Montenegro is a small country on the Adriatic Sea that’s often overlooked by travelers. But with its dramatic coastal cliffs, Venetian architecture, and pristine beaches, Montenegro is well worth a visit. This 1 week Montenegro itinerary will help you make the most of your time in this beautiful country. So pack your bags and get ready for an adventure!
1 Week Montenegro Itinerary
The name Montenegro means Black Mountain and the country is known for its wild beauty. Almost half the country being forests and mountain ranges.
Montenegro is a true European hidden gem, with 117 beautiful beaches and four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This fascinating country was granted independence in 2006 and has gone from strength to strength.
Holidays to Montenegro are now very popular. For your Montenegro holiday, we suggest making the city of Kotor your base. There’s a lot to see in the town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition, many of the tours leave from here.
Here are the main attractions of this unique country that you shouldn’t miss.
One Day in Kotor
Get your bearings by walking around Kotor Old Town and soaking up the vibe. The Clock Tower is on the main square, Trg od Oruzja and dates from 1602.
At its base is a distinctive pyramid, which was a pillory where citizens who had misbehaved were shamed in public. On this square, you’ll also see a giant lampshade that is perfect for photo opportunities.
Kotor is known for its cats, who are fed by the local shop owners. They’re considered to be lucky and there’s even a Kotor Cats Museum that you can visit!
Restaurants in Kotor
There are lots of charming restaurants including a few that we have tried and would recommend:
- Konoba Scala Santa, on Trg od Salate, is the oldest restaurant in Kotor and does great fish dishes. There’s a pleasant terrace too.
- Restaurant Galion is known for its stunning riverside setting and fine dining.
- Konoba Trpeza is another upscale restaurant with a pretty courtyard and large terrace.
Castle of San Giovanni
After lunch, head up the 1,350 steps to Kotor Castle, known as the Castle of San Giovanni. Whilst you can go on your own, we visited with a guide from 360 Monte Travel Agency. He showed us the lesser known way up via the old Centinje Caravan Road.
Its a gradual ascent up a pebbly road. Wear trainers or hiking shoes, because it can be a bit slippy.
There’s a cafe near the top where you can taste local ham and cheese with a magnificent view of the valley. The husband and wife who own it bring provisions up by donkey as no cars can reach that high up.
There’s a picturesque old chapel close by, and the castle is a short walk from here. This medieval fortification stands proud at 280 metres high.
Today it’s a popular hiking spot and many people come for the best views of sunset here. If you come via Kotor Old Town, there’s a fee of a few euros. Try to head back into town before it gets dark as the path can be challenging without lighting.
Two Days Touring Montenegro
If you have only a few days in Montenegro, we suggest taking an escorted tour on day 2. Kotor is a great base for taking a day trip to the coastal town of Herceg Novi, Boka Bay, Perast or Lovćen National Park.
We did a fantastic Montenegro tour with 360 Monte. The route is narrow and steep in parts, so it’s good to go with locals who really know the roads.
Njegusi
You take the old Austro-Hungarian road outside Kotor, which dates from 1884. There are 25 serpentines or bends and the views across Boka Bay are phenomenal.
Boka is considered to be one of the most beautiful bays in the world and resembles a Norwegian fjord. Driving higher into the mountains, you’ll come to Njegusi, where the oldest restaurant in Montenegro is located.
Kafana Kod Pera na Bukovicu restaurant dates from 1881 and has a charming terrace and a souvenir stall. They smoke their own ham, and their prosciutto sandwiches are delicious.
Njegos Mausoleum
From here, head to Lovcen National Park and Njegos Mausoleum. This is the final resting place of Petar II Petrovic Njegos. He was a beloved ruler, and also a philosopher and poet.
You climb 461 steps before reaching his magnificent burial place, created by sculptor Ivan Mestrovic. There are 200,000 golden mosaics on the ceiling. From the viewing platform, you have a 360 degree view of the mountains and lakes of Montenegro.
Cetinje
The Old Royal Capital of Montenegro, Cetinje has a rich historical heritage. There are many impressive former embassies and other significant buildings such as the Monastery of Cetinje, the Court Church and King Nikola’s Palace.
Skadar Lake National Park
The largest lake in the Balkans, Skadar Lake is 14 kim wide and 44 km long. Two thirds of the lake are in Montenegro and a protected national park, with the remaining part in Albania.
The lake teems with wildlife and is one of the most significant bird habitats in the world. On the way down to Lake Skadar, you can admire the famous horseshoe bend of Rijeka Crnojevica from the Pavlova Strana viewpoint.
After a tasty lunch in a local tavern, you’ll enjoy a scenic boat ride along the river. The amount of birds is astonishing – we spotted cormorants, herons and many more.
If you’re lucky, you’ll see the giant pelicans who like to nest here. One of the highlights of this Montenegro itinerary is swimming in the river among the waterlilies. There are life jackets available if you’re not a strong swimmer but the water is very calm and warm.
Sveti Stefan
On the way back to Kotor, admire the view of Sveti Stefan as the sun sets. This former fishing village dates from the 15th century and is now a luxury hotel.
One Day Kotor Cruise
With a week in Montenegro, you should definitely do a Kotor boat cruise. In fact, one of the best ways to see the coastal towns of Montenegro is on a boat trip.
A catamaran cruise around Kotor Bay is the perfect excursion, with many interesting sights along the way. It’s particularly enticing when temperatures are high in Kotor itself, as you get a continual sea breeze.
We chose a 360 Monte Tour as the spacious boat had both shady and sunny seating areas, a toilet and a top deck. There was also sparkling wine and fresh fruit as well as towels for guests.
