32 Must-See Attractions In Montenegro

Montenegro’s stunning natural beauty and diverse history make it a fascinating place to explore. Jaw-dropping scenery around every corner, remnants of vanquished kingdoms and trendy underground destinations mean this tiny country packs a mighty punch for its size. Here are the top must-see attractions in Montenegro.

Sveti Stefan

Architectural Landmark

Sveti Stefan’s 15th century village, pink pebble beaches and azure waters have made this area a favourite with both royalty and tourists since the 1930s. It’s the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon swim followed by a dinner of fresh seafood, while watching the sun set over the Adriatic Sea.

Budva Old Town

Architectural Landmark

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Budva’s 2,500-year-old town is a lively, walled town full of restaurants, bars and boutiques. The town museum and citadel show-off Budva’s ancient artifacts, while a five-minute walk along a seaside path leads to idyllic Mogren Beach. When the sun goes down, Budva’s bars are the place to party until the early hours.

Kotor Old Town

Building, Cathedral, Church

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Kotor’s Venetian old town lies on the shore of the Bay of Kotor and is backed by sheer mountains. The labyrinthine alleyways lead past museums, old barracks, traditional restaurants and churches. Locals love to pick up a cone of wild strawberry ice cream and lounge over coffee in one of the town’s piazzas.

Tara Canyon

Natural Feature

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Tara Canyon is the second deepest canyon in the world, after the Grand Canyon. The best way to see it is on a thrilling whitewater rafting tour. Between rapids there are spots for swimming and cliff jumping, but at just 10°C (50°F) the water is very fresh!

Djurdjevica Tara Bridge

Bridge

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Djurdjevica Tara Bridge is the other best way to see Tara Canyon. Once the biggest vehicular concrete arch bridge in Europe, it was blown up in 1942, effectively stopping the Italian advance. The rebuilt bridge towers 172 meters above the riverbed below, while the zipline across the canyon is the preferred choice for thrill-seekers.

Black Lake

Park

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The peaks of Durmitor National Park make a stunning backdrop for the Black Lake. An easy 4-kilometer track around the lake meanders past historic caves and grazing cattle. There are boats for hire and it’s an idyllic spot to spread a picnic blanket and enjoy the scenery.

Skadar Lake

Architectural Landmark

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As the largest lake in the Balkans and an important area for migratory birds, Skadar Lake is a mecca for wildlife. An ideal day here includes a sightseeing boat trip followed by a visit to a local winery to try traditional food and wine.

Pavlova Strana

Natural Feature

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One of the most glorious photo stops in a country teeming with jaw-dropping scenery, Pavlova Strana overlooks a natural horseshoe bend in Rijeka Crnojevica (Crnojevic River). Blue sky, lush greenery and the winding river make this a must-see in Montenegro.

Cetinje

Architectural Landmark

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As Montenegro’s old royal capital, Cetinje is packed with history. The Blue Palace, Cetinje Monastery and the national museum showcase Montenegrin history and culture, while King Nikola’s Court offers a fascinating look into Montenegro’s royal past.

Ostrog Monastery

Monastery

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Set into a sheer cliff, Ostrog Monastery is one of the most important religious sites in the Balkans. Over 100,000 visitors of all faiths visit the 17th-century monastery each year, and it’s not unusual to see pilgrims making the climb to the upper monastery in bare feet or on their knees.

The Blue Cave

Natural Feature

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Out on Lustica Peninsula’s wild coast and accessible only by boat, the Blue Cave got its name for the iridescent blue light inside the cave. Take a boat tour to the cave from either Herceg Novi or Kotor and explore the cave’s depths.

Our Lady of the Rocks

Building, Church, Museum

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Our Lady of the Rocks is a 15th-century island church that’s been protecting the seafarers of the Bay of Kotor for over 500 years. A short boat ride from Perast or Kotor takes you to the island where for €1 you can take a guided tour through the church and attached museum. Not only is the island idyllic, but you’ll get beautiful views of Perast.

Petar Petrovic Njegos Mausoleum

Park

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Petar Petrovic Njegos was a poet, bishop and philosopher who ruled Montenegro from 1830 to 1851. He was buried on Mount Lovcen. A hike of 461 steps brings you to his mausoleum and to yet another glorious viewpoint. The lookout offers 360 degree views of the Montenegrin coast, Lake Skadar, Albania and Croatia.

Lipa Cave

Natural Feature

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Lipa Cave is a great attraction for families. A miniature train takes visitors through countryside full of wild fig and pomegranate trees to the cave entrance. From there, there’s a guided tour through the cave’s enormous caverns.

Nevidio Canyon

Natural Feature

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Nevidio Canyon is a must-do for adrenaline junkies. Tours go through the canyon from May to October. Once you’re in the canyon, the only way out is to hike, swim, slide and jump your way to the exit. This one is not for the faint of heart!

Porto Montenegro

Architectural Landmark

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Transformed from a navy shipyard into a world-class superyacht marina, Porto Montenegro is the place to stroll, brunch and eye up the world’s most luxurious superyachts. The village includes a Regent Hotel, restaurants, boutiques and night clubs.

Durmitor National Park

Natural Feature

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Durmitor National Park is one of Montenegro’s greatest features and one of the world’s best locations for trekking, hiking, climbing and rafting. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Durmitor is home to Tara River, Nevidio canyon, 18 glacier lakes, dense forests, amazing fauna and flora, and incredible mountain peaks – the highest looming at 1523 meters at Bobotov Kuk. As long and exhausting as the hike to the top may be, it is extremely rewarding and one of the most appealing trails in Montenegro. Other sites not to be missed are the peaks at Meded and Prutas, the Skrcka lakes, and the ice cave. Recommended by Jelena Vukovic.

Lovcen Mountain

Natural Feature

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Lovcen is no mere mountain – it is a sacred place for Montenegrins, rising majestically above the ancient coastal town of Kotor and standing at the core of their national identity. At the top of Lovcen sits a mausoleum where Petar II Petrovic-Njegoš, the greatest Montenegrin ruler and poet, is buried. It is a most impressive monument, built on Lake Crest – a location Njegoš himself chose for his eternal resting ground. Recommended by Jelena Vukovic.

Boka Bay

Natural Feature

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Boka Bay is the southernmost bay in Europe and among the most stunning. Above the narrow coastline lies a chain of mountains with rocky cliffs, and the bay below naturally divides into four smaller bays – Herceg Novi, Risan, Kotor and Tivat. Majestic summits and pristine waters aside, small, seaside cities rich in history and culture dot the coastline. Recommended by Jelena Vukovic.

Biograd Lake / Biogradsko Jezero

Natural Feature

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Located in Biogradska Gora National Park, you will discover Biograd Lake. This lake is painted with beautiful cool colors of blues and greens in the spring and summer and warm colors in the fall. Take a walk along the lake or enjoy a picnic and a boat ride across the water. Recommended by Jennifer Buxton.

Morača Monastery

Architectural Landmark

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As you are driving on the highway up north from Podgorica, you will see the romantic Morača Monastery above the picturesque waterfall from. Walk inside this beautifully painted church, where one of the resident monks can interpret its frescoes. Buy some honey, produced by the monastery, and remember to dress modestly by covering shoulders. Recommended by Jennifer Buxton.

San Giovanni Fortress

Building

One thousand three hundred fifty-five steps. That’s all that separates you from the best view in Kotor. San Giovanni Fortress dates from the 9th century, and no visit to Kotor is complete without a hike to the top. The views from the top take in the Bay of Kotor, Mt Vrmac and Kotor old town. Simply breathtaking!

Roman Mosaics

Villa

Risan is the oldest settlement in the Bay of Kotor, and the Roman mosaics discovered here are the remains of a villa dating from the 2nd century. The mosaics depict important parts of Roman life – food, wine and weapons, as well an exquisite mosaic of the Greek god of sleep, Hypnos.

Ulcinj

Ulcinj is the southernmost city on the Montenegrin coast, known for its idyllic beaches. Stay in the picturesque Old Town of Ulcinj and relax on the sandy shores of Long Beach – as the name implies, the longest beach on the Adriatic Sea – or explore Ada Bojana, a small, triangular island that has both a relaxing atmosphere and the perfect amount of wind ideal for kite-surfing. Recommended by Jelena Vukovic.

Velika Plaza

Ulcinj’s Velika Plaza, on the south coast of Montenegro, is a 12 kilometer stretch of sandy beach that’s popular with intrepid travellers. With kite surfing, beach parties and a music festival, this is one of the trendiest summer hot spots in Montenegro.

Bar Old Town

Bar’s old town is the perfect place to get a feel for the cultural mix in Montenegro. The colourful street and restaurants have a distinctive eastern flair, showing the Turkish influence here. The stone old town is a mix of ruins, museum and art gallery.

Savin Kuk

With almost 120 days of snow a year, Montenegro is a winter sports paradise during the colder months. Ski resorts in Montenegro sit atop summits as high as 2181 meters and in total there are over 20 kilometers of slopes to whiz down. The most popular ski resorts are Savin Kuk, located on Durmitor mountain, and Kolasin 1450, located on Bjelasica mountain. Recommended by Jelena Vukovic.

Dulovina Botanical Gardens

Located in Kolašin, the privately-owned Dulovina Botanical Garden is the only one of its kind in Montenegro with plants mostly from mountains of Bjelasica, Sinjajevina, Komovi and Durmitor. There are over 300 plant species in the botantical garden. Recommended by Jennifer Buxton.

Hussein Pasha Mosque

In center of one of the northern cities of Montenegro, you will see the stoic Hussein Pasha Mosque in Pljevlja. What makes Hussein Pasha Mosque unique from other mosques in the Balkans is how high its minaret stands at 42 metres and its beautiful stone workmanship built at the end of the 16th century. Recommended by Jennifer Buxton.

Piva Monastery

Also built in the 16th century by the Turks close to the Piva River is the Piva Monastery, but due to flooding, it was carefully moved to higher land, stone by stone, in the 1980s. You can find art and rare spiritual books inside, such as a psalm from Crnojevići printing press, which was the first in the Balkans. Recommended by Jennifer Buxton.

Mala Rijeka Viaduct

The second tallest railway bridge in Europe, the Mala Rijeka Viaduct is the pride of Montenegro at 200 metres high and 500 metres long. We highly recommend taking the train up north because the views are far more breathtaking than if you were to ride in a car. Recommended by Jennifer Buxton.

Prokletije National Park

Prokletije mountains are the most southern in the Dinaric Alps, which stretch through the Balkan peninsula. The views from Prokletije mountains are simply majestic. Even though trails are well-marked, we recommend hiring a local guide who can show you the caves and lakes throughout Prokletije National Park. Recommended by Jennifer Buxton.

About the author

Sarah Pavlovic

Sarah Pavlovic was born and raised and New Zealand, but developed an early love of travelling with regular trips back to her father's native Malaysia, where she became a devoted satay and noodle lover. This love of travelling turned into a full-blown addiction with round the world trips and a year as an exchange student in Germany. After finishing a B.Sc in Zoology back home, the world called again and Sarah was off to have more adventures in Hawaii, Australia and on super yachts in the Mediterranean. Sarah has made her home in the tiny Balkan country of Montenegro, where she runs the popular tourist guide Montenegro Pulse.