A One-Week Itinerary Through the Scenic Beauty of Montenegro

26.08.2024.

If you want to intertwine your Mediterranean adventures with the scenic mountainous trails, Montenegro should be your next destination. This small country in the Balkans is such an underrated place to visit that one week won’t be enough.

From the lovely town of Kotor and its breathtaking scenery head to hiking in the Durmitor National Park. While relaxing on the beaches in Budva, enjoy the enchantment of its cobblestone streets. Allow yourself to explore historical towns like Cetinje and the enchantment of Herceg Novi.

One of the largest European lakes, Skadar Lake, lies on the border between Montenegro and marvelous Albania.

Montenegro blends the mountainous and coastal adventures into the perfect harmony so why don’t you take advantage of it?

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Overview of one-week Montenegro itinerary

Day 1, 2 & 3- Kotor

Perast & Herceg Novi- second day;

Lovćen mountain- third day;

Day 4 & 5- Durmitor Mountain & National Park & staying in Žabljak

Day 6 & 7- Budva

Day trips to Sveti Stefan island, second day- day trip to Cetinje & Portomontenegro;

Where to stay in Kotor

Centrum Hostel Budget– cozy rooms and amazing atmosphere;

Palazzo Drusko– feel the ancient spirit of Kotor in this awesome palace;

Blue Premium Spa Resort– if you’re looking for a pure luxour, look no further;

Where to stay in Žabljak, Durmitor

Hotel Zlatni Bor– lovely and budget friendly;

Hotel Porto Tara– the incredible mountain spirit and gorgeous design;

Mountain View Lodges– 6 km from Žabljak

Where to stay in Budva

Montenegro Backpackers Home Budva– cozy rooms in the historic stone house;

Dukley Hotel & Resort– 5-star hotel with the lush gardens and private beach:

Is one week in Montenegro enough?

One week beautifully frames the best that this amazing country offers giving you the space to capture its essence. It will allow you to dwell in the spirit of the pretty Mediterranean towns, enjoy the beaches and stunning mountain views.

If you have a chance, two weeks will give you a cozy space to admire Montenegro’s full beauty. You’ll be ready to have many natural wonders at the palm of your hands. I wouldn’t recommend less than one week as rushing will always limit your experiences.

Kotor, the pearl of Montenegro

Starting your Montenegro journey in Kotor will give you a perfect base to bloom your enchantment. Kotor is a lovely town nestled in a scenic bay filled with Mediterranean charm.

The historical treasure belongs to its palaces as you absorb the allure of the cobblestone streets. Admiring the picturesque scenery starts with the hike to the Kotor Fortress. Climbing the Fortress takes 40 minutes where you can indulge in the incredible photo opportunities.

Hosting many cruise ships, you will ideally explore Kotor out fo the summer season. The best way to arrive to Kotor is through the Tivat airport, which is only 8 km away. Alternatively, the road-tripping around Balkan should include Kotor as you follow the route from Dubrovnik.

Perast & Herceg Novi

Perast is a lovely Mediterranean village that you can visit on a short drive from Kotor (30 minutes) or by boat ride. What mostly brings visitors to Perast is the tiny islet across Our Lady of the Rocks with its stunning church.

Perast is also home to historical palaces and several beautiful churches.

Herceg Novi is a charming town living without the touristic pressure, about 40 minutes drive from Kotor. The coastline of Herceg Novi hosts many beaches that are mostly made of cement platforms.

In the maze of the lovely cobblestone streets, Herceg Novi will allure you with its stunning Clock Tower.

Climbing to Kanli Kula Fortress will offer gorgeous views so don’t miss it.

The Luštica Peninsula hides the breathtaking beaches and the famous Blue Grotto.

Lovćen Mountain

Above the Kotor Bay scatters the breathtaking scenery of the Lovćen National Park. It’s only 30 km from Kotor, so you must follow the famous Kotor Serpentine Road. Lovćen bursts with the rolling hills and you can see even towards Albania and Croatia on a clear day.

The highlight of visiting the National Park is its highest point, Mount Lovćen, and the stunning Mausoleum of Petar II Petrović-Njegoš. Being the final resting place of the cultural leader of Montenegro, you can admire his granite statue.

There are numerous hiking trails in Lovćen and you can almost see the whole country. Some of the wonderful trails include the Wolf Trail & Babina Glava or Ivanova Korita. The Black Mountain (Crna Gora) is the other name of Lovćen which inspired the country’s name (Montenegro).

With the treasure of incredible plants, Lovćen is a fantastic place for exploring biodiversity.

Durmitor National Park

Within 164 km from Kotor, you’ll arrive in the little town of Žabljak where you can base yourself. The breathtaking scenery of Durmitor deserves at least 3 days to fully absorb its beauty. Being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Durmitor is an unmissable stop in Montenegro’s itinerary.

Durmitor alone is the reason to visit Montenegro which will allure all outdoor seekers with its stunning hiking opportunities. Visiting the gorgeous Black Lake (Crno Jezero) is the easiest hike in Durmitor. The Bobov Kuk Summit is a challenging and famous trail, taking 11,5 km on the circular road.

What will fascinate you the most in Durmitor is the incredible Tara Canyon as one of the deepest in the world. Stretching more than 80 km, Tara will offer you fantastic rafting and kayaking fun.

Budva & its wonderful beaches

Budva is a charming town with wonderful coastal walks, beaches, restaurants and nightlife. It’s a fantastic maze of cobblestone streets that instantly pours magic for you.

Seeming less touristy than Kotor, Old town Budva has something for every taste. Built around historic walls, Citadella will entice you with splendid views and I recommend paying a small fee.

Budva Dancing Girl statue will delightfully surprise you as you reminisce about Kopenhagen and Opatija, the queen of Croatian coast. Lying just outside the walls, it offers stunning views next to the coast.

Sveti Nikola or Hawaii by locals is the largest island in the area though uninhabited. With picturesque beaches you can enjoy turquoise waters and the popular cave.

Sveti Stefan is a popular island, being a 5-star resort full of stunning beaches.

Cetinje & Porto Montenegro

Cetinje is an ancient capital of Montenegro, rich with charm and history. Particularly beautifully in autumn, in Cetinje, the current President of Montenegro resides. This small town is full of lovely architecture and wonderful parks. The highlight of the town is Cetinje Monastery, a Serbian Orthodox Monastery from 1484.

Porto Montenegro in the town of Tivat is a large marina full of luxurious boats. It’s a lovely place to stroll around and observe the different kind of life.

What else to add to this itinerary if you have more time in Montenegro

Lake Skadar is a stunning retreat into a natural oasis, only 16 km from Podgorica. Stretching into Albania, it offers scenic views of the surrounding mountains. Pavlova Strana Viewpoint is the best place to admire the lake and the lake cruise enriches the experience. The lovely towns of Bar and Stari Bar lie to the coast, next to the lake.

Ostrog Monastery is a fantastic day trip from Kotor as it’s carved into the mountain. Being a religious place, you should act accordingly.

Podgorica as the capital of Montenegro holds a blend of Ottoman and Roman heritage. Arriving at Podgorica Airport is also a great way to start your journey in the country.

Prokletije National Park is a hidden gem of Montenegro following the route to Albania.

Final thoughts

Though one week in Montenegro is far from enough, it will allure you with its fantastic scenery and ancient wonders. Hiking in Durmitor and exploring Tara Canyon is unbeatable so you don’t want to wait another chance.

Montenegro is a Mediterranean gem that might become your favourite Balkan country. The contrast of the stunning beaches and the Dinaric Alps makes Montenegro an enticing invitation to visit.

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