In August 2023, my wife and I spent one week in Montenegro following a few days in Croatia. I’m usually the type of person who spends a lot of time perfecting a travel itinerary months before the departure date. On this occasion, though, things were very different. My wife and I were going through a challenging period of our life and felt like we needed a break. So on a Saturday morning, we decided to book a trip somewhere in East Europe since we’ve never been.
We first chose Croatia and started putting an itinerary together. As my wife was looking for places to visit, she came across a country we literally knew nothing about called Montenegro. A quick Google search about the country made it seem like it might not be too bad. And since it borders Croatia to the east, we thought why not visit both? So by the end of the day, I had booked a trip to the Balkans scheduled for 2 weeks later.
Let me start by saying that I’m forever grateful that my wife stumbled upon Montenegro. We literally went from knowing nothing about the country, to loving every second we spent there, and wanting to return back!
One Week In Montenegro: Itinerary Overview
If you’re just looking for inspiration or do not have the time to read through the details, this itinerary summary is for you.
- Day 1: Pick-up your rental car and drive to Zabljak, which will be your entry point to Durmitor National Park. If you have the time, stroll around Crno Jezero (Black Lake) and enjoy the sunset.
- Day 2: Head to the mountains for some world class hiking in Durmitor National Park.
- Day 3: Wake up early to make it in time for your white water rafting tour in Tara Canyon. After lunch, enjoy the VERY scenic drive to Virpazar where you’ll stay overnight.
- Day 4: Start your birdwatching tour in Lake Skadar at sunrise. This is arguably the best way to experience this magical place. End the day with wine tasting in one (or two, why not?!) of the many wineries in the nearby villages.
- Day 5: Soak in more of the stunning landscapes of Lake Skadar for the first half of the day. There’s plenty of things to do on the lake, but your next destination, Budva, awaits. Drive to Budva and spend the rest of the day exploring the narrow streets of the small old town (Stari Grad).
- Day 6: Head over to Kamenovo beach for some time away from hustle and bustle of the city. If you’re into the nightlife scene, you’re in for a treat in Budva. Alternatively, simply enjoy a memorable sunset from one of the many viewpoints onto Budva and its coastline.
- Day 7: Kick-off the last day with an early start driving to Kotor. Enjoy one of the most beautiful old towns on the Adriatic sea. If you get overwhelmed by the crowds in Kotor, escape to nearby Perast, before you drop off your rental car and fly back home.
Montenegro Itinerary Destinations Map
I went ahead and plotted all the different destinations along with the most remarkable viewpoints you can visit. Open and save my one week in Montenegro map so you can use it during your trip.
About This One Week In Montenegro Itinerary
Not all travellers are interested in the same type of trips. So, before you go any further, let’s make sure this itinerary is for you.
Who is this itinerary for?
This Montenegro itinerary is ideal for first time travellers to the country. It covers all the best highlights of Montenegro and has something for everyone. However, it will be most suited for travellers who:
- Are looking for (mostly) nature and (some) adventure, but also want to mix in some history and culture.
- Are driving their own rental vehicle. Trust me, you’ll see a lot more of Montenegro if you rent a car.
- Want to avoid driving to a new accommodation every day and have a rule of at least 2 nights per location.
Can this Montenegro itinerary be combined with other Balkan destinations?
Certainly yes! Even though in the map above you can see that it starts in Tivat airport, but you can drive from Croatia, Bosnia or even Serbia. In fact, when my wife and I visited Montenegro, we drove in from Croatia. And by the way, we loved every second of it because the scenery was out of this world along the coast!
What if I’m flying into Podgorica?
That’s perfectly fine too. You would probably want to start at Lake Skadar first because it’s only 30 minutes away from the airport. Next, go to Durmitor National Park, and finally make your way to the coast (Budva and Kotor).
One Week In Montenegro: Day By Day
Now let’s dive into the details and see how you’re going to be spending one week in Montenegro.
Day 1: Arrive at Zabljak
Whether you’re driving from Croatia, or you flew into Tivat airport and picked up your car, you’ll need to drive up to the mountains to the town of Zabljak. The journey is around 3 hours of driving. But if you’re anything like us, you’ll end up stopping to enjoy the stunning views more times than I could count. Therefore, make sure you budget at least an extra hour for the stops.
Scenic walk at Crno Jezero (Black Lake)
Zabljak is a small town in the center of Durmitor National Park. It’s only 3 km away from the most famous glacial lake in Durmitor: Crno Jezero (which translates to Black Lake). If you’ve arrived early enough, it is a good idea to spend the rest of the afternoon at the lake. You could walk the loop around the lake while you enjoy the amazing scenery and listen to the vibrant birdlife in the area. Watching the sunset at the lake is also highly recommended.
