There’s completely nothing higher than discovering a hidden gem in Europe, and Montenegro is exactly that! This tiny Balkan nation packs a critical punch with its dramatic shoreline, medieval cities, and beautiful mountain landscapes. Here is my final information to Montenegro – there’s merely no higher place for combining seaside leisure with mountain journey!
Montenegro’s magnificence is one of the best I’ve ever seen and this journey information will make sure you benefit from your journey! This contains one of the best scenic routes and hidden gems in addition to the highest spots for exploring the Bay of Kotor, Durmitor Nationwide Park, and past!
I’ve spent the final 3 months residing in Montenegro and have fallen in LOVE!
But it surely’s not simply the kaleidoscope of blues within the Adriatic Sea. There are charming coastal villages, pine-covered mountains, crystal clear lakes, beautiful monasteries, lovable storied cities, and winding roads that lead you from place to put.
Earlier than coming to Montenegro to see it for myself, I assumed the Instagram footage needed to be enhanced. But it surely’s all actual. Having traveled to 54 international locations and spent almost 80% of my time on the street for the previous 6 years, that is considered one of my favourite locations on earth.
At a Look: One Week Montenegro Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Podgorica > Bay of Kotor Day 2: Kotor Previous City & Perast Day 3: Budva & Sveti Stefan Day 4: Lake Skadar Nationwide Park Day 5: Durmitor Nationwide Park & Black Lake Day 6: Tara River Canyon & Ostrog Monastery Day 7: Lovcen Nationwide Park > Podgorica
Finest Time to Go to Montenegro
Let me be extremely clear: Montenegro is attractive year-round, however timing issues relying on what you wish to expertise.
Summer time (June-August): Peak season with sizzling climate and busy seashores. Good for swimming and water actions, however count on crowds alongside the coast and better costs.
Spring (April-Could) and Fall (September-October): My private favourite seasons! You may take pleasure in nice temperatures, fewer vacationers, and still-swimmable waters in early fall. Plus, the mountaineering trails are open and beautiful.THE AIR IS PERFUMED! I’ve actually by no means been someplace that smells THIS good!
Winter (November-March): The coastal areas stay delicate, whereas mountain areas like Durmitor remodel into inexpensive ski locations. Kotor is magically peaceable with out the cruise ships.
Day 1: Arrive in Podgorica > Bay of Kotor
I like to recommend flying into Podgorica, Montenegro’s capital. It is often cheaper than Tivat, and automotive leases are extra inexpensive right here. I HIGHLY suggest renting a automotive. The winding coastal roads supply epic views, and having your individual wheels enables you to uncover hidden seashores and mountain viewpoints that tour buses merely cannot attain.
If you have not been to Podgorica, I like to recommend spending a number of hours right here to go to. Whereas not as charming because the coastal cities, it has attention-grabbing Orthodox church buildings and the fashionable Millennium Bridge.
Nevertheless, in case you’re wanting the complete scale of Montenegro’s magnificence, I like to recommend heading straight to the Bay of Kotor – usually referred to as Europe’s southernmost fjord (although technically it is a sunken river canyon).
The drive from Podgorica to Kotor is about 1.5 hours. It is a pretty drive stuffed with beautiful mountains and your first glimpses of the bay’s impossibly blue waters.
As you strategy Kotor, you may wind across the bay on a slender street with jaw-dropping views at each flip. I like to recommend stopping on the Perast viewpoint – the right spot to snap your first “I can not imagine that is actual” Bay of Kotor picture.
Spend the evening in Kotor’s Previous City, a UNESCO World Heritage web site with Venetian structure and a maze of slender marble streets. I like to recommend staying inside the partitions for the complete medieval expertise!
Positively embrace the locals… aka, the cats! There’s even a devoted cat museum in Kotor.
Day 2: Kotor Previous City & Perast
Day 2 is considered one of my favorites! Get up early and hike Kotor’s historic fortress partitions earlier than the day will get sizzling. The town partitions zigzag up the mountainside behind city, and the views are completely spectacular.
