Road trip itinerary through Montenegro: 4 days of amazing views

If you’re looking for an amazing road trip destination that is off the beaten path, consider Montenegro as your holiday destination. This small country in southeastern Europe is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes and cities in the world. This Montenegro itinerary will take you on a journey through some of the best places the country has to offer, going from the beaches to the mountains.

We traveled to Montenegro on a road trip with our car, all the way from Slovenia and passing through Croatia. We have learned a lot of the do’s and don’ts during this Balkan trip. To help you prepare and have the best holiday possible, we have polished up our own itinerary to create this ultimate 4-day road trip Montenegro itinerary for you.

Now let’s get to it.

Montenegro Itinerary Day 1: Exploring Kotor

Kotor is the best city to kick start this Montenegro travel itinerary because it is exactly the type of town we pictured before traveling to the country. Small narrow alleys, picturesque cities, beautiful landscapes, and cozy restaurants. Kotor has it all.

Kotor is a small city located on the Bay of Kotor and is home to some of the most stunning architecture in the country. The old town is a maze of narrow streets that are perfect for exploring on foot. Kotor is one of the richest cities in Montenegro in terms of cultural and historical sites, so we recommend spending a full day to be able to enjoy it the most. Take the morning hike up to the Fortress of Kotor and spend the rest of the day exploring the city itself.

Read our full Kotor Itinerary

Montenegro Itinerary Day 2: Exploring the Kotor Bay

Today’s adventure will be a boat tour of Kotor Bay. This is a beautiful and unique way to see the area and its many highlights. If you have to choose only one thing to do in Montenegro, the Kotor Bay boat tour should definitely be it.

The Kotor Bay is located in southwestern Montenegro and is home to some of the most stunning landscapes in Europe. The bay itself is surrounded by mountains, which make for a perfect backdrop on a sunny day. 

The boat tour will take you around the bay and stop at several points so that you can jump off and swim in crystal clear waters. The tour lasts for about 3 hours and we highly recommend it if you’re looking for a different way to see this amazing area. 

Read all about the Kotor Boar Tour

Cities to visit during this day trip around Kotor Bay

These are the main cities and places we recommend visiting in Kotor Bay:

• Perast: One of the most beautiful cities around the bay, it is located only 15 min away from Kotor.
• Our Lady of the Rocks: Located right outside of Perast, this church on an island is usually one of the highlights of the boat tour.
• Herceg Novi: The last city of Kotor Bay, Herceg Novi is a great destination if you are looking to spend the day by the beach.

Montenegro Itinerary Day 3: Visiting Budva and its surroundings

Budva is one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic Sea and is located on the coast of Montenegro. The city is known for its beautiful beaches and historical sites, but most importantly for its lively nightlife. 

Read more: Complete Budva Itinerary

For this third day of the Montenegro road trip itinerary, we recommend driving to Budva in the morning so you can explore the city during the early part of the day. Then, make your way to Sveti Stefan, which is located only 15-20 min away. Make sure you stop at the viewpoint by the road for the best views of Sveti Stefan.

Spend the rest of the afternoon on one of the beaches close to Budva. This stretch of the coast has some of the best beaches in Montenegro. We can recommend Jaz Beach and Slovenian Beach.

Montenegro Itinerary Day 4: Going to Lovcen National Park

Today is the last day of this Montenegro road trip itinerary and we’re finishing off with a visit to Lovcen National Park. We saved this recommendation for the last day because it offers very different views from the previous days of this Montenegro Itinerary.

Lovcen National Park is located in the mountains, but it is still quite close to Kotor and very accessible by car, so it is the perfect destination to wrap up this Montenegro road trip. The park is named after Mount Lovcen, which at 1749 meters above sea level, is one of the highest mountains in Montenegro. In fact, Mount Lovcen is the reason why the country got its name Montenegro or Crna Gora, which means black mountain. Lovcen was declared a national park in 1952 and covers an area of 62 square kilometers.

Check this tour option for visiting Lovcen.

How to extend this Montenegro Itinerary if you have more days?

