MONTENEGRO ITINERARY – 7 PERFECT DAYS

Until a few months ago, I knew nothing about Montenegro and never considered it as a potential summer destination. But, as it often goes, It took one nice reel on Instagram to get inspired and after a few quick researches, I realized how beautiful Montenegro was! Long kept in the shadow of its more popular neighbor Croatia, Montenegro offers equally gorgeous seaside, medieval villages, and stunning nature while receiving only a fraction of the tourist crowd. We decided to spend 7 days in the country and I put together a Montenegro itinerary that would take us to some of the most beautiful corners of the country. While a lot of Montenegro itineraries out there focus on the Kotor Bay and the Adriatic coast, I have also included some beautiful countryside and mountain stops.

From exploring cute little villages along the Kotor Bay to a beautiful boat ride on Lake Skadar and hiking in the Dormitor National Park, I hope you will find everything you need to plan an amazing holiday in this Montenegro itinerary.

7-DAY MONTENEGRO ITINERARY

DAY 1 – KOTOR & LOVCEN NATIONAL PARK

The first day of this Montenegro itinerary is dedicated to exploring Kotor and the beautiful Lovcen National Park.

Start your day bright and early with a hike to Kotor Fortress. Hiking to the St John’s Fortress is one of the most popular things to do in Kotor and for good reason: the Kotor Fortress sits 280 m above sea level, giving you the most beautiful view over the village and the bay! With around 1350 steps to reach the top, the hike is quite strenuous and takes anywhere between 30 min to 1 hour to ascend. We started the hike at 7 am, which was perfect as the sun was behind the mountains for the whole duration of our hike, sparing us the scorching heat of a sunny August day! On the other hand, it meant not much light for good pictures, as most of the village is in the shade. So you choose what is best for you!

Once you are done admiring the view of Kotor from the fortress, make your way down, and enjoy an early morning exploration of Kotor Old Town. Kotor Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a beautiful dive in history with narrow, cobbled streets, small churches, and Venetian architecture, all set against a stunning mountain background. While you wander around the old town, here are a few things you shouldn’t miss:

• Visit the 12th-century Catholic St Tryphon’s cathedral, as well as the many smaller Orthodox churches around.
• Enjoy a scenic stroll along the City Walls, offering picturesque views of the old town and the bay.
• Visit the Kotor Bazar: Okay, calling it a bazar is a bit much, but it is a cute little corner of town with lots of souvenir stands.
• Kotor’s Farmer’s Market: Just outside of the old town walls, facing the harbor you can find the daily traditional market, selling everything from fruits & vegetables, to cheese, charcuterie, and even some clothing.
• Say hi to all the cats in Kotor! If you are a cat lover like me, this could easily occupy you for a day!

The earlier you explore the old town the better, as from 9 am onward, huge cruise ships unload their passengers and the narrow alleys soon fill up with large tourist groups!

If you thought you had a great view of the bay hiking the Kotor Fortress, wait until you get to Lovcen National Park, a stunning mountain range just outside of Kotor, offering a stunning escape for nature enthusiasts. With its dramatic peaks, dense forests, and panoramic views, it’s a heaven for hikers, climbers, and those seeking to escape the Kotor’s crowd.

Sitting on top of Mount Lovćen, a towering peak dominating the landscape, is the park’s most popular attraction: the Njegoš Mausoleum, dedicated to the Montenegrin poet and ruler, Petar II Petrović-Njegoš. While there is not much to see at the Mausoleum itself, the panoramic terrace offers stunning views of the National Park, the Adriatic Sea, and the Bay of Kotor.

There are several hiking trails to reach the top of Mount Lovcen, or you can drive up. Just be prepared for a long (±40 min) nail-biting, winding road (including 25 serpentines), rarely large enough to comfortably accommodate cars driving in both directions. I thought the drive was pretty terrifying, but the views along the way are stunning!!

