Montenegro tourism is some of the best enjoyed in Europe, with incredible natural beauty, history and its status as a much more ‘off the beaten path’ destination than others in the continent making it an ideal place to soak up some authentic culture.
Experience a Balkan paradise with your Montenegro travel guide
Montenegro tourism itineraries start and end in Kotor, Podgorica and Budva, and include orientation in Kotor and Budva, and stopovers in the royal capital of Cetinije. A popular choice is the combined itineraries visiting other parts of the Balkans, such as Croatia, and all the options – whether you want to really get to know Montenegro or experience different parts of the Balkan region – are available under our tour comparison Montenegro.
With a knowledgeable Montenegro travel guide at the helm, travellers enjoy exclusive accommodation in rafting cabins over River Tara, cruises around Kotor Bay and to Herceg Novi, and free time in all towns. Border formalities are taken care of by the tour operator, which is a big plus when travelling between countries in this region.
In spectacular Kotor, knowledgeable local guides will ensure you experience the magic of this stunning bay and its old town, with optional day trips including cruises in the fjord and day trips visiting highlights of Montenegro. Montenegro tourism packages allow you to experience all the best the country has to offer, while also enjoying free time in every town to explore at your own leisure.
Itching to plan your trip? Take a look at our tour comparison Montenegro and find the right itinerary for you.
Want a taste of that insider Montenegro tourism knowledge we mentioned before? We have collected the best facts from real life tour guides. Impress them on tour with how much you already know.
- The Montenegrin name for the country is Crna Gora, which translates directly to Black Mountain.
- At just 13,812 km2, Montenegro is so small you can drive across the entire country in one day.
- Montenegro became part of Yugoslavia in 1918, then formed half the state union Serbia and Montenegro, and finally became independent after a referendum in 2006.
- The stunning Adriatic coastline makes Montenegro a popular beach destination for European holidaymakers in particular, with towns like Budva home to beautiful old sea walls that stand in magnificent contrast to the clear blue sea.
- The UNESCO World Heritage Listed Bay of Kotor is a spectacular sight to behold, whether by boat or from the town of Kotor’s fortress.
- Podgorica is the capital and biggest city in Montenegro, occupying an ideal place at the confluence of the Ribnica and Moraca rivers, with ski slopes not far to the north and seaside towns to the south.
- The President of Montenegro resides in the old royal capital of Cetinje, where a number of important cultural attractions including the National Museum of Montenegro and the National Library are located.
- Herceg Novi, meaning ‘New Castle’, sits at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor and features a fascinating old town due to its history as part of the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice.
- Situated on the coast, Bar and nearby Stari Bar, are so close to Italy that there are a number of ferries operating between these areas.
- Singer Stefan Filipovic, artist Boris Dragojevic, and literary figure Tanja Bakic were or are all from Montenegro.
- The town of Perast in the Bay of Kotor has been the subject of many battles, as part of the Byzantine Empire, medieval Serbia, the Republic of Venice, France, Austria and finally Yugoslavia before Montenegrin independence. Because of its history, Perast features some notable architecture including Venetian palaces.
- Mount Lovćen is a national park home to the rocky mountain itself, where over a thousand different plant species grow – including several endemic to the park.
- 50 km from Podgorica is the pilgrimage site Monastery Ostrog, perched in the cliff side of Ostroška Greda and offering unobstructed views across the Bjelopavlići plain.
- Freshwater Lake Skadar is the biggest lake in Southern Europe, and is situated on the border between Albania and Montenegro.
- Island resort Sveti Stefan offers two kilometres of pristine coastline in the Adriatic, and is home to unique pink sandy beaches. It was also the location tennis superstar Novak Djokovic chose for his wedding in 2014.
- King Nikola I was the first monarch from the House of Petrovic-Njegoš (1918-1921), which survives to this day.
- King Danilo I succeeded King Nikola I, but ruled for only six days in 1921 before renouncing his royal title for no known reason in favour of his nephew, Mihajlo.
- Durmitor National Park is a spectacular example of Montenegro’s extraordinary natural beauty, and is home to popular rafting route the Tara River Canyon.
- Montenegro was a favoured holiday location for Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, and Princess Margaret, while actors Catherine Zeta-Jones and husband Michael Douglas own a house in the small Balkan country.
Courtney Gahan is a serial expat, traveller and freelance writer who has bartered with Moroccan marketeers, seen the sun rise at Angkor Wat and elbowed her way through crowds on NYE in NYC
