The 10 Best Things To Do in Zabljak, Montenegro

How to explore Durmitor National Park from Zabljak and the best things to do in Zabljak, Montenegro.

One of my absolute favorite places in Europe is Durmitor National Park in Montenegro. Still somewhat undiscovered, this place feels like a true paradise. And the gateway into this serene place of calm and adventure is Zabljak, a town with its very own charming spots. Keep reading to find the best things to do in Zabljak and the best ways to explore Durmitor.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of the product links, we’ll receive a small commission at no cost to you. We only promote products and services we 100% believe in. Thank you so much for supporting us! Read more about it in our disclosure policy.

Table of Contents

About Durmitor National Park

About 2 hours north of Kotor, you will find one of Montenegro’s five national parks: Durmitor National Park. This is the most popular National park, because of its iconic landscapes, many activities, and its great location.

From summer activities to winter sports, Durmitor is great to visit all year round.

I visited the national park on my Balkans road trip, back in 2024, and I fell in love with this place. I explored the national park quite well, and can’t wait to go back someday! When I was there, it was late September, which is why you will see the yellow grass in my photos.

Zabljak: the gateway to the mountains

And the ultimate gateway to the mountains of Durmitor is a town called Zabljak. This is not the only place where you can enter, but it’s the place where all the life is. In Zabljak, there are many great accommodations, trailheads, tour guides, etc. So not only is it a lively place to base yourself in, but it’s also very practical.

I loved staying in Zabljak. Even though the town itself isn’t much, there is no old town or incredible landmarks, I just loved the vibes. It’s not a town that you just pass through; it’s a true destination. And everyone who comes here is coming to explore. To discover a new place. To be active, go hiking, biking, road tripping, or even something more extreme.

Zabljak has a chill, laid-back vibe. In the morning, people go out into the national park, and at night, they return to enjoy a good dinner in one of the great restaurants in town.

10 best things to do in and from Zabljak, Montenegro

Discover Crno Jezero: The Black Lake

The Black Lake is something magical. When I was staying at a campsite in Zabljak, all I had to do was walk for 10 minutes through a pine forest to get here. I was already exhausted from my day of exploring, and twilight was on its way fast, but I had to take the time to see the Black Lake before leaving the next day. And it was incredible.

Because I was here outside the high season, it was calm and serene. Some people were wrapping up their hike around the lake and taking in the last views before it got dark.

From Zabljak, it’s so easy to explore the Black Lake; it would be illogical not to. That’s why I put this at the top of the list.

You can take an easy hike around the lake, which only takes a couple of hours.

Drive the Durmitor Ring

There are so many great ways to explore Durmitor National Park, but I loved driving the durmitor Ring the most.

Why?

Because you get to see so many views, within little time, you get to drive the most fun winding roads, and you get to discover traditional shops where you can buy honey, dairy, cheese, and so much more.

The Durmitor Ring is a 76-kilometer loop through the heart of the national park. You can drive it within 3 hours, or take some more time and make more stops. You can even make a day trip out of it, and plan a hike somewhere in between.

It is important to plan out your route in advance, to prevent surprises and be prepared for not having any wifi. So do read this post about planning for the Durmitor Ring!

Get adventurous in the Tara Canyon

Everybody’s heard of the Grand Canyon. But did you know that the second-deepest canyon in the world is right here in Montenegro?

About 45-minutes north of Zabljak, you will find this impressive canyon. With its iconic bridge, turquoise river, and many adventurous activities, it’s definitely worth checking out!

Things you can do in the Tara Canyon are:

Walk across the Đurđevića Tara Bridge
Zipline across the canyon
Go rafting
Go canyoning
Explore the caves in the area
Discover beautiful places by hiking

There is so much to do here, I wouldn’t skip it if I were you!

Go hiking in Durmitor

Of course, the next best activity is hiking! Because what better way to explore a national park than by chasing great views on foot? Okay, there might be a better way, but I’ll tell you about that very soon.

In Durmitor National Park, you will find many incredible hikes, including the world-famous Bobotov Kuk. If you choose to do such a hike, you do need to be prepared. But don’t worry, there are many more hikes in Durmitor, so you can undoubtedly find something that suits your style!

