Discover everything a tourist needs to know about the small town of Žabljak in Montenegro: how to get there, what to see, where to eat. You’ll find tips, hacks, useful information, and much more. This little town on the edge of the country might have remained unknown if not for its location.

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main square Zabljak
Main crossroad and square in Zabljak

Zabljak in Montenegro: general information

Here’s a brief overview to give you a complete picture of this town.

  • Žabljak is situated at an altitude of 1495 meters above sea level, making it the highest town in Montenegro.
  • City map
  • It is located in the northern part of the country, in the mountainous region, near the famous Tara River.
  • It’s only 125 km from Podgorica and 180 km from Budva.
  • Žabljak was completely destroyed during World War II and was rebuilt afterward.
  • According to Wikipedia, the population of the town is just under 2000 people. However, locals say that this number only applies in the summer. In winter, the town has a maximum of about 600 residents.

For perspective: the town is very small, with the central area measuring just 100 by 100 meters. This includes a hotel, a parking lot, a store, and a couple of taverns. If you want to walk around the town, you can cover all the streets in about 30 minutes. So, people don’t come to Žabljak for the town itself. To find out why, read on.

Zabljak Montenegro
Central Street of the Town. The Main Square is about 300 meters away.

Getting to Zabljak

It’s straightforward. Unless you take a taxi or rent a helicopter, you can get there from the capital or the coast in three ways:

  • Car: This is the most optimal and easy way. In 2-3 hours, you’re there. Just enter the destination into your GPS and go. The roads to Žabljak are excellent everywhere.
    • By the way, car rentals in Montenegro are very affordable, and the traffic rules and flow make it easy to adapt. It’s also hard to get by without a car in Montenegro. Although public transport is well-developed, it primarily operates between cities.
    • All about car rental in Montenegro.
  • Public Transport: In this case, only the bus.
  • Hitchhiking.

A bit about the bus: The bus to Žabljak only runs from Podgorica. It operates daily, 4-6 times a day depending on the season. Tickets are bought on-site as online booking is not available in Montenegro.

bus podgorica zabljak
Bus Schedule from Podgorica to Žabljak and Back
bus to Zabljak how to get
These are the buses that run on this route.

Restaurants in Zabljak

I’ve already mentioned that the town is tiny. Yet, it boasts about twenty taverns and restaurants, two relatively large supermarkets, a fast-food joint serving cevapi and pljeskavica right at the bus station, and a bakery with fresh bureks.

Among the dozens of places to eat, I recommend a few where the food is tasty, affordable, and portions are large. Each of these places offers national dishes cooked on a grill, with meals costing around 10 euros.

The places listed above are located right in Žabljak and come highly recommended by us. In truth, there’s no shortage of dining options here. This applies to all of Montenegro.

Where to eat in Zabljak Montenegro
Restaurant Nostalgia
Montenegrin cevaps
500g of cevapi for 8 euros

Attractions in Zabljak

To give you an idea, there isn’t a single notable landmark in the town. You can see and get to know the town in just 15 minutes. If you read the brief history at the beginning of this article, you’ll know that Žabljak was rebuilt from scratch after World War II. Besides the three churches and the large letters spelling out the town’s name in the main square, there isn’t much to see.

But tourists don’t come here for the town itself. Here’s why they visit:

  • Durmitor National Park: Located 2.5 km from the town (an easy walk), it features the stunning Black Lake.
  • 25 Mountain Hiking Trails: Surround the town.
  • Savin Kuk: The largest ski resort in Montenegro, located 5 km away.
  • Tara River Canyon: An incredible place, known as the second deepest canyon in the world, according to locals.
  • Đurđevića Tara Bridge: An engineering marvel, this arched bridge over the Tara River Canyon is 22 km from the town.
  • Bobotov Kuk: Montenegro’s highest peak at 2522 meters. The trail to the summit starts in Durmitor Park, with many starting right from the town’s bus station.
  • Saddle Pass: The highest road and coolest mountain pass in the country.
  • Three Extreme Ziplines: Over 1 km long, with speeds exceeding 80 km/h.
  • Rafting Routes near Đurđevića Tara Bridge: Anyone can go rafting down the Tara Canyon.

