The Must-See Attractions in Monténégro

Arrival at Podgorica or Tivat airport.

Upon arrival, collect your rental car directly at the airport, then head towards Kotor. This journey allows you to freely reach one of Montenegro's iconic cities, nestled between sea and mountains.

Check-in at your hotel.

Discover the old town of Kotor, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the richness of its natural and cultural heritage. As you visit, you will discover a city marked by many influences, reflecting the peoples who succeeded one another over the centuries.

Its architecture tells this complex story through its emblematic monuments, such as the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, its picturesque streets and its ramparts spanning 4.5 kilometers that surround the city. A former major port and important commercial center of the Adriatic, Kotor today preserves a remarkably well-preserved medieval ensemble. Founded in Roman times, the city has borne its current name since the 7th century.

Not far from Kotor, continue your discovery towards Perast, a charming Baroque town whose elegant buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries recall its prosperous past. At that time, Perast had more than a hundred merchant ships sailing the seas, and its most renowned captains had beautiful residences built there that still testify to this flourishing period today.

Once, the town was also home to a naval training center, where young Russian aristocrats came to train in maritime arts. Facing Perast, two small islets shaped by the inhabitants stand in the bay. You can embark on a boat crossing to the Island of Our Lady of the Rocks, where you will find its church and museum.

Leave Kotor heading towards Njegusi, the birthplace of the last Montenegrin dynasty of the Petrovic, taking the old winding road, famous for its thirty bends. Narrow and winding, this route impresses with its successive hairpin turns, but it is one of the emblematic roads of Monténégro. Throughout the ascent, magnificent views open up over the Bay of Kotor and the city below.

At Njegusi, take a break in one of the village inns to have lunch and discover some traditional specialties of Monténégro. You can taste the local smoked ham, Njegusi cheese or honey, emblematic products of this region renowned for its gastronomic expertise.

Then continue towards the Njegos Mausoleum, located in the heart of the Lovćen National Park. Perched on one of the highest peaks of Mount Lovcen, this iconic site offers a remarkable panorama over nearly 80% of Montenegrin territory. To reach the mausoleum, you will need to climb its 461 steps, an ascent rewarded by a clear view of the surrounding mountains and landscapes.

Then take the road towards Cetinje, the former royal capital of Monténégro, today known as the museum-city due to its numerous museums and art galleries. This small town with singular charm seduces with its characteristic architecture, made of modest houses of one or two stories, surrounded by abundant vegetation.

Once, Cetinje hosted twelve embassies and held a central place in the country's history. It was here that the first book of the Balkans was printed, and where the first hospital and the first hotel of Monténégro were built. The city also saw the birth of the country's first government palace, while it now houses the residence of the President of the Republic. During your visit, the King Nikola Museum deserves a stop.

Continue your itinerary towards Budva, one of the most well-known coastal towns in Monténégro. As you explore its old town, you will notice how much its architecture bears the imprint of Venetian influences, visible in the layout of the streets, the stone facades and the atmosphere of its historic center.

Take advantage of your visit to explore this beautiful old town surrounded by ramparts, whose narrow streets invite you to stroll. First mentioned in the 4th century BC, Budva developed on a peninsula that gives it its singular character. Its stone houses and churches, its small streets and its walled gardens create the typical atmosphere of a medieval seaside town.

Not far from Budva is Sveti Stefan… It is an old fortified fishing village, built in the 15th century on a rocky islet. Sveti Stefan was originally a refuge for locals fleeing Turkish incursions. The fortified town was built with the wealth that the Pastrovic tribe amassed by attacking Turkish galleys at the Jaz location. The islet is connected to the coast by a strip of sand. An impressive and original architectural atmosphere contributes to the beauty and distinctive character of the city. The Sveti Stefan peninsula was transformed into a luxury hotel town in the 1960s. Access to the site is nonetheless possible, but requires an entrance fee.

Porto Monténégro, located in Tivat, is a luxury marina dedicated to yachts and a renowned nautical resort on the Adriatic coast. This modern complex has 450 berths capable of accommodating vessels from 12 to 180 meters long, making it one of the most prestigious marinas in the Adriatic.

From Tivat, you can also reach the Lustica peninsula to discover a farm producing organic olive oil. On site, you will visit its old mill and be able to taste local specialties, subject to prior reservation.

After checking out of your hotel, leave Kotor to head north to Monténégro via the capital, Podgorica, then travel through the spectacular Morača canyon.

Along the way, stop to visit the Morača Monastery, built in 1252. This religious site holds an important place in Monténégro's spiritual, historical and cultural heritage, and is one of the country's emblematic monuments.

Continue your journey to the Biogradska Gora national park, which is home to one of the last three primary forests in Europe. You will discover preserved nature, surrounded by centuries-old trees that make this protected site so rich.

The Biograd lake, located at 1,094 meters altitude in a former glacial basin, is fed by the Biogradska river and the Bendovac stream. Its crystal-clear water invites you to take a walk: a trail of approximately three kilometers allows you to walk around it. You can also take the path leading to the Bendovac summit to enjoy a clear view of the lake and the surrounding landscapes. Measuring 1,100 meters long and 410 meters wide, the lake offers beautiful reflections in its emerald-tinted waters.