Boka Bay
There are several good places for swimming in Boka Bay, including the waters around Bijela. It helps to be a strong swimmer but it’s not essential as you can borrow a life jacket. The most confident swimmers on our boat jumped in to the sea from the top deck.
Not far from here, Mamula is a former World War II concentration camp and prison that is not open to visits. It was originally built as a defensive fort.
The Blue Cave is famous for its richly coloured water, although many boats enter it so it’s not the most relaxing place for a swim. Our boat moored up outside and we quickly came in and out again, hoping that one day the boats will be banned from entering the cave itself.
Zanjice Beach is a great place for a lunch break, as there are some charming restaurants with sea views.
After lunch, you head back by boat to Kotor, exploring the former military tunnels on the way. The Yugoslavian navy stored submarines here during the war.
Our Lady of the Rocks
One of the best places on this Montenegro itinerary is a visit to Our Lady of the Rocks. This islet is artificial and legend goes that it was made by seamen after the found an icon of Madonna and the Child on a rock in the sea.
These days, the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rocks is seen as a protector of all seamen. On 22 July each year, Montenegrins keep tradition alive by throwing rocks into the sea around the islet. It’s important to dress appropriately to visit the church, so be aware that swimwear is not allowed.
The church has an interesting museum inside, with 68 paintings by 17th century artist Tripo Kokolja. One of the most famous artifacts is the tapestry by Jacinta Kunic-Mijovic.
She was waiting for her lover to return from a long journey whilst she embroidered it, and used her own hair to embroider with. As it took 25 years to finish, the colour of the hair changes from gold to white at the end.
After visiting the church and making another swim break, you’ll head back to Kotor. Keep an eye out for the picturesque stone villages of Stoliv, Prcanj and Muo along the way.
North Montenegro: One or Two Days
The region of North Montenegro deserves to be better known, as it has some beautiful scenery. The best Montenegro itinerary should definitely include Durmitor National Park and the Black Lake, as well as Ostrog Monastery.
The drive takes you through Perast, where you’ll get another glimpse of Our Lady of the Rocks. There’s ample opportunity for photo stops along the way.
Niksic, the second largest city in Montenegro, is a good place to stop for breakfast. Salty Lake, also known as Slano Jezero, and Lake Krupac are close by.
Durmitor National Park
Spread over 39000 acres, Durmitor National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This popular hiking destination includes 82 kilometers of canyon.
Tara River Canyon is the deepest gorge in Europe, at around 1300 metres. The river is also the longest in Montenegro, at 144 km. The massif was created by glaciers and there are still 18 glacial lakes with extremely pure water.
Durdevica Tara Bridge was the highest in Europe when it was constructed in 1940, at 172 metres. Next to it, you’ll find the Tara zip line.
Tara is one of the longest zip lines in Europe and a must-do whether you’re an adrenaline junkie or not. In our group, there were children aged 3 and 5 who loved it. You are seated and have your hands free, so it’s ideal if you wish to take photos or video along the way.
Zabljak is the highest town in the Balkans at 1450 metres above sea level, and makes a handy lunch stop. The houses have triangular roofs to prevent snow and ice from sticking.
From here, you should head to The Black Lake. It is actually two lakes, which look like a pair of eyes from above.
Hiking around the 4 km trail on the water’s edge is a popular activity, and if the water is warm enough then you can also go swimming. There’s a nice cafe close to the water’s edge and a children’s outdoor play area.
Ostrog Monastery is perched 900 metres above sea level and is the most popular pilgrimage place in Montenegro. Over 100,000 people each year, many of them as pilgrims who make part of the journey barefoot. There is a holy shrine to Vasilije Ostroski, the founder of the monastery in the 17th century.
Lustica Bay or Kotor: One or Two Days
To finish a week in Montengegro, we recommend heading to Lustica Bay for some serious rest and relaxation. This new marina town on the Luštica Peninsula was a former military base and has some charming beaches as well as a luxury hotel and gourmet restaurants.
It has great views of the Bay of Kotor and the Alternatively, spend an extra day in Kotor walking the old city walls and shopping in the many boutiques.
Getting to Montenegro
The main international airports are Podgorica and Tivat. It’s also fairly easy to get to Montenegro from Dubrovnik airport in Croatia.
Where to Stay in Montenegro
Palazzo Drusko in Kotor is extremely well ranked on TripAdvisor, thanks to its central location and friendly service. This popular Kotor hotel is situated in a 600 year old stone house formerly owned by a noble Montenegro family.
The decor is a charming mix of vintage furniture and paintings and each room has its own unique ambiance. There’s also air conditioning and free WiFi.
If you prefer a serviced apartment, then this one in the heart of Kotor should tick all the right boxes. Pearl Apartments are extremely spacious and have all mod cons and stylish interiors. We loved relaxing in the cosy lounge. There’s air conditioning, a washing machine, dishwasher, microwave, cable TV and free parking.
In Conclusion: 1 Week Montenegro Itinerary
If you’re looking for an unforgettable vacation, look no further than Montenegro. This tiny country packs a big punch with stunning scenery, delicious food, and plenty of activities to keep you busy.
Whether you’re interested in history, adventure, or simply relaxing on the beach, it’s worth staying for one week in Montenegro or more. We recommend spending at least 4 days in Montenegro.
However if you’re limited on time then you could simply spend a day in Kotor and an additional day doing the Great Montenegro Tour or catamaran cruise around the bay of Kotor. One thing is for sure, you’ll want to return time and time again for the wild beauty of the country.
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1 week Montenegro itinerary in association with the National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro
