Pavlova Strana Viewpoint

Picture it: half past six on an October morning. You pull off the road into the small parking space and switch off the engine. Below you, mist fills the valley. Slowly it thins, and the river appears, curving round in a horseshoe between green hills, with the lake behind. Somewhere below, a bird calls.

This is Pavlova Strana, the viewpoint above the river’s famous horseshoe bend. It is free, and it lies about 3 km by road above the village. The photo at the top of this page was taken from here.

What you see

The river is only 12.3–13 km long. It rises in Obod cave, runs past the village and flows on into Skadar Lake, the largest lake in the Balkans. The village lies about 7 km above the point where the river meets the lake.

The lake changes size with the seasons. It covers about 370 km² in summer and up to 540 km² in winter. Reeds, cattail and white and yellow water lilies grow along the river and the lake.

The view changes with the water, too. Levels can rise fast: on 10 January 2026 the water went up 28 cm in a single day and flooded the riverside walk in the village. Read more in High water, January 2026.

When the river was a road

For a long time, this river was a road. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Rijeka Crnojevića was Montenegro’s main lake port and market, often called the trade gateway to Cetinje. The first regular line on the lake started in 1885, with the steamer Žabljak. In 1899 the steamers Mala Morača and Karatuna ran from the village to Virpazar, Skadar and Plavnica. Dried bleak (ukljeva), a fish from the lake, was the main export.

Imagine standing here in those years, watching a steamer make its way down towards the lake. From 1924 the steamer Skenderbeg ran from Rijeka to Skadar. Regular lake shipping ended in 1981. Read more in The Petrović era and the river port.

When to come

Come early. The light is softest from about 6:30 to 8:30. Mist is most likely in October and November, and in March and April. On summer weekends, the parking space is full by about 9:00.

July and August bring crowds and heat. April to June and September to October are good months to visit. See When to visit for seasons and water levels.

How to get there

Pavlova Strana is about 3 km by road above the village. There is free, informal parking for 5–6 cars. There is no direct bus to the village: take a bus to Cetinje or Podgorica, then a taxi. Routes and distances are on the Getting there page.

Stopping safely

The parking space is small and the road is narrow. If the space is full, do not stop on the road. Drive on and come back later, or come earlier another day. Watch for traffic when you step out with your camera.

The river below lies in Skadar Lake National Park. Flying a drone in the park needs approval from the Civil Aviation Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency and the park itself. Apply 20 days ahead to npcg@nparkovi.me. Fines run from €500 to €2,000. See National park for the rules.