Montenegro is a really hidden gem in Europe. Located right next to Croatia and at the Adrian Sea, it often gets overlooked by European travelers. However, this small country is full with epic mountain areas, local beaches and interesting history. It is definitely worth a visit when you are visiting Europe or want to decide on a next weekend getaway. I was in Montenegro for 4 days but could have easily spend there a full week.
When you fly into Montenegro you will arrive at Tivat Airport. It's a rather small airport but the surrounding mountains offer you an epic first view of the country. You can find lots of rental companies directly at the airport. Renting a car definitely makes sense in Montenegro, as you can really explore all the different parts and not be dependent on the schedule of local busses.
Top Tip: Some of the roads are rather narrow, so if you can, make sure to rent a smaller car.
I stayed at a lovely guesthouse right outside of Tivat with a beautiful view towards the water. I used this guesthouse as my hub for the next couple of days. As Montenegro isn't too big, you can easily drive on day-trips from one hotel or guesthouse.
On my first day right after I have arrived, I drove 2 hours to a monastery in the mountains. Manastir Ostrog is a Serbian orthodox monastery build high up into the side of the mountains. It is the most popular pilgrimage place in Montenegro and the drive up to the monastery is absolutely stunning. The roads are mountain roads, but with a smaller car it's absolutely fine to drive right up to the Monastery. The parking can be easily found by following the signs. When you enter the Monastery, you will marvel at the exterior but the interior is also very beautiful and detailed wall paintings can be found.
I started my second day with an hour drive from Tivat to Lovcen National Park. The scenery on the drive to the national park is epic and I can recommend stopping on the side of the road to see the perfect view towards Kotor harbor. Lovcen National Park is a mountain range so it is a bit colder than in Kotor or right at the beach. You can drive up to the Njegos - Mausoleum which offer stunning views around the area. The mausoleum is for Njegos who was a poet and philosopher. It is situated on the second highest peak in Lovcen National Park.
If you are up for it, you can also do some small hikes around the area and the national park. It does cost €2 to enter the national park and a further €3 to enter the Mausoleum.
One of the many charming towns in the Bay of Kotor is Perast and is perfectly suited for your lunch break and for an afternoon stroll. Lots of restaurants line the promenade and you can even book a boat tour to the two church islands in front of the town. The old town of Perast includes a beautiful church and older buildings. The streets of old town invite you to wander along and enjoy the laid back atmosphere of this small town.
Just a couple minutes drive from Perast is Kotor which is located in the bay of Kotor and is an old harbor and trading town. You can park in one of the many parking spots near the city center and walk into town. The old town of Kotor is perfect for a quick stroll and ice cream parlors offer the perfect refreshment. If you like cruises and boats you can wander around the harbor and look at the many boats stopping for a day in Kotor.
Top Tip: Many cruise ships stop in Kotor so the town is pretty busy in the mornings and during lunch time. All the cruise ships leave in the early afternoon and I can recommend visiting Kotor then, as you will not have as many tourists around.
When you walk through old town, look out for signs to the the Kotor fortress. The Kotor fortress is an abandoned fortress high up the hill next to old town Kotor. The ruins of the fortress are perfect to discover in the afternoon.
It is an epic hike up the side of the mountain towards the fortress. It is quite steep and you will need to walk up more than 1000 steps to reach the top. However, it is well worth it and I can recommend hiking it in the late afternoon so it isn't too hot and you can enjoy the evening atmosphere.
You will need to pay €8 to enter the fortress at the bottom of the hill. The start of the hike is around the area of Church of St. Mary Collegiate.
With the second day done, you can enjoy a dinner in the Old Town of Kotor.
On the third and fourth day, we are driving down the coast of Montenegro. Depending on the weather you can go from beach to beach. The first stop has to be Budva. Budva is a small beach town, which is famous for their beaches :) You can easily find a place to brunch here and spend the morning on the beach.
My second stop was Sveti Stefan, which is a tiny island near Budva. You are only allowed on this island if you have a restaurant table or if you have a hotel room booked. But even the view from the mainland is epic.
If you do want to do a little bit of sightseeing, I can recommend visiting the Fortress Old Bar which is located just south of Bar. The buildings of the Fortress were destroyed by war and earthquakes. But you can still see some restored structures and imagine how people lived there previously. For €2 it is definitely a bargain sightseeing spot.
Another highlight close to the Fortress Old Bar is Stara Maslina. An Olive Tree which is older than 2000 years. It's worth a quick visit on your way back to Kotor or Tivat. It costs another €2 to visit the tree.
You can easily split the drive down the coast over 2 days, as it is definitely worth to stop at the beaches and small towns along the way. Depending on your vacation days, you can also stop off at other national parks more towards the mountains and away from the coast. Montenegro is definitely a must-place to visit in Europe and still a little bit of a hidden gem.
For a quick view on what to do, here a full list of sightseeing spots to visit:
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