Discover the hidden gem of the Balkans: Montenegro! This compact little country on the Adriatic Sea surprises with centuries-old fortified towns, azure bays, and charming fishing villages. With this 5-day travel itinerary we take you along the very best of the Adriatic coast in Montenegro. From UNESCO towns such as Perast and Kotor to the vibrant Budva and authentic Petrovac. Quickly discover the best things to do at the coast of Montenegro in 5 days!
Montenegro itinerary: 5 days along the Adriatic Sea
Tucked between Croatia and Albania, Montenegro packs a serious punch for such a small Balkan country. This itinerary puts the stunning Adriatic coastline front and centre, guiding you through the most breathtaking highlights the coast has to offer. Got more time to spare? Head inland and explore Montenegro’s equally stunning interior. Check out our 8-day Montenegro itinerary and make the most of every moment!
TRAVEL TIP: Montenegro is not part of the European Union, even though it pays with the euro. Therefore, roaming does not count here and you have to pay when you call or surf with your cell phone. So be sure to turn off your roaming to avoid charges!
Day 1: Bay of Kotor
This 5-day itinerary Montenegro starts in the world-famous Bay of Kotor. The drive to Kotor is impressive in itself, seeing the steep mountains rising around the bay. In Kotor, explore the maze of cobbled alleys in “Stari Grad”, Kotor’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed medieval center. Walk the old city walls, climb the fortress for an insane view and pet one of Kotor’s many cats. In the evening, have a nice dinner in along Kotor’s promenade overlooking the sea. We highly recommend Konoba Portun with tables right by the water.
Where to stay in Kotor
The old town of Kotor is not very big, but you will find plenty of nice accommodations. During the summer months, however, prices can be steep for Kotor. A good alternative is to sleep outside the center. We slept in Apartment Petar and had a beautiful view of the Bay of Kotor.
- Budget (€): Old Town Youth Hostel
- Comfort (€€): Apartment Petar 1
- Luxurious (€€€): Hotel Monte Cristo
Day 2: Boat trip to Perast OR cable car to Lovcen National Park
On the second day of this Montenegro itinerary, you have two options. Explore the Bay of Kotor from the water and take a boat ride to picturesque Perast. Would you rather explore Montenegro’s nature? Then take the cable car to Lovcen National Park, high above the Bay of Kotor!
Option 1: Boat trip to Perast & Our Lady of the Rocks
Summer in Kotor can be scorching, so why not escape the heat and take to the water? Jump on a boat trip in the Bay of Kotor and sail towards the charming town of Perast, stopping along the way at Our Lady of the Rocks. Step ashore on this fascinating artificial islet and explore the little church, where stunning views of the UNESCO town of Perast await you. Continue sailing into Perast itself and spend the afternoon wandering through its small but lively centre before cruising back to Kotor.
Option 2: Hiking in Lovcen National Park
Another way to cool off during the hot, Montenegrin summers is by heading to the higher elevation of Lovcen National Park park. The many forests and mountains here make it pleasant in terms of temperature for hiking or biking. A fun way to visit the park is by taking the Kotor cable car. From the gondola you have amazing views of the Bay of Kotor as you climb higher. Especially around sunset, it promises to be a fantastic ride, when everything is bathed in an orange glow as the sun sinks into the sea.
An absolute must do in Lovcen National Park is to visit the Petar II Mausoleum. Behind this mausoleum you will find one of the most beautiful viewpoints in all of Montenegro. If you are by car, you can also drive to the park via the “serpentine road”. When returning to Kotor, be sure to stop in the Horizont Bar. This small cafe has an insane view of the Kotor coastline and Lovcen National Park and is especially spectacular during sunset.
Day 3 Montenegro itinerary: Budva & Sveti Stefan
Today you leave Kotor behind and drive on to your next stop: bustling Budva. Like Kotor, this seaside town has a historic old center (Stari Grad) that you can easily explore in a few hours. Especially the citadel of Budva is impressive to see. Budva is also known for its beautiful sandy beaches surrounded by cliffs with green pine trees. Stroll along the famous ‘Budva Ballerina’, take a look at Budva’s beaches and then have lunch in the old town!
TRAVEL TIP: During the summer months, roads along the coast can be very busy. In Montenegro, they are mainly dual carriageways and there can be a lot of traffic jams, especially during rush hours. So leave early to get ahead of the traffic jams.
Trade the buzz of Budva for the tranquility of Sveti Stefan, just a 15-minute drive away. This picture-perfect island, connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway, stands as one of Montenegro’s most photographed spots. Once a glamorous luxury resort, the hotel has since closed its doors and the islet itself is off-limits to visitors. Grab your towel and a good book, claim your spot on the beach overlooking the islet, and soak up the stunning views of Sveti Stefan for the rest of the afternoon. Round off your day by heading up to St. Sava Church and watching the sun melt into the horizon in a blaze of colour.
Our Montenegro tips in your Google Maps
Discover all our favorite spots, best beaches, hikes, restaurants and hidden gems in our Montenegro Google Maps.
Where to stay in Petrovac
The next two nights you will sleep in Petrovac. This local fishing village still feels authentic compared to Kotor or Budva. From here you can also easily visit Budva, Sveti Stefan and Lake Skadar.
- Budget (€): Guesthouse Draskovic
- Comfort (€€): Luxury Apartments Queen
- Luxurious (€€€): Hotel Riva
Day 4: Lake Skadar & Petrovac
Start your day 4 of this Montenegro coastal route with a boat trip on the largest lake in the Balkans: Lake Skadar. From Petrovac you will drive in about 30 minutes to Virpazar, a small village from where most boat trips depart. During the boat trip, you sail among thousands of lilies on the lake, with the rugged mountains of Montenegro in the background. We joined this boat trip on Lake Skadar and can only recommend it! Along the way, the enthusiastic guide tells you about the lake and you can taste local wines yourself. We found this to be one of the most fun things to do in Montenegro!
After your boat ride, you can stroll around the village of Virpazar or drive around the lake. If you have the time, we recommend driving up to the cute village of Rijeka Crnojevica. On the way you will pass beautiful viewpoints like the one in the photo below and you can eat delicious, freshly caught fish.
Afternoon: Petrovac
Spend the rest of the day in cozy Petrovac. Fun to do in Petrovac is walking along the path ‘Rezeveci’. This trail takes you along the rugged coastline of Petrovac where you walk through tunnels and along deserted beaches. From here you also have a fantastic view of the Adriatic Sea and the small island off the coast of Petrovac on which there is a small church. Those who want can also visit this small island. There are plenty of boatmen in the port of Petrovac who offer this boat trip.
Day 5: last day of your Montenegro itinerary
Today is the last day of this Montenegro itinerary along the Adriatic! Before you head home, however, there are still a few fun things to do. Around Petrovac you’ll find some of the most beautiful beaches in Montenegro, so go for one last dip in the Adriatic! You can find all the most beautiful beaches in our Montenegro Google Maps.
If your trip in Montenegro ends in the capital city of Podgorica, then you can still spend a few hours here. Look for cool street art in the Preko Morace neighborhood, grab a coffee in one of the alternative bars like Karver Bookstore or take a look at the former royal palace. Do you have longer to stay in Montenegro? Then we recommend you skip Podgorica and travel on to Ostrog Monastery or Durmitor National Park.
How to get around along the coast of Montenegro
The best option to get around for this itinerary Montenegro in 5 days is by rental car. This way you have more flexibility to visit things and you can also easily move around Lake Skadar. Prefer not to drive yourself? Along the coast, buses also run daily between all the places in this travel guide. From popular cities like Kotor, Budva or Podgorica, you can also take several day tours to places like Durmitor and Skadar Lake.
How to visit Montenegro
You can reach Montenegro in several ways: both the capital Podgorica and the city of Tivat on the coast have international airports with many European connections. However, we personally chose to travel via Dubrovnik in Croatia. Flights and car rental are often a lot cheaper there, and from Dubrovnik it is only an hour and a half drive to Kotor. Through Skyscanner you can quickly find the best deals on your flight!
Best time to visit Montenegro
The best time to visit Montenegro is from April to June and from September to October. Then the temperatures during the day are pleasant and it is a lot quieter everywhere. In July and August the high season starts: it can be very busy then and temperatures often rise to around 30°C. Especially in the Bay of Kotor you notice the summer crowds well, because cruise ships dock there daily and it can therefore be quite crowded.
Do you have any questions about this itinerary Montenegro in 5 days? Let us know in a comment below! Looking for more information for your next trip? Please do not hesitate to contact us contact or feel free to email info@snoezelsontheroad.com
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