There are 1,350 steps to the fortress on the high, however don’t be concerned – there are many spots to cease and take photographs (or catch your breath). Be ready for this hike to take about 2 hours spherical journey. Convey water and put on correct sneakers – this is not a flip-flop pleasant journey!
After your hike, discover Kotor’s Previous City with its charming squares and quite a few church buildings. St. Tryphon’s Cathedral and the Maritime Museum are must-sees to grasp the realm’s historical past.
Within the afternoon, drive 20 minutes across the bay to Perast, a tiny baroque gem with beautiful stone buildings lining a single road alongside the water. From right here, take a brief boat trip to Our Woman of the Rocks, a man-made island with a stupendous church stuffed with silver votive plates from sailors.
Return to Perast for dinner proper on the water because the solar units over the bay. The seafood right here is extremely contemporary – order the native black mussels or grilled squid for an genuine style of the Adriatic.
Day 3: Budva & Sveti Stefan
In the present day, journey south alongside the coast to Budva, a vigorous seaside city with its personal attractive walled Previous City. Spend the morning exploring the medieval streets, climbing the citadel partitions, and having fun with the views.
Budva has some glorious seashores proper on the town, however I recommend heading a bit additional to Mogren Seaside with its dramatic cliffs or Becici Seaside for softer sand. Pack your swimsuit and spend a number of hours stress-free by the crystal clear Adriatic.
Within the afternoon, proceed south to the postcard-perfect Sveti Stefan, a Fifteenth-century fortified islet related to the mainland by a slender causeway. Whereas the island itself is now a luxurious resort closed to non-guests, the views from above are beautiful, and the general public seashores on both facet of the causeway are attractive.
For the best possible view, drive as much as the perspective above Sveti Stefan for that picture-perfect shot of the terracotta roofs towards the deep blue sea. I promise you, it is much more breathtaking in individual than in photographs!
Keep in a single day in both Budva or in one of many charming small lodges close to Sveti Stefan for a quieter expertise away from Budva’s nightlife.
Day 4: Bar, Stari Bar & Sutomore
In the present day, discover our residence base throughout our 3-month keep in Montenegro – the great southern coastal space of Bar and Sutomore!
Begin your morning within the vibrant port metropolis of Bar, Montenegro’s principal seaport and an interesting mix of outdated and new. The fashionable a part of Bar has a beautiful promenade lined with cafes the place you possibly can take pleasure in an espresso whereas watching boats come and go within the harbor.
Subsequent, head as much as Stari Bar (Previous Bar), and put together to be amazed! This deserted medieval city sits dramatically on a cliff about 5km from trendy Bar and dates again to the tenth century. The traditional stone ruins are extremely atmospheric, with crumbling homes, church buildings, and fortress partitions that inform the story of centuries of Venetian, Ottoman, and Slavic influences.
As you wander by way of the stone archways and slender paths, you may uncover historic olive oil presses, Turkish baths, and the stays of medieval houses. The panoramic views of the valley beneath and out to the Adriatic are completely spectacular. Do not miss the two,000-year-old olive tree simply exterior the partitions – one of many oldest in Europe!
Within the afternoon, make your approach to Sutomore, our beloved residence for 3 months. This charming seaside city has a stupendous 1.5km lengthy sandy seaside with attractive mountain backdrops. Whereas much less touristy than Budva, Sutomore has all the things you want – beachfront eating places serving contemporary seafood, cozy cafes, and a relaxed native vibe that I completely fell in love with throughout our prolonged keep.
For sundown, head to the small fortress overlooking Sutomore seaside (Tabija Fortress) for unbelievable views of your entire shoreline. This was my favourite night ritual throughout our months residing right here – watching the solar disappear behind the mountains because the Adriatic Sea turned golden.
Spend the evening in Sutomore at one of many beachfront residences or small lodges. The nightlife is extra laid-back than Budva however nonetheless provides loads of outside cafes and eating places the place you possibly can benefit from the delicate night air.
