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Detailed Montenegro Guide for long and short term stay

Montenegro is a popular tourist destination. This article contains detailed information about hotels, restaurants, sights, climate, national parks, and cities for experienced and new tourists.

Montenegro – Overview

Montenegro is a former part of Yugoslavia located in southeast Europe. This Balkan country has all the benefits of the location. It has mountains, forests, lakes, plain land, and a beautiful Balkan Peninsula. Moreover, Kotor Bay is one of the most southern fiords in the world. Because of its nature, climate, and old history, Montenegro has become a popular tourist destination. Many Montenegro hotels, restaurants, beaches, clubs, apartments, and cars for rent are available for residents and guests. There is much to explore in Montenegro, even though the total area is 14.000 km2! Surprisingly, the Montenegro population is only about 600 thousand and is decreasing, less than in almost all European capitals like Paris or Berlin. The five most populated cities are Podgorica (the capital), Niksic, Bijelo Polje, Bar, and Berane. The population increases mainly by immigrants. Unfortunately, the death rate is close to the birth rate. Nevertheless, you can expect all social benefits like hospitals, schools, kindergartens, and even universities. But you can hardly find work in the production sphere, mainly only in the service sector. Montenegro is located at the crossroads of many religions, but the main Montenegro religion is Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

If you are afraid to travel in countries with unknown languages, you may feel safe. In popular tourist places, English is commonly used. Meanwhile, Montenegrin (from the Serbian, Croatian, Albanian, and Bosnian families) is the official Montenegro language, and 50% of the population can speak Serbian. Also, it is convenient to travel from Europe as you may use the Euro. The country is a candidate for the European Union, but the Montenegro currency has been Euro for a couple of years.

To enter the country (for transit, stay, or vacation), you need permission to enter – a visa. There are four official types of visa – A (airport visa), B (transit), C (short stay visa) and D (long stay visa). Citizens from the European Union States, Argentina, Japan, Mexico, Australia, Russia, the United States, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Iceland, South Korea, Norway, UAE, and more do not need a visa to Montenegro for a 30-day stay. You need only valid travel documents. In some cases, foreigners can be allowed to stay longer than 90 days – employment, seasonal work, education, scientific-research work, medical treatment, and some others.

Montenegro is generally safe for travelers and residents. But in the most crowded Montenegro places yo visit, like Old City in Kotor and Budva, pickpocketing and bag snatching commonly occur. We also suggest having travel insurance for medical cases and car damages (if applicable). If a crime occurs, you need to contact the police.

Montenegro on Europe map

Montenegro is one of the smallest countries in southeast Europe; Montenegro's size is 39 out of 50. Montenegro on map has land borders with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia on the north, Kosovo and Albania on the east, and Croatia on the west. On the west, there is also a large coastal line (293.5 km) of the Adriatic Sea. The terrain in Montenegro is diverse. In the northern part of the country, the highest mountains, with the highest point, are located – Bobotov Kuk (2.522 m). To the inlet of Kotor Bay, the mountain's height decreases up to 1.000 m, and in some places, they plunge almost vertically. Montenegro is rich with attractive river views; Tara River Canyon is the most known and visited place after the Balkan Peninsula. It is 146.4 km long and, in some places, up to 1.333 m deep; it has fast fresh water, which is suitable for rafting. If you prefer calm water, you can visit one of the beautiful lakes – Biograd, Black, Skadar (the largest), Piva, Rujiste, Sas, or Bilecko. All lakes have unique natures to explore; for example, Biogradska Gora is a national park with a temperate forest and 220 different plants.

The location of the country is comfortable for traveling from Europe as well as from other countries using international airports. There are two international airports in Montenegro – Tivat and Podgorica. Tivat is a local airport with a few regular flights from Turkish Airlines, Air Serbia, and Air Montenegro. Podgorica Airport, in addition to these air companies, also welcomes LOT, Ryanair, and Wizz Air. Moreover, charter flights in peak season (summer) come from all over the world. The airports are fully international, providing all typical services, including car rental.

You can also order a transfer or take a bus to arrive at your destination point. Unfortunately, the railway is limited; there are only several stations in Podgorica, Niksic, and Bar (the main ones). The country is also limited in water transport – only summer ferries to Italy (mainly from Bar) and some local boats in Kotor Bay. But in Kotor, many international liners have a stop, and the city is overcrowded in summer. You can come to Montenegro by international buses from Europe (mainly through Serbia, like Flixbus) or by car.

Montenegro weather

Montenegro's climate is determined by its location near the Mediterranean Sea in the south and the mountains in the north. So, it has a continental climate with mild winters and hot and dry summers. The average Montenegro temperature throughout the year differs from 6 (in January) to 28 degrees. Near the sea, it rains heavily from September to April, while closer to the mountains, winter is much colder, especially at high altitudes. The coastal area is more popular among tourists, which is why we will focus on its climate.

The best time to visit Montenegro is to swim in the sea and sunbathe, which is in July and August. The hottest month is July, when the temperature may rise to 32 C. In July, the precipitation level is also the minimum – 6 mm – which promises you almost 30 days of sunny and hot days. In summer, you can enjoy up to 12 hours of sun per day. The sea water temperature in July is 26 C and in August – 25 C. The first part of September is recommended for tourists who prefer less crowded beaches; the air temperature is 23-25 C and the sea – 24 C. In June, the air temperature is the same, but the sea is colder, 21-23 C.

