For me, Montenegro is not only one of the most beautiful places in Europe, but also one of the places that surprised me the most. Anyone who comes here will leave Montenegro with a completely new perspective and a different image than the one they had before. Regardless of whether you just want to experience a relaxing beach vacation in Montenegro or travel here for Montenegro’s countless sights, you will definitely find what you are looking for. Tradition is on an equal level with modernity here. Montenegro owes its name to the black mountains that characterize the landscape. Let me show you that Montenegro is definitely worth a visit and answer your question: What to visit in Montenegro?

As always, you will find a map of Montenegro at the end of this article, in which I have marked all the sights and my favorite spots.

When is the best time to visit Montenegro?

Summer in Montenegro is very hot and attracts many tourists. That’s why I recommend vacationing in Montenegro in the spring or autumn season. This is much more relaxed. And if you are surprised by the occasional rain shower, it will pass quickly.

What is the best way to reach Montenegro?

The most relaxed way to travel is by plane to the capital Podgorica. We flew via Austrian over Vienna but there are also direct flights from Berlin or other European cities.

How many days are ideal if you’re traveling to Montenegro?

You should plan at least one week for your Montenegro round trip, and the best way to do this is to travel around the country by car. It is worth ordering a rental car so that you can be independent and reach remote places.

Book your stay in Montenegro here:

Montenegro – where to visit? The best sights & places

Budva

The port city of Budva is one of the oldest cities on the Adriatic. It is said to have been founded around 2500 years ago. Here you will find historic buildings as well as modern hotels. The highlight of Budva is the walled old town with its narrow streets, small churches, stores and cozy restaurants. Unfortunately, it was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1979. However, all the buildings and the city walls have been faithfully reconstructed. It still feels as if you have traveled back in time.

A special insider tip is to visit the citadel, which can be entered for a small fee. Thanks to its elevated position, it offers a wonderful view of the sea and the entire small old town with the modern part of Budva in the background.

Outside the old town, you should definitely take a walk from the beach to the famous Ballerina statue in the evening to watch a breathtaking sunset. If you follow the path further, you find hidden small beaches and bays.

→ Budget friendly: Casa Di Mino Old Town

→ Mid-range: Hotel Vivid Blue

→ Luxurious: Dukley Hotel & Resort

Sveti Stefan

The small island of Sveti Stafan, which is connected to the mainland, is THE postcard motif of Montenegro. The view of the island is particularly beautiful at sunset or midday, as the water is a beautiful blue at this time of day. The entire island is now a hotel and may only be entered as a hotel guest or with a reservation in the restaurant.

The best view point to see Sveti Stefan

Tour buses usually only stop at the side of the road for a view of Sveti Stefan, but there is a great and quiet viewpoint to see the island: The St. Sava Church offers an amazing view, due to its elevated position. Directly behind the church you will find a fantastic viewpoint. You can reach the church by car in just a few minutes from the main road. You can find the exact location on my map at the end of this post, with all the sights in Montenegro.

Hotel Tips near Budva and Sveti Stefan

Spend one night of your vacation in Montenegro at the Hotel Vivid Blue – a beautiful modern hotel with an inexpensive but great spa area, infinity pool and delicious restaurant. It is located just a few minutes’ drive from Sveti Stefan and around 20 minutes from Budva.

Kotor – one of the best places to visit in Montenegro

Characterized by the palaces of wealthy noble families and romantic churches, the fortified town of Kotor, one of the most beautiful places in Montenegro, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The first Illyrian tribes are said to have settled here 5,000 years ago. Like Budva and many other towns in Montenegro, Kotor suffered considerable damage in the devastating earthquake of 1979, but has been completely reconstructed.

The cute old town in particular, with its small alleyways, stores, many restaurants and cafés, invites you to browse and linger. Situated in Boka Bay, which is surrounded by mountains, the view is reminiscent of one of Norway’s breathtaking fjords. Unlike real fjords, however, here the sea has gradually made its way into a former riverbed.

You should definitely explore Kotor early in the morning or later at sunset – during the day, the small alleyways are unfortunately overrun by day tourists from the cruise ships that dock in the Bay of Kotor.

