Montenegro · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Montenegro
From Kotor's marble lanes and Budva's beaches to Lake Skadar's lily channels and the peaks of Durmitor, these are the places worth your time in Montenegro. Mix the classics with a few quieter corners and you will see a side of the country most visitors miss.
Places to Visit in Kotor
Things to Do
- Kotor Old Town (Stari Grad)
A maze of marble lanes, squares, churches and cats inside medieval Venetian walls. - Perast (Bay of Kotor)
A tiny baroque waterfront town of palaces and bell towers facing two island churches. - Kotor Serpentine (Road to Njeguši)
A road of twenty five hairpin bends above the bay, among the most dramatic drives in Europe. - Prčanj (Bay of Kotor)
A quiet village of captains' houses and a huge church, perfect for a waterside walk. - Kayaking on the Bay of Kotor (Kotor and Dobrota waterfront)
Paddle along palaces and churches from the calm waters of the bay.
Nature and Outdoors
- Kotor Fortress and San Giovanni (Above the old town)
A steep climb up the city walls to a ruined fortress with the whole bay at your feet. - Ladder of Kotor (Škaljari trailhead)
An old mule path zigzagging up the mountain, a quieter route with the same views. - Lovćen National Park and Njegoš Mausoleum (Mount Lovćen)
Climb the steps to the mountaintop tomb of the poet ruler for views over half the country. - Vrmac Ridge (Between Kotor and Tivat)
Forest trails and Austro Hungarian forts on the ridge dividing the bay.
Arts and Culture
- Cathedral of Saint Tryphon (Stari Grad)
A Romanesque cathedral from the twelfth century with a small treasury of relics and frescoes. - Maritime Museum of Montenegro (Stari Grad)
A baroque palace full of model ships, uniforms and stories of Boka's seafaring families. - Cats Museum (Stari Grad)
A quirky little museum of cat postcards and prints that children love. - Our Lady of the Rocks (Off Perast)
An island church built on a man made reef, reached by a short boat ride from Perast. - Perast Museum (Perast)
The Bujović Palace tells the story of the town's sea captains and naval glory.
Shopping and Markets
- Kotor Green Market (Outside the Sea Gate)
Locals buy cheese, smoked ham, olives and fruit here every morning beside the walls. - Kotor Old Town craft shops (Stari Grad)
Small shops selling filigree jewellery, lace, olive oil and local wine.
Restaurants
- Galion Restaurant (Šuranj, by the old town walls)
Seafood on a glassed terrace over the water with the walls lit up at night. - Konoba Scala Santa (Stari Grad)
A candlelit stone tavern for grilled fish and Boka style dishes. - Konoba Cesarica (Stari Grad)
A small, homely tavern for black risotto, mussels and local wine. - Stari Mlini (Ljuta, Bay of Kotor)
An old stone mill on a spring fed stream, serving trout and seafood by the water. - Njeguški Prsut tasting in Njeguši (Njeguši village)
The mountain village famous for smoked ham and cheese, served at family taverns.
Bars and Nightlife
- Maximus Club (Stari Grad)
The old town's long running nightclub inside the walls, busy on summer weekends.
Events
- Boka Night (Kotor waterfront)
A summer night parade of decorated boats and fireworks across the bay. - Kotor Winter Carnival (Stari Grad)
Costumes, brass bands and parades fill the old town in February. - KotorArt Festival (Stari Grad)
Summer concerts, theatre and children's performances in the old town's squares.
Stays
- Hotel Hippocampus (Stari Grad)
A boutique hotel in a restored old town house with characterful rooms.
Cafés
- Kotor coffee terraces on the Square of Arms (Stari Grad)
Slow morning coffee on the main square watching the town wake up.
Places to Visit in Budva
Things to Do
- Budva Old Town (Stari Grad)
A compact walled town on a peninsula, rebuilt after the 1979 earthquake. - Sveti Stefan (South of Budva)
The famous fortified island village joined to the mainland by a sandy isthmus. - Sveti Nikola Island (Off Budva)
A boat hop from the marina to an island with clear water and simple beaches. - Pržno village (Pržno)
A small fishing village beach with a row of tavernas just north of Sveti Stefan.
