The Best Places to Visit in Montenegro
Montenegro is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, located in the Balkans on the coast of the Adriatic. It holds such an incredible amount of breathtaking destinations, despite being the second smallest country in the Balkans. It has charming coastal towns filled with great beaches, as well as spectacular mountainous landscape in the north of the country. The population is ~620,000, and everywhere you’ll find a mix of Venetian, Ottoman and Slavic influence. While it can get expensive and busy in the peak of summer, it’s one of Europe’s best destinations.
Capital: Podgorica
Currency: Euro
Language: Montenegrin
When to visit: May to October
1) Kotor
Kotor is the most visited place in Montenegro, and is a small medieval town at the end of the dramatic Bay of Kotor which is surrounded by scenic, steep mountains. It’s been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, and feels like a fairy tale destination and one of Europe’s top spots in general.
Things to do:
There is a lot to do in Kotor. You’ll surely be starting in the Old Town of Kotor, which is compact and easily walkable. It’s filled with great churches like St. Tryphon Cathedral, plus an abundance of medieval stone buildings and cats EVERYWHERE. If you want to experience the beauty of the bay, take a boat tour out from the dock into the bay which takes you past all the beautiful towns and gives you amazing views of the whole area. Make sure you do a hike up to Kotor Fortress; you can either go via the paid staircase or the Ladder of Kotor (my recommendation, check google maps for the path). Doing it at sunrise is the most rewarding, and you’ll probably find some cats chilling on the way up. You can end your day relaxing at the lively Kotor Beach.
How to get there:
Tivat Airport (TIV) is not far from Kotor, it basically serves the region with flights around Europe.
You can also take a bus from all major cities and towns in Montenegro, plus from Mostar, Dubrovnik, Tirana, etc.
2) Lovćen
Right outside Kotor is Lovćen, a national park and mountain with great views of the land below. It’s got some scenic hiking trails, and the highest peak is 1,657m high. It is definitely up there with one of the best views in Montenegro, you can see all the beautiful peaks, forests, and the Bay of Kotor too.
Things to do:
The highlight of Lovcen is the hike to Njegoš Mausoleum, and the breathaking view from the top. The Mausoleum was built centuries ago on the highest peak of the mountain, and has statues and sculptures incorporated inside. Pay your fee and walk through and down o to the stone observation deck. This is where you see all the photos of the national park, and it’s truly stunning. I’d recommend starting from the town of Cetinje (check the trail map), and from there it is only about 2-3 hours to the top.
How to get there:
Take a bus from Kotor or any other Montenegrin city to Cetinje in the morning. From there, start your hike via the trail.
3) Durmitor / Žabljak
Durmitor National Park is home to Montenegro’s beautiful mountain range found up in the northern area of the country. It is home to some of the prettiest lakes in the Balkans, plus endless forested areas topped off with mountains. It really needs little explanation. The base to exploring this area is the town of Žabljak, sitting at the entry to the national park.
Things to do:
There are so many good hikes in Durmitor, but the best is the Black Lake Loop. It is an easy loop trail (4km) starting at the parking lot near Žabljak. It takes you to the iconic lake with trees and peaks in the backdrop. The next hike takes you to the tallest peak in Montenegro - and it is the Bobotov Kuk Summit. The trail here begins in Seldo Pass, and is about a 10km, relatively tough round hike. The summit is 2,523m high, and has 360° views of Durmitor. My final hike recommendation is the Zminje Lake Hike, yet another beautiful lake which feels like you’re kind of in your own story because it’s so secluded and surrounded by trees. This one also starts from Žabljak. It can work as an extension from the Black Lake and is about 10km round trip.
How to get there:
Take a local bus from Podgorica or possibly Kotor to Žabljak.
4) Perast
Here we head back to the Bay of Kotor, more specifically to the little town of Perast, which sits further down the bay and an easy bus away from Kotor. It also holds beautiful stone streets and a small little harbor, however the postcard view comes from just offshore.
Things to do:
The view I'm talking about, and the main catch of Perast is the man-made island named Our Lady of the Rocks (and Saint George next to it). Our Lady of the Rocks in particular contains a spectacular baroque church built upon it, making it an amazing photo spot. Saint George on the other hand holds the Saint George Catholic Monastery. Inside the actual little town of 400 people, see St. Mark's Church & bell tower, and walk around the promenade by the water.
How to get there:
Simply take a bus from Kotor to Perast.
5) Sveti Stefan
Sveti Stefan is another one of Montenegro’s photogenic towns with a picturesque view coming from up on the hills. As you can see in the photos, the unique island which is connected by a bridge with medieval architecture built upon it is the towns main attraction. It’s surrounded by alluring blue waters and beaches on either side.
Things to do:
Since Sveti Stefan island is the star of the show, the best viewpoints to see it are from St. Sava Church, and the place with the name ‘Sveti Stefan view point’ on google maps. Otherwise, you can walk along the promenade by the shore and view it from closer. For beaches, I’d walk a bit further from the town to Milocer Beach, which is sandy and more quiet. Enjoy the town and island, especially if it’s sunny.
How to get there:
You can easily bus from Kotor, Budva, Tivat, etc.
6) Budva
Saving one of the best for last, Budva is the main coastal resort town of Montenegro. It’s got pretty lively nightlife and a busy summer scene, especially around the old town and the casinos. It is much larger in size compared to the miniature picturesque Montenegrin towns, and there is a lot of development and crowds, mainly surfacing around hotels, restaurants, etc.
Things to do:
Budva’s most beautiful area is of course, Budva Old Town. It’s a tiny part of the area on a peninsula by the coast, and it has some great sites inside like St. Ivan Church, Trinity Church, and Citadel. The main beach is Slovenska Plaža, which stretches round the whole towns coast. A lot of the beaches in Montenegro are commercialized with chairs and umbrellas. In my opinion, the better beach is Mogren Beach. While still busy, it has a beautiful backdrop with some caves and coves around. If you look out to the coast, you’ll see Sveti Nikola Island. You paddleboard or take boat trips out there and walk around the island and it’s beaches. You can also take a pretty easy walk up to Fort Mogren, which is a ruined fortress with amazing views out to the Adriatic Sea.
How to get there:
Budva is well connected all around the country, and you can take a bus from all the main cities and towns, and even from some neighboring countries.
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