Last Updated: January 3, 2024
The title “10 best places in Montenegro you must visit”, is somewhat an understatement. We spent 3 weeks in this wonderful country and I’m awestruck by how beautiful it is. I’ll expand below on each and every place in more detail and I’m sure that, by the time you’ll finish reading the entire post, you’ll find yourself checking flights to Montenegro.
This guide is focused on the best must-visit places in Montenegro that you should not miss. Also, recommendations on where to stay and a few useful tips which are good to know.
10 BEST PLACES IN MONTENEGRO YOU MUST VISIT
KOTOR
Kotor is one of the most beautiful places in Montenegro and it definitely lives up to the hype! Its sheer beauty will charm you as you enter the old town and will continue to do so, at every turn you take. Cars are not allowed in the old town, which makes it a perfect place to explore on foot. Get lost in the winding narrow streets and you’ll feel as if you’ve teleported to a medieval era.
Keep in mind that Montenegro gets very hot during the summer. Thankfully, the old towns’ maze-like alleys provide a natural shade, so you can explore Kotor any time of the day.
You might be wondering which is the best spot in town for panoramic views over the Bay of Kotor. For that, you’ll need to climb a mere 1000+ steps up to the Kotor San Giovanni Fortress Walls for some of the most picturesque views you’ve ever seen. I underestimated the difficulty level of the climb and I’d like you to avoid making the same mistake as I did. So here are the 3 most important things to know before you go hiking the ladder of Kotor;
- wear comfortable shoes
- bring cold water
- hike it either in the sunrise or during the sunset
Also, I’d suggest that you bring with you a small towel or paper napkins to wipe off the sweat. Remember, you hike up a sheer mountain! With that being said, the views from the top are so beautiful that it is totally worth it. Kotor San Giovanni Fortress Walls really is one of the must-see places in Montenegro.
USEFUL INFO: The entrance is 8€. Also, there are a few spots where the trees provide shade so you can rest.
PERAST
If you think that Kotor is beautiful, wait till you see the neighboring town of Perast.
Perast is an idyllic old town located roughly 30-minutes by car from Kotor. It is a sleepy town compared to Kotor, with a little over 300 citizens. Despite its size, the town has many historical buildings such as palaces and churches that are worth your attention. The real showstoppers however are the picturesque tiny islands of St. George and Our Lady of the Rocks.
As much as I loved Kotor, I’ll have to admit that Perast was the highlight of my visit to the Montenegrin riviera. Perast is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places in Montenegro.
OUR LADY OF THE ROCKS
You can take a boat tour to Our Lady of the Rocks islet, which I strongly recommend. Except for the church, be sure to also visit the museum. There you will find some interesting collections that will give you an insight into Perasts’ history. The island of St. George unfortunately is not accessible. However, the boat will pass around it so you can have a closer look.
GOOD TO KNOW
The boat tour costs 5€ per person. Avoid wearing just your beachwear when you enter the church. If you don’t apply the church’s dress code, you might be denied entrance.
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TIVAT
Tivat was our base during our visit to the northern part of the Montenegrin Riviera. We found very affordable accommodation 15’ from the center and 10’ from the bus stop which was ideal.
We stayed in Tivat for five days, which I believe was just enough time to explore everything that this beautiful coastal town has to offer. There are plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from and also a small beach where you can work on your tan. The marina makes for a lovely spot to go for an evening walk. Then you can choose one of the numerous restaurants located right on it, to enjoy a nice dinner.
If you’re looking for a high-end hotel to immerse yourself in luxury then look no further than the Regent Porto Montenegro. The hotel is located at a prime location right on the marina with wonderful views over the Adriatic.
HERCEG NOVI
This was a pleasant surprise to us. Herceg Novi was not in our plans to visit but after coming across a few pictures of it on Instagram, we thought we’d check it out. I couldn’t be happier that we did as this gem of a town is totally worth your time.
Herceg Novi is located in the northernmost part of Montenegro just a 20-minutes ride by car from the Croatian borders. The town is very charming with nothing to envy from its neighboring popular towns of Kotor and Perast. To get a good feel for the city, start out with a visit to the Old Town and then descent towards its waterfront promenade. These two spots are undoubtedly the best places to be in Herceg Novi. As you start exploring the town, you’ll notice that there are steps everywhere, connecting the narrow alleys. The same pattern follows as you make your way to the waterfront. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes cause it is a calf burners!
BEST PLACE TO STAY IN HERCEG NOVI, MONTENEGRO
There are many cute BnBs to choose from in Herceg Novi. With that being said, it’s worth mentioning that most of them are clattered in between small streets amongst private properties. That doesn’t allow for much privacy and sometimes it can get a bit loud. We opted for the Lazure Hotel which is located a few minutes away from the old town. When I’m choosing a place to stay, the most important things for me are location, facilities, and cleanliness. Lazure managed to exceed our expectations on all three of them and so I can’t recommend it enough.
The hotel also features an excellent spa with an indoor swimming pool. The last bit might sound irrelevant but seeing the weather wasn’t kind to us during our visit. Indoor swimming was my favorite place to be when it was raining all day.
BUDVA
Budva is a hotspot for holidaymakers who want to combine the beach with a bustling nightlife. If I’m being honest, this was one of my least favorite places in Montenegro. Mainly because I’m not particularly fond of very crowded places.
It is, however, a very good place if you’re visiting with family and you’re looking to spend fun family days by the sea. There are plenty of great activities that you can do so there won’t be a dull moment.
In the evenings, head over to Budva’s old town for a leisurely walk. There is an abundance of wine bars and restaurants where you can enjoy a glass of Vranac, the famous Montenegrin wine.