Day 2: Hike in Durmitor National Park
On day 2, you’ll choose one of the many hiking trails in the park. Durmitor is heaven for anyone interested in hiking. You’ll be spoiled for choice. The trails range from a very easy stroll in nature to conquering the highest mountain in Montenegro, called Bobotov Kuk at an altitude of 2,523 m (8,278 ft).
I personally recommend the Prutaš (2393 m) trail. The landscapes along the trail are very diverse, and the views all the way to the top are simply amazing. It’s not an easy trail for sure. Unless you’re physically fit for steep uphill stretches that mount up to over 850 m (2800 ft) of elevation gain overall, I suggest you choose another trail. However, if you do hike this beautiful trail, you can choose to stop at the plateau which gives you a panoramic view of the peaks of the surrounding mountains. Otherwise, you can take a break and make your way to the summit which gives you stunning views of the Škrka Lakes Valley.
Day 3: Rafting in Tara Canyon & Drive to Virpazar
Today you’ll be driving 2 hours in the morning to make it to Tara Canyon by 10 AM, when the rafting tours usually start.
White water rafting in Tara River Canyon
The tour started with a buffet breakfast before we received our neoprene suits, rafting equipment, and a thorough rafting technique and safety briefing. Next, we were transferred in jeeps across the border into Bosnia. Then we went into the water and started making our way through the class I – class III rapids. We had a short break for snacks and drinks, and then continued rafting. When the rafting was over, we were transferred back to the company’s office where we had a very delicious Montenegrin lunch. We really enjoyed this tour so much. It was definitely one of the trip highlights!
Drive to Virpazar
The plan for day 3 doesn’t end there. A 3-hours drive to Virpazar awaits you. I know you’re thinking this is gonna be an exhaustingly long drive. But I can guarantee you won’t be driving the whole time. There’s no chance you won’t be stopping every once in a while to take in the exceptionally stunning views. You’re literally driving from the most beautiful part of Montenegro (Durmitor National Park) to its runner up (Lake Skadar). Settle in for the night, because you’re waking up early the next day!
Day 4: Enjoy the Scenery at Lake Skadar
Lake Skadar is the largest lake in the Balkans. It spans an area up to 530 km2 between Montenegro and Albania. However, the larger and more impressive part of the lake sits on the Montenegrin side. You should also know that it is one of the biggest birding hotspots in Europe with over 280 species recorded.
Birdwatching at Lake Skadar
Even if you’re not an avid birdwatcher, I highly encourage you to book a birdwatching trip. This is absolutely the best way to enjoy what this charming lake has to offer. You’ll wake up early enough to see the birds at their highest levels of activity, as well as the magical scenery of the lake in golden hour light.
You can opt for one of the standard boat tours which cost 15 EUR per person. This will give you a chance to spot many bird species, as well as enjoy some of the lake’s charm. But we did that and we were very disappointed. So we came back another day and booked a birdwatching tour. This was by far our favorite thing about the whole trip. Such a tour will set you back around 35 EUR per hour but it’s worth every penny!
Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about the bird species we came across. She knew the best spots to see the birds, especially those which were high up on our list. Even though we did not see the Dalmatian Pelicans, we still got to see a lot of grebes, grey and purple herons, bitterns, egrets and many other species! Also, the tour went through the Morača river where we got to see way too many kingfishers! If you visit between April and June, you will very likely come across the European Bee-eater as well.
Wine tasting and an epic view from Rijeka Crnojevica
In the afternoon, you can go wine tasting in the many wineries nearby. We had planned to go to Mrkan Winery which scores 5 stars on Google Reviews, but unfortunately we ran out of time and had to skip it. In addition to the excellent rating, it is very conveniently located less than a 10 minutes drive away from arguably the most picturesque view in all of Montenegro. Pavlova Strana will give you the best view over Lake Skadar, especially if you make it there at sunset!
Day 5: Lake Skadar to Budva
There’s plenty more that you can do in Lake Skadar. Spend the first half of the day doing one or more of these activities:
Other things to do at Lake Skadar
- Take a private boat cruise to enjoy the scenery, and visit some of the fortresses and monasteries on the lake.
- If you want a more up and close experience on the lake, consider kayaking instead of taking a boat cruise.
- Hike through the nearby hills and valleys. Some of the trails will take you to waterfalls and swimming holes. And, you’re guaranteed to enjoy some amazing views along the way.
- Another activity you might enjoy doing is cycling through the nearby villages. There are different trails to choose from depending on your fitness level and experience.
Go to Budva and walk through its Old Town
Once you’ve had enough of Lake Skadar (easier said than done), transfer to Budva. It is less than an hour away. Budva is one of the Mediterranean’s nightlife hotspots. But excellent nightlife is not the only reason why tourists flock into this beautiful city. Those who are interested in history and culture will certainly enjoy their stay at Budva.
Once you’ve checked in to your hotel, you should head out to the Old Town (Stari Grad). You can see a lot of history and culture as you walk through the narrow streets of this architectural marvel that dates back to the 5th century BC. Budva has been a part of the Roman empire, the Venetian Republic, and the Austro-Hungarian empire over the years.
Spend a couple of hours walking around the Old Town to appreciate the many monuments and attractions. From cosy churches and art galleries, to grand fortresses, there’s a lot to explore in this small gated town. On top of that, you’ll find really nice cafes, open bars and restaurants serving amazing food.
Day 6: Relax at Kamenovo Beach
Even though Budva has a very beautiful coastline on the Adriatic, the beaches are often too crowded or too expensive to access. When my wife and I were there, we looked at the recent Google Reviews of a couple of beaches we had shortlisted and did not like what we read. We asked the receptionist at the hotel for recommendations and he certainly came through.
He first recommended that we visit Long Beach in Ulcinj which is, according to him and several other recommendations online, the best you can find in Montenegro. Ulcinj has the only stretch of white sandy beach in the country. However, it was a two-hour drive to get there so we asked for a a closer alternative. We ended up going to Kamenovo beach instead which turned out to be exactly what we wanted.
Because it’s a bit remote compared to other more popular beaches in Budva, it’s far less crowded. But don’t get me wrong, it’s only a 10 minutes drive from the city center. The beach is clean and well maintained. There are changing rooms, toilets, sun beds for rent as well as food and drinks service (we paid 20 EUR for a couple of sun beds and a parasol). And the best part is you do not have to worry about parking, especially if you get there early.
Other things to do in Budva
- Take a boat ride to the largest Montenegrin Island, called Sveti Nikola. You can actually walk to the island over a sandbar from the mainland when the tide is low.
- Enjoy the view of the Sveti Stefan islet. Unless you’re willing to pay $800 per night to stay at the luxury resort, you’ll have to be okay with looking at it from a distance. I recommend you do that from this viewpoint.
- If you’re one with an adventurous spirit, you might be interested in the thrilling experience of flying 1200 meters above Budva and its beautiful coastline. This paragliding tour has excellent reviews.
- Enjoy a beautiful sunset from one of the many viewpoints onto Budva and its coastline. You can also do that while having dinner at El Ray Caffe Bar which has a terrace that overlooks the coast.
Day 7: Visit Bay of Kotor
On the last day of your one week in Montenegro, you’re going to leave your accommodation early and visit the most popular region of the country. You’ll start at Kotor which is only a 30 minutes drive from Budva.
Kotor is nestled deep inside of the Bay of Kotor, referred to as the “Boka”. The Lovcen mountains provide a dramatic backdrop adding further to the charm of this coastal town. Kotor is a captivating destination that you should not miss out on if you’re interested in history, stunning scenery, and good food!
Visit San Giovanni Fortress
Assuming you’ve taken my advice and arrived early to Kotor, you can start the day with a short hike up to San Giovanni Fortress before the scorching sun hits. The hike is somewhere between moderate and hard depending on your fitness level and how comfortable you are climbing stairs. It should take you 45 – 60 minutes including stops for breaks and enjoying the views. You can start the trail near the Gurdic Gate on the north side of the Old Town, and just follow the stairs to the top. There is an 8 EUR entrance fee and you need to make sure you keep the ticket as you’ll be asked for it upon the exit. Don’t forget your bottle of water, you’re gonna need it!
Explore the Old Town (Stari Grad)
The fortified Old Town of Kotor is an absolutely beautiful maze of narrow passages. Multiple palaces, churches, monuments, and medieval builds can be found within the city walls. Similarly, the best food is served by the restaurants inside the Old Town. You can either walk through the town at your own pace, or if you’re interested in learning about its history and what makes it special, then you probably want to join the Old Town Walking Tour.
Option 1: Cruise through the Bay of Kotor
It would be a shame to visit the Bay of Kotor and not experience it from the water, right? For the rest of the day, you can book a tour that takes you through the highlights of Boka Kotorska. The most famous of them all is the Blue Cave, but many tours also include Our Lady of the Rocks, the Submarine Base from Yugoslavian wars, and the Mamula Prison.