For a calm vacation, Montenegrin autumn and winter suit you a lot. In winter, the temperature can reach up to 11 C, while the average is about 6 C. The highest level of precipitation is in November; during this time, it can rain for 11 days, and the level will reach 7 mm/day. In the coldest night hours, you can expect some snow in January and February. But even in these cold days, there are at least five hours of sun per day. Montenegro Spring and October weather are good for walks in national parks and coastal lines and enjoying the birds, with an average temperature of 15-20 C and occasional rains.

A more detailed analysis of the Montenegro weather by month is presented in the table:

Weather in Montenegro during the year by month
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Day temp (C°)	6	7	11	15	19	24	27	28	23	18	13	8
Night temp (C°)	0	1	3	6	9	13	16	16	13	9	7	2
Sea water temp in Budva (C°)	14	14	15	16	18	22	26	25	24	21	17	16
Precipitation (mm)	109	106	92	56	47	3	22	21	36	65	145	103
Sun hours per day	5	5	8	10	11	12	12	12	10	8	6	6

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Montenegro Best Cities

According to the latest research in 2022, about 68.4% of the population in Montenegro lives in urban areas. We will describe the nine Montenegro best cities: Podgorica, Tivat, Budva, Kotor, Perast, Bar, Zabljak, Niksic, and Ulcinj. These cities are listed not per quantity of citizens.

Podgorica

Podgorica is the capital and the largest city in Montenegro. It has more than 173 thousand citizens, about 30% of the Montenegrin population. It is located 50 km from the coastal line on the largest flat ground area of Montenegro, north of Skadar Lake, and near the border with Albania. Podgorica is a political, administrative, economic, and educational center located on the main roads of the country. Moreover, in the city, there are many parks and green areas with pine and oak trees. Podgorica is split by the Moraca and Rubnica rivers, which are rich in fish. We strongly advise you to walk to a small old Ribnica River Bridge. There are two main districts – Tuzi and Golubovici.

For tourists, we recommend walking on Bokeska Street – a pedestrian street with café, restaurants, pubs, shops, and even nightclubs. There is a wide choice of hotels and apartments in the city on every budget, local and international. But you should expect to find an ancient Old City with many sights; this city has mostly modern buildings. The narrow streets of the city center are not as picturesque as in Budva or Kotor, but you may find their authentic café. Podgorica can hardly be called a perfect tourist destination; it is mainly a city for everyday life. This smallest European capital can become the perfect start for your Montenegrin vacation or long-term stay!

Tivat

Tivat is the most luxurious city in Montenegro located in Kotor Bay. About a decade ago, several multi-millionaires founded a yacht marina that became the cultural and fashion center as well. Modern buildings at the seaside offer villages, apartments, and hotels for a stay of every duration; on the first floor, there are several restaurants and galleries for arts, culture, conferences, fashion, musical, and other creative events. In addition to this place, you can see the historical sights – Boca Summer House, Bizanti Complex, and Pima Residence. You may also rent a boat or participate in organized tours around Kotor Bay to see islands with churches and monasteries, small villages, Mamula Fort, and Blue Cave. Another popular attraction is hiking around the neighboring mountains, perfect for one-day trips.

The pedestrian concrete promenade, starting from Tourist Buro to the Naval Museum, is a perfect place for walking after dinner in one of the local restaurants. Our favorite picks are Big Ben, Bonjour, and Theodorus Restaurants; there are about fifty others as well. For summer vacation, you can always find a Montenegro beach to stay in on a sunny day. Waikiki Beach, Palma Beach, Laguna Beach, Ponta Beach, Beltane Beach, and Plaza Ponta are located inside the city. There are hundreds of other Montenegro beaches located close to the city; you can reach them by taxi or by renting a car.

Kotor

Kotor is the most famous Montenegrin city, as its Old Town is a UNESCO Heritage Site. The Old Town is located within the city walls, and it is well preserved after renovation in 1979 after the earthquake. It is a destination point for international cruise ships, so if you want to explore the city, be prepared for crowds in summer. Not only is the Old Town the reason to visit Kotor, but it also has several museums, aquariums, and seafood restaurants. The best view of Kotor Bay is available for all tourists from the viewpoint at the Fortress; you can come there using the Ladder of Kotor or the alternative way for more advanced hiking tourists. From this city, you can also take boat trip tours to Kotor Bay for a day or couple of days. In Kotor, there are more international hotels and fancy restaurants than in Podgorica.

The best beaches are located in Dobrota, the closest village, where it is not so crowded and the water is cleaner. On the other side of Kotor Bay is another cozy beach – Oskar Beach – located near the Hyatt Regency 4-star hotel. There are more beautiful points of attraction for summer holidays around the Adriatic Sea or in Kotor Bay. Many car rental services allow you to visit Tivat, Budva, or Perast. For long-term Montenegro holidays, you can consult real estate agencies to purchase an apartment or villa on the Bay shore.

