The most detailed overview of the most beautiful places in Montenegro. Here you will find the rating of TOP 25 sights in Montenegro, map, prices, tips. Find out what to do in Montenegro and make your perfect travel plan. There will be a personal, albeit subjective, assessment of the author, which will help you make a decision. Vacation is not endless, but there are many beautiful places.
Table of contents:
- What to do in Montenegro: map, general points
- Sights in Montenegro: TOP 25
- 1. Prokletije Mountains and Grebaje Valley
- 2. Monastery Ostrog
- 3. Island of Sveti Stefan
- 4. Viewpoint Grlo Sokolovo
- 5. Biogradska Gora National Park
- 6. Gorgeous Durmitor Park and Black Lake
- 7.A masterpiece of engineering – the Djurdjevic bridge in the canyon of the Tara River
- 8. Mountain pass Sedlo
- 9. Piva Lake
- 10. Skadar Lake
- 11. Zipline over the canyon of the Tara River
- 12. Rafting on the Tara River
- 13. The highest point in Montenegro: Mount Bobotov Kuk
- 14. Bay of Kotor
- 15. Kotor Old Town
- 16. Romantic Perast
- 17. Herceg-Novi
- 18. Podgorica: the capital of Montenegro for tourists
- 19. Blue cave
- 20. Budva and the old town
- 21. Mediterranean Petrovac
- 22. Ulcinj and the longest beach in Montenegro
- 23. Lovcen Park
- 24. Lipa cave
- Travel tips
It will be difficult for you to plan your dream trip to Montenegro without these websites
What to do in Montenegro: map, general points
In fact, there are much more sights in Montenegro. For example, I can tell you about two dozen churches, fortresses, chapels and other architectural landmarks in Kotor only. Therefore, I will consider the whole city as an attraction in this rating. And I will tell you about the most interesting places. And then follow the link for a detailed guide to these beautiful locations.
If a place is not on the list, most likely it is of little interest, and tourists have nothing to do there. For example, I think that in Bar and Tivat you don’t even need to waste your vacation time. Neither a good beach, nor a medieval old town. In truth, Bar has an old town, but 5 km from the city center.
Below is a dynamic map with all the sights in Montenegro marked on it. You can click on it and zoom. It should help you plan your travel itinerary.
- I also recommend an article about independent routes in Montenegro by car. There are already several ready-made options.
Sights in Montenegro: TOP 25
Let’s start our review of the most beautiful places that travelers need to visit. Make tea, you will be busy for the next 10-15 minutes.
1. Prokletije Mountains and Grebaje Valley
Top attraction of Montenegro and at the same time little known among tourists. There are many reasons for this. The Prokletije Mountains or Cursed Mountains are located in the most remote part of the country. Public transport does not go here, it takes 4-5 hours to drive from the coast by car. And these are mountains, and tourists come to Montenegro mainly for the sea and beach holidays.
The Grebaye Valley is an incredibly picturesque valley surrounded by high cliffs. People come here for mountain trekking. Tourists stay in chalets, dine in traditional taverns, and during the day go hiking in the mountains. There are four dozen marked routes here.
- Grebaje Valley coordinates: 42.512957653017054, 19.77995805862953
- Mountains Prokletije in Montenegro is a national park
- Entrance to the park is free
- The only way to get here is by car.
- I recommend to come to this park for 1-2 full days. Some tourists come here for a week.
- In winter, more than 2 meters of snow falls and the valley is closed.
- A detailed review of visiting the Cursed Mountains, what to do, what to visit, read the link.
Author rating:
10 out of 10. If you are even a little bit fond of mountains, then this place is a must to visit. It won’t disappoint you. It is better to come here for 3 days (2 nights). In the morning you leave the coast, in the afternoon you are already there. Walk in the mountains for two days and then along the insanely beautiful road you can move to Durmitor Park and the canyon of the Tara River. But more on that below.
2. Monastery Ostrog
A hallmark of Montenegro. It is on all postcards, magnets and other tourist souvenirs. Even if you do not know about this monastery, you have definitely seen this photo before.
