First time visiting Montenegro but not sure where to begin? You are in the right place! With so many beautiful old towns and untouched natural wonders in this hidden gem of a country, it can be a bit overwhelming for first-timers to plan a trip here.
Based on my experience backpacking around Montenegro, I have decided to compile a list of some of the best places to visit in Montenegro that you should definitely include in your itinerary. From the beautiful coastal towns of Kotor and Budva to the beautiful nature of Durmitor National Park, here are the 10 best places to visit in Montenegro.
10 Best Places to Visit in Montenegro
1. Kotor
Nestled in between the towering mountains of Montenegro and the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic Sea, Kotor is a beautiful old coastal town steeped in history and beautiful architecture, that captured the hearts of many travelers throughout history.
Right in the heart of the city, you will find Kotor's Old Town, one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the region, surrounded by incredible views of the mountains and the beautiful ocean, making it one of the most popular places to visit in the country.
With one of the most epic sunset spots in the region at Kotor Fortress, a magnificent medieval fortress perched high above the old town of Kotor you can hike to, St. Tryphon's Cathedral, one of the town's most significant landmarks located right in the heart of the old town, and other notable tourist attractions like Kotor's Medieval Walls, Saint Nicholas Church, and Square of the Arms, there are countless things for you to enjoy.
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- From Kotor: Blue Cave and Bay of Kotor Day Trip by Boat (3 hours)
- Kotor: Blue Cave, Our Lady of the Rocks and Mamula Boat Tour (3 hours)
- Kotor: Boat Tour to Perast Old Town & Our Lady of the Rocks (2 hours)
In fact, you can spend almost a week in this town alone, wandering through the maze-like streets, admiring the old churches and historic buildings, and going on day trips to explore the rest of the country without spending overnight, making it the perfect place to base yourself out of.
Some of the day trips I recommend are the Best of Montenegro and the Great Northern Montenegro tours which will take you to all the places I recommend in this article and more, all in just 2 days.
Kotor is a wonderful town that can easily rival other popular places like Dubrovnik and Spliot but with a more relaxing vibe, less chaotic tourists and feels more authentic. It is like stepping back in time as you explore the cobblestone streets of Kotor. Definitely one of the best places to visit in Montenegro.
2. Budva
Budva is a beautiful coastal town located just 30 minutes away from Kotor and is known for its quaint historic old town, picturesque beaches, and vibrant seaside area that feels more like Beverly Hills in California than a city in Montenegro.
What makes Budva such an awesome place to visit is its small but charming old town full of beautiful medieval architecture and you can explore its crisscrossing narrow streets filled with all kinds of hidden gems that you can easily explore as a day trip from Kotor.
Notable attractions you should check out in Budva are the Church of Sveti Ivan, an old medieval basilica with a striking bell tower, the Church of St. Sabba the Sanctified, an ancient orthodox church built on top of a rock by the sea, and the best of all, Budva Citadel, an expansive citadel located right by the coast where you will be able to stroll around in, visit the museums inside, and enjoy an incredible view over Budva's old town and its incredible coastline.
There are also some great beaches you can enjoy like Plaža Ričardova Glava if you are looking for a nice lively place with restaurants and cafes, or you can check out Pizana Beach, a small quiet beach right by the walls of Budva's Old Town.
Budva is like a smaller, less touristy version of Kotor with access to stunning beaches, and a modern city area lined with palm trees. It offers a great refuge place for those who are looking to explore more of Montenegro's coast outside of Kotor, so if you are looking for a great day trip to make, be sure to check out Budva.
3. Kotor Serpentine
Kotor Serpentine is a winding road that snakes its way up the mountainside above the town of Kotor in Montenegro. Despite the road being entirely paved, it is not for the faint of heart, as it consists of 25 hairpin turns that lead to an elevation of over 1,000 meters along its 36.3 km (22.55 miles) length.
The road is so impressive in its multitude of turns that it was considered to be one of the best roads to drive on by Top Gear, a popular British TV series about cars. It can take about 1.5 hours to drive one way to get to the top.
What's awesome about the road is the views it offers you as you drive up the mountain. From the Serpentine, you will be able to see the beautiful Bay of Kotor in its entirety. The further you go up, the more you will see. In fact, on a nice clear day, you will be able to see all the way to Croatia from here.
It is one of the best things to do near Kotor and if you are looking for a great place to visit here, be sure to check out Kotor Serpentine. You can go on this organized tour and they will stop at some of the viewpoints along the way as you make your way to Lovcen National Park.