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SVETI STEFAN
Just a few minutes away from Budva, lies Sveti Stefan, one of the most beautiful places in Montenegro! It is a small town but you can easily spend an entire day here swimming in the crystal clear waters. When you’re ready to leave the beach, take the winding stairs up to the center of the town. It’s not a long way up but it’s good to have some water with you in case the heat gets too much.
Same as with the rest of the Riviera, here too the restaurants are a bit pricey. Also, they tend to get very busy, so there’s a chance you might wait for your food a little longer than desired. We had a rather unfortunate experience when we sat at a restaurant for dinner and we had to wait for 50’ for a pizza. An incident that surely didn’t influence my affection for this town. I could gaze at the picturesque islet of Sveti Stefan for hours and never get tired of it.
My recommendation, stick around until sunset for your chance to see it bathed in golden light. Once you witness that, I’m sure you’ll agree that Sveti Stefan is one of the best places to visit in Montenegro.
WHERE TO STAY IN SVETI STEFAN
We stayed at the Villa Geba during our visit to Sveti Stefan and let me tell you, it was an unforgettable experience! Villa Geba is nestled on the hilltop, right opposite the Sveti Stefan peninsula. This luxurious hotel offers top-notch service and some of the most beautiful rooms I’m ever seen. As you walk outside to your terrace, you forget all about that and the show steals the mesmerizing views over the Sveti Stefan islet. I can’t recommend this place enough!
BIOGRADSKA GORA NATIONAL PARK
Halfway through our stay in Montenegro, we decided to swap the beach for its marvelous mountains. Seeing that we had the luxury of time, I was so eager to explore a few of the National Parks and spend some time in nature. Our first stop was Biogradska Gora National Park, as it was recommended by many as one of the most beautiful places in Montenegro. We found a cute BnB in Kolasin, which is 30-minutes by car from the National Park. The close proximity to Biogradska Gora has made Kolasin a popular destination amongst visitors. There are plenty of BnBs and small hotels to choose from should you decide to visit.
If you don’t have a car, there are a few ways to get to Biogradska Gora. One option is to catch the bus, which will leave you at the entrance of the National Park. From there, you’ll need to hike approximately 45-minutes to reach the lake. Alternatively, you can grab a taxi from Kolasin, which is what we did. The ride costs 25€ and it takes 30-minutes all the way to the lake. If you choose the latter, be sure to negotiate the price. The driver originally wanted to charge 30€ which we thought was a bit too much.
I was stricken by the beauty of Biogradska Gora!
I felt as if I walked into a fairytale, surrounded by lush greenery and glacier lakes. The park is nestled between mountains and it is said that some of the trees are over 500 years old.
We hiked for a few hours, stopping frequently to take in the scenery. After a few hours, we sat at the restaurant to rest and enjoyed a drink.
TIP: The restaurant has an excellent location and wonderful views over the lake. Regrettably, they lacked service and the food was below average. I’d highly suggest that you bring with you a few snacks so you can have a nice picnic by the lake instead.
DURMITOR NATIONAL PARK
Durmitor National Park was also pretty high on my checklist. It is one of the most popular national parks in Montenegro and an absolute must-see!
The best way to see Durmitor National Park is by staying a few days in Zabljak. The town is adjacent to the park so you can reach it in 30-minutes on foot. The town attracts plenty of visitors all year round due to its close proximity to the park. It is quite developed with a plethora of restaurants and bars to choose from.
When you’re ready to explore Durmitor National Park, just walk down the main road of the town, and after a couple of kilometers, you’ll find yourself at the entrance of the park. Because the route is on the main road, it’s quite busy and it’s easily walkable so you’ll enjoy every bit of it.
The park is gorgeous and so you might wanna spend an entire day here. You can hike at your own pace, picnic, and swim at the Black Lake.
LAKE SKADAR
This location was our last stop in Montenegrin nature before we headed back to the Riviera.
Lake Skadar is Balkan’s largest lake and it is most certainly one of the best places to visit in Montenegro.
The best way to see Lake Skadar is by touring the area on a boat cruise. Most of the boats depart from the small fishing village of Virpazar. You can join a boat tour with a group or you can choose a private one. We opted for the latter as we wanted to fully enjoy the experience and take nice pictures sans the crowds.
The landscape is nothing short of spectacular! The panoramic boat ride offers a unique chance to watch the extraordinary birds and water lilies in bloom.
BEST PLACE TO STAY IN VIRPAZAR, MONTENEGRO
Just a few minutes away from Virpazar, you’ll find Hoopoe Glamping, a hidden sanctuary perfect to call home for a few days. We stayed here 2 nights and it was exactly what I needed before starting our hectic days at the Riviera.
Hoopoe Glamping is situated on a peaceful piece of land a little out of Virpazar and it is heaven if you’re looking for alternative accommodation. I loved the fact they focus more on quality than quantity. Part of the reason why they have only 4 safari tents and one restaurant. Its focus is to introduce its guests to a sustainable way of living, eating organic, and learning how to be more present. Surrounded by nature and with no WiFi in our tent to distract us, we were able to slow down and enjoy a few days in total relaxation.
USEFUL INFORMATION
The private boat costs 25€ per hour per boat. There is also a 4€ fee for the National Park which you need to pay before going on your boat tour. Do not miss a boat tour in Lake Skadar as this is one of the best things to do in Montenegro!
CONCLUSION
The above is a generic guide on the best places in Montenegro that you must visit. The country has much more to offer, plenty of beautiful locations to explore, and fun activities to do. Many people go to Montenegro for its picturesque towns located along its Riviera. I do recommend it, highly. But, my suggestion is, to dedicate some time to also exploring the extraordinary national parks and the adjacent little towns. This will give you a chance to see the rugged side of the country, which is exceptionally charming.