Arts and Culture
- Budva Citadel (Stari Grad)
The old fortress at the tip of the town with sea views and a small library. - Podmaine Monastery (Above Budva)
A quiet hillside monastery with frescoes and gardens away from the beach crowds. - Reževići Monastery (Near Petrovac)
A small coastal monastery above the sea founded in the Middle Ages.
Nature and Outdoors
- Mogren Beach (West of the old town)
Two pretty coves reached by a cliff path from the old town walls. - Jaz Beach (West of Budva)
A long, wide beach with space for families and big summer concerts. - Drobni Pijesak Beach (Between Budva and Sveti Stefan)
A hidden cove of fine pebbles below olive groves, far calmer than the main beaches. - Petrovac Beach (Petrovac na Moru)
A relaxed family resort town with a Venetian fort and a calm promenade. - Kamenovo Beach (Rafailovići)
A sheltered sandy beach linked to Rafailovići by a seaside tunnel path.
Stays
- Dukley Hotel and Resort (Zavala peninsula)
Seafront suites with pools and views back to the old town. - Hotel Astoria Budva (Stari Grad)
A small hotel in the old town walls with a seafront terrace.
Bars and Nightlife
- Top Hill (Topliški put, above Budva)
An open air hilltop club with big summer nights and views over the coast. - Budva Marina promenade bars (Slovenska obala)
The seafront strip where Budva comes out for evening drinks and people watching.
Restaurants
- Jadran kod Krsta (Slovenska obala)
A classic seafront restaurant for grilled fish and seafood platters. - Konoba Stari Grad (Stari Grad)
A terrace inside the walls by the sea for fish and local wine. - Rafailovići fish tavernas (Rafailovići)
Family run seafront tavernas where fishermen's catches go straight to the grill.
Cafés
- Budva old town cafés (Stari Grad)
Café terraces in tiny squares for an evening espresso or gelato.
Places to Visit in Podgorica
Arts and Culture
- Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ (Central Podgorica)
A newer Orthodox cathedral with golden domes and striking modern frescoes inside. - Stara Varoš and the Clock Tower (Old Ottoman quarter)
The surviving Ottoman quarter with a stone clock tower and old mosques. - Montenegrin National Theatre (Central Podgorica)
The national stage for drama, music and festivals through the year. - Ostrog Monastery (Above the Bjelopavlići plain)
A white monastery built into a sheer cliff, the most visited pilgrimage site in Montenegro. - Doclea Archaeological Site (North of Podgorica)
The ruins of a Roman city in open fields, rarely crowded. - Petrović Palace Contemporary Art Centre (Kruševac park)
A former royal residence showing contemporary art in quiet gardens.
Things to Do
- Millennium Bridge (Morača river)
The cable stayed bridge that became the symbol of the modern capital. - Plantaže Šipčanik Wine Cellar (Near Podgorica airport)
A former aircraft hangar deep in a hill, now a wine cellar with tastings. - Dajbabe Monastery (South of Podgorica)
A cave monastery with frescoes painted by a monk inside the rock.
Nature and Outdoors
- Gorica Hill (Northern Podgorica)
Wooded trails and viewpoints over the city where locals walk, run and picnic. - Niagara Falls on the Cijevna (South of Podgorica)
A wide waterfall that is spectacular after spring rain, with a restaurant beside it. - Morača Monastery (Morača Canyon)
A thirteenth century monastery above a canyon on the road north.
Bars and Nightlife
- Hercegovačka Street bars (Central Podgorica)
A street of bars and cafés where the capital's night life begins.
Restaurants
- Pod Volat (Stara Varoš)
A traditional tavern under the clock tower for grilled meats and local plates.
Shopping and Markets
- Delta City (New Podgorica)
The capital's big shopping mall, with a cinema and food court. - Podgorica Green Market (Central Podgorica)
The main produce market for cheese, honey, figs and seasonal fruit.