About twenty kilometers from Biogradska Gora, you will reach Kolasin, a small mountain town located at 960 meters altitude, which becomes a ski resort in winter.

After checking out of your hotel, continue your journey with a 4x4 transfer to the Eco Village, located at 1,780 meters altitude on the heights of Bjelasica mountain, in a preserved environment, away from the hustle and bustle. This former shepherd village offers immersion in an authentic mountain setting.

On site, it is possible to organize a mountain walk or horseback riding, depending on your preferences. You will also have the opportunity to discover traditional Montenegrin cuisine, notably cheese made on site, reflecting local expertise.

After breakfast, leave the village heading towards Zabljak. The road runs alongside the Tara River canyon, renowned as one of Europe's purest rivers. Its canyon, 1,300 meters deep, is the deepest on the continent and the second deepest in the world after the Colorado Canyon. Classified by UNESCO, this natural site accompanies your journey through impressive landscapes.

Make a stop at the Djurdjevica Tara bridge, an emblematic crossing point offering a beautiful view of the canyon and river below. For travelers seeking thrills, it is possible to cross the canyon by zipline over the Tara.

Continue to Zabljak, then check-in at your hotel.

Leave your hotel and head towards Modra Rijeka camp. As you reach the border between Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the Scepan Polje side, you will follow the Tara river to Modra Rijeka camp, where you will spend the next two nights, in a natural setting by the water.

After breakfast, leave the camp and take the road to Budva via Savnik and Niksic. On the way, visit the village of Bogetici to discover the Ostrog Monastery, a major pilgrimage site in Monténégro.

Built in 1665, this monastery is the country's most important religious site. It is dedicated to Saint Basil of Ostrog (Sveti Vasilije Ostroški), whose relics, preserved on site, are associated with healing virtues. Although it is an Orthodox monastery, Ostrog welcomes visitors and pilgrims of all faiths.

At the end of the day, arrival in Budva and check-in at your hotel.

The architecture of the old town of Budva bears the marked imprint of Venetian influences. Take time to discover this city surrounded by ramparts, whose small streets invite you to wander. First mentioned in the 4th century BC, Budva was built on a peninsula that reinforces its singular character. Its stone houses and churches, its narrow streets and small walled gardens make up the charm of a typical medieval seaside town.

Not far from Budva, discover Sveti Stefan, a former fortified fishing village built in the 15th century on a rocky islet. Originally, this place served as a refuge for inhabitants fleeing Turkish incursions. The fortified town was built thanks to the wealth accumulated by the Pastrovic tribe after their attacks against Turkish galleys at the place called Jaz.

Connected to the coast by a narrow strip of sand, Sveti Stefan is distinguished by its singular architecture, which fully contributes to the identity of the site. Transformed into a luxury hotel town in the 1960s, the peninsula retains its historical character today. Access to the site remains possible, subject to an entrance fee.

Take the road to the small fishing village of Virpazar, located on the shores of the Lake Skadar, the largest lake in the Balkans. From this charming village, enjoy a boat trip to discover the islets, natural landscapes and observe the many birds that inhabit this vast wetland area.

Lake Skadar is an important reserve for migratory birds and represents one of the main bird migration sites in Europe. This body of water is part of a national park of 44,000 hectares, whose marshes, particularly remarkable, are listed on the Ramsar list. Also rich in fish, the lake is recognized internationally for the ecological value of its wetlands.

Head to Stari Bar ("stari" meaning old), an ancient town steeped in history. You can leave your car in the parking lot below, then walk up to this abandoned site via a picturesque and lively pedestrian street. Along the way, take a break on one of the terrace cafes in the alley to enjoy your first Turkish coffee, a tradition deeply rooted in the Balkans.

Explore the remains of the old town, a city that has known many rulers over the centuries, from Byzantium to the Venetian Republic, and then to the Ottoman Empire. Each of these periods has left its mark on the site's appearance and architectural heritage.

Among the buildings still visible are the hammam, the powder magazine, the clock tower, and the aqueduct built during the Ottoman era, which supplied Stari Bar with drinking water. Built in an unusual location for a coastal town, several kilometers from the sea, Stari Bar extends across a hill at the foot of Mount Rumija.

Before heading on to Ulcinj, you can stop in Bar to discover the old olive tree, a remarkable tree over 2,000 years old, considered one of the oldest in Europe.

In Ulcinj, discover the old part of the city, where narrow and winding streets immediately immerse you in the atmosphere of past centuries. Successively Illyrian, Byzantine, Serbian and then Ottoman, the city has retained a unique character shaped by these multiple influences. Dominating the whole, the citadel-fortress offers a beautiful panorama over the sea, while the proximity of the Albanian border is felt in the local atmosphere.

Mentioned since Roman times, Ulcinj still preserves vestiges from this period as well as from Byzantine administration. Among its major monuments is the complex located near the North Gate: this church, built in 1510 and then rebuilt in 1569, was transformed into a mosque by the Ottomans in 1693 before becoming the current archaeological museum of Ulcinj. Approximately 5 kilometers south begins the Great Beach, 13 kilometers long, the largest in the Adriatic. Weather permitting, take the opportunity to make a detour to this expanse of fine sand.

Breakfast, then check-out of your hotel.

Depending on your departure flight, travel to Tivat or Podgorica airport, where you will return your rental car before your departure.