4. Our Lady of the Rocks
Our Lady of the Rocks is a small island located in the Bay of Kotor, just off the coast of Perast in Montenegro. Legend has it that the island was created by local fishermen who laid stones in the bay over the centuries as a way of giving thanks for safe passage through the treacherous waters.
The centerpiece of the island is the beautiful Roman Catholic church, also called Our Lady of the Rocks, which was built in the 17th century. The church is home to a stunning collection of frescoes and paintings, old navigational tools and charts that give insight into the seafaring traditions of the region, and a museum that showcases the history and culture of the Bay of Kotor.
It is located only a few kilometers away from Kotor and can easily be visited with an organized tour or with your own vehicle. It is a great place to stop before you make your way north and explore the great natural wonders Northern Montenegro has to offer.
5. Lovcen National Park
Lovcen National Park is a natural wonder of Southern Montenegro covering an area of over 60 square kilometers. The national park contains one of the most stunning landscapes in the country, including rugged mountains, deep canyons, and lush forests.
The national park is also home to Njegos Mausoleum, one of the most important landmarks in the country, standing at over 1,657 m above sea level, sitting right at the top of the second-highest peak of Lovcen mountain, Jezerski Vrh.
Even after you drive up the mountainside for more than 1.5 hours from Kotor, you still have to climb 460 steps more just to get to the mausoleum but once you are up there, you will be rewarded with one of the most incredible views in all of Montenegro.
Right at the top, you will be able to see the surrounding countryside, the Bay of Kotor, and on a clear day, even as far as Albania, Croatia, and beyond. The view is pretty incredible up here and it is probably one of my favorite viewpoints in the country.
To get up here, you will have to rely on an organized tour which will take you all the way from Kotor up to the mausoleum as part of a bigger trip around the southern part of the country so if you want to see the mausoleum, I highly recommend you book the Best of Montenegro tour here.
6. Cetinje
Cetinje is a charming town located in the central region of Montenegro, nestled in a valley surrounded by rugged mountains. Known as the former royal capital of Montenegro, Cetinje is steeped in history and culture, with numerous museums, art galleries, and monuments scattered throughout the town.
One of the most impressive sights in Cetinje is the Cetinje Monastery, a beautiful medieval piece of architecture that serves as the seat of the Montenegrin Orthodox Church. The monastery was built in the 17th Century and is home to a stunning collection of religious icons and frescoes, as well as the remains of Saint Peter of Cetinje, one of Montenegro's most revered saints. A must-visit if you are in Cetinje.
Another must-see attraction in Cetinje is the National Museum of Montenegro, which is housed in the former royal palace of King Nikola I. The museum showcases the rich history and cultural heritage of Montenegro, with exhibits ranging from ancient artifacts to modern art, a great place to learn more about the history of Montenegro.
Cetinje is also known for its many parks and green spaces, including the Royal Park, which features a beautiful botanical garden with ponds and colorful floras and faunas you can stroll around it.
It is a nice relaxing city with charming history and culture that feels more like a proper lived-in city than Kotor and Budva which are essentially tourist towns, unlike Cetinje. You can visit the town with an organized tour that includes a guided walk around this wonderful city. Be sure to make it to Cetinje while you are in Montenegro.
7. Skadar Lake National Park
Covering an area of over 400 square kilometers, Skadar Lake National Park is home to the largest lake in the Balkans, which is surrounded by rugged mountains, dense forests, and picturesque villages.
The park's centerpiece is, you guessed it, the stunning Skadar Lake where the national park got its name from. The lake is a freshwater lake that straddles the border between Montenegro and Albania and is renowned for its crystal-clear waters and diverse range of flora and fauna, including over 280 species of birds, many of which are rare or endangered.
One of the best ways to experience Skadar Lake National Park is by taking a boat tour of the lake from places like Rijeka Crnojević which will take you along the river, observing all kinds of wildlife along the way, and swimming in the clear water while watching the sunset.
To get here, I highly recommend you go on this organized tour which will take you on a sunset boat tour along the river as part of a bigger trip exploring the southern part of Montenegro. It is an easy way to visit these remote places without having to worry about the logistics of it all. Highly recommended!
8. Ostrog Monastery
Ostrog Monastery is one of the most famous and revered religious sites in Montenegro, located high up in the mountains near the town of Nikšić. The monastery is built into a sheer cliff face, and its stunning white walls and golden domes make it a true sight to behold.
