Where To Go in Montenegro: The 6 Best Places To Visit

The playwright Shaw was so beguiled by Montenegro in 1929 that he compared it with paradise. And so it remains today – a haven of natural beauty with a dramatic coastline, soaring peaks plunging into the turquoise Adriatic and some of Europe’s most ethereal mountain and lakeland landscapes. Miniature Montenegro certainly punches well above its weight. As well as its tapestry of natural wonders, this small nation has a rich historical narrative of remarkable resilience, having faced conquest by – among others – the Ottomans, Venetians and Austro-Hungarians. Each invader has left their mark, contributing to a diverse cultural mosaic that today sees ever-more glamorous seaside resorts co-exist with the exquisite Venetian architecture of storied towns and the spiritual solace of medieval monasteries. This is a destination that appeals to all comers – adventurers, history aficionados, city sightseers and anyone seeking serenity amid timeless scenery.

Wondering what you shouldn't miss on your Montenegro adventure? Here are six places to put on your itinerary.

Montenegro has five national parks, of which Biogradska is the smallest. Tucked away in the Bjelasica Mountains to the northeast of the country, it has a wonderfully diverse spectrum of wildlife from red deer to otters and wild boar (there are elusive grey wolves and brown bears too) as well as birds of prey. But its main USP – and the reason why it is so carefully protected – is the expanse of virgin forest scattered around its glacial lakes; comprising beech, juniper, ash, fir, spruce, maple and elm, many of the trees are more than 400 years old and have reached 50 metres or upwards in height. Although most people visit to stroll on waymarked routes under the canopy of primeval woodland and go wild swimming in the lakes, there is excellent walking in the park and adjacent mountains, from all-day hikes along the Tara River to gentle family ambles around tranquil Biogradsko Lake.

• Getting there: The entrance to the national park is on a bridge spanning the Tara River at Kraljeva Kola; there is a €5 entrance fee. If you’re travelling by public transport, you’ll need to take a bus to Kolašin – where you can book an elegant room in Swissôtel Resort Kolasin – or Mojkovac, and then a taxi from either town to the park.
• Best time to visit: Between May and September.
• Good for: Naturalists and hikers.

In a country making an impact on the A-list celeb scene with its monied panache, the Budva Riviera is its hottest ticket. Centred on one of the oldest and prettiest towns anywhere on the Adriatic and with a striking peninsula location, this place rocks in summer. The streets and endless sandy beaches are rammed; vast super-yachts fill the harbours, and festivals and clubs bring in fun-seekers from across the world. Budva, the beating heart of the coastal resort, is a city of two halves. Its fortified Stari Grad (Old Town) is a beautifully preserved medieval maze of cobbled streets packed with Venetian churches overlooking charming piazzas – climb up to the citadel for panoramic vistas of the Adriatic – ringed by a bustle of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and fabulous beaches like Slovenska Plaža. Quieter sunbathing spots include Mogren Beach, whose two tiny coves backed by cliffs are accessed on a scenic path from the Stari Grad, and pink-pebbled Sveti Stefan Beach, with gorgeous views over to the artificial island of Sveti Stefan – one of Montenegro’s most famous images – and its painstakingly restored red-roofed cottages.

Budva is the place to be if you’re hoping for a fun night out and a seafood feast at the marina next to the Stari Grad walls. It’s also a handy venue for tours of the Royal City of Cetinje and leisurely boat cruises on Lake Skadar.

• Getting there: Driving in busy Budva is not fun – but happily there is plentiful parking on the northwest edges of the town and close to the largely pedestrianised Stari Grad. The resort is served by buses from all major Montenegrin towns and cities, including the capital Podgorica as well as Cetinje and Kotor.
• Best time to visit: June and September when the weather is delightfully warm but the resort is quieter than in July and August.
• Good for: Historians, beach babies and night owls.

Surrounded by craggy limestone peaks, Cetinje sits in a valley at the foot of Mount Lovćen. Although it's slightly off the well-trodden tourist track today, it served as Montenegro’s royal capital for centuries and rewards a visit with its architectural and cultural heritage. Its wide, tree-lined streets are packed with some rather grand former embassy buildings and a scattering of art and ethnography museums, but the centrepiece of its charms is undoubtedly the Cetinje Monastery (open for guided tours). This part-church, part-fortress was built in grey stone upon medieval foundations, and has a photogenic tumble of colonnaded cloisters, towers, spires and tiny chapels home to frescoes in bright primary colours as well as precious glittering icons, royal tombs and – rather gruesomely – a wizened hand thought to belong to St John the Baptist.