Stays
- Hilton Podgorica Crna Gora (Central Podgorica)
A historic central hotel, modernised, close to the main square.
Places to Visit in Cetinje
Arts and Culture
- Cetinje Monastery (Cetinje)
The spiritual heart of Montenegro, founded in the fifteenth century in the old royal capital. - King Nikola's Palace Museum (Cetinje)
The royal palace of Montenegro's last king, kept with its period rooms. - Njegoš Museum Biljarda (Cetinje)
The residence of the poet prince, named after his billiard table, with a huge relief map outside.
Things to Do
- Cetinje embassy quarter (Cetinje)
A stroll past the old foreign legations from when Cetinje was a royal capital.
Places to Visit in Virpazar
Nature and Outdoors
- Lake Skadar National Park (Lake Skadar)
The largest lake in the Balkans, full of water lilies, islands and birdlife. - Pavlova Strana viewpoint (Above Rijeka Crnojevića)
The famous horseshoe river bend seen from the road above. - Murići Beach (Southern Lake Skadar)
A pebbly lake beach shaded by trees, with views to the Albanian mountains.
Things to Do
- Lake Skadar boat trip from Virpazar (Virpazar harbour)
Small boats glide through reed channels to islet monasteries and pelican haunts. - Rijeka Crnojevića (Rijeka Crnojevića village)
A sleepy riverside village with an old stone bridge and riverside tables. - Godinje wine village (Lake Skadar)
A stone village with connected houses and family wine cellars. - Kayaking on Lake Skadar (Virpazar and Vranjina)
Paddle among lilies and herons on calm morning water. - Virpazar wine tasting at family cellars (Crmnica region)
The Crmnica valley vineyards pour Vranac at farmhouse tables.
Restaurants
- Konoba Badanj (Virpazar)
A village tavern for carp, eel and Lake Skadar's little bleak fish. - Stari Most (Rijeka Crnojevića)
Fish from the river and lake served beside the old stone bridge.
Stays
- Hotel Pelikan (Virpazar)
A family run hotel and restaurant on the main square that has hosted lake visitors for years.
Arts and Culture
- Žabljak Crnojevića Fortress (Northern Lake Skadar)
Overgrown ruins of a medieval capital on a hill rising from the marshes. - Kom Monastery (Odrinska Gora island)
A fifteenth century monastery on a lake island reached only by boat. - Grmožur Fortress (Lake Skadar)
A small island fortress once used as a prison, seen on boat trips.
Places to Visit in Žabljak
Nature and Outdoors
- Black Lake (Durmitor National Park)
A forest lake under the peaks, with an easy loop path around it. - Bobotov Kuk (Durmitor National Park)
The classic summit hike of Durmitor, with long views across limestone peaks. - Ice Cave on Obla Glava (Durmitor National Park)
A long hike to a cave that holds ice through the summer. - Ćurevac viewpoint (Above the Tara Canyon)
A grassy summit with a dizzying view straight down into the canyon. - Piva Lake and Piva Monastery (Plužine)
An emerald reservoir in deep canyons and a monastery moved stone by stone.
Things to Do
- Đurđevića Tara Bridge (Tara Canyon)
A soaring arched bridge over Europe's deepest canyon. - Tara River rafting (Tara Canyon)
Rafting through the canyon on clear green water, gentlest in late summer. - Tara Canyon zipline (Đurđevića Tara)
A long zipline flying over the canyon beside the bridge. - Savin Kuk Ski Centre (Žabljak)
Winter skiing and summer chairlift rides into the mountains. - Durmitor Ring road and Sedlo Pass (Durmitor National Park)
A high mountain loop through bare plateaus and summer pastures.
Stays
- Hotel Soa (Žabljak)
A modern mountain hotel close to the park entrance. - Durmitor eco villages and mountain huts (Around Žabljak)
Wooden cabins and katun stays for a simple night under the stars.
Restaurants
- Kačamak and kajmak at mountain taverns (Žabljak)
Hearty cornmeal porridge with cream cheese, the fuel of Durmitor hikers.
