Lucice is planned to take 20 minutes, with another 20 to change at your accommodation. Lunch is around 14:00. The guide to where to eat in Petrovac helps with choosing a place in the centre.

An hour for lunch and an hour of rest, together with the return and change, make 2 hours and 40 minutes in total. The walk towards Buljarica starts after this break.

Buljarica has a much longer shoreline than Lucice, with a wetland behind the beach. The section nearest Petrovac is sandy, while most of the beach has pebbles and stones. The walk over the wooded hill is worthwhile for this change in scale, from a small cove to an expansive shore.

The walk starts around 16:00. The estimate includes 20 minutes to reach Lucice, then another 30 over the hill to the northern approach to Buljarica. There are 35 minutes to walk and look around this part of the shore. That is an hour and 25 minutes in total. The navigation route ends at the shore beside B5, which serves as a landmark.

A footpath leads from Lucice over the hill to the northern part of Buljarica. The return follows the same route.

The return follows the same route over the hill to Lucice, then continues to Petrovac's waterfront. The estimate includes 50 minutes of walking and another 15 for a rest, making an hour and 5 minutes in total. Dinner is after your return to Petrovac.

The M-2 main road leads from Petrovac to Virpazar over Pastrovska gora. The parking area selected for this day is the one linked in Kingfisher's directions. From the car, you continue on foot to the check-in point.

The day starts around 9:00. The estimate includes 50 minutes of driving, then 10 minutes each for parking and walking to the desk. That is an hour and 10 minutes in total. Driving and finding a space may take longer.

The cruise takes you through channels and onto the open water of Lake Skadar. Lesendro is seen from the water, followed by lakeside vegetation and stretches covered with water lilies. The change between open water and these green passages offers an experience you cannot have from Petrovac's shore.

Kingfisher offers a shared cruise of two hours on a wooden boat, from €22.15 per person, including national park admission. Before travelling, confirm departure at 11:00 and return at 13:00, as this schedule depends on a confirmed time slot. The total of 2 hours and 50 minutes includes 20 minutes of spare time, mandatory check-in 30 minutes before departure and two hours on the boat.

The check-in point is the Kingfisher information desk near the central bridge in Virpazar.

Virpazar is the place for lunch after the cruise, and lake fish is part of the local tavern fare. Lunch is around 14:00, with 60 minutes for the meal. You choose and pay for your meal separately, as it is not included in the cruise.

The 2 hours and 30 minutes include 20 minutes to walk around the village, 40 minutes of free time before the meal, an hour for lunch and another half-hour of rest. The return drive comes after this break.

From central Virpazar, you return to the same parking area, then take the M-2 main road towards Petrovac. The estimate includes 10 minutes to walk to the car, 50 for driving and another 10 for parking at your accommodation. That is an hour and 10 minutes in total. Dinner later in the evening is outside the day's total.