There’s so much to see that you can’t cover it all in just two days.

durmitor zabljak
Black lake in Durmitor park
djurdjevic bridge in montenegro
Djurdjevic bridge

Tip:

Many tourists underestimate this region and come for just one night, some even without staying overnight. In my opinion, you need at least two nights. This won’t be enough to see everything, but you’ll cover most of the main attractions.

Below are two articles that will give you detailed information about all the attractions around Žabljak:

Accommodation in Zabljak

This is a short section because there isn’t much to say. Though Žabljak is small, there is a vast amount of accommodation available. All the locals rent out apartments to tourists, and there are many hotels both in town and near the Savin Kuk ski complex.

This region is full of chalet-style houses, and even today, the entire area is being actively developed with new rental properties. Below is a dynamic rating of the most popular accommodation options in Žabljak.

Rating of popular accomadation in Zabljak:

Important to know: There is no central heating in Montenegro, and Žabljak is no exception. If you plan to visit between November and April, pay attention to the type of heating in the accommodation you book. It could be just a space heater or a wood stove in the house. Sometimes there are central boilers, but these are more common in hotels and large complexes.

Look for accommodations on well-known platforms; links are at the end of the article. There are always plenty of options. Prices vary widely, from 15 euros for a room in a guesthouse to 50 euros for your own little chalet, and there are even more expensive options.

Weather and season in Zabljak

Montenegro has four climate zones despite being a very small country. The Žabljak area and Durmitor Park are the coldest and highest regions. As I mentioned earlier, the town is situated at nearly 1500 meters above sea level.

Anyone who hikes a lot knows that, very roughly, every 100 meters of elevation gain equals a 1-degree drop in temperature.

Interesting to know:

A few years ago, my wife and I climbed Mount Olympus in Greece, which stands at 3015 meters. That day, it was +30 degrees Celsius on the coast, but around 0 degrees at the summit.
Remember, Žabljak is 10-15 degrees cooler year-round than Budva or Kotor. Dress accordingly. It’s even colder at the Saddle Pass or the summit of Bobotov Kuk.

Yes, this temperature difference isn’t very noticeable during peak season in July. The sun in the mountains can be scorching. However, by late October, when the coast still enjoys daytime temperatures above 20 degrees, it’s around 10 degrees in Žabljak, with nighttime frosts.

Important: In winter, Žabljak gets buried under several meters of snow, and some mountain roads are closed until spring. Snow chains for car tires are recommended, and a four-wheel drive vehicle is useful.

Travel Tips

I’ll try to summarize all the above and add some useful tips:

  • If you plan to hike to the peaks, specialized footwear is essential. Regular sneakers won’t be comfortable. Most trails are very rocky.
trekking zabljak hiking trails
Example: This is a trail in Durmitor Park, 2 km from Žabljak. Most trails are like this, if not all.
  • If you have limited time and want to visit for just one day, I think it’s not worthwhile. It’s better to choose Lovcen Park, which is much closer to the coast. You should plan at least a two-night stay in Žabljak.
  • An alternative to the mountains in Durmitor Park is the Prokletije Mountains and the Grebaje Valley, located 150 km west of Žabljak. This is also a high-altitude region, but the mountains here are quite different. The Grebaje Valley offers more hiking and peak climbing.
Durmitor or Prokletija mountains
Here’s a glimpse of the Grebaje Valley in Montenegro.

In conclusion: The town of Žabljak in northern Montenegro is a small, unremarkable town without any significant attractions. But for those who read this article, it’s a fantastic mountain town surrounded by many of Montenegro’s top attractions.

Resources to help you plan your dream trip to Montenegro

  • Aviasales – Cheap Flights and best deals.
  • Car rental in Montenegro:
    • DiscoverCars – a large international platform.
    • LocalRent – works with local rental companies. Leader in car rental in Montenegro.
  • Hotels and apartments all over the country:
    • Hotellook compares the prices among dozens of other booking services and offer the best price
    • Booking – the most popular booking platform
    • Agoda – even more accommodation options in Montenegro
  • Tours, excursions and activities (including extreme ones):
    • GetYourGuide – more than 430 tours
    • Viator – 780+ excursions and activities throughout the country
  • Comprehensive travel insurance: EKTA
  • Internet and Calls:
  • Taxi and airport transfers: Intui.Travel