7 best places to visit in MONTENEGRO
With an area of just 13 812 square kilometers, Montenegro has a lot to offer to its visitors.
Montenegro is a Balkan country, that boasts more than a hundred stunning beaches, rugged mountains, and medieval fortified villages. As well as unique ancient churches and monasteries.
Thanks to its beautiful beaches and plenty of hiking options, Montenegro is considered a superb summer destination.
Sounds enticing? So, do you want to come and explore Montenegro?
But what to see in Montenegro?
There are plenty of interesting places to visit and amazing things to do in Montenegro.
To help you prepare for your trip, we have created this list of some of the best things to do in Montenegro.
7 best places to visit in Montenegro
1. Kotor & Perast
Kotor is a fortified town on Montenegro’s Adriatic coast, surrounded by limestone cliffs.
The first thing to do in Kotor is to explore its fortifications. Climb the 1355 steps to a height of 260 m above sea level to enjoy the awe-inspiring views from the top (at St John’s Fortress).
Kotor Walls enclose the medieval old town with its Romanesque stone churches, winding streets, and squares. Strolling along the tiny streets of this district, you will be enchanted by its medieval atmosphere, and you’ll feel like you have traveled back in time.
Visit the Maritime Museum, which explores local seafaring history. The expositions are dedicated to the history of sailing in Kotor dating back to the 9th century.
If you are visiting Kotor, definitely do not miss Perast — a stunning small town located 12 kilometers from Kotor. It is known for its elegant baroque palaces and churches. Perast is also a gateway to tiny islets of St. George and Our Lady of the Rocks.
2. Blue Grotto
Blue Grotto is a secluded little cove on Lustica Peninsula.
Blue Grotto is known for its iridescent blue water. The grotto gets its name from the effect of the light reflecting off the sandy bottom in the round-shaped cave.
You can access the Blue Grotto by boat.
Local boat and kayak tour operators in the region offer a trip out here.
3. Budva Riviera
The Budva Riviera is a 35 km long strip of the Adriatic coast surrounding the town of Budva in western Montenegro.
The Budva Riviera includes several towns and settlements.
The most popular of them are: Budva, Bečići, Miločer, Rafailovići, Sveti Stefan, Petrovac.
There are several great beaches in Budva Riviera. Some of the most popular are Mogren Beach, Kamenovo Beach, Becici Beach, and Jaz Beach.
Budva, the main town in the area, is known for sandy beaches, clubs, nightlife and, of course, its rich history which dates back to 5th century BC. Budva’s stone walls built by the Venetians surround the narrow streets of the medieval old town. Budva’s old town (Stari Grad) is its best feature; and, although smaller, it resembles Dubrovnik.
4. Mount Lovcen & Njegos Mausoleum
The Njegos Mausoleum is the final resting place for the 19th-century bishop-prince (vladika) Petar II Petrović Njegoš. The mausoleum itself is modest, but the views of the area are remarkable.
The Mausoleum is situated on Lovćen mountain which is a part of the national park of the same name.
Lovćen is the black mountain that gave Crna Gora (Montenegro) its name. Crna/negro means “black”, and gora/monte means “mountain” in Montenegrin and Italian respectively.
The highest peak of the mountain is Štirovnik — 1749 m.
At 1657 m Jezerski vrh is the second highest peak. It is where the Njegos Mausoleum is situated.
5. Ostrog Monastery
Ostrog Monastery is one of the unique sights in Montenegro.
It is a gleaming white Serbian Orthodox Church cut into an almost vertical cliff face of Ostroška Greda, approx. 850m above the valley.
From the monastery, a beautiful view of the Bjelopavlići plain can be seen.
6. Durmitor National Park
Durmitor National Park is known for its dramatic and rugged landscape.
It is the premier hiking spot in summer.
Durmitor National Park is home to glacial lakes, canyons, and 48 limestone peaks — all over 2000 m high.
Durmitor National Park is the largest protected area in Montenegro and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Here are a few beautiful places to visit in Durmitor National Park.
- Tara Canyon — one of the world’s deepest canyons formed by the Tara River.
- Tara Bridge — 150m-high bridge with a length of 365 m. The bridge is carried on five sweeping arches, the largest is 116 m wide.
- Crno Jezero (Black Lake) — a glacial lake, located on Mount Durmitor, at an elevation of 1416 m.
- Dobrilovina Monastery — an old monastery that dates back to the 17th century.
7. National Park Prokletije
The landscape of the Prokletije National Park is even more dramatic and rugged than the one of Durmitor. This is the reason why, in our opinion, Prokletije National Park is one of the best places to visit in Montenegro, and hiking in Prokletije mountains is one of the best things to do in Montenegro.
What we like the most about Prokletije is that this magnificent area is somewhat a hidden gem. It is considered one of Europe’s least explored areas.
The numerous jagged peaks, gorges, steep slopes, and river valleys make it a picture-perfect destination for all nature lovers.
Montenegro travel tips
- Visa. All European Union citizens can enter Montenegro without a visa and stay up to 90 days.
- When to go? July and August are the warmest and driest months. But it’s also the most expensive time to visit Montenegro. If you are traveling to Montenegro in July or August, book accommodation well in advance.
- Shoulder season (May-Jun & Sep-Oct) is a good time to visit Montenegro. Plenty of sunshine and average water temperatures over 20°C.
- Multiple countries in a single trip. You can combine a visit to Montenegro with a visit to Croatia. You can get a bus from Dubrovnik to Kotor. The fares are inexpensive, and the journey takes about 2-3 hours.
- Transport. Buses link all major towns and are affordable and reliable. A train is also an option. Tickets are cheap, but the network is not as widespread as the bus network.
- Car rent. For flexibility, car rental is the best option. However, be careful when driving in Montenegro, because traffic is chaotic.
- Currency. Though Montenegro is not in the EU, the official currency is the Euro.
- Mobile data. As Montenegro is not a part of the European Union, EU free mobile roaming doesn’t work in Montenegro. Consider buying a local SIM card.
