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Why Visit Montenegro? A Guide to Where to Go in Montenegro & Things to Do

Is Montenegro Worth Visiting?

It’s a country most people can’t even point out on a map.

With little time to read up on this small country before my last-minute  digital nomad trip to Montenegro, I was in for a very pleasant surprise.

Montenegro is beautiful! Not only does it offer breathtaking nature, but it also boasts lovely historic cities, good food, decent services, and a friendly population.

Montenegro is one of Europe’s smallest countries with fewer people than your average city (roughly 630,000). You can find it on the Adriatic sea, bordering the much more touristy Croatia.

And maybe it is because of Croatia’s popularity that Montenegro is now finally showing up on travelers’ maps. With more and more cheap flight options to the region and before it becomes a well-known destination, now might be the ideal time for visiting Montenegro!

If you love the outdoors, great beaches, historic towns with cute little restaurants, and a wide range of activities from a simple hike to bungee jumping, rafting, and scuba diving, then you definitely want to put Montenegro on your list!

Also Read: How to Find the Cheapest Flights

It is surprisingly difficult to create a short list of Montenegro’s highlights but these are a few of the places that make Montenegro worth visiting:

Where to Go in Montenegro

1. Bay of Kotor

Why visit Montenegro - Bay of Kotor
Source: Letsgotomontenegro.com – where to go in Montenegro

If you ask anyone where to go in Montenegro the Bay of Kotor will be one of the first things they’ll mention.

It is a butterfly-shaped bay with beautiful blue water, a mountainous backdrop, and medieval and Venetian-era towns.

The area is perfect for hiking or mountain biking. And with a wide selection of water sports on the bay and a good selection of beaches it really has something to offer to everyone.

Some of the Highlights When Visiting Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor: 

The Town of Kotor
Places to visit around the Bay of Kotor - Kotor, Montenegro
Why visit Montenegro – Kotor

Kotor is my favorite town. It is situated on a secluded tip of the bay and its old town is where you want to go.

Built between the 12th and 14th century, it is absolutely stunning with its narrow, cobbled streets and medieval architecture. It is a UNESCO World Natural and Historical Heritage Site and very well preserved.

Climb up to Kotor’s Castle of San Giovanni (castle of St John in English) for an amazing view over the town and the bay.

Our Lady of the Rocks
Places to visit around the Bay of Kotor - Lady of the Rocks, Montenegro
Source: Letsgotomontenegro.com – why visit Montenegro

Our Lady of the Rocks is an artificial island in the bay.

As the story goes, sailors from the nearby town of Perast would lay a rock in this very spot after every successful voyage so that a church could be built on top of the rocks. It took them two hundred years to create the base for the beautiful little church.

Porto Montenegro
Places to visit around the Bay of Kotor - Porto Montenegro, Tivat
Source: Portomontenegro.com – visiting Montenegro

I cycled around the bay past medieval towns and then all of a sudden found myself in this modern, luxurious marina which is part of the town of Tivat.

With its large yachts, luxury waterfront properties, international dining options and expensive boutiques it’s quite a change from the rest of the Bay but not a bad one!

Porto Montenegro has a lovely atmosphere and is well worth a visit.

Almara Beach Club
Places to visit around the Bay of Kotor - Almara Beach Club Montenegro
Source: Almara Beach Club – where to go in Montenegro

I went here for a quick drink but ended up spending the entire afternoon at this trendy beach club.

Almara Beach Club, which is accessible by land and by sea, is located on the Adriatic sea, only a short drive or boat ride away when you are staying on the Bay of Kotor.

It offers a great mix of options to keep you entertained all day: a lovely beach area, a trendy bar, a wide selection of seating areas (I installed myself on a very comfortable couch!) and a high-quality restaurant.

On top of that, they often organize big parties with world-famous DJs

2. Tara River Canyon

Where to go in Montenegro: Tara River Canyon
Source: Orangesmile.com – where to go in Montenegro

The Tara River Canyon, or Tara River Gorge, is the longest canyon in Montenegro and the deepest river canyon in Europe (1300 meters, or 4365 feet, at its deepest).

The canyon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a popular spot because of its stunning scenery and great rafting opportunities.

3. Ostrog Monastery

Where to go in Montenegro: Ostrog Monastery
Source: Wikimedia.org – why visit Montenegro

The Monastery of Ostrog belongs to the Serbian Orthodox Church and is the most important Orthodox site in Montenegro.