Perast

Perast is not a popular town in the coastal region of Montenegro, but it is still very beautiful. It is located on the road from Kotor to Lipci through Dobrota; you need about 20 minutes to reach Kotor. Surprisingly, this town has less than 300 inhabitants, and it has a 1.5 km walk from one end to another. Nevertheless, it has infrastructure for summer vacation and longer stays. You may rent a room in one of the hotels – some of them are Heritage Grand Perast by Rixos (5-star hotel), Conte Hotel (4-star hotel), or Admiral Hotel (3-star hotel). There are numerous apartments available on booking.com, Agoda, AirBnB, and other services.

Perast can be a temporary stop during hiking, as it has nice restaurants, picturesque viewpoints, several ancient palaces (Bronze Palace, Viskovic Palace, Smekja Place), St. Nikola Church (you can climb the tower for 1 EUR), and a maritime museum with water views (Perast Museum). From one of the beaches or Perast Marina, you can rent a boat to visit nearby islands (the most visited sights in Kotor Bay), such as the Church of Our Lady Skrpjela and Saint George Catholic Monastery. The town is also rich with beaches with outstanding views. The most visited one is Perast Beach, which has parking, a lot of shade from trees, and clear water. We recommend staying in this town for at least a day. There is a special day to visit Perast – 22 July – locals take boats and come to the islands and throw rocks to wide them.

Budva

Budva is the most famous tourist city in Montenegro, and tourists are the main driver of city development. The number of tourists per year is much larger than the number of inhabitants. This city has a 2.500 history that has left many well-preserved Old City located on a rocky peninsula at the ends of the Promenade. The Old Town has medieval walls, fortifications, towers, buildings, churches, gates, and citadel. It was also damaged during an earthquake in 1979 but was reconstructed. Near the Old Town, there are two remarkable monuments – Ballerina and Bell, which are extremely popular on the postcards from Budva. Numerous tourist agencies offer individual or group tours around Montenegro, and you may also rent a car for a self-guided experience. Do not forget to visit the Sveti Stefan, the Montenegro trademark.

The city has many lively beaches with sand and pebbles and all infrastructure – umbrellas, sunbeds, bars, restaurants, and toilets. The most visited beaches are Mogren Beach, Slovenska Plaza, and Becici Beach, which are located inside the city. But in the closest driving distance, you may reach other popular places like Kamenova Beach or Ploce Beach, which have pool parties and swimming pools. You can enjoy the Budva Riviera and Montenegro Budva Beaches by staying in numerous hotels, apartments, and villas. There is a choice for every budget and quantity of tourists. For families with kids, the aquapark has recently opened, while for young couples, there are many pubs and nightclubs. For gambling lovers, some hotels have attached casinos. We also recommend visiting a local market to taste the Montenegrin wine and prosciutto.

Bar

Bar is the sea gate of Montenegro. It is the only city that has a regular connection to Italian Bari and Ancona. Bar also has a railway connection to Belgrade and further to other European cities, which makes it an important trade point for Montenegro. It is also a historic city with historical sights that started in the Middle Ages; it currently has the largest fortified archeological site. Bar is not as crowded as Budva and is commonly visited by locals from Podgorica and nearby towns and villages. Tourists can combine the sea experience with time on Shkodra Lake. Bar is the sunniest town in Montenegro as it has the highest quantities of sunny days per year – 270 days. So, it is a nice place for a summer holiday with 44 kilometers of Adriatic coast, nine of which are top-quality beaches. There are twenty beaches that you can choose from for your rest, and every day, you can change the place to sunbathe.

The city's trademark is the ancient olive tree, estimated to be about 2,000 years old. The city is also full of other olive and fruit trees. You can walk around in the parks, climb Mount Rumija, or do sports. There is a football club (FK Mornar). The nightlife is also vivid, with many clubs and discos. You can explore more cities with unique histories and beaches—Sutomore, Dubrava, or Canj.

Zabljak

To make your Montenegro experience more diverse, we suggest exploring Zabljak in the north of the country, not far from Niksic. This small town has a small population – 1.723 people. The town was founded in 1871 and hardly has many historical and natural places for walking around. It is more than 1.500 plant species in the neighborhood area. The Tara River Canyon has a special natural beauty. The place is more popular for tourism connected with mountains – rafting, hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and mountaineering. It is located at the highest altitude in the Balkans of Durmitor mountain– 1456 m. The mean highest temperature is in August – 22.1 C. Other summer months and September are also comfortable for visiting from 16.5 to 21.4 C. The coldest months are December (mean temperature 3.2 C) and January (2.2 C). The precipitation differs from 61.3 mm in August to 213.5 in November; the humidity can reach 83%. Surprisingly, the most recommended time to visit is winter. You can reach the town using the P5 motorway from the side of Jaseno Polje or the side of Rasovo. The regular bus line connects the town with Niksic and Podgorica. If you rent a car, you can stop by several picturesque viewpoints on the way. There is a local airport, Zabljak Airport, but for international connections, the closest is Podgorica Airport. There are four popular hotels to stay in – Ski Hotel, Hotel Soa, Polar Star, and Hotel Zlatni Bor. Top-rated apartments are available as well – Cass do Pino.