Ostrog Monastery is one of the main shrines of the entire Balkan Peninsula. It was built at an altitude of almost a kilometer above sea level right in the rock. And today it is open to the public. It is not only a place of pilgrimage, but also one of the main tourist attractions of Montenegro.
- Ostrog monastery coordinates: 42.67497249422872, 19.030534970471543
- Official site: manastirostrog.com
- Opening hours: from 6 am to 8 pm daily without days off
- Admission fee: free
- How much time to visit: an hour and a half – two with climbing the stairs.
- A detailed overview of the monasteries of Montenegro.
Author rating:
9 out of 10. This is a very strong place where you feel a special energy. The only drawback is just a huge number of tourists. During the high season, tour buses travel along the narrow spiral road to the monastery. The parking lot is full, there are no places, it is difficult to pass with other cars. The best time to visit Ostrog is between November and March. Even if you are not a fan of religious topics like me, the Ostrog Monastery is a must to visit.
3. Island of Sveti Stefan
Another postcard attraction of Montenegro. Once an ordinary fishing village on a small rocky peninsula. And today a private island for the rich and wealthy. As often as Ostrog, it is mentioned as a symbol of Montenegro.
In 2009, the then abandoned hotel was leased for 30 years to the Swiss hotel company Aman Resorts. They restored it and opened a luxurious five-star hotel “Aman Sveti Stefan Island”.
The hotel, church and restaurant occupy the entire island. Access to Sveti Stefan is only possible for hotel guests or restaurant guests. The island is closed to all others.
- Sveti Stefan coordinates: 42.25615178441459, 18.89171253710291
- Room rate: from $1000 to $7000 per day
- Dinner at a restaurant: about $300-500
- You can only look at the island from the outside from the road or the beach.
- How much time to visit: 15 minutes
- Overview and history of the island of Sveti Stefan. Lots of tips and advice and a link to this hotel. (As of 2023, the hotel never reopened after the pandemic)
Author rating:
5 out of 10. The place is highly overrated. Beautiful but there are many such beautiful places in Montenegro. In fact, the visit looks like this: you arrive by car, get out of the car, look at the island. You can go further, well, you can still swim on the beach and take a couple of photos.
4. Viewpoint Grlo Sokolovo
A little-known attraction without crowds of tourists right on the border with Albania. For those who want to walk in the mountains, enjoy the views of the Alps, and these are the real Albanian Alps. And for those who do not have the opportunity to go far from Podgorica and the coast. Only 25 km from the capital, very easy trekking from the parking lot at 500 meters and you are there. Available for tourists with any physical fitness.
This viewpoint is located above the canyon of the river Cievna.
- Coordinates: 42.48482, 19.5439
- Admission: free
- Opening hours: 24/7, but there is no lighting at night
- How much time to visit: an hour and a half with walking trekking from the parking lot and back.
- Public transport does not go here, only by car
Author rating:
7 out of 10. Definitely recommend to anyone who does not plan to go far into the mountains. If your route includes Bobotov Kuk, Sedlo Pass or Prokletiye Mountains, then you don’t have to waste time on this viewpoint. Views in other mountainous regions of Montenegro are no worse.
5. Biogradska Gora National Park
Another national park of Montenegro in our ranking. There are 5 national parks in the country and each is a beautiful place and is included in the list of “the best sights in Montenegro”. This tourist place is also popular with locals. Whole families come here for the weekend from all over the country.
There are several marked trekking routes in the Biogradska Gora park, Biograd lake in the center, a 3.5 km long health trail around the perimeter of the lake, a restaurant, boat and kayak rental, pavilions, barbecue places, fishing (license 20 euros per day).
- Park center coordinates: 42.90072146956059, 19.59554533155308
- Park opening hours: around the clock
- Ticket price: 3 euros per person, no need to pay for a car
- You can only get there by car along an excellent toll road, just 1 hour from Podgorica.
- How much time to visit the park: if you just walk along the path around the lake, then 2 hours. With renting a kayak or boat, another + 1 hour.
- Overview of our visit to Biogradska Gora Park
Author rating:
5 points out of 10. The main advantage of this park is that you can get there quickly and conveniently along an excellent highway without mountain roads. Everything is nice and tidy and the route around the lake is great. But exactly the same route around the lake in the Durmitor park is much more interesting. You can come to Biogradska Gora Park with children and just take a quiet walk. Only with children who are already walking without a stroller, the rocky path cannot be passed on a stroller.
