Montenegro shares borders with ‘popular-to-tourists’ Croatia and ‘slowly-becoming-more-popular’ Albania. The clear turquoise water of the Mediterranean makes it a perfect destination for summer vacations. Along with the rich culture, mountains and food scene that has similarities with the Greek and the Italian. Join us when we go to what we find to be the best places to see in Montenegro.
Photo by Radik Sitdikov on Unsplash
The Bay of Kotor – or Boka Kotorska as it’s called by the locals – is a stunning stretch along the coast. The bay is tucked between the cliffs of Orjen and Lovćen and you get the feeling that you are actually moving around in a postcard. It’s really beautiful. There are three main towns in the bay and each of them has its own personality: Kotro, Tivat, and Herceg Novi.
Kotor feels like an open-air museum, full of cobbled streets, jazz in the alleys, and ancient walls you can hike for the best views (try the St. John Castle hike if you’re up for it).
Tivat’s got this sleek, modern marina called Porto Montenegro if you’re into the yacht scene, while Herceg Novi is all about lush greenery and chill beaches. The best swimming spots are the little hidden ones along the Kotor Riviera—super peaceful and perfect for an afternoon dip.
Getting around the bay by car is actually a great way to explore at your own pace. The scenic drive that loops around the bay takes about an hour and a half without stops, but you’ll definitely want to pull over for the views (and maybe a coffee in one of the sleepy waterfront villages).
Just a heads up—some of the mountain roads can be narrow and winding, especially near Kotor, so take it slow and enjoy the ride. You can also hop on a short ferry between Kamenari and Lepetane, which saves time and gives you a nice little break with sea views.
Whether you hike up or just drive to a viewpoint on the way to Cetinje, the panoramas over the bay are worth every bit of effort.
Scenic Drive through the Durmitor National Park
To most people, Montenegro is synonymous with the coastline and the bays and caves. But inland you will find equally beautiful and dramatic landscapes with mountains, lakes and deep canyons.
One of the most unique places to go in Montenegro is the Durmitor National Park. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Dinaric Alps or Dinarides and a scenic drive through this top destination in Montenegro will make you feel tiny in the best way.
Driving through this part of Montenegro feels a bit like stepping into a post card or a movie scene. The road winds through pine forests, around glacial lakes and opens up into huge green meadows. It is hard to give the views enough credit in descriptions in writing. You should definitely experience it for yourself.
The Durmitor is 1500 m above sea level and a 150 km-long river, Tara River, cuts through the mountains and canyons. This offers some of the best water rapids in Europe. You will also find a lot of marked trails for instance the day hike to the Bobotov Kuk summit.
There is a trail called the Seven Bay Trail that will take you all the way from Budva to the town of Sveti Stefan. It is a beautiful walk but… and yes, there is a but… it takes about 5 hours in total. That includes beach dips along the way, lunch and resting on the beaches with a cold drink.
Sveti Stefan is cosy and not too touristy and probably best known for the little island that protrudes from the coast into the sea. But you should know that the island itself is actually privately owned so you cannot go there even though there is a bridge.
If you are not going to walk the Seven Bay Trail you can do the coastal journey by car and save the sweat. Just remember to still stop at the cozy coastal towns to get the full experience.
Road Trip to the Historical Capital: Cetinje
Though it is not the political center of Montenegro, Cetinje is the cultural capital. This is where you find the president’s residence, the national library, - museum, - archive and – theatre.
Cetinje is a very charming town and the city centre itself is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here you’ll find several important historical landmarks and even a walk through the town will give you a sense of the rich history it holds.
The Cetinje Monastery is an important religious site and it holds a revered Christian relic: the hand of Baptist John. But whether you are religious or not, you will find the monastery a peaceful place to visit with interesting architecture to look at.
King Nikola’s Museum is housed in the former royal castle and it gives you a glimpse into Montenegro’s royal past. It does not take long to get through but it will give you some context to the historical role of Cetinje.
National Museum of Montenegro
There are several buildings under this umbrella, including art galleries and historical collections. If you’re into learning about local culture, this is a good place to start.
Art galleries and exhibitions
Cetinje has a strong arts scene relative to its size. The town’s art academy brings in a creative energy, and there are usually small exhibitions or local artists’ work on display in public spaces. Cetinje is small, so it’s best enjoyed slowly. Walk around, take in the architecture, stop by a café, or sit in the park near the monastery. There’s no rush here.