Go on a Via Ferrata

If you’re looking for something more challenging than a hike, I highly recommend checking out Via Ferrata! I have done this several times, throughout different countries, and have loved every experience!

In short, Via Ferrata is more like a climbing experience. You are secured on a route and there are ladders, catwalks, and more things to help you complete the route. It’s very special, because you get to see views that hikers don’t see, and train your body. You use not only your legs, but also your arms.

And I know, as a climber, my opinion may be biased, but if you’re an adventurous type, please just check it out. I have only heard great things from non-climbers about doing Via Ferrata, so please believe me on this.

Check out this Via Ferrata tour in Durmitor National Park!

Try out Canyoning

As mentioned before, in the Tara Canyon, there are several adventurous water activities, including canyoning. And I need to give canyoning a special shoutout.

If you’ve never heard of it before, canyoning is basically scrambling, swimming, floating, jumping, and many more things, through a canyon. You get yourself into a wetsuit and simply follow the river, wherever it goes. Sometimes you may pass small waterfalls, caves, natural slides, and places to cliff-dive.

And I know, it may sound overwhelming, but it’s actually not scary at all! It is very exciting and can be done with (taller) kids. But the important thing is that you don’t go doing this on your own, but to book a tour. The guides will tell you everything that you need to know, and they know exactly where it’s safe to jump into the water and where it is not.

Do check out this tour, because it’s a great experience!

Discover the hidden Stećci

If you want to leave the beaten path for a bit, you have to explore the interesting phenomenon called Stećci. There are several places in the Balkans where you can see Stećci, but the two best sites are near Zabljak.

But what are Stećci?

Stećci are unique medieval gravestones found only in parts of Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Croatia. They were created between the 12th and 16th centuries, and although researchers continue to study them, many questions about their origins and meaning remain unanswered.

The stećci here are located in a meadow with views over Riblje Lake and are easy to find thanks to the signs nearby. The surrounding landscape is beautiful, especially during summer when locals come to swim in both Riblje Lake and nearby Vražje Lake. It’s also a lovely spot to relax with a picnic.

I actually found the Stećci by accident, as I wildcamped right by Riblje Jezero (Fish Lake), right underneath the medieval Slavic cemetery. In the morning, I decided to explore this place, and it was truly astonishing. I highly recommend checking it out!

Have a coffee and relax in Zabljak

I know, I know. We have only mentioned things to do around Zabljak, so far, but not that much about the town itself. And the simple explanation for that is that Zabljak is not that interesting. There’s no old town to explore. It’s basically a very practical place to base yourself for visiting the national park.

BUT…

Zabljak has a timeless charm. I fell in love with this town. Maybe it’s the laid-back vibes or the charming A-frame houses, I don’t know what it is. But I LOVE this town. I loved spending time in this town and relaxing before and after very active days in the national park.

I loved going to Shambhala Bakery & Restaurant for some snacks and lunch. And believe me, there are so many nice restaurants and cafés in Zabljak, you have to check them out.

Book a typical A-frame hut

And yes, it seems like I keep mentioning A-frame huts. Which are, in my opinion, the most authentic places to stay at in Zabljak. You simply have to book one and enjoy life. No need to overcomplicate it.

These are the cutest (and practical) A-frame huts in Zabljak:

Homeland Nest (my favorite!)
NORTH STORY – Luxury Chalet – Apartments & rooms
Etno selo Smrčevo brdo
Cottage Bumblebee

Visit Zabljak in winter for skiing and snowboarding

And the season to explore Zabljak and Durmitor doesn’t end after summer. In winter, skiing, snowshoeing, and snowboarding are huge things here! And it’s so much more affordable than the Alps!

I haven’t been here yet (or done any winter sports at all, for that matter), but I’ve only heard great things about it!

Want to know more? Check out this winter guide for Montenegro!

The 10 Best Things To Do in Zabljak, Montenegro – Durmitor National Park

How to explore Durmitor National Park from Zabljak and the best things to do in Zabljak, Montenegro.

About Durmitor National Park

Zabljak: the gateway to the mountains