Founded in the 17th century by the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Ostrog Monastery is a place of pilgrimage for many people in the region. It is renowned for its miraculous healing powers, and visitors from all over the world come to pray and seek spiritual guidance.
Inside the monastery, you will find the body of St. Vasilije of Ostrog, enshrined in a reliquary kept within the cool dark walls of the cave church. The pilgrims believe that this is the source of the healing power of the monastery, so you will see people camping in front of the monastery, just so they can pray on the body. It is pretty surreal!
It is one of the most unique places you can visit in Montenegro and it would be difficult for you to travel to the monastery independently as it is located deep inside the mountain and it takes forever to get there, so the best way to do it is to go on the Great North of Montenegro tour which will take you there as part of a bigger trip around the north of the country. Be sure to check out Ostrog Monastery while you are here.
9. Black Lake, Durmitor National Park
Durmitor National Park is a rugged and unspoiled wilderness area located in northern Montenegro. Covering an area of over 390 square kilometers, the park is home to the stunning Durmitor mountain range, which boasts over 48 peaks and numerous glacial lakes.
It is also home to an abundance of wildlife, including brown bears, lynxes, wolves, and numerous bird species. You can explore the park's many hiking trails, which wind through dense forests and offer stunning views of the mountain range and surrounding valleys.
One of my favorite places in Durmitor National Park is the Black Lake (Crno Jezero), a picturesque glacial lake offering plenty of hiking opportunities, swimming, and kayaking while being surrounded by lush green forests and the beautiful mountain peaks of Northern Montenegro.
You can spend an hour or 2 just at the lake, relaxing at the lake, taking a leisurely stroll along one of the many walking trails that go around the lake, or you can rent a boat and explore its tranquil waters up close and personal.
There are countless outdoor activities you can do at the Black Lake in Durmitor National Park and if you are into nature, hiking, and just want to be surrounded by some of the most beautiful mountain peaks in the region, I can not recommend Durmitor National Park enough. Again, if you want to visit Durmitor National Park as a day trip from Kotor, I recommend you check out this organized tour. Definitely one of the best places to visit in Montenegro.
10. Tara Canyon
The Tara River Canyon is by far, one of Montenegro's most iconic natural wonders of all as it is considered to be the deepest canyon in Europe and the second deepest in the world after the Grand Canyon.
The place is quite a sight to behold with its sheer rock walls that rise up to 1,300 meters above the river below. One of the best places to appreciate these natural wonders is at Đurđevića Tara Bridge, a large arch bridge that spans across the canyon.
Built in the 1940s, the bridge is an impressive feat of engineering that spans 365 meters across the canyon with the highest point standing over 172 meters above the Tara River below, which is pretty thrilling to see. Not recommended if you are afraid of heights!
There are also several other activities you can enjoy here as well like ziplining across the deepest canyon in Europe, hiking around one of the many walking trails around the area, or simply relaxing and taking in the view at one of the many cafes by the bridge.
Again, to get to Tara River Canyon, you can either drive yourself or you can go on the Great North of Montenegro organized tour which will take you all the way to Tara Canyon and back without you having to worry about the logistics. It is one of the most beautiful places you can see in Montenegro so be sure to include Tara Canyon on your itinerary.
More Montenegro Activities
Looking to save some costs on your travel? Why not join a shared group tour from Montenegro? Here are some activities you might be interested in:
That is it for the 10 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Montenegro. Have we missed anything? Have you found the guide useful? Let us know in the comments below!
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to plan your trip to Montenegro! Here are some resources to help you get your trip going:
Are you planning to travel to Montenegro independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Montenegro
I hope you found this Montenegro travel guide useful. If you want to read more about Montenegro, here is a selection of articles you might like:
- Want to plan a trip to the Balkans, but not sure where to go? Here is the 31 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in the Balkans.
- For a complete itinerary to the Balkans, check out: 2 Months Backpacking Balkans Itinerary.
- Looking for a complete backpacking itinerary to Montenegro? Check out: 4 Days Backpacking Montenegro Itinerary.
- For a complete travel guide to Kotor, check out: 10 Best Things to Do in Kotor.
- Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
- To see all the articles about Montenegro, visit the Montenegro Travel Guide page.
- Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
- Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
- Or if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Balkans Travel Guide, Eastern Europe Travel Guide, Western Europe Travel Guide, Southern Europe Travel Guide, or Central Europe Travel Guide pages.
- For more travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.