6. Durmitor Park and Black Lake
One of the most beautiful regions. If you look at the map of Montenegro attractions at the beginning of the article, you will see that there are a huge number of them in this area. You need to go here for 2-3-4 days. You can’t see all the beauty in one day.
In the heart of this area lies the Durmitor National Park, where you will find the mountainous glacial Black Lake. Durmitor Park has a huge number of marked routes, one of which is around the lake, there is a funicular to one of the peaks, a snake lake and a dozen more cool locations.
On the territory of the Durmitor park there is the highest peak of Montenegro: Mount Bobotov Kuk, information about it will be in the following chapters.
- Durmitor Park and Black Lake coordinates:43.14842758076092, 19.096774233432747
- Opening hours: daylight hours, usually from 8 to 19.
- Ticket price: 3 euros per person
- It is not difficult to get here without a car. A regular bus runs to the city of Zabljak from Podgorica, and 3 km from Zabljak is Durmitor Park.
- How much time to visit: 1 day is enough for a walk around the lake and a funicular to the top. Well, there are a lot of attractions around the park, so plan 2-3 days.
- A detailed overview of Durmitor Park, Djurdjevic Bridge, Tara River Canyon, Sedlo Pass and much more can be found at the link.
Author rating.
10 points out of 10. The coolest place and really top in the list of “best attractions in Montenegro”. Be sure to find time on your vacation and visit this region of the country. He will not leave anyone indifferent. At the link above, about the overview of the park, there are ready-made route options.
7. A masterpiece of engineering Djurdjevic bridge in the canyon of the Tara River
What are the man-made attractions in Montenegro? One of the top places is the Djurdjevic Bridge over the canyon of the Tara River. It is a symbiosis of natural beauty and human engineering thought.
Tara Canyon is one of the deepest in the world, according to some sources, it occupies the 2nd place. And the Djurdjevic arch bridge was built in the 20th century to connect the remote regions of Montenegro with the coast. It was destroyed during the war and then rebuilt. And today it is an active bridge that connects two mountainous regions of Montenegro.
It is convenient to combine a visit to the bridge with Durmitor Park, the distance between them is less than 20 km. You definitely won’t go to the bridge from the coast across the country purposefully.
- Coordinates: 43.15056817467392, 19.29476150153561
- Opening hours: open 24/7, all year round
- Ticket price: free
- How long to visit: 30 minutes. You can drink coffee or dine with a view of the bridge.
- For an overview, the history of the bridge, the coordinates of viewpoints, read the article about Durmitor Park. The link was in the 6th paragraph.
Author rating.
10 points out of 10. And another great location from the “what to do in Montenegro” list. It makes no sense to travel across the country for the sake of visiting the bridge, be sure to combine it with the Saddle Pass and Durmitor Park.
8. Mountain pass Sedlo
Another point on the map in the list of “TOP attractions in Montenegro”.
Insanely beautiful mountain pass Sedlo near the Durmitor park. The highest mountain road in Montenegro passes nearby. Its height above sea level is just over 2 km.
No fences, a long spiral mountain road and a sharp drop half a meter away from you. Along the entire road of the pass there are benches with views like from the picture. And in one place they put a large frame where you can take a photo as above.
Sedlo Pass is so called, in the shape of a saddle for horses.
- The coordinates of the photo frame with the coolest view of the pass: 43.104279467930645, 19.020144541433442
- Ticket price: free
- Opening hours: 24/7. But keep in mind that this road is often closed for the winter due to snow. There were years when the road was closed from 1 November.
- How much time to visit: 15-20 minutes
- Public transport does not exist here. You can only get there by car.
- Read more about the pass in the article “Durmitor Park”, the link was in the 6th paragraph.
Author rating:
10 points out of 10. Both the road and the pass itself are very exciting. The only thing that confuses you is the road along the cliff and there are no fences at all, the main thing is not to look down.