Niksic

The second largest city in Montenegro, in terms of population, welcomes tourists who love mountains and do not like summer heat. It is located in the middle of the country in the mountain area at 630 m above sea level. The coldest month is January (the temperature is from -1.5 C to 6.5 C), and August is the hottest (from 15 C to 30 C). In summer you can swim in the artificial Lake Krupac. You may visit the city not only for hiking but also to visit cultural establishments, such as the theater, county museum, library, art gallery, and other art societies. Several artistic festivals are organized every year and are the most recognizable in this area. The city has strong soccer, basketball, handball, and volleyball traditions; within 18 km is located the ski resort for winter sports.

You may reach Niksic by several roads from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, as well as from Montenegro cities – Podgorica, Kotor, and Risan. Moreover, there is a railway station from the narrow-gauge road, and 60 km away is the International Podgorica Airport. In 27 km is located Ostrog Orthodox Monastery- a special holly place. You may find the place to stay according to your choice – 3-star, 4-star, hostel, or apartment. One of the best hotels is Hotel Trebjesa (4-star), located in the middle of the Park Forest Trebjesa. Nearby restaurants, bars, and street food serve tasty food.

Ulcinj

Ulcinj is the last town before Albania; it is located on the most beautiful sea coast of Montenegro. Here, you may find the longest beach (13 km) in the Adriatic Sea – Velika Plaza. There are more than 20 other sand beaches (Long Beach, Dolcinium, Safari Beach, Miami Beach, etc.) on the 33 km of Ulcinj coast. Nevertheless, Ulcinj is underestimated by tourists, so you can hardly expect their crowds. The recommended months for visiting are from May to October. Even though it does not impact regular life and tourists, about 68% of the population in town are Muslims. That is why there are a number of mosques around. This city is one of the oldest on the Adriatic coast; it was an ancient seaport. You can explore the history in the Museum of Local History and by visiting the old town. There are no other interesting places, except beaches. The climate proposes a nice stay in July and August when the temperature can achieve 41 C (record high), while the mean temperature is 29 C and the mean minimum temperature is 24 C. You can achieve Ulcinj by a two-lane motorway (Adriatic Motorway) using cars, regular buses, or taxis. The choice of hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and villas is unlimited. You may also consider living in a small village, Donki Stoj, further to the Albania border on the shore of Solana Lake. For a luxurious life, three 5-star hotels welcome guests – Perla Hotel, Ajana Hotel, and Senator Hotel. In the city center, you can also find a choice of restaurants.

As you can see, Montenegro provides a wide choice of cities and towns with different climates, geographical locations, and paces of life. You can discover them one by one or choose the most suitable for your vacation or long-term stay.

What to do in Montenegro

In continuation to the wide choice of Montenegro cities, we will summarize and describe the most popular things to do in Montenegro. The country is small, so all of them are available by renting a guided tour or a car. One or two hours, and you will be at the place of the point of attraction. We want to highlight again that not only beaches are the reason to come to Montenegro.

So, what you can do in Montenegro:

Sunbath on beaches and swim in crystal water. The weather at Montenegro provides all opportunities to enjoy the sun and sea starting from the middle of June till the end of September. There are more than a hundred beaches with pebbles, sand, all infrastructure, and picturesque views. You can enjoy public or private beaches and even find small beaches for nudists. Near every coastal city, there is a choice of places to enjoy the hot weather. On some beaches, especially in Kotor Bay, you can rent sports equipment and enjoy snorkeling. If you do not like salt water, there are a couple of rivers and lakes as well, especially in mountain areas with a more continental climate.
Hike in the mountains. The list of mountains in Montenegro includes about 50 peaks in different parts of the country—the highest peaks in Durmitor and Accursed Mountains (2.523 and 2.535 m correspondingly). The top trails start from Kotor Fortress, Black Lake, and Durmitor Ice Cave, which are the main attractions. But there are plenty of trails for hiking with the best views in all tourist places. Hiking is the best way to explore the country and cover most of the country. We highly recommend hiking only on known trails, with professional guides and corresponding outfits. There are trails with different difficulty levels.
Explore canyons (hiking and rafting). You can hike not only in mountains but also in canyons. The most visited is Tara Canyon, which has many rafting excursions, hiking tours, zip lanes, and one of the longest bridges. The next most popular is Piva Canyon, which has exceptional lakes. We also recommend visiting Moraca River Canyon, Canyon Nevidio, and Mrtvica Canyon. You can order a one-day tour or several-day tours. Tourist agencies regularly collect tourists on rafting; you should purchase such tours only from authorized companies, as this extreme sport is connected with a lot of risks and requires high-end equipment.
Visit small eco-villages. In recent years, a new trend has emerged – eco-villages. The main difference between these villages is that such communities organize their household with minimum infrastructure on the environment. One of the most popular is an eco-friendly village in 22 km from Zabljak – Nevidio. You can stay in nine mountain cottages made from wood and stone and dine with a wide choice of local food, including vegetarian. There are other also recommended eco-villages in Buljarica (near Petrovac) and Pseniciste (near Berane).
Rent a boat or yacht. Almost all tourists who have been to Montenegro took a guided boat to Kotor Bay. This is the most popular excursion, maybe one or two days, because of the many sights – Blue Cave, Mamula Fort, Submarine cave, Monasteries and Churches, many beaches, towns, and villages in addition to remarkable postcard views. You can rent a boat or a yacht in all Marines; the most luxurious are available in Porto Montenegro. Near Budva, we recommend taking a boat to visit beaches on Sveti Nikola Island. On Shkoder Lake, the boat is a must-have if you like fishing.
Enjoy local and international cuisines. With the development of tourism in Montenegro, in addition to exceptional local cuisine, there are plenty of authentic restaurants (Vietnamese, American, Italian, Spanish, English, and many more) and fast food. From Montenegrin meals, our favorites are Lamb in Milk, Balkan porridge, Prosciutto (also available in all markets and shops), Njeguski Steak, Black Risotto, and Cevapi. The country's location also determines the availability of many seafood dishes at reasonable prices. After the main courses, do not forget to order local desserts – Baklava and Tulumba.
Sightseeing around UNESCO Heritage. Montenegro has a long history, starting in the Middle Ages. Almost everywhere, you may visit well-preserved Old Towns or ruins of walls, fortresses, churches, monasteries, and old buildings. You can choose between natural beauty or artificial monuments and buildings. There are four UNESCO Heritage Sites in Montenegro. In our next part, we will focus on the most remarkable sights in Montenegro that are worth visiting.

