Montenegro, blessed with rugged mountains, historical medieval villages, stunning white beaches and fjord-like Bay of Kotor has a lot to offer to its visitors. Ideally, you should spend a couple of weeks to explore the country but if you are short on time, we have short listed 7 7 of the best places to go in Montenegro. All of these places can be easily visited in 3 days by driving from Dubrovnik, Mostar or Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro.
We visited Montenegro on our Croatian trip and spent 3 days exploring these 7 awesome places in the Bay of Kotor and beyond by driving from Dubrovnik in a rental car.
1. Visit to Old Town Kotor and Bay of Kotor
The historic old town of Kotor is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with lovely narrow windy streets wrapped in the medieval city wall. The old town has a number of Romanesque churches and Maritime Museum filled with old artefacts of historical relevance. For the best views of the old town and fjord-like Bay, hike the ladder of Kotor to Kotor Fortress especially at sunset.
2. Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks
Just a few Kilometers away from Kotor, Perast is another UNESCO World Heritage Site and very close to the tiny islets of St. George and Our Lady of the Rocks. The town is a traffic-free and perfect place to relax. It is a very small town and can be visited in a couple of hours.
3. Budva Sightseeing
Budva is known for its sandy beaches, nightlife and the medieval old town known as Stari Grad which is home to the citadel and 9th century-old Church of Santa Maria. The old town is very touristy, busy, full of places to eat, shops and historical buildings. Try to explore the old town early in the morning to avoid the crowds.
4. Sveti Stefan Visit
Sveti Stefan is approx. only 6 kilometres southeast of Budva. The small islet of Sveti Stefan is a 5-star hotel resort and the entrance to the islet is restricted. The whole island was a fishing village which was sold to a private company who turned it into a resort. The houses are kept in their original shape and to get into the island you need to book a guided tour which costs 20€ per person.
5. Lake Skadar National Park
Lake Skadar is a protected 400 sq. km national park surrounded by steep mountains and home to native wildlife. The main towns nearby are Virpazar and Vranjina. The best view of the Lake is from the point called Pavlova Strana Viewpoint which can be reached by driving on a very narrow road from Virpazar going southeast or from Budva on M2.3. Search Pavlova Strana Viewpoint on google maps and you will find the exact location (the coordinates are 42.362422, 19.056949).
The below picture is taken from Pavlova Strana Viewpoint.
6. Visit Herceg Novi
Herceg Novi is another coastal town at the entrance of the Kotor Bay coming from Dubrovnik. The old town has many historical buildings and the Spanish fortress offers stunning views of the bay. Be prepared to take the thousands of steps to navigate through the old town.
7. Lovcen National Park Tour
Lovcen national park is a great place for some outdoor activities. It is very windy year-round and offers stunning views from its Lookout viewpoint. The entrance to the viewpoint costs 2€ per person but the views are spectacular and well worth the effort to drive all the way up. The road is much improved in recent years and is known for its many switchbacks.
