Best Towns in Montenegro: Ultimate Guide for 2023
Are you looking for an overview of the most beautiful towns to visit in Montenegro this year? Or are you even considering moving to Montenegro?
Our detailed guide will help you with a list of places to visit, from a breathtaking Unesco World Heritage Site lounging quaintly next to the Adriatic coast to a lovely town for nature lovers next to famous national parks and glacial lakes.
Montenegro is a mountainous country with a 1000-year history and a total surface area of just 13,000 square kilometers, twenty-three times smaller than Italy.
But it is enough to pack in amazing coastal towns, the Tara River Canyon (the largest and deepest canyon in Europe), and the Lake Skadar National Park (the largest lake in Southern Europe).
This guide will cover all the best towns in Montenegro, helping you to determine which ones you want to visit.
What are the best towns in Montenegro?
Here are the best amazing places in Montenegro for you to consider:
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Perast
Best for memorable romantic dinner by the Adriatic Sea
Perast is a Baroque-style coastal town with a rich Venetian history. The whole town is a masterwork of stone buildings, including 19 churches and twenty palaces. Perast’s natural setting inside the Kotor Bay with stunning views on an artificial island called ‘Our Lady of the rocks’ will be one of the most beautiful you will ever see.
You can either choose to spend a couple of nights in this charming coastal town to take it slow or come for a day trip, spend some time strolling along the amazing seaside promenade, and finally find a place in one of the pristine fish restaurants and enjoy a peaceful sunset with your loved ones.
Risan
Best for seeing ancient Roman Mosaics
The old town of Risan, also known as Rhizon, is a truly ancient settlement with its history dating back to the 4th century BC. In Roman times Risan features many huge villas built by the Patrician class, the remains of which can still be seen in the old town.
Most remarkably are the old floor mosaics picturing Hypnos, the ancient god of dreams. Though only a 7-minute drive from Perast, Risan has no resemblance in architecture to either Perast or Kotor, which are distinctly dominated by Venice architecture.
Risan is the story of a centuries-long decline and the town will not feel like a touristy place.
Traveling to Risan can be an interesting day trip because it will take you back in time into a period when this old town had a much bigger significance and 10,000 inhabitants (versus a mere 2,000 today).
Risan has quite a long beach and several beachfront restaurants and is currently undergoing some serious redevelopment.
Tivat
Best for Yacht watching
Tivat, with a population of roughly 15,000 people is home to one of the best superyacht luxury marinas in the Mediterranean. Set in the Bay of Kotor, a Unesco World Heritage Site, Tivat has become one of the most sought-after destinations for owners of the world’s largest superyachts.
Encompassing the Porto Montenegro Marina, the newly-constructed marina village is home to a decent selection of international restaurants and boutiques.
Tivat is one of the places you simply cannot miss during your visit to Montenegro.
If you have the budget, consider spending a couple of days in Tivat. If you have work to do on your laptop, you can find a quaint spot in one of the elegant cafes and be productive.
During the day, you can take a trip to go swimming on the Sveti Marko island or engage in other water sports activities. When evening comes, the chilled atmosphere around the coastal promenade in Tivat (called Pine) and along the Porto Montenegro Marina Village will be hard to beat. Having dinner in one of the pristine establishments with a mild Mediterranean climate is a superb experience you will remember for a long time.
Kumbor
Best Tivat alternative
Not everyone knows that there is another top-notch Marina close to Herceg Novi in the town of Kumbor.
This small resort town has a population of 1,000 inhabitants and could be on your list of places you would want to visit in Montenegro. Within the Portonovi complex, you can find the ‘One and Only’ luxurious resort, without a doubt one of the best Hotels in this part of the world.
As their hotel guest, you will have access to private beaches and a multitude of outdoor swimming areas.
Besides the hip and hedonist beach bars, the ‘One and Only’ is home to an Italian fine dining restaurant headed by a Michelin-starred chef. Younger guests might prefer to grab a signature cocktail and some creative dishes over at the ‘Tapasake’ – a Japanese-Peruvian-themed fusion cuisine.
Overall I would recommend going here, if not overnight, then at least for an evening walk or dining.
Morinj
Best for its lush green scenery and view
Morinj has a somewhat unique feel to it; it is a fishing village that is half an hour’s drive from both Herceg Novi and Kotor famous for its mills and natural creeks and springs flowing into the Kotor Bay. Even though Morinj is just a small fishing village, there are nine churches sprinkled across the lush green mountains.
Climbing upslope towards one of them, you will find one of the most scenic views of the historic town of Perast which is located just across Kotor Bay.
Due to the freshwater springs, the water in Morinj is of the highest quality calling you to take a jump or dive into it. Once you are finished sun swimming and sunbathing, you can have lunch or dinner in one of Montenegro’s best restaurants, ‘Catovica Mlini’.
The nearby town hosts a couple of campsites right at the Adriatic coastline.
Kotor (Unesco World Heritage Site)
Best for aficionados of history and architecture
There are not many places like Kotor in this world. What makes it unique is its incredible geography on the foot of the Dinaric Alps merging with the beauty of its Venetian architecture.
No wonder, Kotor’s old town with its lovely cobbled streets welcomes hundreds of cruise ships per year.
Kotor resembles other places of the Venetian period such as Dubrovnik or Venice but is smaller in size. Interestingly, public life is still happening inside those old stone walls with most of the government buildings, banks, and notaries still located here.
Cattaro, as it was called by the Venetians, has a lot going for it. It is a must on your journey to Montenegro. Walking around its ancient streets is maybe best outside of July and August when the crowds become thinner and you can fully celebrate the former glory of one of the most beautiful places of the Middle Ages.
Dobrota
The best base for exploring the Boka Bay
Dobrota is a picturesque town in footpath distance to Kotor making it a perfect place to base yourself for a couple of days while exploring the surrounding Adriatic coast.
This cute Montenegrin town has one of the best promenades along the Adriatic Sea with dozens of waterfront restaurants and cute cafes, no wonder it is quite a popular destination for families and solo travelers alike.
Dobrota is a serious alternative to Kotor’s old town, especially if you travel by car or van. Kotor’s old town is a crowded and busy place with no motorized traffic allowed.
Prcanj
Best for paddlers and kayakers
Prcanj is another interesting place with a rich history. Just looking at the ‘Church of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary’ will make you scratch your head about its whooping size. How come this religious monolith has found itself here and not in Florence or Verona?
Anyway, if you are in Prcanj, you should climb up the church’s stairs to be able to enjoy one of these breathtaking views, you won’t regret it.
Back down at the shore, the calm water of the bay will be best suited for a journey with your kayak or paddleboard.
Paddling along the coast with no waves to battle, you will have all the time in the world to gasp at the line of beautiful Baroque-style houses that are very similar to those in Perast.
Herceg Novi
Best for all lovers of horticulture
Herceg Novi is a coastal town bordering Croatia and one of the best places to visit in Montenegro. For some reason, this resort seems to constantly fly under the radar, but it doesn’t deserve it. It was formerly known as a popular summer recluse for writers and artists due to its mild Mediterranean climate and lush biodiversity.
Throughout the centuries, sailors have been bringing in exotic plant and flower species that now decorate the parks and gardens of Herceg Novi. Strolling around its narrow streets, you will find many aged cactuses and other subtropical greens. All in all, Herceg Novi has a relaxed local feel, the longest coastal promenade in Montenegro, and is well known for its Austrian clock tower in the center.
From Herceg Novi, you can take a taxi boat to the nearby fishing village of ‘Rose’ on the Lustica peninsula or take a tour through Tito’s former ‘Villa Galeb’ which is a 15-minute walk in neighboring Igalo. An alternative would be to fetch one of the small boats offering trips to the Blue Cave. The blue cave is the largest sea cave in Montenegro.
Cetinje
Best to escape the crowds
Cetinje is a small town, and former royal capital of Montenegro, that finds itself between the capital and Podgorica and the resort town of Budva. It is ridiculously small for the capital but still has some of Montenegro’s most beautiful architecture to show, like the Official Residence of the President (the Blue Palace), the National Museum of Montenegro, the Monastery of Cetinje, the former Russian and French embassies, and the National Library.