Top 10 sights in Montenegro

We will describe the most convenient way and best time to visit the ten best places to visit in Montenegro, admission rules, and our experience. We would like our readers to be prepared for the best time in Montenegro. For sure, in summer, all these sights are full of tourists. The most peaceful time for visiting is May, June, and September, with moderate air temperatures and sunny days.

Kotor Old City. The Old City contains the most well-preserved monuments and buildings in the Adriatic Sea, showing the history and culture of people living in this area from the Middle Ages. To feel the atmosphere, you can stay in the hotel or go to the restaurant or café inside. The Kotor region is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list for natural and cultural-historical assets. You can enjoy the 5 km of fortification architecture with squares, walls, and gates, and even hide the walls. The earliest cultural monument dated to the VIII century is – Tower Watch. The entrance to the Old Town is free. The best view is from San Giovanni Castle; you need to climb 1350 steps to the closest mountain.
Tara Canyon. This beautiful canyon was created by the fast waters of the Tara River, which flows through the whole Montenegro territory and is one of the deepest in Europe (1300 m). The canyon is located in the Durmitor National Park, and the best view is from the Tara Bridge, which is 365 m long with five arches. You can also enjoy clean, cool waters on the river beach, use a zip line for adrenaline, and go rafting or hiking. The price for visiting Montenegro Durmitor National Park is 5 Euros per day. We recommend visiting the Tara Canyon on a guided one-day tour, where other sights are included. The travel time from Budva is about 3 hours – 200 km.
Kotor Bay. You can combine the visit to Kotor Old City with a boat trip to the Bay. It is the second most popular tour in Montenegro, and it can be private or guided. If you are a confident boat driver, you can rent a boat from numerous marines around the Bay (Perast, Tivat, Herceg Novi, Kotor, Dobrota, etc.). Depending on the duration, your tour may include a visit to Lady of the Rocks Island, Blue Cave, Mamula Island, Submarine Tunnels, Perast Old Town, and Porto of Montenegro. During the whole trip, you will enjoy the picturesque view of mountains with clear water and villages. A 3-hour guided tour with Lady of the Rocks and Blue Cave starts from 42 euros. Most of the tours start in Kotor, Herceg Novi, or Tivat.
Budva Old City. This Old City is not as big as Kotor and might not be as beautiful as Dubrovnik, but it is unique and definitely worth visiting, especially if you stay in Budva or nearby villages. Its history starts from Roman times, from which we can see ruins and encircled fortress walls when Budva was part of the Venetian Republic. There are not only old buildings, towers, and walls; the Ethnographic Museum and Gallery of Modern Art also welcome tourists. The best view of the Old City is from Sveti Nikola Island or any boat passing by the Budva Riviera. We also recommend making the picture with the Budva Ballerina, which will be especially remarkable with the Budva Citadel on the back. The suggested time for walking inside is 2-3 hours, and the admission fee is 3.50 euros. Fewer tourists are in the morning when shops are closed.
Black and Skadar Lakes. These two lakes are the most well-known in Montenegro, but we do not recommend combining them in a one-day trip. The Black Lake is located in the Durmitor National Park (near Tara Bridge), while Skadar Lake is located near Podgorica and borders Albania. Black Lake is a glacial lake (one of the 18 other glacial lakes in the Durmitor area) located at an altitude of 1.416 m, not far from Zabljak town. You can hike from the town or visit it on a guided tour to the National Park. The water here is dark, in a beautiful contrast to the sand beach surrounded by pine trees. There is no entrance fee for this lake, but you need to pay for the entrance to Durmitor National Park (5 euros). While Black Lake is relatively small, Skadar Lake is the largest in Southern Europe. The boat trip is highly recommended to see its biodiversity. The best view of the Lake is from the Pavle side. The lake also has beautiful beaches, the best of which is Murici Beach. The daily ticket price for Lake visitors is the same – 5 Euro.
Ostrog Orthodox Monastery. This place is holy for numerous orthodoxies all over the world. It is located not far from Niksic (15 km) on a vertical mountain. The monastery was built in the 1600s in a secure place during the time of the Ottoman Empire. Also, there is a legend that God has shown the place to create a place for St. Basil Church in the cave. In the nearest caves, the bedrooms were made for guests, and religious artifacts were made afterward. Since the death of St. Basil in 1676, miracles started to happen, many connected with cures for sick and injured people. Thousands of pilgrims come every year to Ostrog; for the last three kilometers, they go barefooted. From the Monastery balcony, you can see the splendid view of the Bjelopavlici Plain. There are no admission fees for visiting the Monastery, but you may leave a donation.
Durmitor National Park. This UNESCO-protected natural park was founded in 1980 and occupies 32,000 ha of Montenegro territory. There, you can see 18 beautiful glacial lakes, Tara canyons, forests, limestone massif, and over 40 mountains higher than 2000 meters. You need to pay an admission fee (5 Euro), and if you travel by car, the parking lot admission fee is 3 Euro. There are many trails for hiking and rafting opportunities for all-year-round activities, but summer is the most recommended. There are plenty of visitors for skiing and sledding in the winter as well. Be careful, as the Park is the natural habitat for large mammals like grey wolves, brown bears, and European wild cats. The closest entrance to the Park is located 1 mile from Zabljak town, but there are many others.
Sveti Stefan. This small island, located a couple of meters from the coastline, is the most recognizable trademark of Montenegro. Many years ago, it was the capital of the Pastovici community; nowadays, it is a 5-star Aman Resort hotel. The best view of the buildings with red tile roofs is from the nearest Sveti Stefan sand beach and the road Budva – Podgorica located on the hill. Because of COVID-19, it was closed and has not reopened so far. When the hotel was opened, you could buy an entrance ticket, but now there is no possibility. The nearest beaches, which have been owned for 30 years near the resort, are also closed. They will be opened after the dispute between the Montenegro government and Aman management is resolved.
Blue Cave. Blue Cave (or Blue Grotto) is a large sea cave located on the Adriatic Coast on Lustica Peninsula. This natural wonder should be visited by small boat, as the entrance is rather low under the water and is accessible only from the Western side (from the Adriatic Sea). You can come here on your Kotor Bay boat day trip or rent a boat taxi from Igalo Beach (about 10 euros). The water here is crystal clear, and from the holes in the mountains, it sparkles on the sun and becomes a special emerald color. The best time to visit is early morning to avoid crowds.
Porto Montenegro. If you have a yacht, then you definitely have heard of this luxurious modern marina in Tivat Montenegro. But it is not only the place for boats and yachts; it provides on the sea promenade a large choice of boutiques, shops, events, restaurants, hotels, and apartments for short and long-term stays. You may even purchase a property for sale to obtain the ideal environment for raising your family with a spectacular view of Kotor Bay. During the tourist season (from June to September) you can come here for art exhibitions, opera, Jazz Festival, Fashion shows, polo and for sure regattas. The entrance is free, but for events, you need to check the separate requirements.

