LET'S PLAN YOUR MONTENEGRO TRIP TOGETHER!
- berfinozelsel
- Jul 15, 2024
- 12 min read
MONTENEGRO TRAVEL GUIDE
Montenegro; A popular country in the Balkans, bordering the Adriatic Sea. Since it is visa-free, it attracts great tourist attention. It continues to fascinate visitors with its natural beauties, sea, historical riches and magnificent views. In our article, you will find the short history of the country and places to visit. Here is our three-day Montenegro Travel Guide. You can also find details of places to visit in our other Montenegro articles.
History and General Information
Montenegro, Crna Gora ( Црна Гора) meaning in their own language; Black Mountain. It is located on the Balkan Peninsula and is located on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Montenegro is visa-free for up to 90 days (2024). The capital of the country is Podgorica. The official language is Montenegrin, but Serbian is also widely spoken. Montenegro's currency is the Euro, so you won't have to worry about converting it to any currency other than the Euro. While the majority of the population consists of Montenegrins, there are Serb, Bosniak and Croat communities in the minority. Orthodox Christianity and Islam are common religions in the country. Due to its history, the country has been influenced both culturally and architecturally by the Republic of Venice, and there are also Italian influences in the country.
B.C. to Montenegro. The Romans dominated between the 2nd century and 1185 AD. It later came under Serbian rule. The Venetians ruled between 1420 and 1797, and the Ottomans also dominated during this period. In 1805, it came under the rule of the Kingdom of Italy, ruled by Napoleon. 1814 – 1918 Passed to the Habsburg Monarchy.1. When the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed after World War II, it became one of the six republics that formed Yugoslavia. 1945 – 1992 Joins Yugoslavia. After the dissolution of Yugoslavia, they continued as the Serbia and Montenegro federation. With the referendum held on May 21, 2006, Montenegro decided to separate from Serbia and become an independent state.
Places to visit
Important cities to visit in Montenegro:
Kotor - A coastal city on the UNESCO World Heritage List, famous for its historical and natural beauties.
Tivat - a city located on the Bay of Kotor, known especially for its Porto Montenegro marina.
Budva - A famous tourist center, known for its beaches and historical old town.
Podgorica - the capital and largest city of Montenegro. It is the economic, cultural and political center.
Herceg Novi - a historical coastal city located on the Adriatic Sea. It is an important destination in terms of tourism.
Bar - An important port city and a major commercial center bordering the Adriatic Sea.
Cetinje - Historical former capital and cultural centre. Many museums and historical buildings are located here. The National Museum of Montenegro is located here.
These cities are important economic, cultural and touristic centers in different regions of Montenegro. During our 3-day Montenegro holiday, we visited Kotor, Budva, Perast, Tivat and Herceg Novi and stayed in Dobrata.
Places to Visit and Historical Buildings
BUDVA
Since we were driving through Albania, our first stop was Budva. Before arriving at Budva city center, we stopped by the famous Sveti Stefan Island. After visiting Sveti Stefan island, we continued towards Budva Old Town. Budva is famous for its beaches, many holidaymakers prefer the sea here. Famous beaches of Budva; Morgen beach, slovenska beach, becici beach, maestral queens,Jazz beach, Przno Beach, Kamenovo beach,
But of course, not only the beaches but also the Old Town area are very beautiful and worth seeing. Apart from Budva's beaches, the bays and islands are worth seeing. After touring the narrow streets of the old town, do not forget to see the Citadel castle, built to protect the city. Budva Museum, Jovo Ivanovic Modern Gallery, Roman Necropolis, Sveti Stefan Island, Sveti Nikola Island, and the Dancing Girl statue are some of the places you should definitely see in Budva. For more detailed information and images about the places to see, be sure to check out my article 'Places to Visit in Buvda' !