If you are in Cetinje, do not miss out to visit the Lovcen National Park and the Mausoleum of Njegos which is located on top of Mount Lovcen and is a tribute to Petar Petrovic-Njegos, a Prince-Bishop of Montenegro and the country’s most important poet and philosopher. You will have to climb 461 stairs through a tunnel before you finally reach the entrance to the mausoleum, but it is worth it.
The mountain peak at around 1,650 meters above sea level commands a respectful view over the Adriatic Sea to one side and Skadar lake to the other. The Lovcen National Park can be reached in two ways: either you take the above-mentioned route from Cetinje or start in Kotor and take the narrow and steep serpentine road.
This road has a reputation for being one of the most challenging hair-pinned roads in the world taking you from basically ground level up to 800 meters above sea level. The view from this crazy road is nothing short of spectacular and worth a couple of panorama pictures and selfies!
Honestly, I think even spending a couple of days in Cetinje is not a bad idea if you want to take it slowly. If you are visiting in July or August, you will be grateful for the fresher climate and fresh mountain air.
Kolasin
Best for skiing and hiking
Kolasin is becoming one of Balkan’s biggest ski resorts with currently around 50 kilometers of slopes available, and another 100-200 km in the making.
The town itself comes with a sympathetic town square and probably one of the most futuristic town hall buildings in the world. From Kolasin you can easily reach two national parks. Closest is the Biogradska Gora National Park which is one of the last three remaining virgin rainforests in Europe with some trees over 500 years old. Adjacent lake Biograd is Montenegro’s largest glacial lake.
A two-hour drive from Kolasin will take you to the Prokletije National Park, famous for its alp-like valleys, wooden cottages, and jagged peaks. Many claims that the Prokletije Mountains harbor one of the best hiking trails in the region.
Zabljak
Best for rafting and hiking
Zabljak is home to the stunning Unesco-protected Durmitor National Park, a black mountain massif that features 18 glacial lakes with the Black Lake being the most well-known.
The Durmitor National Park around Zabljak is a year-round destination for outdoor enthusiasts. There are some skiing facilities, but they are dated and do not always properly function. In summer, hiking and whitewater rafting in the tara river are popular with visitors.
Its strategic location allows for day trips to the neighboring Piva River Canyon and Tara River Canyon which is Europe’s deepest gorge and is one of the most inspiring and beautiful places for rafting and kayaking.
Budva
Best for nightlife
Budva is a fast-developing, busy summer holiday destination known for its nightlife that attracts many young tourists. But not exclusively. It features a nice medieval old town made of cobbled streets and stone buildings. But Budva is much older, known to be inhabited by Greeks, then Romans more than 2,000 years ago.
Budva surely has its charm: it is small enough to be walkable but is pretty diverse and lively for its size. This place comes to life in the evening hours when everyone has come back from the beach and is looking forward to sitting anywhere close to the coastal promenade or old town for a pristine dinner or cocktail. When night falls, everyone is heading to a bar or cafe to enjoy some live music.
Becici
Best for an active family beach holiday
Becici is home to one of the longest and most beautiful beaches in the southern part of the Adriatic Sea. The sandy gravel beach was once proclaimed to be Europe’s most beautiful beach, and walking along the lovely shoreline gazing into the crystal clear waters one can also understand why.
Luckily, Becici finds itself in one of the most secluded bays. Therefore, the water is calmer and it is less windy than in other coastal towns of the country. Becici is one of the places to visit for a couple of days in the summer. It is well connected to nearby Budva by the coastal promenade that takes you to Budva Old Town if you follow it till the end.
Budva is significantly calmer than Budva and is a better choice if you are traveling with children during the high season. In terms of activities, swimming, snorkeling, paragliding, and water skiing are popular choices here. You will see some people jogging in the morning and evening hours when the temperature is mild.