Day 5: Lake Skadar Nationwide Park
After having fun with Montenegro’s coast, it is time to discover its beautiful inside! Head to Lake Skadar, the biggest lake within the Balkans, straddling the border with Albania.
Begin on the customer middle in Virpazar, the place you possibly can organize a ship tour of the lake. The panorama right here is totally totally different from the coast – lush and wild with water lilies, reed beds, and over 280 hen species together with the uncommon Dalmatian pelican.
The boat excursions sometimes final 2-3 hours and take you previous monasteries on tiny islands, fishing villages, and thru dramatic mountain landscapes mirrored within the clear waters. Some excursions embody stops at native wineries the place you possibly can style Montenegrin wines just like the potent crimson Vranac.
For lunch, strive a lakeside restaurant serving contemporary carp or bleak – native fish specialties ready in conventional methods. The fish is often served with a cabbage salad and cornbread.
Within the afternoon, you possibly can hike one of many trails across the lake for panoramic views or drive to the Pavlova Strana viewpoint for the long-lasting horseshoe bend vista that graces many Montenegro postcards.
Keep the evening in rustic lodging close to the lake or drive again to your house base in Sutomore, which is about 45 minutes away.
Day 6: Durmitor Nationwide Park & Black Lake
In the present day is all about Montenegro’s magnificent mountains! Set out early for the 3-hour drive north to Durmitor Nationwide Park, a UNESCO World Heritage web site with dramatic limestone peaks, dense pine forests, and beautiful glacial lakes.
Your first cease must be Žabljak, the best city within the Balkans at 1,450 meters. From right here, it is a brief stroll to Black Lake (Crno Jezero), a shocking glacial lake surrounded by thick forest and mountain peaks. The 4km path across the lake is a straightforward hike appropriate for all health ranges and provides spectacular views. In summer season, courageous souls can swim within the chilly waters!
For extra adventurous vacationers, sort out one of many trails as much as the park’s greater peaks. Bobotov Kuk (2,523m) is the best and provides unbelievable panoramas throughout Montenegro and into neighboring Bosnia and Albania.
Wildlife recognizing is superb right here – preserve your eyes peeled for chamois (mountain goats), eagles, foxes, and in case you’re extraordinarily fortunate, the uncommon European brown bear or wolf.
Keep in a single day in Žabljak at one of many cozy mountain lodges or family-run guesthouses. The native delicacies is hearty and ideal after a day of mountaineering – strive the kacamak (a polenta-like dish with cheese) or lamb cooked beneath a steel dome referred to as sač.
Day 7: Tara River Canyon & Ostrog Monastery
Day 7 brings much more pure wonders! Begin with the Đurđevića Tara Bridge, a powerful concrete arch bridge spanning the deepest canyon in Europe. The Tara River Canyon is a panoramic 1,300 meters deep in locations and stretches for 82 kilometers.
For adrenaline seekers, that is the place for white-water rafting! The Tara River provides a few of Europe’s greatest rapids (Class II-IV relying on the season). Half-day and full-day rafting journeys might be organized in Žabljak or immediately on the rafting camps alongside the river. The surroundings from the water stage is totally unbelievable – towering cliffs, waterfalls, and untouched forests.
If rafting is not your factor, you possibly can zipline throughout the canyon or hike all the way down to the river on well-marked trails.
Within the afternoon, drive to considered one of Montenegro’s most unbelievable sights – Ostrog Monastery. This Seventeenth-century Orthodox monastery is constructed immediately into an almost vertical cliff face, 900 meters above the Zeta valley. It appears to defy gravity, and the brilliant white buildings towards the grey rock create a startling imaginative and prescient as you strategy.
The monastery remains to be energetic with monks in residence and is a crucial pilgrimage web site. Inside, you may discover stunning frescoes and the relics of Saint Basil of Ostrog. The views from the monastery terraces throughout the valley are spectacular.
Return to Podgorica or again to your base in Sutomore, finishing your Montenegro journey loop.
