I learned about the existence of Montenegro by a bus driver I met in Munich last year at my hostel. He couldn’t stop raving about how Montenegro travel was a “must visit” and from the pictures he shared with me, I could agree that it was a lovely place.
Given the proximity from Croatia, I figured a smaller country would be a good idea. Smaller countries have less “tourist” things to do, which means you can cover a lot in a short time (1-2 days) or stay longer and really explore cities, discover things for yourself and just relax.
My Montenegro travel consisted of 5 days (4 days with 1 travel day) in 2017 and Kotor in Montenegro was the first place that I felt like I was doing “normal” things for the first time, including going to the gym (despite walking a lot you still need to keep a work out/healthy routine while travelling), going to the salon and even getting my measurements taken for a bridesmaids dress. The last one being the most difficult to accomplish but accomplished none the less.
Obviously the sights in Montenegro, even the tourist ones were wonderful.
See below the must visit cities to check out while in Montenegro.
Montenegro Travel Table Of Contents
Plan Your Visit
 FLIGHT |  Rent A CAR |  Stay |
| Wayaway | Rentalcars.com | Hotellook |
Travel Tips
- Speak Spanish? Many people in Montenegro actually speak Spanish better than English as Spanish soap operas are very popular here.
- Cash is king here but many tourist establishments may accept credit cards. Just ask in advance.
Where I went
Kotor
Stay
I stayed at Montenegro Hostel 4U and can’t rave enough about this place especially when check-in consisted of a shot of homemade Rakija. This hostel prides themselves in bringing guests together and they do a great job about doing this by having nightly city activities and family style BBQ dinner for $5 EUR.
Eat
Tanjga is not only delicious but very budget friendly. A grilled chicken breast with a side of grilled veggies and rice was $5 euros ($5.60 dollars) and a steak with garlic topping, seasoned potatoes and sauces was only $7 euros ($7.80 dollars).
Visit
- Hike to the top of Kotor’s fortress to catch the stunning sunset overlooking Kotor. (Tip: Go in the early morning or after 18:00 (6:00 pm) to ensure the heat doesn’t get the best of you and the cruise ship crowds aren’t there. Same goes for checking out their old town.)
- Visit the Old Town.
- The coast of Kostor is known for its beautiful beaches. Searching for the “perfect” beach became a thing. A group of us walked an hour each way one day as we heard from our hostel that their was a cool beach with a beach bar. We actually passed the one the hostel mentioned and found an even funkier one.
If you’re interested in visiting the Blue Cave, check out this Blue cave adventure & beach time tour.
Day Trip From Kotor
- Budva (30 min drive) – Check out the city and hang out in one of the sand beaches in Montenegro. (Tip: The beach closest to the old town is less secluded and still public. Definitely worth it when wanting to escape the crowds.)
See some additional example day trips HERE.
Podgorica
Stay
TravelBreak is centrally located to the city center and the owner of the hostel is fantastic! (12.50 EUR pp a night)
Eat
Not applicable since we only spent a short time here but see some suggestions from Tripadvisor HERE and if staying in TravelBreak, the owner will offer plenty of options.
Visit
- The Plantaze Winery – Can’t come to Podgorica and not visit the largest winery in Europe. For 12 EUR pp, you can indulge in a tasting tour of 3 wines with apps. and take home some truly delicious wine.
- Cijevna River Canyon – The Niagara Falls of Montenegro. Just 10 minutes from the city centre. (Tip: follow the road towards Tuzi.)
After all was said and done. Thank you to the bus driver I met in Munich years ago, for this recommendation. I wish I could meet him again and properly thank him with…a shot of Rakija.
Want to discover where else you can visit in Eastern Europe?
See my Travel Guide Section for tips and recommendations for other bordering countries from Montenegro. Learn how to get there, where to stay, eat and what to do!