9. Piva Lake
Today it is an artificial lake – a reservoir. And 50 years ago it was just the Piva River. If you drive from Durmitor Park to the coast through the Sedlo Pass, then you definitely won’t pass Piva Lake.
The length of the lake is 45 km. Along the entire lake there is a road with beautiful views and viewpoints. There are a lot of reviews on the Internet that this is the best place in Montenegro, and you need to go here for 1-2 days. I don’t know who says this, but I would not include Piva Lake in the rating of places “what to do in Montenegro”.
There is no access to the water, beaches, there is no way to swim. All you can do is drive along the lake and stop at the observation deck a couple of times. But there are hundreds of observation decks in Montenegro and most of them have better views.
- Piva Lake coordinates: 43.166381206297395, 18.86190033477794
- The road is free and accessible all year round.
- How much time to visit: with all the stops, the entire lake can easily be passed in an hour. Road is great.
- You can’t get here by public transport, only by car.
- More about Piva and Skadar lakes in Montenegro.
Author rating:
2 out of 10. One of the biggest disappointments in Montenegro. This lake has been praised so much everywhere. It is said that this is the best place in Montenegro. In fact, you can’t even get close to the water. All that can be done is to drive along it by car. If your route lies in the Durmitor park, only then it makes sense to go to Piva Lake.
10. Skadar Lake
And this is another lake in Montenegro, which is known even more than Piva. Skadar Lake is a natural lake on the border with Albania. About 40% of the lake is located in Albania, the remaining 60% in Montenegro.
Skadar Lake is a national park in Montenegro. Today, more than 280 species of birds either live here or stop during their migration from Siberia to Africa.
There is only one beach on the lake, and there is almost no other access to the water. The shores of the lake are swampy. The most popular entertainment among tourists is boating on the lake. You can find a boat in the village of Virpazar.
- Virpazar village coordinates: 42.24606138330194, 19.091892452035946
- Shkoder National Park (as the lake is called in Albanian) is open only during daylight hours.
- Ticket price: 3 euros
- Boating: around 20-30 euros per boat.
- In paragraph No. 9 about Lake Piva there is a link to a large review about Lake Skadar.
- How long will the visit take: with boat ride – 2 hours. You won’t see anything without a boat ride.
Author rating:
6 points out of 10. As for me, this is more an ornithological reserve than a tourist attraction. By autumn, it is very overgrown with water lilies. Ride a boat, drink coffee in a tavern in Virpazar and move on.
11. Zipline over the canyon of the Tara River
Super cool, extreme and breathtaking activity. It is highly advertised in Montenegro. In fact, there are about two dozen ziplines in the country. There are even near Budva. But the coolest ones are near the Djurdjevic bridge, in the canyon of the Tara River (7 in the list of our rating).
There are 3 different zip-lines with a view of the bridge across the canyon. Entertainment suitable for children and adults. One zipline is over a kilometer long, and the speed is from 80 to 100 km/h. I recommend to all.
- The coordinates of the most extreme zipline over the Tara River: 43.14778861371496, 19.291442126201417
- Located 50 meters from the bridge
- Open during daylight hours. Closed in winter.
- Official website: tarazipline.me
- Price: 20-25 euros
- How long to visit: there are almost never queues. 5-10 minutes of preparation and 1 minute of flying.
Author rating:
7 out of 10. Expected more. The main disappointment is that the flight lasts less than a minute, but costs 25 euros. And it’s not that fast. But the views are amazing. You can come to the bridge, see how others ride and decide whether you want to ride or not.
12. Rafting on the Tara River
Another cool activity in the north of the country is in the canyon of the Tara River. You can see advertising of rafting in Montenegro all over the country. Sales offices are located near the bridge. And from the bridge you will be taken 5-10 km to the start of the rafting.
- Coordinates are the same as in paragraph 11.
- There are several rafting trips a day from June to September inclusive.
- You can come without an appointment, but then you may have to wait an hour or two for the next trip.
- Rafting price: 40-50 euros.
- How long it will take: 3 hours.
- More activities in Montenegro, tours and excursions in the article at the link.
Author rating:
10 points out of 10. If you have money and time, you should definitely take a rafting tour. It is no worse for sure than rafting in Turkey or other countries.