DAY 2 – HERCEG NOVI & THE SAVINA WINERY

The 2nd day of this Montenegro itinerary is dedicated to exploring the coastline of Kotor Bay, all the way to Herceg Novi.

Herceg Novi is a charming town located on the Western entrance of the Bay of Kotor, around 90 min drive from Kotor.. Thanks to a turbulent history of various occupations (from the Ottoman Empire to the Venetians and more), the city offers a rich blend of diverse and picturesque architectural styles. Herceg Novi’s old town is a very pleasant labyrinth of narrow streets lined with historic buildings, cafes, and cute boutiques. Here are a few things to see in town::

• Explore the Forte Mare fortress, a Venetian stronghold that offers panoramic views of the bay.
• Check out the Sahat Kula clock tower. Built under Ottoman rule, it used to announce the prayer time.
• Visit the St Michael the Archangel Orthodox church.
• Walk alongside the Pet Danica Walkway, a charming promenade alongside the sea lined up with restaurants and a few beach clubs. (although there is no sandy beach, most beach clubs are made of concrete slabs by the sea with plenty of sun loungers).
• Climb up to the Kanli Kula Fortress, to discover its historical amphitheater (still used today for concerts and performances) and catch some panoramic views over the town.

Once you are done visiting the town, head out to the Savina Winery. This family-owned winery located just outside of Herceg Novi offers superb views over the bay of Kotor and delicious wine tastings. You can book for the wine tasting only or add on a quick tour of the winery to discover more about the history of the property, the grapes, and their production process. We chose the latter and really enjoyed the visit, accompanied by a friendly and knowledgeable guide. We tried 4 different wines, paired with delicious local bites (cheese, prosciutto, pie, olives, etc.). It was such an amazing time, and I can’t recommend it enough. Savina Winery accepts guests upon reservation only, and the wine tasting + tour costs 55 € / person.

While you are around, you can also visit the nearby Savina Monastery.

DAY 3 – PERAST AND THE NEARBY ISLANDS

Perast is my highlight of this Montenegro itinerary. Located only 12 km north of Kotor, Perast has a completely different vibe: much quieter as it doesn’t get the cruise ship’s visitors and chicer with its numerous seafront palaces!

The town’s Venetian architecture is one of the highlights, with its narrow, cobbled streets, historic buildings, and charming squares. Perast’s rich history is evident in its many churches and monasteries, including the Church of St. Nikola, one of the oldest in the Bay of Kotor. Perast is also home to numerous well-preserved Venetian-era palaces.

Here are a few of the best things to do while in Perast:

• Stroll along the water: Unlike Kotor, Perast is not a walled town, opening directly onto the water instead. Naturally, one of the best things to do while in town is to stroll along the bay and stop by one of the many restaurants sitting directly on the water.
• Visit the Catholic Church of St Nicholas, and climb up the bell tower for a beautiful view of the bay
• Hop on a boat to visit the two islets right in front of Perast; Our Lady of The Rocks and St George. You can stop on the artificial island of Our Lady of the Rocks to visit the small church and soak in the stunning views of Perast. St George Island is off-limit for tourists, but most boat tours will take you around the island for a quick look. We paid 15 € / person for full-day parking + boat tour.
• Catch the sunset. Because of the high mountains all around, there is not much sunrise and sunset in the bay of Kotor, except in Perast. Facing mostly west, and right in front of the channel between the 2 parts of the bay, Perast gets gorgeous golden lights at the end of the day.
• Have dinner on the waterfront: If you are here for sunset, it only makes sense to stay for dinner and enjoy a cozy time in one of the many restaurants on the water. Try the Conte Hotel or the Heritage Grand Hotel restaurant for a chic and delicious dinner with a view.
• Finally, you can consider visiting Perast only ‘Beach Club”, the Pirate Bar, located close to the West entrance of town. I didn’t visit it myself, but it is pretty much the only place in town if you want to swim.

DAY 4 – LAKE SKADAR & GODINJE

On day 4, we are heading East towards the Albanian border to discover the beautiful Lake Skadar.