Events
- Durmitor summer hiking season (Durmitor National Park)
Long days, open trails and mountain festivals from June to September.
Cafés
- Žabljak town centre cafés (Žabljak)
Warm up with coffee and cake after a day in the park.
Places to Visit in Kolašin
Nature and Outdoors
- Biogradska Gora National Park (Near Kolašin)
One of Europe's last primeval forests around a quiet glacial lake.
Things to Do
- Kolašin 1600 Ski Resort (Kolašin)
A family friendly ski area that also runs summer lifts.
Places to Visit in Herceg Novi
Things to Do
- Herceg Novi Old Town (Stari Grad)
Steep stairways, flowers and fortresses rising from the sea. - Blue Cave boat trip (Luštica peninsula)
Swim in glowing blue water inside a sea cave. - Rose village (Luštica peninsula)
A tiny fishing hamlet with tavernas facing Herceg Novi across the water. - Pet Danica promenade (Herceg Novi)
A seaside walk along an old railway line through several villages.
Arts and Culture
- Kanli Kula (Stari Grad)
An Ottoman fortress turned open air summer stage. - Forte Mare (Herceg Novi waterfront)
A seaside fortress with views across the mouth of the bay. - Savina Monastery (Savina)
A peaceful hillside monastery among cypress trees.
Events
- Mimosa Festival (Herceg Novi)
A winter festival celebrating the yellow mimosa blooms with parades and music.
Stays
- Mamula Island (Mouth of the Bay of Kotor)
A former fortress island turned into a hotel and memorial.
Nature and Outdoors
- Žanjic Beach (Luštica peninsula)
A pebble beach with very clear water, reached by boat or a rough road.
Restaurants
- Konoba Feral (Stari Grad)
A friendly tavern for seafood and Dalmatian style dishes.
Cafés
- Herceg Novi Square cafés (Belavista Square)
A small square with cafés and a famous view down to the sea.
Places to Visit in Tivat
Shopping and Markets
- Porto Montenegro (Tivat)
A superyacht marina with waterfront shops, cafés and a lido.
Stays
- Regent Porto Montenegro (Tivat)
A luxury hotel overlooking the marina.
Nature and Outdoors
- Island of Flowers (Tivat)
A small island with an old monastery and quiet swimming spots.
Places to Visit in Ulcinj
Nature and Outdoors
- Velika Plaža (Ulcinj)
A sandy beach stretching for kilometres, with shallow water for children. - Ada Bojana (Bojana river delta)
A river island with fish restaurants on stilts and kite surfing.
Things to Do
- Ulcinj Old Town (Ulcinj)
A hilltop citadel above the sea with a strong Albanian and Ottoman heritage.
Places to Visit in Bar
Arts and Culture
- Stari Bar (Bar)
The ruined old town of Bar, an atmospheric walk among Venetian and Ottoman stones.
Nature and Outdoors
- Old Olive Tree of Mirovica (Bar)
An olive tree said to be more than two thousand years old.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Bastion Restaurant (Stari Grad, near the North Gate, Kotor)
A relaxed terrace near the river gate for fish, pasta and a long lunch. - Old Winery Kotor (Stari Grad, Kotor)
A cosy wine bar for tasting Montenegrin Vranac and Krstač by the glass. - Hotel Monte Cristo (Stari Grad, Kotor)
A small hotel in a historic building on one of the old town's squares. - Aman Sveti Stefan (Sveti Stefan, Budva)
The luxury resort on the island village, whose opening has been affected by a long dispute. - Sea Dance Festival (Jaz Beach, Budva)
A large summer music festival on the beach, held in some years. - TQ Plaza (Budva centre, Budva)
A modern shopping centre for essentials, beachwear and a cool break from summer heat. - Kafeterija (Central Podgorica, Podgorica)
A local coffee chain where Montenegrins linger for hours over espresso. - Wine and Bleak Festival (Virpazar, Virpazar)
A winter village festival of local wine and the lake's small fish. - Restaurant Zlatni Papak (Žabljak, Žabljak)
A local spot for lamb, kačamak and mountain cheese.