13. The highest point in Montenegro: Mount Bobotov Kuk
Mount Bobotov Kuk is located in the Durmitor park. The height of the mountain is 2523 meters above sea level. But even today there are disputes about the highest peak of Montenegro. There is Mount Zla-Kolata, it is only 12 meters higher than Bobotov Kuk and is located in the Prokletiye Mountains on the border with Albania. Most of the mountain is in Montenegro, and the peak itself is already on the territory of Albania, 50 meters from the border 🙂
The mountain is open for climbing. There are two routes, marked and safe. One is difficult, the climb is just over 1000, the start of the route is from the Black Lake in Durmitor Park. The second one is easier, with a climb of about 750 meters and a start from the Sedlo pass. Both routes can be completed in one day.
- Link to a large review, the coordinates of the start of the route in point No. 6.
- Mountain top coordinates: 43.12779, 19.03422
- The route is free, you can climb without a guide.
- Since November, the mountain is covered with snow and climbing is not available until May
- How much time is required: you will pass a difficult route in 8-10 hours. Simple – 6 hours.
Author rating:
If you love mountains and hiking, then 10 points out of 10.
This is not only beautiful views and a scenic route, it is an achievement that you have conquered the highest peak in Montenegro. In fact, the route is simple, and I recommend everyone to try their hand.
14. Bay of Kotor
The Bay of Kotor is a symbol of Montenegro and its hallmark. Here are another four dozen sights of the country. The Bay of Kotor is a natural bay and the southernmost fjord in Europe. And surrounded by mountains on all sides.
Romans and Greeks began to populate the shores of the Bay of Kotor in ancient times. And then the first cities appeared.
Today, the whole bay is built up with cities and every day from 1 to 3 huge cruise ships with tourists come here. And now what to do in Montenegro in the Bay of Kotor: visit the sights in the cities of Kotor, Perast, Herceg Novi. Each has medieval buildings, fortresses, fortifications and much more. There are a huge number of water activities, oyster farms, fishing, a blue cave and many other interesting places.
- Bay of Kotor coordinates: 42.4745, 18.73163
- Available to tourists free of charge and all year round
- There are no beaches here, but here is a paradise for lovers of historical sights
- How much time to visit: if you have a car, then in one daylight hours you can drive the entire bay. But it is better to spend 2-3 days.
- Most tourists will come here either on vacation or on an excursion. Few tourists in Montenegro can say that they have not been to the Bay of Kotor.
- A detailed review article about the Bay of Kotor, what to visit and what to do.
Author rating:
8 out of 10. This is a symbol of the country that many tourists visit. From Budva, for example, to the Bay of Kotor is only 20 km. Among the shortcomings: there are no beaches, cold water and short daylight hours due to the mountains, and the sea and sunsets are not yet visible. But at the same time, if you need old cities, narrow medieval streets, fortresses and churches, beautiful mountains and landscapes, here you will find it all.
15. Old town of Kotor
You can walk along the medieval streets of old Kotor all day long. Perhaps the most beautiful old town of all in Montenegro. Here you will find dozens of interesting locations: from a fortress on a mountain to churches, defensive walls and fountains of the 15th century.
The only drawback of this place is the crowds of tourists. Cruise ships come here every day, under the walls of the old town of Kotor. And thousands of tourists go to the old town for a walk.
- Coordinates of the old town of Kotor: 42.42492596403171, 18.77014453243162
- Available to tourists around the clock and all year round
- The entrance to the old city is free. Entrance to museums, fortresses, chapels – paid. Moreover, entry prices to such places in Kotor are among the highest in Montenegro. Probably due to wealthy cruise tourists.
- How long to visit: 4 hours is enough. If there is no time at all, then in an hour you can walk through the old city without going up to the fortress on the mountain. Fans of medieval architecture usually spend the whole day here.
- An overview of Kotor and all its attractions at the link.
Author rating:
9 points out of 10. It is close and easy to get here from Budva, from any city of the Bay of Kotor too. Even if you are not staying in Kotor, plan a trip here for half a day. This is really the best medieval architecture in all of Montenegro. In other cities it is very similar, but much smaller. And remember there is no beach holiday in Kotor.