Lake Skadar, the largest lake in the Balkan Peninsula is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its diverse ecosystems, rich biodiversity, and stunning scenery. The lake’s diverse landscape includes wetlands, forests, and islands, providing a habitat for a wide range of plants and animal species, including herons, pelicans, eagles, otters, etc. The most popular way to experience Lake Skadar is by taking a boat tour. 

We booked a private tour starting at 8 am from Virpazar and explored the lake for 2 hours with a very sweet local guide! It was great to do the tour so early as we were almost alone on the lake, and the morning light was beautiful. I loved the traditional wooden boat, and honestly, I only wish I had booked a longer one (there are 3h, 4h & 6h options) to explore further parts of the lake and check out some of the islands and monasteries dotting the lake. Boat tours depart for the small town of Virpazar. I strongly suggest coming early as when we returned to Virpazar around 10 am it was already very crowded with many boats heading out to the lake.

FIND THE MOST SUITABLE BOAT TOUR TO EXPLORE LAKE SKADAR

Virpazar and the surrounding region are also well-known for their wineries. We discovered that on the spot and decided to organize a little impromptu wine tasting somewhere in the area. We made our way to the village of Godinje the first “heritage village” declared and protected by the state of Montenegro, and walked to the Garnet Winery.

The Garnet winery has been a family business for 13 generations and today produces around 4000 bottles/year (so a tiny tiny vineyard)! Even though we showed up unannounced, Misko the owner was absolutely adorable and welcomed us for a little wine tasting. We “micro-tasted” 4 of his wines: chardonnay, orange, rose, and the traditional red (from the local Vranac grapes), and discussed the production process, the history of the village, legends of the region, etc. I strongly recommend being better organized than us and booking a food and wine tasting at Garnet Winery in advance to enjoy the full wine-tasting experience, including some delicious local bites.

DAY 5 – BIODRAGSKO NATIONAL PARK & TARA RIVER BRIDGE

After 4 days mostly in the South of Montenegro, it is time to drive North and head to some beautiful National Parks. While you could use this day to drive straight to the Durmitor National Park (around 3 3-hour drive from Kotor or Budva), I strongly recommend you make a detour by Biodragsko National Park.

The smallest of Montenegro National Park, Biogradsko National Park, is a stunning park with an untouched forest with 500-year-old trees, large mountain ranges, and seven glacier lakes. The most famous and easily accessible is the beautiful emerald-green Lake Biograd. One of the best ways to discover the lake is to walk the easy 3km trail that goes all around. Another option is to rent a small wooden canoe, and to have a romantic time on the lake itself! This gave me major The Notebook vibes! Unfortunately, it was raining when we visited so we didn’t get a chance to take the boat but we did walk the trail around the lake and loved it.

Lake Biograd is located 3-hour drive from Kotor and 2h30 from Budva. Entrance fee: 4€ / person. There is a restaurant by the lake.

The next stop on this Montenegro itinerary is the famous Tara River Bridge. The Tara River, known for its crystal-clear waters and dramatic canyon, is one of Montenegro’s most stunning natural features. The second deepest canyon in the world (after the US Grand Canyon), the Tara Canyon offers breathtaking views of towering cliffs, lush forests, and cascading waterfalls.

The Tara River Bridge, an impressive concrete arch bridge, spans the canyon at a height of 150 meters. This iconic structure built in 1940 offers panoramic views of the canyon. A popular activity at the bridge is to zip line across the canyon!! We were not that brave but it did look epic. While at the bridge you can also book some water rafting activities to explore the Tara River. The Tara River Bridge is located a little over an hour west of Lake Biograd.

From Tara River Bridge, drive 30 min to Žabljak, the “base camp” village for most visitors of the Durmitor National Park.

DAY 6 – DURMITOR NATIONAL PARK

Durmitor National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a breathtaking mountain range located in northern Montenegro. With its towering peaks, deep canyons, and pristine lakes, it’s a paradise for nature lovers and hikers.