View over Boka Bay and Kotor

Kotor is also known as the city of cats, as they can be found almost everywhere in the old town. They have their own park with covered sleeping areas. Visitors can put plastic bottles in vending machines and in return, food and water is given to the animals. Locals and tourists alike enjoy cuddling with the cuddly kittens in the park.

The old fortress of Kotor

An unforgettable experience is the hike along the old fortress, directly on the Lovćen mountain massif towering above the town. Steep steps lead up into the mountains above Kotor. This is a strenuous hike, but the climb is worth it! There are various stops along the way – we walked up around 650 steps to a small church. From there you could already enjoy a great view of the old town and the bay.

There are almost 1400 steps to the highest point – the whole tour takes 2-3 hours there and back. You have to pay an entrance fee of around €10 per person at the start of the walk, but the guards are only there from around 8am, before that it’s free. So it’s worth getting up early

Kotor Cable Car

Kotor has had a new attraction since 2023: the Kotor cable car. The gondolas climb 1316 meters in altitude during their journey – up to the summit of Mount Lovćen. The price is EUR 9 per direction or around EUR 16 for both routes. Once at the top, you can enjoy a spectacular view of Boka Bay, Kotor and across the Adriatic Sea. In good weather, you can see as far as Italy.

I highly recommend a ride on the Alpine Coaster. You can enjoy a great view while taking the thrill ride and almost feel like you’re flying.

→ Budget friendly: MAISON W

→ Mid-range: Moderna Luxury Apartments

→ Luxurious: Das Chedi Luštica Bay

Perast

Another place of interest in Montenegro is the small medieval town of Perast, which is located not far from Kotor. The former seafaring town is now a protected monument and is ideal for strolling and exploring the small alleyways.

However, the small town is primarily known thanks to a special church in the water…

Our Lady of the Rock (Gospa od Škrpjela)

There are two islands off Perast, in Boka Bay: Our Lady of the Rock and St. George. The second is a natural island with a Benedictine monastery from the 12th century and cannot be visited. Our Lady of the Rock is an artificial island and is probably the most famous sight in Montenegro due to its very special history: according to legend, in 1452 two fishermen found a painting of Mary and Jesus on a rocky outcrop measuring around 2 m². They took this as a sign to build a church on this spot. For centuries, stones and rocks were thrown into the sea and more than a hundred shipwrecks were sunk to build the Catholic pilgrimage church.

You can visit the church only by boat from Perast or Kotor. The mentioned painting of Mary and Jesus can be seen in the altar of the church. You can visit the church for a small fee. It is a magical place for wedding couples. It is said that no marriage has ever been divorced in the Our Lady of the Rock.

There is a small museum on the second floor with exhibits dating back to the Stone Age. You also have a nice view of the countryside and Perast.

Insider Tipp in the Boka Bay: Porto Montenegro

We booked a private boat with driver to take a detour to Porto Montenegro after our excursion to Our Lady of the Rock. The modern harbor town with luxury yachts, fashion boutiques etc. is a meeting place for the rich and famous and seems like a small version of St. Tropez in France. Porto Montenegro offers a great contrast to the old towns in Kotor and Perast – nice for a stroll, yacht watching & lunch in one of the restaurants at the harbor and is therefore also one of the most beautiful places in Montenegro for me.

Njegoš Mausoleum in Lovcen National Park

At an altitude of 1650 m in the mountains is the highest mausoleum in the world, the Njegoš Mausoleum – a very special sight in Montenegro. Petar ll. Petrović Njegoš, Prince-Bishop of Montenegro and one of the most important poets in the Serbian-speaking world, decreed during his lifetime that he wanted to be buried in this place. He had a modest chapel built for this purpose in 1845. Petar ll. died at the age of 37 and was laid to rest there in 1851. Construction of today’s mausoleum began at the end of the 1960s.

There are 461 steps up from the entrance to the mausoleum and you have to pay a fee of 8 EUR to enter – but it’s worth it:

Behind the peaceful resting place is a fantastic viewing platform with 360-degree views over Lovcen National Park. For me, this is one of the most beautiful sights in Montenegro!

Centinje

You should definitely visit the small, very cute & picturesque town of Centinje during your vacation in Montenegro. It was the royal capital of Montenegro until the end of the Second World War. Today, it is the official residence of the president. You can visit the old royal palace, stroll through the small stores or linger in one of the cozy restaurants.