16. Romantic Perast
Quite a small town Perast. Just like Kotor, it is located on the shores of the Bay of Kotor. I would say Perast is a smaller copy of Kotor. This is a quiet and romantic town you can walk all the way in 30 minutes. Medieval architecture, insanely beautiful views of the bay, oyster farms with fresh oysters will not leave anyone indifferent.
And tourists come here to get on a boat to the island of Our lady of the rock. It is only 5-7 minutes by boat. The island has a promenade and a church. The size of the island is 200 by 100m. Unfortunately, tourists are not allowed on the neighboring island of St. George.
- Perast coordinates: 42.486425649506764, 18.69855657903298
- Romantic Perast is open to everyone.
- How long to visit: in fact, the city can be walked at a calm pace in an hour. But it is better to plan for a visit of 3-4 hours. Be sure to take a boat trip to Our lady of the rock island. Also visit an oyster farm, order mussels, oysters and a glass of wine if you are not a driver.
- All about Perast and its sights.
Author rating:
9 points out of 10. On the one hand, Perast is somewhat similar to Kotor, but on the other hand, it is a completely different city. It is much quieter and calmer here, and two islands on the rocks add romance. On a trip around the Bay of Kotor, don’t miss Perast.
17. Herceg-Novi
Perhaps the most western city of Montenegro. Also located in the Bay of Kotor, but at its mouth. There is more sun here and the water is warmer than in other towns of the bay. Herceg Novi is similar in population to Kotor, but it is more elongated along the coast. A medieval building, like in Kotor, has also been preserved here. And there are beaches. The 8 km promenade along the coast throughout the city is a popular place for walks for both residents of the city and its guests.
From Herceg Novi to the border with Croatia is only 6 km. And the most beautiful city of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik, is only 45 km away. Follow the link to a useful article about holidays in Croatia and Montenegro: what are the differences and where is it better to spend your holidays. For those who haven’t decided yet.
- Herceg Novi coordinates: 42.451064845729626, 18.537576250853697
- The city is open for all.
- How long to visit: You can come here for several days. There are beaches and several historical sights, the old town is almost like in Kotor, and a long 8 km promenade. But 3-4 hours is enough to go around all the streets of the old city and climb to the fortress on the mountain. From here it is easy to take a boat to the Blue Cave and to the abandoned Yugoslav submarine base.
- Detailedoverview of the sights of Herceg Novi
Author rating:
9 points out of 10. And Kotor, and Perast, and Herceg Novi are very interesting cities of the Bay of Kotor, but each has its own differences. I highly recommend visiting all. If you have a car, then during daylight hours you can try to visit all the cities, although it is difficult. If there is no time at all, then book a tour of the Bay of Kotor. You will be brought to Kotor and Perast. And then go to Herceg Novi for 2-3 days for a relaxing beach and sightseeing vacation.
18. Podgorica: the capital of Montenegro for tourists
The capital of Montenegro is the country’s largest city, economic and political center. The main international airport in Montenegro is located in Podgorica. Usually, wherever we fly to the capital of the state, it is always interesting to visit. We are waiting for a lot of interesting places and cool locations. But in the list of “TOP attractions in Montenegro” Podgorica takes one of the last places.
A city where there is nothing for tourists to do. He will be bored here. The list of attractions in Podgorica is 5 times smaller than the same Kotor. As a result, there are very few tourists here. If you don’t get here in 2 weeks of your vacation, you won’t lose much.
- Coordinates: 42.441230595922534, 19.262852613507953
- How much time to visit: a couple of hours will be enough to visit the main attractions.
- For those who still decided to come here, follow the link for a detailed review of Podgorica
Author rating:
Honest 2 points out of 10. There is really nothing to do here, and all the sights are for 15-20 minutes. But for those who have already seen everything in Montenegro, you can come here for half a day and walk around the center without any expectations. If you are interested in non-touristic places in Montenegro, Podgorica is perfect 🙂
19. Blue cave
Natural cave with blue water. If you get at the right time, then the photos will be as above. You can also swim here.
The Blue Cave can only be reached by boat. The best starting point is the town of Herceg Novi, and even better Zanjice beach.