The most popular destination in Durmitor National Park is Black Lake (Crno Jezero). Black Lake is a glacial lake surrounded by towering mountains and lush forests, with (unlike what the name might suggest) wonderful turquoise water! The Black Lake is actually made of two smaller lakes. In the summer, the water level is low enough to cross between the 2 lakes, while in winter, as the water level rises, both lakes connect into a larger one.

The best way to discover Black Lake is to follow the 3km hiking trail that circles the lake. Sometimes close to the water, sometimes slightly elevated vs. the lake, the hiking trail offers absolutely stunning views all along. While the path is pretty easy, I still recommend wearing good shoes (sneakers are okay) as a few passages are tricky. You can also rent wooden boats, or decide to take a plunge in the water!

If you have time, you can also hike the 3 Lakes trail, which will bring you from Black Lake to the beautiful and untouched Snake Lake (Zminje Jezero) and Barno Lake. The whole trail is around 8km return.

I recommend visiting Black Lake early in the morning to avoid the visitors’ crowds and to have enough time in the afternoon to do the Dormitor Ring drive. The entrance fee to the Durmitor National Park is 5 € / person, and the parking costs 3 € / hour (which you need to pay upon arrival).

We dedicated the rest of the day to driving the Durmitor Ring. The Durmitor Ring is a scenic route that encircles Durmitor National Park, offering incredible views of the mountain range and its surrounding landscapes. This circular route is a great way to discover the park if you enjoy road trips. As you drive along the Durmitor Ring, you’ll be treated to stunning views of mountains, lush forests, herds of sheep, and crystal-clear lakes. The road also passes through picturesque mountain villages offering a great opportunity to stop for a local lunch. We started the drive from Žabljak followed the brown sign for Panoramic Route 2 and drove the Durmitor Ring counterclockwise.

DAY 7 – DURMITOR NATIONAL PARK

Sadly this is already the last day of this week-long Montenegro itinerary! This last day is dedicated to the best thing you can do in Durmitor National Park: hiking! With more than 150 km of pretty well-marked trails, Durmitor National Park is a dream for hikers. There are hikes for every level, from easy few km walks to serious mountain climbs.

Here are some of the most popular hikes to do in Durmitor:

• Bobotov Kuk is the most popular but also one of the most difficult hikes in the park. Towering at 2,523 m high, Bobotov Kuk is the highest mountain in Montenegro. There are several trails to reach the top of Bobtov Kuk but the most popular departs from Sedlo Pass and covers a distance of around 10 km return. At an easy pace, the hikes should take 5 to 6 hours. You can find more details from fellow travel bloggers here and here.
• Ćurevac Peak – 2.4km return. This is an easy hike up to a viewpoint (1625m) with stunning views of the deepest part of the Tara Canyon. Follow the paved road toward Tepca that branches off the Panoramic Road, and drive 3,5km to the parking lot.
• Jezara trail – 6 km return. We heard about this trail when driving the Durmitor Ring. Easily accessible, with low elevation gain and only 3 hours to walk the entire loop, this seems to be the perfect option for us considering we are not regular hikers and the weather was a bit too unpredictable to get onto something longer. The hike starts here and makes a loop around 4 lakes (Suva lokva, Modro Jezero, Srablje Jezero, and Valovito Jezero). The lakes are quite dry during the summer but the hike is still superb and most importantly we didn’t see a single other hiker! It was an absolutely beautiful moment spent in peaceful nature. I recommend starting the hike early (8 am or before) and the sun will be behind you most of the way (perfect for pictures!)