Montenegro national parks

We can’t avoid describing other Montenegrin national parks as they occupy a significant part of the country and are home to many unique species of plants and animals. There is not only Durmitor National Park that is recommended for visiting; there are other four:

Lovcen National Park. This park is located near Kotor (20 km), and you can start (or finish your trial) from the Kotor viewpoint. Because of the locations, it is the easiest and most convenient to visit. The park's name comes from Black Mountain, which is one of the attractions. Another attraction is the Njegos Mausoleum, which has a tomb and statue of philosopher-poet Petar II. The highest point is Stirovnik – 1749 m above the sea (you can also reach this point by car). We recommend stopping for a snack in Njegusi village to try local prosciutto, honey, and cheese. You can also quad bike, cycle, and try a zip-line in the park. The entrance fee is 2 Euro per person.
Lake Skadar National Park. As mentioned before, this park was created in 1983 to protect the natural beauty of Lake Skadar, which is the habitat for many plants and animals. If you like to watch birds, you need to come here as this is the winter settlement for many species (for example, the Dalmatian Pelican). There is also Grmozur prison left from Ottoman times. Kayaks and boats are available for rent for exploring the lake.
Biogradska Gora National Park. This smallest Park is another UNESCO-protected biosphere reservation. It is located in the central part of Montenegro near Gornji Mojkovac town. You can start your hiking experience from one of the eco-villages (for example, Eco Village Goles). The park has a 2.000 m high mountain, six glacial lakes, an unattached forest, 26 different plants, 150 species of birds, and ten species of mammals, and at the entrance, Biogradska Lake, where you can swim in summer. The park is accessible by car or bus, and you can stay overnight. The admission fee is 4 euros for all visitors older than seven years old.
Prokletije National Park. This park is the youngest in Montenegro, as it was founded in 2009. Most of the territory is mountains with peaks (several are higher than 2000 m), slopes, and river valleys. In this area, about 1/5 of all Balkan flora live– more than 1700 plant species, including rabbits, bears, wolves, deer, and more, can be seen in the park. In addition to flora and fauna, there are several cultural monuments – an old mosque, tower, and church. The Park is good for active holidays – hiking, rafting, mountain climbing. You can reach the Park by a rented car, taxi or local bus. The entrance fee is 3 Euro.