Danilovgrad
Best for religious tourism
Danilovgrad is a small town located between Podgorica and Montenegro’s second-biggest city Niksic. The town itself is not spectacular, what is breathtaking however is the emerald-colored Zeta river that crosses through Danilovgrad. Along the banks of the river, there are a couple of campsites and riverside restaurants.
Visit and stay in Danilovgrad if you are looking for a town surrounded by beautiful nature that is not overrun during the peak summer season. Base yourself here with your family and use it as a base to go to one of the 48 churches, or, to visit the Ostrog monastery which is a must during your trip to Montenegro.
The Ostrog monastery sets itself up against the backdrop of huge mountains and is one of the most famous religious monuments in the territory of the former Yugoslavia. Pilgrims can reach the upper monastery by walking up three kilometers from the lower monastery. If you want to follow local traditions, you should do the pilgrimage barefoot in honor of Saint Basil of Ostrog who was buried here.
Ulcinj
Best for Windsurfers on the Adriatic Coast
Ulcinj is Montenegro’s southernmost city/town and one of the most popular places to visit during summer. Its closeness to the Albanian border and its 15 kilometers of sandy beaches makes it a very desirable destination for mainly Albanian, but also tourists from other parts of the world.
This ancient town used to be known as the pirate capital of the Mediterranean during the 15th to the 19th century during which Albanian pirates were a constant threat to passing fleets. You can feel the history of this place while standing inside Ulcinj’s walled town. The elevated old town has been constructed during several different periods starting with the Greeks in the first and second centuries going to the Venetian period in the 16th and 17th centuries and finally ending up in the Ottoman era from the 16th – the 19th century.
South of the town, you can find a long and sandy beach that is one of the Mediterranean’s best-kept kite- and windsurfing secrets. The kitesurfing area stretches over two or three kilometers and you can find there three or four surfing schools and rentals. The atmosphere is laid back.
Bar
Best for lovers of colorful Sunsets
Bar is a seaport town in the southern part of Montenegro and is probably most well-known as the final destination on the Belgrade-Bar railway, the iconic and one of the most scenic train rides in Europe. The train ride will take you along 476 kilometers of mountainous terrain and across deep canyons; it takes a long time but is a real adventure.
Most people arriving at Bar, like to head straight to Stari Bar, one of the old towns that should be on everyone’s itinerary due to it being the largest and most important archeological site of the middle ages in the Balkans.
The town of Bar is located between two shores – the Adriatic Sea and Lake Skadar National Park, one of the most photographed sites in Montenegro. It is the perfect base if you want to explore the Lake’s shore and the beautiful places along Lake Skadar such as Virpazar, Godinje, and Livari.
Bar has a rich history of growing and harvesting olives and you can find one of the oldest fruit-bearing olive trees in the world here with an age of more than 2000 years. If you look closer, many of the adjacent mountainsides and slopes harbor olive plantations that are still managed and harvested the traditional way.
Besides olive trees, Bar is famous for its fairy-tale sunsets and is the best place in Montenegro to watch a sunset. When the sun finally sets in the evening hours, it is the perfect time to take out your camera and go for that unforgettable, instagrammable sunset picture.
Stari Bar (Old Town)
Best for fans of archaeology
What we know today as the town of Bar is a very modern settlement. Decades back, on the location of the modern Bar, there was nothing more than a Port surrounded by a tiny village called ‘Pristan’ and King Nikola’s Palace right at the beach. Life was happening up in the mountains in the town that we call ‘Stari Bar’ (Old Bar) nowadays.
Times have changed though, and the ancient Old town of Stari Bar was almost destroyed by a disastrous earthquake in 1979. Since then, the town has been uninhabited and turned into an archaeological site and museum of outstanding cultural-historical significance. Stari Bar features a Citadel from the 10th century, Saint Nicola’s church from the 13th century, the Main Gate (14th-16th century), and a gorgeous Aqueduct.
If you are not visiting only for a day, there are many things to see within half an hour’s drive, such as the National Park Skadar Lake which is incredibly diverse in flora and fauna and will almost remind you of some of the African Wetlands, or the ‘Medjurec’ Canyon which is the most remote and least visited canyon in Montenegro.