My Favourite Locations in Montenegro
After spending 3 months primarily based in Sutomore and exploring each nook of this unbelievable nation, listed below are my absolute favourite spots that you just should not miss:
Kotor Previous City: Nothing compares to the sensation of wandering these medieval streets early within the morning earlier than the cruise ships arrive. The fortress hike provides my favourite view in all of Montenegro – that second if you flip again and see your entire bay unfold out beneath you is just magical.
Perast: This tiny baroque city stole my coronary heart with its elegant stone palazzos and peaceable waterfront. The bell tower of St. Nicholas Church provides unbelievable views, and the seafood at Conte Restaurant is a number of the greatest I’ve had wherever on this planet.
Stari Bar: These historic ruins have an nearly mystical really feel, particularly within the late afternoon when the sunshine turns golden and the stones appear to glow. Strolling by way of the centuries-old streets, I felt like I might stepped again in time.
Black Lake (Crno Jezero): The reflection of the pine timber and mountains within the nonetheless waters of this glacial lake is breath-taking. Strolling the complete loop across the lake was considered one of my most peaceable experiences in Montenegro.
Sutomore Seaside at Sundown: Having lived right here for 3 months, watching the solar sink behind the mountains from our native seaside by no means obtained outdated. The best way the sunshine performs on the water because the day ends is just spectacular. This seems like a locals place however remains to be vigorous. Nice entry to seashores, eating places and near Budva, Kotor, and Bar.
Ostrog Monastery: The religious power right here is palpable. Whether or not you are spiritual or not, standing on the monastery terrace looking over the valley beneath is a humbling expertise.
Tara Canyon View from Đurđevića Tara Bridge: The primary time I seemed down into the impossibly deep Tara Canyon, I actually gasped. The turquoise river reducing by way of the densely forested gorge seems like one thing from a fantasy film.
Sveti Stefan from the Viewpoint: This iconic islet seems like a fairytale setting, particularly within the early morning gentle when the stone buildings glow heat orange towards the deep blue Adriatic.
Lake Skadar Boat Experience: Gliding by way of lily pads with mountains reflecting within the water whereas recognizing uncommon birds was some of the serene experiences of my travels.
Ulcinj: Stunning walled metropolis that seems like stepping again in time.
The place to Keep in Montenegro
Now that a number of the greatest locations to go to in Montenegro, let us take a look at the place to tuck in at evening. I recommend a mixture of lodging to get the complete Montenegro expertise:
Kotor Previous City: Keep inside the medieval partitions for the complete historic expertise. Lodge Vardar provides luxurious rooms in a central location, whereas Residences Previous City present more room and infrequently include charming stone partitions and wood beams.
Perast: Splurge on Monte Bay Retreat for unbelievable views and trendy rooms in a renovated palace.
Budva: Lodge Astoria combines old-world attraction with trendy facilities within the coronary heart of the Previous City.
Sutomore: After attempting a number of lodging throughout our 3-month keep, Villa Milena was our favourite with its seafront location and spacious residences with balconies overlooking the Adriatic.
Stari Bar: Residences Ponta supply snug lodging with beautiful views of the outdated city ruins and olive groves.
Lake Skadar: Eco-Resort Cermeniza provides sustainable bungalows with lake views and home-cooked meals utilizing components from their natural backyard.
Žabljak: Lodge Soa in Durmitor Nationwide Park has snug alpine-style rooms and glorious mountain views.
You merely can not go improper in Montenegro. The picturesque shoreline is matched solely by the dramatic mountain peaks, the cities are quaint and charming stuffed with wealthy historical past, and the crystal clear waters, untouched nature, and pleasant locals all add to the gorgeous expertise. Our 3 months residing in Sutomore gave us a deeper appreciation for this nation’s unbelievable range – from the sunny seashores to the rugged mountains, all inside a pair hours’ drive. It is easy to see why an increasing number of vacationers are discovering this Balkan gem. I feel we must always all go to earlier than everybody else catches on!