- Blue Cave coordinates: 42.37416746072693, 18.596286142055433
- The cave itself is of course free, but you can’t get here without a boat. A boat trip costs 8-10 euros from Zhanice beach and from 15 euros from Herceg Novi.
- How much time time to visit: from Herceg Novi – 2.5 – 3 hours. From Zanjice beach – an hour and a half.
- A more complete description of the Blue Cave in the review article about Herceg Novi (point 17).
Author rating:
8 points out of 10. An attraction of amazing beauty, I recommend it to everyone. But there are several features: no waves and sunny weather. Then the water in the cave will be like the photo above. You can swim, the mask is provided free of charge on the boat. The disadvantage (and therefore only 8 points): there are always a lot of boats and people in the cave, you can’t swim for a long time, as there is a queue.
20. Budva and the old town
The main resort of Montenegro. Budva annually hosts the most tourists in the country. And all the nearby villages have long been called the Budva Riviera. Budva is the most infrastructural city of all the cities on the coast. There is everything for a comfortable life all year round.
And the main difference from Kotor, Perast, Herceg Novi is that Budva is located on the sea, and not in the Bay of Kotor. Here the water is warmer, there is more sun and the day is longer, and in Budva you will watch beautiful sunsets every day.
- Coordinates: 42.27844984617715, 18.83745770552846
- How much time to visit: if you didn’t stay in Budva, but want to come for a walk around this city, then you can get around the entire old city in 2 hours. It’s better to set aside a whole day and walk around the old city, and also kayak to a nearby uninhabited island, and visit Mogren beach.
- You can spend all 2 weeks of your vacation in Budva. The city is quite large, and there are enough sights in the area.
- A detailed overview of Budva for tourists at the link.
Author rating:
9 points out of 10. Budva is an interesting city, it has a good location – in the center of the entire Montenegrin coast. It’s great to travel around the country from Budva, everything is relatively close. Here and the sea, and medieval architecture, and islands, and infrastructure. There is only one drawback: there are a lot of people in Budva during the high season.
21. Mediterranean Petrovac
This is a small town for 3 thousand people, which is almost completely empty in winter. But in summer it is a popular beach holiday center. And I say all this about Petrovac or, as it is correct to say, Petrovac-na-moru.
Petrovac has an extremely good location, exactly in the middle between the two large cities of Budva and Bar. And the direct route E80 from Podgorica also leads here. Only 50 km from the capital and you are at the sea. Therefore, Montenegrins themselves come to Petrovac for the weekend from the capital to the beach.
An excellent long beach, Mediterranean landscapes, a large number of the coolest attractions 50 km from the city, make Petrovac a great option for your vacation. It is easy to spend 2 weeks here, the main thing is to have a car and a desire to travel around the country.
- Coordinates: 42.205595390902744, 18.94076409377164
- You need to come here from May to October.
- How long does it take to get to know Petrovac: the town is small, you can walk around in two hours. But if you want to walk to neighboring beaches along the health path (and there are already two of them) through a coniferous forest, then add another 2 hours.
- An overview of the city of Petrovac and cool beaches in the area.
Author rating:
7 points out of 10. Perhaps the infrastructure here is not as well developed as in Budva. But it’s a nice city, with good beaches and lots of things to do in the area. Perfect for active tourists with a car. Or those who know how to sunbathe on the beach all day without getting up from a sun lounger.
22. Ulcinj, the longest beach and other sights in Montenegro
At first glance, the unremarkable city is often underrated by tourists because of its inconvenient location. It is the southernmost city in the country, the warmest and sunniest, with 300+ sunny days a year. The most Albanian city, here more than 50% of the population are Albanians. And the city with the longest beach in Montenegro – Velika plaza, 13 km, all other beaches hardly reach 1 km long.
There is a medieval old town, and cool beaches, and paths for walking through the forest along the sea and gorgeous views from the window of almost any apartment, since Ulcinj is located on the slope of a large hill.
- Coordinates: 41.923124643180316, 19.20543996912452
- The town of Ulcinj is small, you can see the whole old town and the center in 2 hours.