KOTOR
After spending our first day in Budva and Sveti Stefan Island, we settled into the house we rented in Dobrata for the evening and spent our second day exploring Kotor. Kotor, the name of the bay in this region, also gave its name to this city. Kotor, Dobrata and Perast are the settlements in this bay. All of them are called Kotor Administrative Region. Kotor Old Town is the most beautiful (in our opinion) of all the old towns in Montenegro and of course the most popular destination. We felt like we were in the Witcher series while wandering around the streets. The city was surrounded by walls to protect us from the wars of the Middle Ages. It fascinated us with its narrow streets, houses and castle. Of course, there are spots here where you can take great photos.
There are 3 main gates to enter Kotor old city; North Gate, South Gate and Main Gate. The northern gate is connected to the city with a bridge, be sure to pass through this gate. Yugoslavian statesman and politician at the main gate entrance on the beach; Tito has a famous saying.
''DON'T WANT WHAT DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU, AND DON'T GIVE UP WHAT BELONGS TO YOU''
Places to visit;
Kotor old town; Wander around the city without a plan to discover the medieval architecture, small souvenir shops, sliced pizzerias and ice cream parlors.
Ordu Square, Clock Tower, Column of Shame, Saint Tryphon Cathedral, Maritime Museum, St. Nicholas Church and Kotor Castle are the important points you will see while visiting the city. For detailed information and images about the places to see in Kotor, be sure to check out my article 'Places to Visit in Kotor and Tivat' .
TIVAT
Our second stop was Tivat after Kotor, where we had dinner and watched the sun set on the beach.
One of Montenegro's two international airports is located in Tivat. It is a port city located on the coastal part of Montenegro. Located at the southern end of the Bay of Kotor, Tivat attracts attention with its modern marina, historical buildings, natural beauties and various activities.
Porto Montenegro; It is the most famous and luxurious area of Tivat and consists of a modern marina, high-quality restaurants, boutiques and expensive hotels. It is a good alternative for those who come to the country with their own boat. You can visit the stores of world-famous brands and shop. You can take a walk along the Tivat coastline and try seafood at delicious restaurants. Since the distance to Kotor by car is approximately 20 minutes, we were able to visit both cities in the same day: Kotor in the morning and Tivat in the evening.
PERAST
Perast is a small, historical town in Montenegro, but it does not officially have the status of a city. Perast, located in the Bay of Kotor, is particularly famous for its baroque architecture and the attractions of Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Škrpjela) and St. Petersburg, two small islands in the Adriatic Sea. Known for George (Sveti Đorđe).
Perast is part of Kotor Municipality and is located close to Kotor. It is an important tourist attraction with its rich historical and cultural heritage, narrow streets, old stone structures and churches. Therefore, Perast is a very popular destination for visitors, regardless of its size and status. On the last day of our trip, we were able to visit this place in approximately 3-4 hours.
There are two islands to see here, one of which is Sveti Djordje, which is a monastery island and is closed to touristic visits. George Island. The other island is the Lady of the Rocks, which is rumored to have been built by human hands 600 years ago. There is a church on it, but it is open to visitors. Boat tours are organized from the coast to these islands. If you are here, you should definitely visit them.
There's also the St. Nicholas Church and the 55-foot (180-foot) Perast Bell Tower, which you can climb for views of the city. In order to say that you have experienced Perast, you need to climb this bell tower, apart from the boat tour.
You can walk along the Perast beach and enjoy the city, and be sure to wander around the side streets. Maritime History Museum is also among the places to visit. For more detailed information and images about the places to see in Perast, be sure to check out my article 'PLACES TO VISIT IN PERAST AND HERCEG NOVI' .
HERCEG NOVI
Our last stop was Herceg Novi and it was our favorite place in Montenegro. It took us about 1 hour to get here from Dobrata, where we stayed. This is the furthest point compared to other destinations, but the atmosphere of the city is much different.
Herceg Novi is a historical and touristic city located on the Adriatic coast of Montenegro, at the entrance of the Bay of Kotor. Founded by Tvrtko I in 1382, this city has been under the influence of various cultures and civilizations throughout history. Herceg Novi, bearing the traces of the Ottomans, Venetians, Spaniards and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, attracts attention with its rich historical texture. The city is full of historical castles, churches and monasteries. Especially Kanli Kula and Forte Mare castles offer magnificent views to visitors. In addition, Herceg Novi's warm climate and natural beauties, especially its blue flag beaches, botanical gardens and healing spring waters, attract tourists all year round. The city, which is also famous for cultural events and festivals, hosts thousands of visitors every year. Herceg Novi is one of the most attractive destinations in Montenegro with its historical and natural beauties.