POPULAR THINGS I DIDN’T INCLUDE IN THIS MONTENEGRO ITINERARY AND WHY

• Budva: While I was expecting a rather small village like Kotor, the so-called “party town” of Montenegro is a massive seaside resort town with high-rise buildings, massive beaches covered in sun loungers, and yes an okay old town. It is not my vibe at all and I wouldn’t recommend it as part of a Montenegro itinerary. If you really want to check it out, dedicate at most a few hours to visiting the old town and stop for lunch or dinner at Konoba Punta, where we had a surprisingly delicious meal.
• Stari Bar: One hour south of Budva, the remains of Bar’s old town are interesting to visit if you are passionate about history or if you are staying in Bar. It takes around 1h to explore the ruins of the city. I wouldn’t recommend driving south only to see Stari Bar, but visit it if you are nearby (entrance fee: 5€ / person).
• Sveti Stephan: Probably one of the most photographed places in Montenegro, the small island of Sveti Stephan is indeed pretty cute, but the town and nearby beach are incredibly crowded and it is nearly impossible to park. The best is to just take a look at it from the highway, snap a picture, and off you go! 😀
• The Blue Cave: While the Blue Cave looked absolutely stunning it also looked like a majorly crowded tourist destination. I tried finding a private boat tour to avoid the crowd but prices were outrageous, so that was a no-no for me!
• Ostrog Monastery: The most important Orthodoc site in Montenegro, the Ostrog Monastery was founded in the 17th century and built / carved into the face of an impressive cliff. There are beautiful paintings and mosaic inside the Monastery but I don’t think it is worth the 2h drive from Kotor unless you are going for religious reasons of course!

PRACTICAL INFORMATION TO ORGANIZE YOUR MONTENEGRO HOLIDAYS

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT MONTENEGRO?

• Summer (June-September): This is when we visited Montenegro (3rd week of Aug). This is the peak tourist season, offering warm weather, long sunny days, and plenty of outdoor activities. While in Kotor we experienced extremely hot days that made visiting anything mid-day quite painful, we also got some rain. In Durmitor National Park the weather is even more unpredictable. On the first day, we had some heavy rains and it was really cold!! On the 2nd day we had the most beautiful sunny weather, ideal for hiking. So just in case, always pack a sweater / light jacket, and a pair of long trousers.
• Spring (April-May) and Autumn (September-October): These shoulder seasons offer pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices. It’s a great time to enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and cycling and if I were to go back to Montenegro this is what I would target!
• Winter (December-February): Winter in Montenegro is great for skiing in the Durmitor National Park!

Ultimately, the best time to visit Montenegro is when it aligns with your personal preferences and travel style!

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED IN MONTENEGRO?

A week / 7 days in Montenegro is a fantastic introduction to this beautiful country. You can easily fit the coastal cities, some beach time, and a couple of days in the mountains in your itinerary. However, if you want to truly savor Montenegro’s natural beauty, take it slow and spend more time in nature, a minimum of 10 days is great. With more time, you can leisurely explore other national parks, hike through picturesque trails, and discover hidden gems off the beaten path!

This Montenegro itinerary is made for 7 days. If you have 10 days, this is what I suggest:

• 3 nights on the Bay of Kotor: Exploring the Bay as per the 7-day itinerary including a half-day trip to Lake Skadar.
• 2 nights around Lustica Bay: Explore the Eastern side of the Kotor Bay and the Adriatic Coast, including visiting the village of Rose, Lustica Bay, the Blue Cave etc.
• 4 nights in Durmitor National Park: That will allow you to go on longer hikes, dedicate a full day to the Durmitor Ring, kayak down the Tara River, spend a full day in Biodragsko National Park etc.

On the other hand, if you only have 5 days, I would recommend 2 nights on the bay of Kotor and 2 nights in Durmitor or to spend your entire time based on the Kotor Bay if you prefer a coastal holiday.

HOW TO GO TO MONTENEGRO?

