Montenegro
Overview: Three days visiting the top sites in Montenegro
Duration: 3 full days, excluding travel
Locations visited: Kotor, Perast, Our Lady of the Rocks, Skadar Lake, Ostrog Monastery, Budva, Sveti Stefan, Portonovi, and Tivat
How to get there: Fly into Tivat Airport (TIV) or Podgorica Airport (TGD) in Montenegro, or Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) in Croatia
How to get around: Taxis, rental car, private tours, or group tours (seasonally available)
When to go: Fall and spring offer the best weather. Winter is mild, but some attractions may close during the off-season (late Q3 and Q4). Summers are vibrant but can feel overcrowded.
Pace: Intense
Future trips: Explore Durmitor National Park or plan a resort-style vacation for a more relaxing experience.
Overlooking Kotor and the Bay of Kotor
Day 1: Kotor Old Town and Kotor Fortress
For the duration of the trip, we stayed at a resort on the Bay of Kotor, which we’d highly recommend, especially if you’re looking to experience more of Montenegro’s history and culture as opposed to the beach-resort-on-the-Mediterranean vibe. Montenegro is a small country, and it’s possible to drive from one end to the other in around three hours, so there’s no need to change hotels throughout the trip.
After recovering from jetlag on the day we arrived, we spent our first full day exploring the Old Town of Kotor. Kotor is located at the end of the Bay of Kotor, which is often considered Europe’s southernmost fjord. There are tons of stunning views of the bay from the town and scenic viewpoints up the hills.
The town of Kotor dates back to ancient Rome (and you can still see some ruins near the town), but most of its architectural influence came from the Venetian era between the 15th and 18th centuries. It’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Old Town is famous for its reddish-orange roofed buildings and is surrounded by defensive walls. Some of the major locations to visit in Kotor are the City Walls, Kampana Tower, Saint Tryphon's Cathedral, the Maritime Museum, the Clock Tower, the Sea Gate, Gurdić Gate, Saint Nicholas’ Church (and the ruins of its monastery), and Saint Luke’s Church.
There are many cafes, restaurants, and boutique shops inside the Old Town to explore. Additionally, Kotor is known for its wild cat population, many of which are quite friendly and enjoy attention.
On the northeast end of the town, you’ll find the entrance to the Ladder of Kotor, a series of 1,300 steps that leads to Kotor Fortress midway up the mountain. The hike does require a bit of stamina and takes about 45 minutes to an hour to complete. Halfway up is the Church of Our Lady of Remedy. There are multiple fantastic viewpoints of the bay and Kotor from here, so it’s highly recommended.
Kotor Fortress (St. John’s Fortress) dates back to the Byzantine Empire, but like most of Kotor, what is visible today is primarily from the Venetian era. The fortress feels more wild and authentic than many of the well-maintained landmarks throughout much of Europe. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, the hike continues past the fort to the top of the mountain.
If you have additional time, there are boat tours around the bay that you can take from the marina near Kotor.
This wrapped up our first full day in Montenegro. At this point, we headed back to the resort.
Day 2: Ostrog Monastery, Skadar Lake, Sveti Stefan, and Budva
For Days 2 and 3, we had the hotel coordinate a driver for us to visit sites around Montenegro, but you can also rent a car. Depending on the season, there may also be group tours available.
To start, we drove about 2 to 2.5 hours from our hotel to Ostrog Monastery, a Serbian Orthodox monastery built into a sheer cliff face. The monastery was founded in the 17th century by Saint Basil of Ostrog and is a spiritual site for Orthodox Christians, Catholics, and Muslims. It is believed to have healing powers. The monastery includes both an upper and lower church, as well as a 3-kilometer walk up the hill that’s part of the full pilgrimage (although there is also a parking lot near the entrance to the monastery).
Next, we drove about an hour and a half to Skadar Lake, which is part of Skadar Lake National Park and is the largest lake in the Balkans. The lake is shared between Montenegro and Albania. The picturesque area around the lake features wetlands, islands, and rugged mountains, and it’s home to over 280 bird species. Depending on the time of year, boat tours may be available. There are some good viewpoints near Skadar Lake Bridge, as well as in Virpazar. The Hotel De'Andros has a rooftop bar and restaurant with views of the lake.
After Skadar Lake, we drove to Sveti Stefan. The drive between Skadar Lake and Sveti Stefan winds through the mountains and valleys of Montenegro before transitioning into a coastal road that leads down to the sea, offering spectacular views the entire way.
