Lake Skadar: Montenegro’s Wine Country and Birdwatching Paradise.

Lake Skadar is where Montenegro slows down. Half of it spills into Albania; the Montenegrin shore is a national park of reed beds, water lilies and one of Europe's richest bird habitats — Dalmatian pelicans, pygmy cormorants, herons. A morning boat safari from Virpazar or Rijeka Crnojevića is the classic introduction.

The hills around the lake are the heart of the Crmnica wine region, home of Montenegro's native Vranac and Krstač grapes. Family cellars welcome visitors for tastings straight from the barrel, usually with a spread of local ham, cheese and smoked carp.

Don't miss the viewpoint above Rijeka Crnojevića, where the river coils in a perfect S-bend through green hills — one of the most photographed scenes in the country, and best in the soft light of early morning.