The Ultimate Montenegro Travel Itinerary for 7 Days: Perfect Road Trip Itinerary for You!

The best self-drive travel itinerary for Montenegro.

During my big road trip to the Balkans in the summer of 2024, I explored the beautiful countries of Bosnia & Herzegovina, Albania, and Montenegro. And I can tell you without any doubt that Montenegro was by far my absolute favorite place to discover! Montenegro will certainly surprise you with its diverse landscapes, amazingly kind people, and so much more! Here’s my flexible self-drive travel itinerary for Montenegro.

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Table of Contents

About Montenegro

Montenegro is a small country in Southeastern Europe, that only has about 60000 inhabitants. Montenegro has a beautiful long coastline on the Adriatic Sea. However, the name ‘’Montenegro’’ means Black Mountains, from Monte (Mountain) and Negro (Black). It’s got this name from the dark forests that once covered the Dinaric Alps.

So, basically, Montenegro has it all. With a beautiful sea and incredible mountain peaks to explore, it truly felt like a little paradise to me!

And even though its neighboring country Croatia has been getting mass tourism, Montenegro still seems to be a bit undiscovered. And don’t get me wrong, you will still run into tourists in Montenegro, especially in summer, but it doesn’t feel so ‘’fake’’… Know what I mean?

Should you rent a car in Montenegro?

Yes and no, would be the simple answer.

This is a self-drive itinerary, so I won’t cover anything about public transport in Montenegro. Why not, you ask? The one time I took a bus, I’d been told: ‘’The bus may stop. The bus may not stop. Good luck’’. And in fact, the bus did not stop. The driver did open the door for me so I had to run and jump in, which I (surprisingly) succeeded in. It was an interesting experience, but not one I would recommend.

That said, not all public transport is as bad as this in Montenegro. But I still think that renting a car gives you so much more freedom to explore places you want.

And yes, people have been quite negative about driving in Montenegro. Something about the word ‘’catastrophe’’…

However, I did not feel this way at all when touring the country in my campervan. And yes, I have driven the small mountain roads with my 2-meter-wide van. And if I can do that, so can you! Of course, sometimes you need to reverse a bit to let a bigger vehicle pass. And yes, you may need to improvise on the roads a bit…

But if you are comfortable behind the wheel, this should not be a problem at all. Are you a nervous driver? Then I’d reconsider. Even though I don’t know the feeling of nervousness behind the wheel, I can imagine it making your vacation a lot more stressful. So in that case, I would recommend reading an itinerary that you can do by public transport.

If you do choose to rent a car, I highly recommend using DiscoverCars. They will give you a great, honest prices and the best coverage!

When is the best time to visit Montenegro?

Now what are the best times to visit Montenegro? Are there seasons you should avoid?

Let me give you a little summary of each season in Montenegro.

Spring – This is a magical time to visit Montenegro. In spring, you will find that everything is a bit greener and that mountain lakes are visible, unlike in any other season. With warm temperatures, this is the perfect time to visit Montenegro.

Summer – In summer you might find more tourists and clammy temperatures. This is the perfect time for a lazy beach vacation, but if you’re looking to explore a bit, you might want to avoid July and August.

Autumn – You will find beautiful colors and comfortable temperatures in Autumn in Montenegro. You’ll be able to explore without tourists spoiling the views, especially in October.

Winter – Love skiing? Then winter is a great time to visit! I mean, you won’t be able to explore much, but you can go skiing or snowboarding in the mountains for a great price!

My personal recommendation would be to visit Montenegro in May or October. I was there in August and September and, even though it was very enjoyable, it was still a bit crowded and way too hot down by the coast. Luckily we could escape to the mountains where it was over 5 degrees cooler!

About this 7-day Montenegro travel itinerary

This itinerary is a self-drive itinerary, which means that it’ll work best if you rent a car, or arrive with your own car. If you choose to rent a car, my recommendation is to do it through DiscoverCars for the best prices and coverage.

Now, if you’re looking to lay on the beach every day, this itinerary might not be for you. It is, however, for people who like to explore a bit. Don’t get me wrong, there are lots of opportunities to go to the beach, but also lots of activities that I will mention here. There’s a little of both worlds in this itinerary and there’s lots of flexibility to draw your own path.

Now grab yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy reading the itinerary (and don’t forget to visualize yourself in it) 😉

The ultimate 7-day Montenegro travel itinerary

Day 1: Arrival – Kotor

Arriving in Montenegro will probably be by plane. There are several airport options to fly into: Tivat will be best, but Podgorica or Dubrovnik are also fine options. If you choose to pick up your rental car in Kotor, you’ll need to take a bus there. From Tivat you will reach Kotor by bus in no time. But if you arrive in Dubrovnik or Podgorica, there are also buses driving to Kotor, they will just take a bit longer (1-2 hours). A better option might be to pick up your car at the airport.