Sveti Stefan was originally a 15th-century fortified fishing village on an islet. In the 1950s, the entire island was turned into a resort, and today, Aman Resorts owns it. However, due to a dispute with the government, they are currently not allowed to operate the hotel. As a result, there is no way to access the island; previously, only resort guests were allowed, and it has since been locked off. However, there are nearby beaches where you can take photos of Sveti Stefan and the surrounding coastal towns. Nearby, Miločer Park offers great views of Sveti Stefan, and there’s a small tunnel on the beach that leads to another viewpoint. There are also a few restaurants nearby where you can grab a bite to eat or a glass of wine.
As the last stop of the day, we spent about an hour in Budva. Budva is one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic Sea, dating back 2,500 years. While there, we explored the Old Town, which, like Kotor, is surrounded by Venetian-era fortified walls. Inside the Old Town, you’ll find the Citadel, the Church of St. John, the Church of Santa Maria in Punta, and the Holy Trinity Church. There are also beaches and a marina to visit. Budva has a thriving nightlife and feels like a more crowded and lively version of Kotor.
This wrapped up our second full day in Montenegro.
There are a few other activities in this area we would have liked to do, but they were closed for the winter. If you can, check out the Kotor Cable Car, which goes from the Bay of Kotor to Lovćen National Park. The national park features hiking trails, great viewpoints, and the Mausoleum of Njegoš. Alternatively, you can take the Serpentine Road, a series of hairpin turns leading to the top of the mountain. However, due to a combination of visiting Montenegro during the off-season and snow and ice on the roads, we weren’t able to check out these places.
Day 3: Perast, Our Lady of the Rocks, Portonovi, and Tivat
On our third and final full day in Montenegro, we stayed along the Bay of Kotor and the Adriatic Sea. Like the previous day, this itinerary also requires a car.
We started by driving towards Perast. Before exploring the town, we took a small boat out to the island of Our Lady of the Rocks to avoid the crowds later in the day. There are multiple private and group boat tours that depart every few minutes and take about 5–10 minutes to reach the island.
Our Lady of the Rocks is an artificial island created by local sailors in the 15th century after discovering a miraculous sign and deciding to build a church on the spot. To build the island, they sank old ships filled with rocks and stones. Continuing the tradition, locals throw stones into the water around the island every July 22nd. The island features a Baroque-style church, completed in 1632, which houses an art collection of over 2,500 pieces donated by sailors as tokens of gratitude for safe voyages. Attached to the church is a museum showcasing local maritime history and artifacts. From the island, you can see Perast and St. George’s Island.
Nearby Our Lady of the Rocks is St. George’s Island, a natural island with a Benedictine monastery and cemetery. However, the island is not open to visitors. Many boat tours to Our Lady of the Rocks include a loop around St. George’s Island to provide passengers with a view.
Afterwards, we explored the town of Perast, which, like Kotor, is located on the shores of the Bay of Kotor and has a similar Venetian architectural style. Evidence of settlements here dates back to the Illyrians and Romans. Perast is directly on the waterfront, with multiple shops and restaurants where you can grab food or a drink while enjoying views of the bay. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Perast was once home to 19 Baroque palaces, 16 churches, and multiple defense towers, many of which still stand today. Some of the most notable palaces include Bujović Palace, Smekja Palace, and Zmajević Palace. The Church of St. Nicholas, located on the main square, is also worth a visit.
Next, we drove about 30 minutes to Portonovi, a newly developed luxury waterfront resort filled with high-end restaurants, designer stores, and yachts in the marina. Portonovi feels very different from the historic cities of Kotor, Perast, and Budva, reminding us of the atmosphere in certain affluent areas of South Florida. While we didn’t have time to visit, the nearby town of Herceg Novi has an Old Town worth exploring.
Finally, we hopped on a car ferry across the Bay of Kotor to head to Tivat, our last stop of the day. Tivat has slightly more history than Portonovi but has also been transformed by the addition of Porto Montenegro, a luxury marina and waterfront village. There’s a long promenade for walking along the water, as well as numerous restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops.
Afterwards, we drove back to our resort and packed our bags for our flight the next day.
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Montenegro is a small country packed with breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and diverse experiences, from ancient fortified towns to serene lakes and luxurious marinas. Whether you’re seeking adventure, culture, or relaxation, this hidden gem on the Adriatic Sea has something for everyone.
