If you are searching for the least explored country in Europe then Montenegro could be your first choice! Although it is a small country, it has a huge array of natural and man-made wonders. Montenegro is a hidden gem of Europe that has innumerable amazing places to visit. Whether you enjoy mountain hiking, birding, or want to simply relax on the beaches; you can do it all in Montenegro!
The best time to visit is during Spring and Autumn when the weather is pleasant. Summers are warm with the average temperature going up to 30 degrees Celsius, whereas during the winter season it snows and the average temperature is about 3 degrees Celsius. However, before you plan your itinerary, I would suggest you to go through these popular attractions of Montenegro so that you do not miss out anything.
Our Montenegro travel video
Places To Visit In Montenegro
Tivat
Tivat – Porto Montenegro
Tivat is a coastal town in southwest Montenegro, located in the Bay of Kotor. It is a modern and glamorous city that closely reminds Monaco. Even though it’s luxurious and has a beautiful Porto Montenegro it’s quite cheap to get a hotel here and enjoy the given attractions.
Lovcen
Lovćen is the famous mountain and national park of Montenegro, which even consists of a magnificent mausoleum. You will require an entire day to explore the place. The route to reach the pinnacle of the mountain has several hairpin turns, so it is advisable to hire a local driver who is familiar with the roads. If not; you can drive slowly and carefully. The national park is home to about 200 species of birds and innumerable animals; but, you might not be able to spot any as they stay in the remotest part of the park.
Lovcen
To reach the mausoleum, you need to climb 461 steps; however, that should not deter you from visiting this attraction as the views from the top are breathtaking. So, if you want to click some awesome pictures of Montenegro, then you should add Petar II Petrovic-Njegos Mausoleum to your itinerary. Entrance fee to the national park is €2 and to enter the mausoleum you need to buy another ticket for €3.
Lovcen also attracts innumerable adventurous travelers as you can participate in some thrilling activities such as quad biking and zip-lining. You will even find several tourists hiking and biking to make the most of their holiday. To enjoy the nature and cool weather, travelers set up camps and stay there for few days. It is a great spot to spend time with your loved ones.
Black Lake
Black Lake
The Black Lake is a mesmerizing glacial lake, which is surrounded by innumerable pine trees and has Medjed Mountain at its backdrop. It is about 3kms walk from Zabljak town in the Durmitor National Park. It would take around 2 hours to reach there and if you take a break often to click pictures then it may take 3 hours. However, the wonderful views of the lake and beautiful nature are simply worth the efforts and time. Entrance charges are €3 per person and kids below the age of 7 can enter for free. If you are visiting Montenegro during summers then you can enjoy cycling, fishing, swimming, and hiking at Durmitor. In winters, it is a popular spot for skiing and snowboarding.
Kotor
Kotor
The most popular destination for travelers in Montenegro is the Kotor Old Town. Here you will find several cats roaming on the streets; thus, giving an apt nickname to the town as the ‘City of Cats’. If you like these feline animals then you should visit the Cat Museum. On the other hand, if you enjoy hiking then you should climb the Kotor City Walls to reach St John’s Fortress. You may even consider walking 1350 stairs to reach the pinnacle. The views from the top are breathtaking, and totally worth the efforts put in. The sight of turquoise water in the Bay of Kotor and tiny red roofs of Kotor were the highlights of my day!
Kotor
Pocket-Friendly Tours To Explore In Montenegro
Montenegro One-Day Tour
During my trip, I booked for the great Montenegro one-day tour to view some of the popular attractions of the country. It was a 12-hour tour in which I could explore several places like Lovcen Mountain, Austro-Hungarian road, Mausoleum of Petar II Petrovic-Njegos, Old Royal Capital Cetinje, and more. Some of the areas that were best for clicking breathtaking photos were 25th serpentine, which is about 1000 meters above sea level and Lake Peak, which is at an altitude of 1660 meters.
Montenegro One-Day Tour
My next stoppage was at the Crnojevic River where I relished authentic cuisine and enjoyed the scenic boat ride. Then, we headed towards Sveti Stefan; a former fishing village, which has been converted into an exclusive luxury hotel-town. Only guests are allowed to enter the hotel premises; so we happily clicked some amazing pictures of the island. Although our day tour was coming to an end, we were happy to take back innumerable memories that we could cherish for our life.
