Montenegro Travel Guide: Bay, Lake and Mountains

The National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro describes the country as small and varied, with an Adriatic coast, five national parks and a capital, Podgorica, on the Zeta plain. The tours on this page start from Kotor and Podgorica.

This guide covers the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, Durmitor National Park and Podgorica, the places most of those tours go to.

Places to visit in Montenegro

Kotor

The Natural and Cultural-Historical Region of Kotor has been on the UNESCO list since 1979, and the Kotor Fortress was added in 2017. The tourism organisation lists the Clock Tower, the Cathedral of St. Tripun and the Prince's Palace among the town's monuments.

Perast, Our Lady of the Rocks and the Blue Cave

The tourism organisation describes Gospa od Škrpjela, the Venetian-built church that "floats" in the middle of the Bay of Kotor, which it says is almost 400 years old. It also lists a boat tour of the Blue Cave on Luštica, and Perast's cobbled streets, among the things to do on the bay.

Lake Skadar

Skadar Lake has been a national park since 1983 and is home to around 280 bird species. Virpazar is the most visited settlement on the lake, and you can rent a kayak or boat there. The tourism organisation lists boat trips, kayaking and bird watching among the top activities.

Durmitor National Park

Durmitor National Park, with the Tara River Canyon, is on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List, where the tourism organisation says it has been since 1980. The tourism organisation counts 48 peaks above 2,000 metres and 18 glacial lakes. Top activities include hiking, rafting, canyoning and skiing.

Podgorica

Podgorica is the capital, in the northern part of the Zeta plain. Its Old Town includes the Sahat Kula, a clock tower that the tourism organisation says is one of the few Ottoman structures to survive World War II. The ruins of ancient Doclea lie outside the city.

Getting to Montenegro

The tourism organisation says you will land at one of two international airports: Podgorica, 12 km from the capital, or Tivat, 4 km from the centre of Tivat. Flight information is on the airports' website, montenegroairports.com.

Montenegro also has bus connections with cities in neighbouring countries, including Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, and the railway network links the country with Serbia and Albania. Visitors arriving by sea can use Port of Kotor, which has border-crossing facilities.

Getting around

The tourism organisation says the Adriatic Highway and the Risan to Žabljak road connect the sea with the high northern mountains, and that the Budva to Cetinje to Podgorica road links the coast with the capital. Local bus tickets can be bought at the station counter or through the BusTicket4.me service.

The Cijevna Canyon near Podgorica is not served by public transport, according to the tourism organisation, so you would need a taxi or your own vehicle.

When to go to Montenegro

Summer

The tourism organisation presents summer as the coast season, with 117 beaches on the Adriatic coast. It lists Tara River rafting from 1 May to 1 October.

Spring

The tourism organisation suggests spring for the national parks, hiking, biking and rafting. It says the waterfalls near Podgorica are at their most beautiful in the spring.

Autumn and winter

The tourism organisation names autumn and winter for observing birds at Skadar Lake. In winter it points to the mountains and ski resorts.

What to book ahead

• Boat tours to the Blue Cave and Our Lady of the Rocks run on the operator's schedule; confirm the departure before you plan the rest of the day.
• Rafting on the Tara River is listed for 1 May to 1 October, so check the operator's dates if you plan to go.
• If you want to reach the Cijevna Canyon without a car, arrange a taxi in advance, since public transport does not go there.
• Guided tours run on fixed days; check dates before fixing your route.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements depend on your nationality and change over time. Check the current rules on the Government of Montenegro visa page before you book, and confirm again shortly before you travel.

Official source: Government of Montenegro: Visas.

Frequently asked questions

Which parts of Montenegro are UNESCO World Heritage sites?

The tourism organisation lists the Natural and Cultural-Historical Region of Kotor from 1979, Durmitor National Park with the Tara River Canyon from 1980, stećci necropolises and the Kotor Fortress from 2017.

How many national parks does Montenegro have?

The tourism organisation says Montenegro has five national parks: Durmitor, Skadar Lake, Lovćen, Biogradska gora and Prokletije. Together they cover 8% of the country.

Which airports serve Montenegro?

The tourism organisation names two international airports, Podgorica and Tivat. Their flight information is on montenegroairports.com.

Where is Gospa od Škrpjela?

It is a Venetian-built church on an islet in the middle of the Bay of Kotor, which the tourism organisation says is almost 400 years old. Boat tours from the bay visit it.

Do I need a visa for Montenegro?

It depends on your nationality. The Government of Montenegro publishes the current rules on its visa page, so check it before you book.