The monastery was founded in the 1600s by, and dedicated to, Saint Basil who was buried here.

It is unique and a stunning sight because it is carved almost entirely into a mountain cliff.

4. Lake Skadar

Where to go in Montenegro: Lake Skadar
Visiting Montenegro – Lake Skadar

Lake Skadar, a karst lake on the border of Albania and Montenegro, is the largest lake in the Balkan Peninsula.

Its beautiful waters, rocky shores, and wetlands play host to lots of wildlife, traditional fishing villages, islet monasteries, and pristine beaches.

Lake Skadar has been a protected National Park since 1983 and the area is home to Montenegro’s wine country.

Whether you are into kayaking, hiking, swimming, boat cruises, culture, or wine tasting, this area has a lot to offer and is one of the reasons why people visit Montenegro.

5. Cetinje

where to go in Montenegro: Cetinje
Where to go in Montenegro – Cetinje

Cetinje is the old capital of Montenegro. It is also where the official residence of the President of Montenegro is located.

Cetinje is a quiet town, full of culture and medieval architecture.

It won’t take you more than a day to explore Cetinje, but with its proud history and good museums, it is worth visiting.

Things to Do in Montenegro

things to do when visiting Montenegro

With its incredible nature and rich history there are a lot of things to do when visiting Montenegro!

From boat trips to day tours, paragliding, food tours, and all sorts of water sports.

Check out a few examples of fun activities below or find an extensive list of things to do when visiting Montenegro here.

Are you planning to explore Montenegro by car? Then check out this Montenegro itinerary for a perfect road trip.

 

Still not convinced? Check out this brilliant video and I am sure you will understand why you should visit Montenegro! 😉

 
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Wondering why you should visit #Montenegro and where to go in Montenegro? Check out this article! #Balkan #travelBalkan

 

This article about visiting Montenegro and where to go in Montenegro contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links, at no additional cost to you.

Author: Sanne Wesselman
A traveler, wanderer, digital nomad, and entrepreneur. I spend most of my time living and working abroad and visiting destinations all over the world. I use this website to share "the good, the bad and the ugly" of traveling and living abroad. Visit the About Me page for more info.

14 thoughts on “Why Visit Montenegro? A Guide to Where to Go in Montenegro & Things to Do”

  1. Hi Christy,
    Thanks a lot, I am really happy you enjoyed my post! Montenegro is such a lovely country, I am sure you will have a great time! Enjoy!!

    Reply
  2. I found your blog through GLT on Facebook and I found this post helpful! I am headed to Montenegro in two weeks and I’m getting super excited!
    Thanks again!

    Reply
  3. I was fixated on a beautiful photo of the Bay of Kotor once. When opportunity came, I took a trip and even became more entranced by the place. Wanting to go back.

    Reply
  4. I visited the Bay of Kotor a few years ago and was blown away by how beautiful it was–especially since nobody really seems have ever even heard of Montenegro. I’d love to go back and visit some of the other places that you mentioned too though. Especially the Tara River Canyon. I bet there is some pretty phenomenal hiking nearby!

    Reply
  5. Montenegro comes across as a charming place. Probably what adds to its allure is the fact that it is relatively lesser known. I am particularly fascinated by the picturesque Lady of the Rocks.

    Reply
    • True, it’s not easy these days to find a European country that hasn’t been overrun by tourists yet. This definitely adds to the charm of this place and yes, Lady of the Rocks really is beautiful, it was one of my favorites.

      Reply
  6. Oh my goodness, Montenegro looks absolutely stunning. I had no idea! I would love to visit Lake Skadar and the Tara River Canyon especially.

    Reply
  7. As a lover of hidden gems, I’m happy to have discovered your blog and this post. I was in South America for half a year, which was great, but I think I’m ready to explore more of Europe. Great post, gorgeous photos. I shall add it to my travel wish list :).

    Cristina

    Reply
    • Thanks so much Cristina! Being from Europe I often forget to explore Europe because its too easy or too close to home but it’s true, it has many beautiful places worth exploring!

      Reply
  8. Wow this place looks beautiful! Looks like a perfect mix of outdoor fun and historic sites to visit. My favourite. 🙂

    Reply

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