If you have more days to spend in Montenegro, don’t worry because this country has so much more to offer. Depending on the time you will have available, you will be able to choose different places to visit.

There are many great destinations to choose from, but here are some of our recommendations for additional places to include on your Montenegro itinerary: 

• The Tara River Canyon: This is one of the deepest canyons in Europe and a must-see if you’re looking for an adventure. It’s located about 3 hours away from Kotor so it’s perfect for a day trip. 
• Durmitor National Park: Another great option for a day trip is Durmitor National Park, which is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in Montenegro. 
• Podgorica: If you have more time, you can include a visit to Montenegro’s capital on your itinerary.
• Cetinje: If you’re interested in history, Cetinje is a great place to visit. It is the old capital of Montenegro and has many historical buildings and museums worth checking out.
• Ulcinj: Located further down the coast, closer to the Albanian border, this is another great coastal destination to include on your Montenegro road trip.

Where to stay during your road trip through Montenegro

We organized this 4-day itinerary strategically so you won’t have to change accommodations during your trip. We personally find that it is very time-consuming to change accommodations as you have to worry about check-in and check-out times, packing all the belongings, etc. This is why we have put this guide together so you can enjoy everything described in this itinerary while staying in Kotor.

However, if you prefer, you can also choose to split and stay a few days in Kotor and a few days in Budva, for example. If you are considering this option, check our post comparing Budva and Kotor to see which one is a better fit for you.

Where to stay in Kotor?

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Kotor, we recommend Dobrota. Dobrota is located on the outskirts of Kotor and is a much quieter area than the city center. It’s also cheaper than staying in the old town of Kotor.

Dobrota offers some of the best views of Kotor Bay and is within walking distance of restaurants and grocery stores. We stayed at Promenade Rose and we highly recommend it if you’re looking for a quiet place to relax while still being close to all the action.

Driving in Montenegro: How to prepare for your road trip

If you’re planning to drive in Montenegro, there are a few things you should know before hitting the road. Here are some general tips for driving in Montenegro:

• Traffic drives on the right side of the road in Montenegro. 
• The roads can be quite winding and narrow, so take it slow and don’t try to rush through the curves. 
• Many of the roads are also quite steep, so use caution when driving up or down hills. 
• Pay attention to the signs and to unexpected police checks, they are very popular on the roads, especially if you will be driving a foreign car. We got stopped and had to pay a fine on the spot, which is something we hope you can avoid.
• And finally, keep an eye out for livestock crossing the road – they can pop up unexpectedly!

Do you need to rent a car for your trip?

We always use DiscoverCars to rent our car. So far it has proved to be not only the cheapest option but also the most reliable one. We used DiscoverCars to rent our car for our trips through Slovenia, Montenegro, Serbia, Italy, and so many other countries, and we never had any issues. We even convinced all of our friends and family to use it. So that’s why we are also recommending it to you!

Get a quote here

General tips for traveling to Montenegro

Before packing your bags and heading off to Montenegro, here are a few basic yet important things to help you prepare for your trip:  

• Montenegro has 2 international airports you can fly into when coming to the country: Tivat and Podgorica Airports. Check out our guide on which airport to pick.
• The currency in Montenegro is the Euro (even though the country is not part of the European Union).
• You can get by speaking just English on the touristic destinations, but if you venture into the more local towns, you may find that English is not as widely spoken, so it can be helpful to learn a few basic phrases before you go.
• Be prepared for some long drives – Montenegro has only one highway, and most of the local roads are actually quite winding and narrow. If you’re planning on driving in Montenegro, make sure you familiarize yourself with the local traffic laws (which may be different than what you’re used to) and pay attention to where you park.
• Get yourself a SIM card so you can stay connected during your trip – check our guide to see which Montenegro SIM card we recommend.
• Montenegro is overall a very safe place to visit, but check our safety guide if you are unsure about anything during your Montenegro trip.
• Prepare your swimsuit and your camera because Montenegro is one of the most stunning places we have ever been, and we suspect you will have an amazing time there.