Option 2: Visit Perast
The reason I added Perast as an option to the itinerary is because Kotor can get super crowded, especially if you’re unlucky and your visit coincides with a cruise ship bringing thousands of tourists into the small city. If that happens and you get bothered by the crowds, your day should not be ruined. Perast is the perfect hiding spot from the crowd. I’m not saying Perast does not get any tourists, but it definitely won’t be as crowded as Kotor would be.
Perast is a small village at the edge of the Bay of Kotor, with a history that dates back over 1000 years. It has witnessed multiple sieges and was occupied by many invaders in the past. All of this did not take away from its charm! I would even say this probably contributed to making it one of the most visit-worthy and picturesque places in all of Montenegro.
Spend some time walking through the cobblestone streets and admire the palaces, squares and churches scattered throughout the city. You will be reminded of the village’s important role as a trading port. Additionally, you can take a 10 minutes boat ride to Our Lady of the Rocks island and tour its chapel and museum. The Venetian frescoes inside the church are stunning! Oh and when you’re back from your boat trip, don’t forget to eat a slice of Peraška torta which is one of the specialty foods of Perast.
Where To Stay In Montenegro?
Accommodation in Montenegro is quite affordable, especially when compared to West Europe or even to its more popular neighbor Croatia. You can easily find a place to crash for 20-60 EUR per night. Similarly, you can find anything from a cheaper hostel all the way to ultra luxury resorts. There are options for every traveller and every budget.
My wife and I do not care about fancy hotels when planning a trip. We usually prioritise the location, the availability of a (good) breakfast, and parking space over everything else. Also, we usually avoid spending a single night in one location and would rather drive a little bit more than to have to continuously pack and unpack. That’s why we only stayed in Zabljak and Budva during our trip. However, in retrospect, we could’ve also stayed a couple of nights in Virpazar.
Zabljak
It’s all about guest houses, chalets, and cabins in Zabljak. We stayed at Rondovic Apartmani – Durmitor and really liked this place. It is managed by a family of really nice people. They did not speak English so we practically communicated through Google Translate. We asked for breakfast which they were happy to prepare for us. The portion was huge and it was absolutely delicious!
Virpazar
We did not spend the night at Virpazar, but next time we visit Montenegro we certainly will. We will probably book at Guest House Luna if it’s available during our visit. It has excellent reviews which also mentioned tasty pancakes (my favorite!). It’s a walking distance from the lake and reasonably priced.
Budva
Budva was our base after we left Zabljak. It was less than an hour away from Virpazar, and 30 min away from Kotor. We stayed at Garni Hotel Koral which was not too far away from the center, yet very affordable. The buffet breakfast was varied and well-made. The staff was extremely helpful and super friendly. And, most importantly, the hotel had private parking – it was tiny but enough for a couple of cars.
If you’re going to take only one thing out of this article, this is it: Do NOT book a hotel in Budva that does not offer private parking. It’s an absolute nightmare to find parking space on the street in Budva.
What Is The Best Month To Visit Montenegro?
We visited in August and really enjoyed our time. The weather on the coast was scorching hot though, and some areas were more crowded than what we could tolerate (especially in Kotor). In the mountains, the weather was very pleasant and even chilly in the evening.
When we visit Montenegro again, we’ll probably go in the shoulder months: May or September. This way we can avoid the crowds and the weather would still be good for hiking in the mountains. If we plan on going to the beach then we’d go in September. You can still swim in May, but the water would be on the cold side, with an average temperature of 18°C.
How Many Days Do You Need In Montenegro?
Spending 7 days in Montenegro will allow you to cover most of the highlights of the country. But as you’ve seen throughout this article, there’s A LOT to do and see in this beautiful country. The only reason you can get away with 7 days is because of the short distances between the different regions. However, if you want a slower pace and explore further, then 10 days would be the sweet spot. With 3 more days, I would recommend one of two options:
- One more night in each one of the locations we’ve covered in this one week in Montenegro itinerary. Note that I would use the additional time in Budva for a day trip to Lovcen National Park.
- Spend 2 nights in Ulcinj to visit the most beautiful beaches in Montenegro, and the salt pan (Solana Ulcinj) for excellent birdwatching, including a chance of spotting flamingos in the wild. The third night would be added to Budva for a day trip to Lovcen National Park.
Final Thoughts On Spending One Week In Montenegro
As you’ve seen in this article, Montenegro has a lot to offer. It’s one of those countries where you’re guaranteed you won’t get bored. I would say the only problem with Montenegro is that it is too beautiful, it’ll probably ruin all future panoramic views for you! But trust me, it’s one of those countries that you HAVE TO visit at least once in your life!
I hope this Montenegro travel guide will help you plan your next adventure. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a note in the comments section below. I’ll do my best to help you out!