The Balkans has some of the oldest and deepest lakes in Europe. I am talking about lakes formed millions of years ago (Ohrid), glacial lakes that appeared after the last ice age (Bled), and artificial reservoirs that somehow turned into the prettiest bodies of water in their region (Komani). You can swim in most of them from June to September. Some you can only admire from a trail. A few have actual beaches.

Here are the 15 lakes I keep going back to — ranked roughly by how much they made me want to stay.

1. Lake Bled, Slovenia

Lake Bled is the postcard lake of the Balkans. A small island with a church sits in the middle. A medieval castle perches on a cliff above. It sounds like a cliché but the real thing is better than the photos. You can row a traditional pletna boat to the island, ring the church bell, and hike up to the castle for the view.

2. Lake Bohinj, Slovenia

Bohinj is what Bled would be without the crowds. Same Julian Alps setting, clearer water, and about a quarter of the visitors. It is the largest permanent lake in Slovenia at 4.2 km long. The hiking around the lake is excellent — the trail to Savica Waterfall starts from the western end.

3. Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia

Lake Ohrid is one of Europe's oldest and deepest lakes — about 4 million years old and 288 meters deep. The water is so clear you can see 20 meters down on a calm day. The town of Ohrid is a UNESCO site with a 2,000-year history. The lake has over 200 endemic species that exist nowhere else on Earth.

4. Lake Prespa, North Macedonia

Prespa sits 150 meters higher than Ohrid and is split between North Macedonia, Albania, and Greece. It is quieter, wilder, and less developed. The Golem Grad island (also called Snake Island) has ruins of a 14th-century monastery and a colony of Dalmatian pelicans — one of the largest in Europe.

5. Lake Skadar, Montenegro

Skadar is the largest lake in the Balkans, straddling the border between Montenegro and Albania. It is a national park on the Montenegro side. The lake is shallow — average depth is only 5 meters — which means the water warms up fast. Marshes, lotus flowers, and over 280 bird species.

6. Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

Plitvice is not one lake but 16 interconnected ones, each at a different elevation. The water flows from one to the next through travertine barriers, creating a staircase of lakes and waterfalls. The color range is absurd — from light turquoise to dark emerald depending on the mineral content and sunlight.

7. Seven Rila Lakes, Bulgaria

The Seven Rila Lakes are a set of glacial lakes at 2,100–2,500 meters elevation in the Rila Mountains. Each has a name based on its shape: The Tear, The Eye, The Kidney, The Twin, The Fish Lake, The Lower Lake, and The Trefoil. The most photographed is The Eye — a near-perfect oval with deep blue water.

8. Balea Lake, Romania

Balea Lake sits at 2,034 meters on the Transfăgărășan Highway. It is a glacial lake in the Făgăraș Mountains, frozen from October to June. In summer the ice melts and reveals a deep blue alpine lake. The cable car from Balea Cascada to the lake operates year-round.

9. Lake Krupac and Slano Lake (Nikšić), Montenegro

Two lakes just outside Nikšić in central Montenegro. Krupac is the smaller one with clear turquoise water and a popular swimming spot called "Plaža." Slano is larger and deeper, surrounded by hills. Locals swim at both in summer. The contrast between the blue water and the bare karst hills is typical of this region.

10. Lake Matka, North Macedonia

Matka is a canyon and artificial lake just 20 minutes from Skopje. The lake was created by damming the Treska River in 1938. The canyon walls are 1,000 meters tall in places. Boat tours take you to the Vrelo Cave, which is one of the deepest underwater caves in the world.

11. Biogradsko Lake (Biogradska Gora), Montenegro

Biogradsko Lake is the main lake in Biogradska Gora National Park. It is a glacial lake surrounded by primeval forest with trees over 400 years old. The walking trail around the lake is 3.3 km and takes about an hour at a slow pace. The water is dark due to the forest runoff — it reflects the trees near the shore.

12. Zlatibor Lakes, Serbia

Zlatibor is a mountain region in western Serbia with several artificial lakes. The main one is Lake Ribnica, created in 2018 as a recreational area. It has a sandy beach (imported sand) and clear water. The Zlatibor area is a popular domestic holiday spot — expect Serbian families and lots of grilled meat.

13. Vlasina Lake, Serbia

Vlasina Lake in southeastern Serbia is one of the most unusual lakes in the Balkans. It is a high-altitude reservoir (1,214 m) with floating peat islands called "blatnjače" that move around with the wind. The islands have their own vegetation — some are big enough to walk on (but please do not, they are fragile). The surrounding areas are good for birdwatching and hiking.

14. Mavrovo Lake, North Macedonia

Mavrovo Lake is an artificial reservoir in Mavrovo National Park. The partially submerged Church of St. Nicholas sits in the lake near the village of Mavrovi Anovi. When the water is low, the church emerges almost entirely. The lake is surrounded by forests and mountains with hiking trails in every direction.

15. Komani Lake, Albania

Also called the Komani Reservoir, this is an artificial lake created by the Drin River dam in northern Albania. The ferry ride from Koman to Fierza is one of the best boat trips in the Balkans — 2.5 hours through a canyon that looks like a fjord. The lake is deep emerald and the canyon walls rise vertically from the water. There is no road here; the ferry is the only way through.

🏡 Where to Stay by the Lakes

Book your accommodation through Booking.com and support this site at no extra cost.

Which Lake Should You Visit?

First-timer, short trip: Lake Bled. It is touristy but there is a reason it is famous. For swimming: Lake Ohrid or Lake Skadar — both warm up properly in summer. For a real adventure: Komani Lake in Albania. The ferry ride is one of those experiences you will talk about for years. For something strange and memorable: Vlasina Lake in Serbia with its floating islands.

If I had to pick one lake to visit this afternoon: Lake Ohrid. The combination of warm, clear water, a 2,000-year-old town on the shore, and mountains all around makes it hard to beat. Go in September when the crowds thin and the water is still warm.