Biogradska Gora is one of Montenegro’s five national parks, attracting tens of thousands of tourists every year. While I wouldn’t call it the most breathtaking or spectacular park in the country, it’s much easier to reach from the coast compared to its competitors. Read on to learn everything a traveler needs to know about Biogradska Gora National Park.
Table of contents:
- Biogradska Gora National Park: A Brief History and Key Facts
- Opening Hours, Prices, Location, and How to Get There: Essential Information
- Things to Do in Biogradska Gora National Park
- Travel Tips for Visitors
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Biogradska Gora National Park: A Brief History and Key Facts
Biogradska Gora National Park (Biogradska-Gora) is named after the highest mountain in this part of Montenegro.
- Established in 1952.
- One of the smallest national parks in the country, covering just 54 sq. km.
- Flanked by the rivers Lim and Tara.
- Located at an elevation of 800 to 1,800 meters above sea level.
- Home to over 200 bird species, 50 animal species, 350 insect species, and more than 80 species of butterflies.
- Features a network of glacial lakes of varying sizes, though most are too remote for tourists to reach.
- The park’s main attraction, Biogradsko Lake, is home to salmon, trout, Arctic char, and brown trout—more on fishing later.
Opening Hours, Prices, Location, and How to Get There: Essential Information
Although Biogradska Gora may seem far from the coast, reaching it by car is surprisingly quick and easy.
- Coordinates of Biogradska Gora Center & Biogradsko Lake: 42.90069791036496, 19.5955493725086
- Entrance Gate & Ticket Booth Coordinates: 42.915671816184286, 19.577750844342425
- Official Website: nparkovi.me/np-biogradska-gora/
- Opening Hours: The park itself is open 24/7, year-round—even in winter. There are designated areas for camper vans and tents. However, the ticket booth and entrance gate are open daily from 9 AM to 8 PM.
Interesting:
It’s unclear how car access is managed at night when the ticket booth is closed and the gate is down. Tourists are present around the clock—daytime visitors without overnight plans and nighttime campers or RV travelers.
There’s no direct public transport to the park. In theory, you could ask the driver of a Podgorica-Kolašin bus to drop you off at the turnoff near the park entrance. However, from that drop-off point, it’s still a 3.6 km uphill walk with a 400-meter elevation gain to reach Biogradsko Lake.
Driving from Podgorica is a breeze via the A1 toll highway (€3 for cars), followed by a short 10 km drive on regional road No. 2. You can reach the park in about an hour.
Biogradska Gora National Park Prices:
- Entrance Fee: €4 per person per day (cars enter for free).
- Boat Rental: €10 per hour.
- Kayak Rental: €3 per hour (single), €5 per hour (double).
- Mountain Bike Rental: €3 per hour, €8 per day.
- Tent Rental: €8 per day.
- Camping Spot: €3 per day.
- Camper Van Spot: €20 per day.
- Fishing License: €20 per day (catch-and-release, bring your own gear).
About fishing in Montenegro: from the shore, from a boat, in national parks.
Things to Do in Biogradska Gora National Park
The park’s price list already hints at the activities available, but let’s go into more detail.
- 1. Walk Around Biogradsko Lake – The Eco-Health Trail
- This scenic 3.4 km loop runs right along the lake, featuring benches, informational signs, and even interactive learning games—such as identifying animal tracks or birds.
- The walk takes about an hour at a relaxed pace.
- 2. Rent a Boat or Kayak on the Lake
- A peaceful, romantic way to enjoy the stunning surroundings. Renting a boat for one hour is plenty, as the lake is quite small.
- 3. Explore Mountain Trails and Scenic Viewpoints
- The park has 7-8 marked hiking routes, though most start far from Biogradsko Lake. Detailed maps are available on the official website.
- 4. Go Mountain Biking
- Biogradska Gora offers a 55 km cycling route designed for mountain bikes. When renting a bike, staff will provide a route map.
- Tourist Office Coordinates: 42.90058075480591, 19.595825587763034. This is where you can buy souvenirs, rent a kayak or bike.
- 5. Hike to Pešića Lake for an Overnight Adventure
- For those seeking a multi-day trek, the trail to Pešića Lake is a great option.
- Distance from Biogradsko Lake: 13 km one way.
- Elevation gain: 1,000+ meters.
- Camping spots available at Pešića Lake.
Plenty of picnic shelters surround Biogradsko Lake.
Travel Tips for Visiting Biogradska Gora National Park
Here are some useful tips along with my personal take on visiting this national park. Whether or not you decide to go is up to you!
- The park sits at an average altitude of over 1,000 meters above sea level, meaning temperatures here are typically 10°C lower than on the coast. Bring appropriate clothing.
- On the slopes of Biogradska Gora, you’ll find Montenegro’s largest ski resort. Read more about it in my article: Winter in Montenegro.
- Four out of five of Montenegro’s national parks are located in the mountains.
- You can find in-depth reviews of each park in my guide: Montenegro’s National Parks.
How Does Biogradska Gora Compare to Other National Parks?
- Biogradska Gora vs. Lovćen: Completely different experiences, but both are easily accessible from the coast by car. Lovćen is a mountain with a panoramic viewpoint, while Biogradska Gora is a dense forest with a lake on the mountainside. If I had to choose just one, I’d go for Biogradska Gora.
- Biogradska Gora vs. Durmitor & Prokletije: Durmitor and Prokletije are on a whole different level—far more spectacular. However, they are harder to reach and require more time to explore properly.
Nearby Attractions
Just 50 km from Biogradska Gora, you’ll find the Đurđevića Tara Bridge spanning the Tara River Canyon. The drive from the park to the bridge is stunning—easily a 10/10 experience.
My Personal Rating:
Biogradska Gora is beautiful, peaceful, and enjoyable, but it doesn’t leave you in absolute awe. If you have time and plan to visit multiple national parks, you could skip Biogradska Gora. However, if you’re short on time and have only one day, visiting Durmitor or Prokletije for a single day isn’t worth it—Biogradska Gora is the better choice for a relaxing one-day trip.
The park has many rocky trails and significant elevation gains on hiking routes. Proper footwear and trekking poles are recommended. That said, I managed to explore the park in regular sneakers—it was doable.
Since the park is so easily accessible from Podgorica, local families flock here on weekends and holidays. If possible, visit on a weekday for a quieter experience.
- 📍 Want to explore Montenegro’s capital? Check out my detailed guide to Podgorica.
Final Thoughts
Biogradska Gora is one of the top five national parks in Montenegro (though there are only five in total). In my personal ranking, it takes third place, after Prokletije and Durmitor.
- More than one day? Not necessary.
- Without a picnic or BBQ? Four hours is enough.
- Some websites suggest spending 2–3 days here, but if you have that much time, go somewhere that will truly amaze you instead.
Resources to help you plan your dream trip to Montenegro
- WayAway: Cheap flights and best deals.
- Car rental in Montenegro:
- LocalRent – works with local rental companies. Leader in car rental in Montenegro.
- DiscoverCars – a large international platform.
- Budget-friendly vacation packages to Montenegro: CheapOair.
- Hotels and apartments all over the country:
- Trip.com – the most popular accommodation booking platform
- TripAdvisor compares the prices among dozens of other booking services and offer the best price
- Tours, excursions and activities (including extreme ones):
- GetYourGuide – more than 800 tours
- Viator – 1000+ excursions and activities throughout the country
- Comprehensive travel insurance: EKTA
- Internet and Calls:
- Airalo eSIM in Montenegro
- Drimsim – universal sim card for frequent traveler
- Taxi and airport transfers: Intui.Travel