Centinje seems much nicer and prettier to me than the current capital Podgorica (which you can safely skip as there isn’t really anything to see).

Very close by: The Lipa Cave

The Lipa Cave is an impressive 6-million-year-old stalactite cave, which was only discovered by chance in the 19th century. It is a very special sight in Montenegro, as Lipa Cave is the only accessible cave in Montenegro. It is home to huge, breathtaking stalactites & stalagmites that have been formed over millions of years, creating a magical world underground.

You can only visit it during a tour for 15 EUR, as the entrance is locked. Please note: the cave has a cool climate all year round, so you should definitely bring a jacket even in summer!

Biogradska Gora National Park – one of the best places to visit in Montenegro

Nestled in the Bjelasica mountain region, Biogradska National Park is one of the last virgin rainforests in Europe. Here you will find untouched, unspoiled nature, clear glacial lakes and relaxation. You are literally invited to walk, hike, cycle or observe the wildlife. If you like, you can hire a rowing boat at Lake Biogradsko to go out on the lake, as I did. It was a truly unforgettable experience. It is also possible to rent a kayak or simply go for a hike around the lake.

Hotel tip in Montenegro:

The new Swissôtel Kolasin is located in the middle of the mountains of Kolasin, not far from the Biogradska Gora National Park. A cozy hotel in mountain chalet style. In winter it is the perfect location to reach the ski lift and the slopes directly.

Meandri Ćehotine View Point

You can reach this viewpoint with a short walk from the parking lot. A fantastic view of a Meander riverbed that flows through the hilly landscape awaits you. The deep blue water of the river is a great contrast to the green surroundings. On sunny days, the colors are particularly intense.

I have marked the exact location of the inconspicuous access road to the parking lot on my Montenegro map at the end of this post. Otherwise it will not be shown on Google Maps.

Durmitor National Park – one of the most beautiful places to visit on your Montenegro trip

The Durmitor National Park, named after the Durmitor mountain range of the same name, is located in the north of Montenegro. It boasts 48 peaks over 2000 m and 18 glacial lakes. In winter, Durmitor National Park is a skiing paradise and in summer it is a hiking paradise. You can take it easy or go on challenging day hikes, such as to the highest peak in Durmitor National Park, Bobotov Kuk, at an altitude of 2522 meters.

All trails start at Black Lake, the largest of the 18 lakes. Lake Vražje (Devil’s Lake) is particularly worth seeing thanks to its unique color. According to legend, the devil once built a castle made of ice crystals at the bottom of the lake. The lake is embedded in a steppe landscape surrounded by mountain ranges. The landscape is almost mystical, with only a few isolated farms and numerous flocks of sheep.

The drive through the Durmitor National Park is considered one of the most picturesque drives in Europe. The “Durmitor Ring” leads along the P14 road to Piva Canyon.

Another highlight is the Durdevića Tara Bridge, which is 170 meters high. From here, you have a spectacular view of the Tara Gorge. If you are really brave, you can go ziplining – a gigantic flight over the canyon.

The Skadar Lake

Another of the most beautiful places in Montenegro is Lake Skadar National Park, the largest inland body of water in the Balkans. The border with Albania runs through it. If you are looking for peace and nature, this is the place for you. The impressive landscape can be explored in a relaxed way on a boat or canoe trip. The starting point for the boat trip is the small fishing village of Virpazar, which is worth a visit in itself. In spring, when the snow melts, Virpazar becomes a small island due to the high water level in Lake Skadar. There are three stone bridges to reach the mainland.

My sights with the best places to visit in Montenegro:

My expectations before my trip to Montenegro were exceeded many times over from the very first day. The wonderful landscape, but also the relaxed attitude to life in Montenegro will remain unforgettable for me. The country felt to me like a mixture of Italy, Greece & Austria, but with significantly lower prices. In my opinion, it is very underrated as a travel destination in Europe.

However, I did notice one small drawback: We saw a lot of garbage on the roadside, even in rural areas, far away from the cities. Waste disposal seems to be poorly organized. Hopefully this will be solved in the near future in order to preserve the unique natural environment.

I hope this post with the most beautiful sights & places in Montenegro has inspired you to take your own Montenegro vacation and helps you plan your trip. Do you have any questions for your Montenegro trip? Feel free to write me a comment below this post or send me a message on Instagram.

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