Montenegro is good for exploring Balkan nature and admiring flora and fauna. You can spend one or several days at any of the fifth national parks. In all parks, you can take guided tours or go by yourself.

Tours to Montenegro

As you see, there are plenty of things to do in Montenegro, whether you are traveling alone or with a family. That’s why many tours are available from different travel operators from all over the world. The price depends on the duration, chosen program, and accommodation. The options for package tours are:

Standard package tour. Such tours normally include the flight from your country and hotel. The best-priced tour includes the charter flight and an all-inclusive hotel. Regular flights to international Montenegro airports Tivat or Podgorica are available, as well as BB and HB hotels and apartments. Most tourists choose Budva as their destination point from which they travel around the country. Flights to Montenegro are available from many European and CIS countries.
Sea cruise. You can choose between visiting the coastal cities (Tivat, Budva, Bar, Perast, Kotor) or multi-country, with the only stop in Kotor.
Sailing/yachting trip. Another opportunity to visit Montenegro from the sea. This option is more expensive and is preferable for small companies and families. In addition, you can participate in regattas organized in Porto Montenegro.
Hiking tours. Montenegro has five national parks with huge opportunities for active vacations. In some parks, overnight camping in a tent is available, or you can choose from numerous eco-villages and guest houses nearby.
One or two-day trips from Albania, Croatia, Serbia. From all former Yugoslavia countries, you can come for a short visit inside an organized tour or by local buses or trains. Normally, these tours are aimed at Kotor or Budva and include an excursion program with the most popular sights.

In lots of travel agencies, you can organize other options for private tours – on bicycles, kayaks, boats, cars, or any other available transportation mode. Montenegro proposes the choice of accommodation and food for every budget and still becomes the best Balkan country in terms of price for service and quality.

Montenegro best hotels

We want to highlight that there are numerous top-quality international and unique hotels in Montenegro where you can rest safely with the best service. We collected only 5 of the most popular 5-star hotels, but there is much more hotels in Montenegro to explore from different locations.

5* star Montenegrin hotels

Heritage Grand Perast by Rixos (14 km from Kotor). This hotel offers large rooms for up to 4 adults with air conditioning and a marvelous view of Kotor Bay. A buffet breakfast is included in the room price and is highly rated by guests. An indoor swimming pool, restaurant with international dishes, fitness center, sauna, and sun umbrellas on the beach are available for all guests. Children of all ages are welcome in the hotel. A cot is provided for small guests for free. Pets are not allowed.
Nikki Beach Montenegro (Tivat). This luxurious hotel has a private beach and seasonal infinity outdoor swimming pool so you can enjoy privacy and the best comfort. Rooms with included good breakfasts of different sizes for up to 3 adults with air conditioning, patio, or balcony are available. You can stay with kids of all sizes; cots are provided for free, while other beds are provided for additional payment. Pets are also welcome in the hotel; you can request pet bowls and baskets. For night meals, the restaurant is available till 1 a.m.
Ananti Resort, Residences & Beach Club (Sveti Stefan). This Montenegro resort is located in a remarkable place with a private beach. You can enjoy your vacation with an outdoor swimming pool, spa and wellness area, garden with BBQ area, and 3 restaurants (with Mediterranean and International cuisine). Pets are allowed. You can come here with large families. There are rooms for up to 5 adults, extra beds for an additional fee, and free cots (for kids up to 2 years) are provided.
One&Only Portonovi (7 km from Herceg Novi). This accommodation provides villas with four bedrooms and standard doubles. The price for an exceptional buffet breakfast is included; for other meals, three restaurants (Asian, Italian, and International cuisine) are available. You can rest in an indoor swimming pool or use a fitness, spa, massage, or wellness. Pets are allowed without extra charges. All beds and cots for kids under 11 years are provided for free.
Dukley Hotel&Rooms (Budva). This hotel is located on the hill at the end of the Budva Promenade, which has an excellent view of the sea, Budva, and Becici Beach. You can choose a room that is superior to the penthouse with three bedrooms; some rooms have a fully-equipped kitchen. For guests, a continental breakfast is included, and you also have a meal in one of the seven restaurants. There is also an outdoor Infinity pool, fitness, spa, kid’s club, water sports facilities, tennis court, and many more. Pets are allowed on request. For kids under three years, cots are provided for free; for older kids and adults, you may request an extra bed.

These hotels and any others can be booked directly on the hotel websites or via international aggregators like Hotels.com or Booking.com.

Montenegro restaurants

In Montenegro, you can find restaurants from all international cuisines – Asian, Italian, Russian, Japanese, European, and much more. There is a choice of restaurants and café for each budget, including fast food places. Montenegro, like other tourist countries, watches tendencies in the restaurant business. Because of the location, the most common are Italian, Serbian, Croatian, and Mediterranean. Some restaurants are even mentioned in the Michelin Guide. The average price per one-person light meal is about 15 Euro there. In most restaurants, vegetarian or gluten-free dishes are available on the kid's menu.