What Should I Eat?
Montenegrin cuisine is rich with seafood, meat dishes and olive oil dishes. Seafood soup (riblja čorba), Montenegrin fried food (priganice), and stew made with dried meat (kačamak) are among the most popular delicacies. You should try pizza, pasta and seafood in Montenegro, where Italian cuisine dominates. Pizzeria Pronto may be a bit expensive since prices are in euros.
Pekara means oven in their language, and by knowing this first of all, you can take care of your breakfast. There are pekaras in many parts of the cities. 'Pekara Vrmac' is our bakery in Kotor. There is another Pekara in Risan on the way to Herceg Novi, but I can't remember the name of this place, I will add a picture of it. Especially the products in Risan were very delicious. Be sure to try their croissants. We found a sweet cafe called 'Pıccoletta' in Risa, where we drank our coffee and continued on our way.
There are many great places to eat and drink in Montenegro, especially between Kotor and Budva. Offering menus focused on seafood and Mediterranean cuisine, these restaurants offer options enriched with fresh pasta, pizzas and local meat. If you like traditional food, you should definitely try eating at a konobada. Konoba Portun offers an unforgettable dinner experience with truffle tuna carpaccio at sunset. Cultural restaurants such as Stari Mlini and Catovica Mlini are located in nature, converted from historical mills, and specialize in seafood. For oyster lovers, Montenegro offers the most delicious oysters in the world, especially between September and May. In the cities, you can find pizza and pasta restaurants, as well as favorite dishes of Balkan cuisine such as seville, burek and wrap. Local wines and beers are also among the tastes that must be experienced. As a quick snack, pastries filled with meat or cheese are very popular and affordable. A three-course dinner at a mid-range restaurant costs around 15 euros and is a great option to discover the delicious cuisine of Montenegro.
As for the restaurant names, I will only write the names of the places we have tried ourselves.
We had our dinner at 'La Catedral pasta bar' in Kotor and tried pasta and pizza and it was very delicious. Pizzerria pronto in Kotor is already recommended in many blog posts, but you can try the pizzas, which were really nice.
On our way to Budva, we ate sevila at the 'Kuzina' restaurant, it was very nice and satisfying. We tried Tivat 'One' restaurant, everything we tried was very delicious.
Our number one ice cream is; Goddo Delizia Italiana (especially try Tivat), then Mashall's Gelato and Moritz Eis.
Where Should I Stay?
The options you can choose to stay in Montenegro include luxury hotels, boutique hostels and beachside resorts. Cities such as Kotor, Budva, and Herceg Novi are ideal accommodation points for tourists. Of course, your accommodation option varies depending on which period you go. If you are going in the summer, you can choose Dobrata as a quieter option. If you are going out of season, Kotor Old Town may be preferred. We stayed in Dobrata during our holiday and loved the house we stayed in with its unique sea view. Since hotel fees for accommodation are higher than Airbnb, I recommend you to rent a house from Airbnb, as it is more affordable and you can enjoy your holiday at home with amazing views. You can watch the sunset from your balcony. When choosing a house, be sure to choose a house with a parking lot.
If you have planned a sea holiday in Budva, it can be considered for accommodation. It is 1 hour away from Podgorica airport.
Kotor; There are many apartments in the old town. If you want to experience this experience by staying in the old old town stone house, you can choose.
Tivat; If you are looking for a slightly more luxurious holiday, this is the place to stay. There are expensive hotels and villas. It is about 25 minutes from Kotor by car.
Link to the airbnb house we stayed in:
How to go?
You can reach Montenegro by plane from Podgorica or Tivat airports, or by bus or car from neighboring countries. You can get there by intercity buses or taxi. Podgorica is 90 minutes away from Kotor by car, and Tivat is 15 minutes away from Kotor.
