Bovilla Lake Location
Bovilla Lake is located just 20 kilometers north of Tirana, and even though it’s so close, the drive takes about 1 hour due to an extremely bad road with countless potholes.
You can use our map of Bovilla Lake to get a better understanding of what’s where.
Hiking to the viewpoint above the lake
The hike to the viewpoint above Bovilla Lake takes just 10 to 15 minutes max from the restaurant, and about 40 minutes from the lower part near the dam (where tour buses and taxis drop you off).
On the short hike, you will mostly walk up a steep rocky incline, but at some parts of the path, metal stairs are built into the rock to make access easier.
At the viewpoint, there is a small lookout platform, which is excellent for safely taking photos and videos.
Not too far from that is a rocky outcrop, which is even better for photos because it highlights the grandeur of the lake. We loved this spot!
Keep in mind that sometimes, you will be asked to pay 1 euro for using the stairs to get to the Bovilla Lake viewpoint, but it’s hard to say when. On our visit, we didn’t have to pay, nor did we see anyone else paying to visit.
It’s said that the restaurant paid for the stairs. That’s why, if you do need to pay 1 euro to use them, we think it’s completely understandable. We paid much more for some other, let’s put it lightly, “less impressive sites”.
How to get to Bovilla Lake
1. Driving to Bovilla Lake
The most important info you need before visiting is that a large part of the road to Bovilla Lake is a gravel road full of potholes. This means most car rental companies won’t allow you to drive there.
Only local companies allow you to drive on gravel roads, while 99% of rental companies at airports, and the big franchises, do not allow you to do that.
We rented our car from SkyLine, a trusted local car rental company in Tirana. Our rented Fiat Panda was the perfect adventure vehicle to conquer the hole-ridden, bumpy road to Bovilla Lake!
But honestly, while the road to Bovilla Lake is bad, the most challenging part is the last stretch from the water level up to the Bovilla restaurant parking.
The road to the restaurant is especially problematic because it’s narrow and steep in parts. This means that during busy times of the day, it will be challenging to go up and down without having to reverse up or down the hill to avoid other vehicles.
During summer, it’s especially busy, and ATV/Quad/Offroad tours also go to the top, and you will meet them on this road as well.
Our Fiat Panda handled this road with ease, and without any bumps or scratches. As long as you go slowly and think through where you drive, a normal car is fine for this road.
2. Going on a tour to Bovilla Lake
If you don’t want to organize a trip to Bovilla Lake, there are popular day tours from Tirana, and Durres you can join.
From Tirana, the standard tour brings you to the lake and back, from where you hike up to the viewpoint. That’s also the cheapest option with pickup. However, we recommend the 4×4 Offroad Tour, which instead of a bus uses a car that can bring you to the parking lot, very close to the hike starting point. That way, you don’t need to hike as much.
Same from Durres, you can join the standard tour or go on the offroad tour.
Keep in mind: Going on a standard tour from Tirana to Bovilla Lake, means you will be dropped off at the dam area, from where you first need about 25 to 30 minutes to hike up the road to the starting point of the hike. But the tour gives you plenty of time to do this.
3. Joining a Quad Tour at Bovilla Lake
A fun alternative way to visit Bovilla Lake is on a Quad Tour (with pickup in Tirana). With the Quad, you can drive right up to the parking lot, and then you hike for only 10 to 15 minutes to the viewpoint.
This is also a great option if you have a car and want to visit Bovilla Lake, but don’t want to drive all the way (or if you’re not allowed to). In that case, check out this ATV/Quad tour, which starts just before the bad gravel road begins.
It’s also perfect if you don’t want to go on a standard tour from Tirana, especially if you’re planning to visit Bovilla Lake before or after another location (for example, Kruje, like we did).
4. Doing a Bovilla Lake and Kruje day trip
The best way to maximize your time and see the most is to visit both Bovilla Lake and Kruje, a historic city, in one day.
You can easily drive to Bovilla Lake and Kruje by yourself, or you can book an organized tour from Tirana or Durres.
The easiest way to get around Albania?
Rent a car! Albania is best explored by car, which allows you to explore at your own pace.
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Best time to visit Bovilla Lake
The best times to visit Bovilla Lake are early morning, before the crowds, and late afternoon. Just be careful not to visit too late in the day, as the sun will be gone behind the mountains at least 1 hour before actual sunset time.
On our visit in early October, we were unlucky and had a cloudy day, so the lake’s color wasn’t as intense as it usually is when it’s sunny. But it still looked amazing.
The best time of year to visit Bovilla Lake is practically anytime, as it looks stunning throughout the year. The only exception is when there’s a lot of snow that can make the road to the lake impassable. But that’s rare.
Where to stay at Bovilla Lake
Bovilla Lake is located at a somewhat remote location outside of Tirana, and there aren’t any hotels right at the lake. However, there is a simple new hotel a short walk away from the lake, which you can check out if you’d like to stay nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, swimming in Bovilla Lake is not allowed, as it’s a reservoir that provides water to Tirana.
We saw someone who was very obviously afraid of heights, climbing down the stairs, and shaking. So it’s not the best idea if you are extremely afraid of heights. Plus, you can see the ground below the stairs. But if you go slow and don’t overthink it, you will see that the hike is completely safe.
There is a free camping area at Bovilla Lake where many campers, campervans, and camping cars stay overnight. Currently, it’s not regulated, but a shepherd might come and ask for a contribution (which some people give and some don’t). You should definitely check the Park4Night app for the latest info. We saw quite a lot of smaller and regular-sized campervans, but no motorhomes.
Is Bovilla Lake worth visiting?
Before going to Bovilla Lake, we thought it might be a bit overhyped, even though it looked cool in photos and videos (especially the color).
However, after visiting, we can definitely confirm it’s worth visiting! The views you get from the viewpoint are stunning, and there are lots of great photo opportunities.
So if there’s one thing you do near Tirana, it should be a visit to Bovilla Lake.