North Montenegro Tour
To explore the natural beauty of North Montenegro, I had booked for a 13 hour tour, which was especially designed for adventurous travelers. In this tour, I got the opportunity to explore most of the wild places of Montenegro. The tour operators were extremely punctual as we started at 7 in the morning and were back to Kotor at sharp 8:30pm. Our journey began with the wonderful coastline of Kotor and Risan Bay and we could click amazing pictures of the clean blue waters.
Some more interesting attractions that we covered in our tour were Niksic (the city where the best Montenegrin beer is made), Salty Lake, Krupac Lake, Durmitor Mountain, Durdevica Tara Bridge (highest bridge in Europe), Zabljak (highest town in Balkans), among others. I cannot forget the amazing time that I had while zip-lining at Tara Bridge and viewing the interiors of Ostrog Monastery. Overall, it was an informative and beautiful tour. The sceneries throughout the route were breathtaking and I am glad I could capture them forever in my memories.
Where To Stay In Montenegro?
Hotel Magnolia
Hotel Magnolia Window View
If you want to stay in the heart of the city then you should book a room at Hotel Magnolia. The hotel is a few minutes away from Pine Square, Porto Montenegro Marina, and several beaches. So, you won’t require much time to reach these attractions. Also, if you are landing at the Tivat airport then this hotel would be apt for you as you can reach within 4 minutes by car. Few hotel facilities that you would get are fitness club, high speed Wi-Fi, restaurant, lounge terrace that faces the bay or mountains, bar, and more. Overall, your stay would be a comfortable one in Hotel Magnolia.
Apartments Aruba
Apartments Aruba
If you are looking for a room that offers a private beach for relaxing and is close to Tivat International Airport and then you can consider staying at Apartments Aruba. During my trip to Montenegro, I had booked a room here and the personal sandy beach in Durasevica Obala area was the highlight of my stay. Depending on your preferences, you could book their one-bedroom apartment, double-bedroom apartment, or suite. Each room provides innumerable facilities like kitchenette, balcony/terrace, dining area, coffee/tea maker, refrigerator, air-conditioning, and much more. I would recommend these apartments to all as my stay was absolutely comfortable and an unforgettable one.
Traveling In Montenegro
The public transport system of Montenegro is not as reliable and punctual as it is expected to be in a European country. However, the buses are well-connected to neighboring countries like Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia. They are the best way to travel to another country as you will be able to view the scenic on-route beauty.
Traveling by buses as means of transportation within Montenegro are the cheapest. You can buy tickets from the driver in the bus or by visiting a ticket office. Taxis are commonly found on the roads, but being a tourist they may try to overcharge you, especially if it is unmetered. You may even consider using the rail services, especially from Bar to Belgrade via Podgorica as you can view some stunning sceneries throughout the way. Renting a car and driving through the roads of Montenegro is the best way to explore the country. You can rent a car by using this site.
Tips For First Time Travelers
- If you are interested in bird watching, especially Pelicans then you should visit Skadar Lake. It is the largest lake in the Balkans and one of the biggest bird sanctuaries.
- Adventurous travelers can consider climbing Maja Kolata, which is the highest peak in Montenegro.
- Try unique things in Montenegro like taking a kayak instead of a motor boat while visiting the blue caves in Kotor. This will provide enough time to click scenic pictures.
- Don’t forget to try tasting Rakija, which is a homemade fruit brandy.
- If you don’t have enough experience to drive along the serpentine roads I suggest you to take the tours I mentioned before and you’ll get to best places stress-free.
Is It Safe To Travel To Montenegro?
Absolutely! Montenegro is a safe country to visit for families, solo backpackers, as well as women travelers. The locals of Montenegro are extremely friendly and warm. The only aspect that you should worry about is petty thefts in busy areas. There is a risk of pickpockets near crowded beaches or local markets. So, it is advisable to keep important documents, extra money, and expensive belongings in the safe locks while visiting market areas or tourist destinations. After taking sensible precautions, you can walk in confidence around the city even after dark.
All in all, if you enjoy viewing scenic landscapes, hiking mountains, and relaxing on beaches then you should add Montenegro to your bucket list. My trip to Montenegro was an amazing one; and believe me you won’t be disappointed! So, pack your bags and plan for an extravagant holiday to Montenegro with your loved ones!
While I was in Montenegro I also took Flights to Belgrade and Sarajevo. So you can do that as well if you are interested in its neighbor countries.
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In this post – @Aistis and @Aiste