We felt very comfortable as we had the opportunity to explore this country during the Balkan tour we took with our own vehicle. We did not have the opportunity to use public transportation, but we read that it is not very comfortable, so renting a car is an option that will make your trip easier.
You may have difficulty finding free parking, but the municipality has many parking lots for parking at tourist spots, hourly fees are generally around 2-3 euros, so we did not have any parking problems.
When coming from Tirana to Montenegro, the roads are very bad, you come from a single-lane and narrow mountain road, you should never stay until dusk, you should definitely go on these roads during the day, and you need to obey the traffic rules and pay attention to the speed limits.
Cities to visit in Montenegro are generally close to each other. You can go to another city with a distance of about half an hour. The longest distance between popular coastal cities (Kotor-Tivat-Budva) is 25 km. The distance between Podgorica and the coastal cities is approximately 85 km. However, the roads are narrow, one-way and winding, so this distance will take approximately 1.5-2 hours with your private vehicle.
There is a good bus network within Montenegro, with the center being in Podgorica. There are daily buses from Podgorica to Herceg Novi, Budva, Kotor and Tivat. Bus frequency is directly proportional to the increase in tourists, especially in the summer months.
While touring the Balkans; This may be the country where you need to pay the most attention to traffic rules. Before we went, we had read in many articles that we should pay attention to the speed limit and traffic rules, but we still had to pay a 100 euro traffic fine for incorrect overtaking. When overtaking, double check whether the dashed lines continue, we got burned, you don't get burned ☺
When to Go?
The best times to visit Montenegro are spring and autumn. During these periods, the weather is cooler and the tourist density is less. However, if you are planning to swim while Montenegro's sea is so beautiful, you can come during the summer, but keep in mind that the summer heat can be oppressive. We went in April and we thought the sea was too cold to enter.
In fact, Montenegro attracts tourists 12 months of the year. If you are planning to go for a sea holiday in Boka -Kotor- Bay and the cities overlooking the Adriatic Sea (such as Budva, Kotor, Tivat, Herceg Novi), you can take note that swimming is possible from mid-June to the end of October. You can come to Montenegro any day of the year to explore the streets of the cities.
The sea temperature in Montenegro begins to rise, especially towards mid-June, so it is possible to swim even in November. However, due to the presence of cold water springs in some regions within the gulf, it is possible to encounter cool water currents from time to time.
Montenegro is located in a very advantageous position in terms of climate. In this country, which borders the Adriatic Sea, you can feel warm enough to walk around in a t-shirt on sunny days, even in winter. However, it is necessary to be prepared for the sudden cold weather surprises that come with being in the Balkans in spring and autumn.
Things to Do and Don't Leave Without Doing in Montenegro
Walking through the walls of Kotor!
Buy a house by the sea!
Take in the view of Sveti Stefan!
Visit the islands with a Perast boat tour!
Try ice cream at Goddo in Tivat!
Swim on the Adriatic coast!
Suggestions
Tourist Tax; It is impossible not to mention this issue, a daily tourist tax of 1 euro must be paid for each day you stay in Montenegro. If you have made an accommodation reservation through Booking or any hotel agency, the hotel usually makes this payment on your behalf. Of course, be sure to confirm this. However, if you rented a house from Airbnb or are staying at someone you know, you need to go and pay this tax. So where will you make the payment? For this, you can go to the Tourist Information Offices and make the payment. The office in Kotor is next to the yellow post office on the right opposite when you enter the old town from the main gate. They ask how many days you will stay and the name of the host if you are staying in Airbnb. In Budva, it is located in the Municipality Square and close to the Poets' Square. There is an office for payment in every city.
Most importantly, do not go to Montenegro during public holidays :) Since it is currently a visa-free destination, it can be very crowded. When we went during the holiday period, 80% of the country's population spoke Turkish, and even the tradesmen had learned Turkish.
When traveling to Montenegro, do not forget to take sunscreen, a hat, comfortable walking shoes and light clothing.
Obey traffic rules! In addition to paying attention to the speed limits, you should also pay close attention to other traffic rules. They seem to be waiting for an opportunity to write a fine. Since you already paid in euros, it may hurt you twice as much.
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