But we strongly suggest not passing local restaurants with Balkan and Montenegrin dishes. Local cuisine was developed under the influence of nearby countries and conquerors. From Serbia, you will wind surma, musaka, burek, and kebab, or from Turkey, many desserts are available, such as tulumba and baklava. But there are some dishes that you may try only in Montenegro. The top foods to try are Njegusi Prosciutto (pig meat smoked for four months), cevapi (sausages from several types of meat with bread and onions), kacamak (kajmak cream cheese, yogurt or sour milk with potatoes and corn), brav u mlijeku (lamb in milk with root vegetables), krempita (a cream pie). All these dishes are typical from the central and mountain parts of Montenegro, while on the coast, there are many seafood dishes – black risotto, Bokeljski brodet (fish stew), and many types of grilled fish or seafood like octopus or mussels.

Montenegro real estate

For the last ten years, the demand for Montenegro property for sale has significantly increased. Montenegro is a candidate for membership to enter the Schengen Area, but a Schengen visa is already valid for entering the country (if required). Currently, you can invest at least 350.000 euros in Montenegro real estate for sale to receive citizenship. The choice of Montenegro homes and houses for sale is huge – from apartments to villas. For the last few years, the prices have shown stable growth, so it is a good investment. You can also take out a loan and mortgage at Montenegrin Bank.

Apartments are available for purchase in newly constructed complexes with swimming pools and modern infrastructure, as well as separate flats. You can purchase a property under construction using a preliminary contract. Whether you buy an apartment or villa, you need to pay a standard set of fees (the list depends on the type of property) – transfer tax, VAT (only for new properties), notary fee, law fee, and agent fee. All contracts for purchasing property should be checked by the lawyer and signed in front of the notary. To search for a property, you need to use Montenegro real estate websites and offices available in the country, such as Savills, Montenegro Properties, Trania, and many more. All properties are assigned to a real estate agent. The whole process is straightforward. The title should be registered within 30 days.

There are no limitations on buying a villa or land for further building a house for foreigners. You are allowed to buy a plot up to 5.000 m2 if it is not agricultural land. In other cases, you need to have a registered company in Montenegro to purchase it. Before making a purchase, you need to study the urban plan and cadaster and all documentation, including urban-technical conditions. The corresponding fees and property registration are mandatory.

Montenegro's cost of living is relatively cheap compared with other European countries. It is estimated that a single person needs at least 605 Euro to live, while a family of four needs about 2.000- 2.500 Euro. Additionally, you need the money to rent an apartment—a one-bedroom apartment in Budva City Center costs about 650-750 Euro.

Montenegro yacht rental

Most of the tourist Montenegro cities, towns, and villages are available from the Adriatic Sea. If you like sailing and want to export hidden beaches, you can easily rent a boat or a yacht in all Marines. You can rent a boat with or without a captain and skipper, with or without fuel included. The options are huge, from small motor boats for six people for fishing to catamarans for 12 people with six cabins to luxury yachts. There are options to find a yacht and boat with special equipment like a wakeboard, autopilot, water skis, electric windlass, and many more. The price starts from a hundred euros per day to thousands of euros.

For renting, local and international websites are available - Click and Boat, Yacht Charter Fleet, Getmyboat, Dream Yacht Charter, and more. You can experience a bareboat if you are an experienced sailor with a license or skippered options for relaxing vacations. The boats and yachts are more expensive in the summer season. If you are traveling for a week, you need to pay berthing or mooring fees – for small yachts from 30 Euro and for large ones about 120 Euro. The advantage is that you do not need to pay VAT to charter superyachts in Montenegro.

Montenegro car trips

There are even more options for car rental, and you can visit even more attractions, especially in the continental part of Montenegro. Most of the international rental companies (SIXT, Hertz, Europcar, MTL, Enterprise) are located in two international airports – Podgorica and Tivat. However, there are many local companies with offices in tourist places, and you can always use aggregators like KAYAK or Rental Cars. But be prepared that each company has its requirements for driving experience and driving license; normally, you should be older than 21 years with a couple of years valid driving license. We recommend always taking insurance and age-appropriate seats for kids. The choice of cars is suitable for small and large companies, with mechanical or automatic gear, and almost all have air conditioning.

The majority of roads are paved, but somewhere, they are narrow with sharp turns and serpentines (especially in the mountains); for inexperienced drivers, it will be a tough job to pass the large bus there. But with cars, you can explore almost the whole country, as local transport is limited. The price for budget cars starts at 20 Euros for long-term rent.

Montenegro nightlife

We can’t say that Montenegro is popular for its nightlife. But in the most popular tourist locations (Budva, Kotor, Tivat) in summer, there are enough pubs, nightclubs, beach discos, cocktail bars, and open-air festivals. Budva is considered the capital of Montenegro nightlife; most of the recommended discos and clubs are located near Budva Promenade. The Top Hill disco in Budva was declared the best nightclub in the world in 2012. At the same time, Club Maximus is one of the currently popular clubs with all the equipment for the best sound and dances. Also, there are some casinos in Podgorica, Budva, Tivat, Kotor, and Herceg Novi. So, even though Montenegro is a small country, you can spend days and nights there and have a lot of fun.