So when you’ve made your way to Kotor, you’ll surely be mindblown by its historical beauty! From the old city walls to the streets filled with welcoming cats, Kotor is a place anyone will enjoy!

Some amazing things to do in Kotor are:

Explore the old streets and hidden places
Hike up to Kotor Fortress
Visit the beautiful churches, like the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon
Get some refreshing fruits at the Kotor farmer’s market
Relax on Kotor beach
Go paddle boarding, kayaking, or take a boat trip out on the water
Let your heart melt in kitten square

Yes, you read that right. Kitten Square is a nice nickname for a square right by the North Gate. And this nickname has a reason; at some times of the year, there are kittens all around!

Personal kitten square story: The first kitten that I saw, I fell in love with. She lay in my arms and was playing with my hair. But she was sick (parasites and fungus), and I couldn’t get it over my heart to leave her there to die. I wanted to give her a chance. So we drove through the entire country, visiting different veterinaries, and spending all our hours with her. We loved her so much and her face always lit up when she saw us. She followed us around all the time and she was absolutely fearless. For a 5-week-old kitten, she was so smart and I’m glad to have given her a warm comfortable home. Sadly, her sickness took her from us and I’m still heartbroken about it. Her name was Parrot because she loved sitting on our shoulders. She is now peacefully buried on a hill by the sea.

I’m so very sorry if this story saddens anyone, I just feel like she deserves to be remembered, which is why (after careful consideration), I chose to add it to this blog post.

But to continue, Kotor is simply a special place. Cat-lover or not, there’s a certain atmosphere in this town that will draw you in. I love Kotor and am sure that you will too!

Where to stay in Kotor?

Budget – Guesthouse BiT

Luxury – Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort

Apartment – Royal House

Book something in Kotor or elsewhere on the bay for 2 nights.

Day 2: Kotor Bay

The town of Kotor is only a small part of the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro. The bay is about 28 kilometres long with a shoreline extending 107.3 kilometres. It is surrounded by two massifs of the Dinaric Alps: the Orjen mountains (with the tallest peak of Montenegro) to the west, and the Lovćen mountains to the east.

There are many more beautiful places to visit and things to do on the Bay of Kotor, that you don’t want to miss out on!

Some incredible places to visit on the Kotor Bay are:

Perast (check out this tour)
Herceg Novi
Risan
The Blue Cave
Tivat (later in this itinerary)

The places that I personally enjoyed the best were Herceg Novi and Perast. In Perast, you can take a boat to the picturesque Our Lady of the Rock Island and Saint George Island. And I must say; these places are really worth it. And with the Perast Old Town being beautifully preserved, many call it the most romantic destination in Montenegro!

Check out this tour to visit Our Lady of the Rock Island!

As for Herceg Novi, this town has stolen my heart. From the cozy coffeeshops to the beautiful fortresses, to the coastal boulevard, Herceg Novi is awesome! It was not even crowded when I was there on a Tuesday in late August. Make sure to read about the things to do in Herceg Novi.

Many coastal countries in the Balkans, have their own version of the Blue Cave. Some are overrun by tourists while others are quite hidden. Similar to the Croatian Blue Cave (near the island of Vis), the Montenegrin Blue Cave gets it’s name from a stunning blue glow. This glow is produced by the sun reflecting through the crystal clear waters and lighting up the entire cave!

To see this spectacular, natural phenomenon, make sure to book a trustworthy tour here!

On this day, you’ll have the whole day on the bay, to be filled in by you. You can choose to lay on the beach all day or make a long day trip to several towns, it’s all up to you!

Day 3: Kotor – Budva

On day 3, it’s time to drive to Budva. Wherever you are on the bay, in Kotor, or anywhere else, Budva is easy to reach by car. From Kotor, it’s only 30 minutes to Budva on a very good road.

Budva is a beautiful town along the Montenegrin coast, south of the Kotor Bay. Budva might be the best beach destination in Montenegro. But not only the beaches there are awesome, but the historic town itself is also filled with activities!

If you’re going to visit the beach or explore the town, or do both, is entirely up to you! You’ll spend 1 night here in Budva, so make sure to enjoy the day and end it with some cocktails on the beach!

Some of the best beaches in and near Budva are:

Galija Beach (my favorite!)
Old town beach (for a quick dip)
Jaz Beach
Mogren Beach

things to do in montenegro — Sveti Stefan makes for a great half-day trip

If you want to explore the old town and surrounding, make sure to stop by:

The Citadel Fortress
Museum of the City of Budva
Sveti Nikola (an uninhabited island off the coast of Budva)
Aquapark Budva
Sveti Stefan (quite spectacular and only 20 minutes by car from Budva)

There are many amazing towns along the Montenegrin coast, but if you only have 7 days, Budva is surely a must!