Assuming you are flying in, there are several options to reach Montenegro:

• Tivat Airport: Located on the Bay of Kotor, around a 35-minute from Kotor town, Tivat Airport is a very convenient option if you are staying in the coastal regions of Montenegro. Around 30 routes are flying in and out of Montenegro, mainly serving Europe, Turkiye, and a couple of Middle East destinations (Dubai / Tel Aviv / Kuwait). Schedule and flight frequency vary a lot between the summer and winter months. If you live in Dubai, Fly Dubai has a direct route between Dubai & Tivat, 4 times/week during summer.
• Podgorica Airport: Located around a 2h drive from Kotor, or 1h from Budva, Podgorica Airport is Montenegro’s main airport, serving around 40 destinations in Europe and the Middle East (during summer). With a greater variety of air routes, especially during the off-peak season, it is also an excellent way to reach Montenegro.
• Dubrovnik (Croatia) Airport: Dubrovnik Airport is only 70 km / 2h drive from Kotor and offers many more flight options, including flights from New York. A bus from Dubrovnik to Kotor costs around 30€ each way.

DO YOU NEED A VISA TO VISIT MONTENEGRO?

There are 4 types of visas to visit Montenegro: Airport transit (A), Transit (B), Short stay visa (C), and Long stay visa (D). If you are staying 1 week in Montenegro you fall under the Short Stay visa (C) as described below by the Montenegro government website.

Short stay visa (C) may be issued for one, two, or multiple entries into Montenegro for tourist, business, personal or other purposes. Continuous stay or the total duration of consecutive stays may not exceed 90 days in the period of 6 months, counting from the date of first entry. The validity period of Visa C for multiple entries is up to one year. Exceptionally this type of visa may be issued for a longer period of validity, but no longer than five years. Short stay visa may be issued to a group of foreigners (collective visa). The validity period of a collective visa cannot exceed 30 days and it may be affixed to a group passport.

However, a lot of countries benefit from visa-free stays up to 90 days including Schengen countries, the US, the UK, etc. UAE residents also benefit from special seasonal requirements. As always, it is safer to double-check your visa requirements at the time of travel. Here is the complete list of visa requirements by country.

HOW TO GO AROUND MONTENEGRO?

The best way to visit Montenegro is with a rental car. This will give you the flexibility to explore the country at your own pace, and to easily reach further destinations like Durmitor National Park. During our stay in Montenegro, we paid around 70€ / day for a Renault Captur car that we picked up in Tivat and returned in Podgorica.

A few things to keep in mind while driving in Montenegro:

• Highways and roads are generally in good condition and easy to drive
• Due to the very mountainous nature of the country, you might have to drive up and down very narrow and steep roads. That is particularly true in Lovcen National Park (and its famous Serpentine Road), in Durmitor and to drive up the Ostrog Monastery. These drives ARE scary. If you are not fully at ease with manual/stick driving, rent an automatic car.
• There can be a lot of traffic jams. We experienced it in particular between Perast & Herceg Novi, and between Budva and Bar. Always plan for more time than what Google Maps indicates.
• Parking can be very limited and quite expensive. Avoid driving into the town, or too close to tourist sights especially if you start seeing cars parked along the road. Just park as soon as soon as you can even if that means walking a bit more. You might also avoid parking fees that way. I think we must have dropped at least 50€ in parking only during our 7 days in Montenegro.
• We used Google Maps to drive around Montenegro and it drove us crazy (pun intended)! At least 3 times we had to take narrow, gravel countryside roads definitely not suitable for our rental car, when there was a perfectly good highway nearby. At some point, we ended up on a farmer’s property! Maybe try Waze instead!

USEFUL RESOURCES TO PLAN YOUR MONTENEGRO ITINERARY

From booking a flight to finding some beautiful cultural tours, or getting an e-sim ahead of your trip to stay connected, I have gathered here all the super useful websites I always use to organize my travels.

Did you know? If you purchase something through the links above I will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. These commissions help me maintain this website and continue to provide valuable information, for free! Thank you for your support 🙂

Here you go, this is my complete Montenegro travel itinerary. I hope you found it inspiring and useful to organize your next holiday to Montenegro! As always do not hesitate to leave a comment below if you have any questions or to reach out on Instagram.

Love, Emma