- If you stay here on vacation, then 2-3-4 days is more than enough. During this time, you will see all the sights and beaches in the area. And then you can move to the resorts of the central part of the country.
- Overview of Ulcinj, beaches and surroundings + bonus (abandoned salt pan)
Author rating:
8 points out of 10. I really like this city, with its architecture, tranquility, long deserted beach, which is rare for the country. By the way, this is a Muslim region of Montenegro, since the majority of Albanians are Muslims. But in the high season there are a lot of tourists here.
23. Lovcen Park
Lovcen National Park is located on Mount Lovcen, which is 30 km from Budva and from the coast. The park includes: two mountain peaks, the mausoleum of one and the most famous rulers from the Njegusi family, as well as the ancestral village of the Njegusi themselves.
The place is very beautiful and is of great importance for the history of the Montenegrin people.
- Peak coordinates from where you can see the whole area: 42.401040218487616, 18.836863543660343
- Opening hours: from 9 to 19:30
- Ticket price: in order to reach the very top, you need to pay 2 euros + 5 euros = 7 euros per person.
- How long does it take to visit: the top of the mountain, the observation deck and the Njegos mausoleum – 60 minutes is enough. Additionally, stop by the village of Njegusi and Cetinje – the first capital of Montenegro.
- Large and detailed overview of Lovcen Park and surroundings.
Author rating:
5 points out of 10. If you plan to visit the mountains in Montenegro away from the coast, for example, Durmitor or Prokletije mountains, then you can skip Lovcen. If you are not planning to go to the mountains inland, then Lovcen is a great option for a day trip from the coast.
24. Lipa cave
The largest karst cave in Montenegro and one of the largest in the entire Balkan Peninsula. Located near the coast and Lovcen park, you can combine a visit.
In the Lipska cave you will see a huge number of stalactites and stalagmites, 5 large halls. The entire guided tour takes 60 minutes. You cannot enter the cave without a guide.
- Coordinates of the ticket office and parking: 42.367128218845046, 18.953089629533107
- Ticket price: 12.9 euros
- How long will it take: with waiting, delivery by train to the entrance to the cave and a tour – 90 minutes.
- A large overview of the Lipa Cave in the article at the link.
Author rating:
6 points out of 10. If you have ever been in the caves of Malaysia, Mexico, Georgia and even Abkhazia, you will not see anything new. Moreover, the Lipa Cave is rather modest in size compared to the caves from these countries. And if this is your first cave in your life, then you will like it. The main thing is not to forget warm clothes, in the cave all year round +10 and strong wind.
Travel Tips: What to do in Montenegro
Most tourists come to Montenegro on vacation for a period of 7 to 14 days. Even if you came here for 14 days, you won’t have time to see everything from this list of “what to do in Montenegro”, you need to sacrifice something. Below are tips to help you visit more:
- The car is very important. In Montenegro, car rental is affordable and rental companies are as loyal as possible. Everything about car rental, pitfalls, deposit, insurance, police, roads and much more.
- Remember, there are many places where you can’t get by public transport, it takes a long time and almost always you need to make transfers. Public transport is well developed only along the coast.
- The most convenient way to travel to the sights of Montenegro from the cities of the Budva Riviera: Budva, Becici, Petrovac.
Important:
For most tourists, Montenegro is only the sea and a beach holiday. But this is not so, there are much more beautiful mountains and sights in the mountains. Plan your vacation, including trips to the mountainous regions of the country.
In conclusion: I hope you answered the question of what to do in Montenegro for yourself. And made your list of attractions that you want to visit. I am sure a vacation in Montenegro will not disappoint you, and if you prepare well for it, it will become the best in life.
Resources to help you plan your dream trip to Montenegro
- Flights at the best prices with discounts
- Car rental in Montenegro (cheaper – only by bus):
- Discovery Cars – a large international resource
- LocalRent – work with local rental companies. Leader in car rental in Montenegro.
- Hotels and apartments all over the country: Booking
- Tours, excursions and activities (including extreme ones):
- Comprehensive travel insurance: EKTA
- eSIM virtual sim card with internet in Montenegro
- Taxi and transfers from Montenegro airports: Intui.Travel