Adventures Around Lake Skadar
Lake Skadar is the largest Balkan lake and despite that it covers an area of more than 500 square-kilometres, it’s a hidden gem in Europe. The lake is shared between Montenegro and Albania, the biggest part being Montenegrin.
The area is a nesting ground for more than 280 bird species – both endemic and migratory, which in itself makes people want to come here. Especially in May, which is the best time of the year for bird watching. There are also plenty of options if you are into outdoor adventures like hiking and bike riding.
The little lakeside village, Virpazar, is a good starting point for different types of experiences at Lake Skadar. You could for instance go on a boat trip on the marshes and sail past tiny islets with old monasteries and the oldest fortification in the country, Besac Fortress. In the summer, large parts of the water of the lake is covered with pretty water lilies.
If you drive from the coast to the lake, it will probably strike you how different this area is compared to the coast making the journey itself part of the experience.
Journey to the Northern Highlands: Kolasin and Biogradska Gora
Like the area around Lake Skadar, the northern highlands around Kolašin will offer you fresh mountain air and a break from the busy and somewhat touristy coast. Kolašin itself is a little mountain town with a cozy, laid-back feel and it is a great spot to visit any time of the year. You can both hike or relax by the river in the summer or go skiing if you come here in the winter.
While Montenegro is primarily a destination for summer vacations, you can find very nice ski resorts here as well. The biggest one is Kolašin with its 45 kilometres of slopes. It lies between 1450/1600 metres and is a very popular winter destination.
Biogradska Gora National Park is just a short drive from Kolašin. It is known for its primeval forests, and it is actually one of the last three large virgin rainforests in Europe. That is part of the reason that the national park is protected as part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
While protecting the special ecology, the park has developed infrastructure for tourists. This includes a visitors center, trails for hiking and biking, fishing-, swimming- and campsites and a restaurant. You can also buy a ticket for the open-air train that will drive you from the entrance of the park to Lake Biograd. The trip is 3,5 km long and by the lake you can rent row boats and bicycles or take a swim.
Experiencing Montenegro by car gives you the freedom and opportunity to follow your own pace and your own travel itinerary. If you arrive by plane you can rent a car and reach the best spots in Montenegro that are not necessarily covered by public transport. For instance quiet lakes, mountain viewpoints and small villages. You can take the coastal roads slowly, stop whenever a view catches your eye, or pull off into the hills for a picnic.
The easiest place to pick up a rental car is usually at Podgorica Airport. Bigger companies like Hertz, Avis, or addCar Rental operate there, and it’s worth checking ahead for availability and prices. Booking early can save you some money and make sure you get a car that fits what you’re looking for.
It’s also possible to arrive via for instance Dubrovnic in Croatia or Tirana in Albania but you should remember to check with the company if you can rent a car and take it across the border. You probably can by paying an extra fee per day.
You can help to make the car rental process in Montenegro go smoothly. Bring your reservation number (if you have booked online), passport for identification, your valid driver’s license and a credit card for the security deposit.
Be aware that most rental companies require that drivers are at least 21 years old and that they have held a license for at least two years.
Of course you should always familiarise yourself with the driving regulations when you set out to drive in a foreign country. We have gathered some of the traffic rules to ease your travel planning:
Vehicles drive in the right-hand side
City speed limit is 50 km/h, open roads 80 km/h, and highways are 100 km/h
Seatbelts are mandatory for everybody in the car
Hand-held cell phones are prohibited
Montenegro has a zero-tolerance policy for driving with alcohol in the blood (0.0%)
No road trip is complete without a solid navigation setup. Most rental companies will offer or rent out GPS units if you ask, but honestly, using your phone is usually easier. Google Maps works well for directions and travel time estimates, but it’s a good idea to have a backup in case you end up in areas with spotty signal (which can happen in the mountains). Navigation apps like Maps.me or Organic Maps let you download offline maps for free, and they come in handy when you least expect it.
Montenegro is small, but it packs in a lot of variety. Whether you're driving along the coast, winding through mountain passes, or taking your time in quiet towns, there’s something about seeing it all at your own pace that sticks with you.
It’s not about ticking off landmarks, but more about the way the landscape shifts from the sea to the highlands — and how the people, the food, and the rhythm of each place change with it. So if you’ve got a few days and a car, don’t rush. Follow the smaller roads, stop when something catches your eye, and let the country unfold as you go.
