Montenegro Itinerary: How Many Days Do You Need?

At A Glance

Essential 3 Days: Bay of Kotor
4-6 Days: Add day trips from Kotor
Week +: Add either
- South: Lake Skadar & Central Montenegro
- North: Durmitor National Park

Planning a Montenegro itinerary, but aren’t sure how many days you need? Or maybe you only have three days and want to make sure you see the highlights?

After driving through much of Montenegro this spring, we came away with a pretty clear idea of what we’d consider essential — and what we’d add if you have more time.

The good news? Montenegro is small. You can see a surprising amount without spending weeks here.

If You Have 3 Days: The Bay of Kotor

If you only have three days in Montenegro, spend them around the Bay of Kotor. This gives you Montenegro’s dramatic mountain-and-water scenery, historic towns, and one of the best days you can spend on the water.

Where should you stay? See our comparisons of Kotor, Tivat, Dobrota and more. Kotor vs Tivat: Which Montenegro Base Should You Choose?→

Day 1: Kotor Old Town

Kotor Old Town square with St. Tryphon Cathedral and mountains in the background — Kotor Old Town, tucked beneath the mountains of the Bay of Kotor

Explore Kotor’s walled Old Town, wander its narrow streets and squares, and, if you’re up for the climb, hike the fortress trail for spectacular views over the bay.

Highlights: Old Town • fortress hike • bay views • shops and cafés

Day 2: Boat Trip on the Bay

Entrance to Montenegro's Blue Cave with brilliant turquoise and blue water. — Inside Montenegro’s Blue Cave, where sunlight turns the water an incredible blue

Seeing the Bay of Kotor from the water gives you a completely different perspective. Most tours combine several of the bay’s best-known sights in one easy day.

Highlights: Bay scenery • Our Lady of the Rocks • submarine tunnels • Mamula Island • Blue Cave

Day 3: Perast

Small boats line Perast’s stone waterfront, with historic buildings and mountains behind. — Perast’s waterfront — stone houses, small boats and mountains rising behind the bay

Spend a slower day in elegant little Perast. Walk along the waterfront, admire the historic architecture and enjoy some of the prettiest views on the bay.

Highlights: Historic architecture • waterfront • churches • bay views

Travel Tip: Check the Cruise Ship Schedule

Cruise ships can make a big difference to your experience in Kotor. On busy cruise days, the compact Old Town can become extremely crowded, particularly during the middle of the day.

If your schedule is flexible, check the cruise calendar before deciding which day to visit Kotor. A crowded cruise day can be a perfect time for your boat trip, Perast or another part of the bay instead. Check out Avoid the Cruise Ship Crowds→ for ship calendar information.

View of Kotor Old Town, a cruise ship and the Bay of Kotor from the fortress trail above. — Kotor Old Town from above — and a cruise ship that gives some perspective on the crowds

Have More Time? Pick a Day Trip That Interests You

Once you have the Bay of Kotor covered, there are nearby day trips that may interest you.

Add 1 Day: Budva—Old Town & Adriatic Coast

Pebble beach with Budva Old Town along the Adriatic Sea. — Budva’s Old Town and beach along the Adriatic

Choose Budva if you want to combine a historic Old Town with beaches and some of Montenegro’s best-known Adriatic coastal scenery. Sveti Stefan is a postcard-perfect fortified island village connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway.

Best for: Beaches • Old Town • coastal scenery • Sveti Stefan

Add 1- Day: Cetinje—Museums, Cave & Wine

Sveti Stefan, a fortified island village connected to Montenegro’s mainland by a narrow causeway. — Sveti Stefan, Montenegro’s iconic fortified island village

Cetinje, Montenegro’s former royal capital, is a good choice if you’d like to add more history and culture to your trip. Nearby Lipa Cave and wine tasting at one of the area’s small wineries can round out the day. Depending on your route, Sveti Stefan can also be a brief stop.

Best for: Cetinje Monastery • museums • Lipa Cave • wine tasting

Add 1 Day: Tivat & the Luštica Peninsula—Marina & Coastal Villages

Choose this if you’d like a more relaxed day around the bay. Start with Porto Montenegro, Tivat’s upscale marina, then explore some of the quieter villages and scenery of the Luštica Peninsula.

Best for: Marina • shopping • restaurants • coastal villages • relaxed sightseeing

Add 1 Day: Lovćen National Park—Scenic Drive

Lake Skadar surrounded by green hills and mountains in southern Montenegro. — The Serpentine Road — 25 hairpin turns climbing above the Bay of Kotor

Lovćen makes a terrific day trip if you enjoy scenic drives and mountain views. The drive itself is part of the experience, with the famous serpentine road climbing above the Bay of Kotor. At the top, visit the Njegoš Mausoleum for even more spectacular views.

Best for: Scenic driving • mountain scenery • Bay of Kotor views • Njegoš Mausoleum

Have Even Longer? Head South or North

SOUTH: Lake Skadar & Central Montenegro

Where to Stay: Podgorica makes a convenient base for exploring both Lake Skadar and the sights of central Montenegro. If the lake itself is your main priority, consider staying in Virpazar instead.

Add 2–3 Days, Including Travel

Lake Skadar

Boat trip • wildlife • scenery • kayaking • Virpazar

Central Montenegro

Ostrog Monastery • Niagara Falls • Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ • Morača River

NORTH: Durmitor National Park

Snow capped mountains in Durmitor National Park, Montenegro — Snow still lingering in Durmitor National Park in late May

Add 3-4 Days, Including Travel

If you love mountains and hiking, this would be our choice for extending a Montenegro trip. Allow at least three days plus travel time to make the journey north worthwhile. For more information on things to do and where to stay see Durmitor National Park: Montenegro’s Uncrowded Alps→.

Best for: Hiking • mountain scenery • lakes • Tara Canyon • Durmitor Ring

Which Direction Should You Go?

Your next destination may make the decision easy.

Traveling onward to Albania?
Concentrate on southern Montenegro. Lake Skadar and the areas around Podgorica fit naturally into that route.

Traveling onward to Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Consider heading north through Durmitor National Park before continuing toward Mostar or Sarajevo.

Only have three days?
Don’t try to see the whole country. Stay around the Bay of Kotor. You’ll spend less time driving and still experience many of the things that make Montenegro special.

Have You Been to Montenegro?

Have you traveled through Montenegro — or are you planning a trip? I’d love to hear what you’d add to this itinerary, what you’d skip, or what questions you still have. Leave a comment below.