Where to stay in Budva?

Budget – Martinović Rooms

Luxury – Infinity Hotel & More

Apartment – Fontana Residence Budva

Book 1 night in Budva.

Day 4: Budva – Zabljak

On day 4, this itinerary is going to take you up the mountains! You’ll wake up in Budva, so make sure to enjoy a nice big breakfast there (on the beach). I recommend leaving Budva around 10:30 am, because the drive will take about 3 hours up to Zabljak; the cutest town that serves as a gateway to the mountain of Durmitor National Park. Make sure to drive over Podgorica and Niksic, for the best route (use Google Maps to navigate).

You’ll find many roadside restaurants where you can take a little coffee or lunch break, on the way. Just make sure you don’t order a chicken, they usually cook them fresh, which takes about an hour 😉

When arriving in Zabljak, You may already be able to check into your accommodation. If it’s still too early, I recommend taking a small hike around the Crno Jezero (the Black Lake), as it’s located right next to the town. It’s a short, easy walk, with astounding views of the reflective lake surrounded by beautiful pine trees and mountains.

durmitor park in montenegro — The famed Black Lake

If you like adventures, I recommend taking it slow in the evening and getting enough rest for the next day…

Where to stay in Zabljak?

Budget – Cottage Danilo

Luxury – NORTH STORY – Luxury Chalet – Apartments & rooms

Apartment – Zagrad Homes

Book 2 nights in Zabljak.

Day 5: Durmitor National Park

On the fifth day, you’ve got the entire day to explore Durmitor National Park. I recommend starting your day early, so you can do a hike before temperatures get too hot.

Some great hiking options are:

Bobotuv Kuk (advanced)
Ledena Pećina; Ice cave (relatively short)
Velika Kalica Valley

After that, you’ll have the entire afternoon to explore the rest of the park. I loved driving the Durmitor Ring. In fact, I loved it so much, that I decided to write a complete guide for driving the Durmitor Ring, get it for free here!

You can choose to bring a picnic package and enjoy somewhere on a nice meadow, or simply find a mountain hut for some refreshments. You’ll find all the great restaurants in my Durmitor Ring Guide.

You can easily drive the Durmitor Ring in less than 3 hours, but it’s easy to make stops and enjoy the views every once in a while, so you can easily spend the rest of the day doing this.

balkan travel — The beautiful ”Sedlo Pass”. Sedlo means saddle, Montenegrins call this mountain ”God’s Saddle”

After such a busy day, it’s nice to take a little evening walk through Zabljak or unwind at a cozy local bar.

Day 6: Durmitor National Park – Tara River – Tivat

Waking up in Zabljak, you can have a nice breakfast and check out of your accommodation. How you want to fill in the rest of your day is entirely up to you!

And with that I mean, you can spend some more time in the mountains, do a thrilling activity, relax the whole day, or drive back down to the coast and go sunbathing some more. It is completely your choice.

tara canyon — Tara River Canyon, Montenegro

Here are some ideas for activities in the mountains:

Explore the Tara River Canyon, which is the 2^nd deepest canyon in the world, after the Grand Canyon!
Go rafting on the Tara River
Go ziplining through the Tara Canyon
Take an easy hiking trail: Curevac Viewpoint

The time that you start driving down to Tivat is completely up to you. You can choose to do it in the morning and spend your day in Tivat, or to enjoy the mountains a bit longer and arrive in Tivat at night. It’s your day!

Where to stay in Tivat?

Budget apartment – Apartmani Tamara

Luxury – Casa Manor Boutique Hotel

Book 1 night in Tivat.

Day 7: Tivat – Departure

The last day, you can spend relaxing in Tivat. Depending on your flight, you might even be able to go to the beach one last time.

tivat, bay of kotor — Tivat is one of the newer, more luxurious towns on the Kotor Bay.

Of course, this is a perfect itinerary if you fly into and from Tivat airport. If you chose another airport, you might want to change your direction in the last 2 days. Visiting Tivat is not a must; the town itself is not that interesting.

So if you fly from Podgorica, I would recommend driving there straight from Zabljak. And if you fly from Dubrovnik, I recommend spending your last day in Herceg Novi or Dubrovnik, simply because it’s more convenient and you won’t be missing much in Tivat. You even get to explore some other cultural places!

Don’t forget to download this free guide!

As mentioned before, I have written a free guide about driving the Durmitor Ring. It has all the information about the route, restaurants on the way, where to stay, activities, hikes, and much more. So don’t forget to download it, it might just come in handy!

Final thoughts on this Montenegro Travel Itinerary

This flexible itinerary is perfect for anyone! It doesn’t matter if you’re a beach person or a true adventurer, Montenegro has everything!

Happy Travels!