• Getting there: Your two options for getting to Cetinje are to drive or take the bus – it’s about 50 minutes inland for a day trip from Budva and 45 minutes west of Podgorica.
• Best time to visit: Late spring or early autumn, when temperatures are pleasant for sightseeing.
• Good for: Culture vultures and visitors to Lovćen National Park, which lies just west of Cetinje.

Sprawling over mountainous northern Montenegro, Durmitor National Park is a UNESCO-listed wonderland carved out by the action of glaciers and rivers. Its jaw-dropping scenery features more than 50 peaks exceeding 2,000 metres, stunning glacial lakes and the spectacular Tara River Canyon, Europe’s deepest gorge with virtually sheer walls diving some 1,300 metres to the valley below. The park is simply heaven for outdoors types, with trails ranging from easy strolls around the pine-ringed shores of beautiful Crno Jezero (Black Lake) to challenging ascents to the jagged summit of Bobotov Kuk, its highest peak. The river canyon itself is a popular hotspot for whitewater rafting, kayaking and the relatively new sport of packrafting on inflatable boats. In winter, Žabljak, the region’s main town and host of the park’s visitor centre, morphs into Montenegro’s primary ski resort.

• Getting there: Part of Durmitor’s attraction is its remoteness, but it’s now reasonably well serviced by buses from Podgorica; the journey takes just under three hours. You can also travel there by car, but expect snow-related delays in winter months.
• Best time to visit: The park is an all-year-around destination with snowboarding or skiing in winter, and cycling, hiking, climbing and extreme sports in summer.
• Good for: Anyone active with a love of the great outdoors.

Set deep into the eastern finger of the fjord-like Bay of Kotor on Montenegro’s Adriatic coast and framed by the Orjen and Lovćen alpine ranges, the ancient town of Kotor started life centuries ago as a port. Its biggest draws are its amazing geographical setting and the delightful Stari Grad (Old Town), which is wrapped in a protective mantle of sturdy walls built between the 12th and 14th centuries. Over the years it has been shaped by many different cultures and influences – from the Greeks to the Serbs – and thanks to its eclectic architecture, the town was granted UNESCO status in 1979. Today it is increasingly popular as a stopover on Mediterranean cruises.

Although the Stari Grad can be rammed with visitors in high summer, it remains a charming labyrinth of narrow alleyways and marble-paved, fountain-filled piazzas backed by soft sandstone town houses, cafés and indie shops. Going through the gates in the medieval walls, you’ll come upon the twin-spired Sveti Tripun Cathedral, plus several Romanesque churches and the 17th-century Prince’s Palace, but the laid-back allure of Kotor is best appreciated while simply wandering its tangle of streets. If you’d prefer to escape the crowds, stay at Heritage Grand Perast By Rixos, a luxury hideaway at delightful waterside Perast, 20 minutes’ drive away. If you are driving and have a head for heights, you can take on the steep Kotor Serpentine, a road trip that zig-zags its way up into the Lovćen Mountains.

• Getting there: There are frequent bus services to and from Budva (an hour) and Podgorica (two hours). The old city is pedestrianised, but there is ample parking along the seafront; everything is within walking distance.
• Best time to visit: May, June and September in Kotor are less crowded than the high summer months.
• Good for: Everyone, including families and solo travellers.

Straddling Montenegro and Albania to form one of the world’s most picturesque borders, the largest lake in the Balkans is as serene as it is bio-diverse. It is one of Europe’s most important habitats for birds, where around 280 species have been recorded, including endangered Dalmatian pelicans – which nest in their hundreds in the Pančevo Oko area – egrets and bustards. Birdwatching hides dot the shoreline, but there’s plenty more to see here among the floating meadows of water lilies. Cruises on traditional wooden boats leave from the lively fishing village of Virpazar to explore the lake’s hidden coves and numerous island monasteries, while the iconic horseshoe-shaped meander on the Rijeka Crnojevića River is one of the park’s most photographed locales. The area around Virpazar is also known for its wines and grape brandy, which can be sampled at local vineyards.

• Getting there: The main transport hub for the lake is Virpazar, from which trains and buses connect with Podgorica. It’s also easily accessed by car.
• Best time to visit: Early summer when the weather is at its best; you’ll have cloud-free days and fewer crowds.
• Good for: Birdwatchers, nature lovers and walkers.

Keen to visit other eastern European destinations? Check out the top sights in charming Warsaw. Or if all these national parks have inspired you to plan an outdoor adventure, read our round-up of the best hiking in Corsica.

Whatever you decide, remember that Montenegro is an increasingly popular holiday destination, so be sure to book your hotel stays well in advance.