The Best Summer Itinerary for 7 Days in Montenegro
Walking through historic Venetian old towns, filled with charm around every corner, swimming in the crystal blue ocean waters of the Adriatic Sea, spending a quiet moment with Jesus in one of the many beautiful churches and, eating super yummy food at reasonable prices. All these reasons, and many more, make Montenegro the perfect country to visit on your next European summer vacation.
The red rooves of Perast old town in Montenegro surrounded by the deep blue waters of the Adriatic Sea
Montenegro is a small mountainous country in the Balkans, that could be thought of as Croatia’s cheaper alternative. Montenegro may be small in size, but it’s a country that’s filled with amazing travel and adventure opportunities. This itinerary will help you experience them all, from the gorgeous coastal towns of Perast and Kotor all the way to the majestic mountains of Durmitor National Park. The best part is, Montenegro is fairly new on the tourist scene, so there aren’t so many touristy summer crowds here - yet!
If you'd like to rent a car during your time in Montenegro, I would highly recommend checking out Monte Cars Online. This Montenegrin rental car company is dedicated to high-quality service and flexible and competitive car rental options. Here is the link to their Google Business Page if you'd like to read some of their awesome customer reviews!
This itinerary will show you just how special this destination is, and I hope you'll be inspired to include this hidden gem on your next European summer vacation!
Day One: Arrival and Exploring Kotor Old Town
Your international flight will probably be landing at Tivat Airport, which is about a half hour drive from Kotor – the area where you’ll base yourself for the first part of the week. Once you’ve settled down and unpacked, get out into the old town of Kotor on day one and explore the beautiful cobbled streets and historic squares of this old venetian city.
If you're looking for a place to stay in Kotor, these come highly recommended on Booking.com:
The cobbled streets and old Venetian architecture of Kotor old town
This gorgeous old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is surrounded by medieval city walls that extend all the way up to the Kotor fortress. There is a hike that takes you right up to the fortress, but because we were visiting in the July heat and entrance cost £15 per person, we decided to give that a skip and instead, we focussed on wandering the narrow cobbled streets and visited some beautiful churches of the old town.
One of the many charming squares of Kotor old town
Our favourite churches were the Saint Nicholas Church and the Church of St Mary Collegiate – this one has a cute courtyard next to it with a resident colony of cats! There are quite a few stray cats in the city and you can help take care of them by donating to the charity called Kotor Kitties. You can make donations at the cat museum located in the old town, as well as many participating local shops.
There are a lot of restaurants and cafes to choose from in the old town, but I recommend taking a leisurely walk past the marina, over to the waterfront of Kotor, to a restaurant called Little Bay. We really enjoyed eating our dinner here, as the restaurant is situated right next to the sea. You can listen to the waves lapping up against the walls, and watch the sun disappear behind the surrounding mountains, as you enjoy your meal.
Enjoying a meal at a table right next to the waters of the Bay of Kotor
Day Two: Budva and Sveti Stefan
You’ll want to pack a bag for a beach day for day two of this itinerary! Budva is located about 50 minutes away from Kotor. There is a bus line that will take you to Budva from Kotor for 6 euros per person, per way. Once you get off at Budva bus station, ask for directions to the bus stop that will take you to Sveti Stefan, a small beach town just outside of Budva, for another 3 euros per person, per way. If you’re thinking this seems like a lot of effort and time spent on busses, I promise, it’ll definitely be worth it when you arrive! If you’d prefer to drive a rental car around Montenegro, you’ll save yourself some time and effort, but we used the bus system and were happy enough!
Sveti Stefan is best known for the island hotel that sits just off of the mainland. The hotel has been closed since 2020, so the public isn’t able to access the island, however, with its red rooves and old, Venetian charm, it does make for a fantastic back drop for photos and videos - and the beach here is the best beach in Montenegro - in our opinion!
The gorgeous Sveti Stefan island
Grab a spot on the beach to relax, unwind and listen to the calming sounds of the waves crashing along the beach sand. The water here is extremely clear and clean, so if you’re up for it, cool off by enjoying a refreshing swim. There is also a restaurant here that you can use to change clothes and enjoy some lunch.
Sveti Stefan beach - the best beach we experienced in Montenegro
When you’re ready to head back, return to the bus stop and get on the bus that will take you back to Budva. Walk about 20 minutes, or take a taxi, from the bus station to Budva old town and spend the evening wandering around. The best sites to see in Budva are the many squares, like Poet’s Square, the citadel walls and the St Ivan and Holy Trinity churches. There’s also a boardwalk you can walk along outside of the old town that takes you along the coastline to the Budva Ballerina, a strong and cherished symbol of the city.
The Budva Ballerina standing proudly in front of Budva old town
Enjoy a relaxed evening meal at one of the many restaurants in the old town - I highly recommend Restaurant Green. It has a wonderful atmosphere and we had a yummy pizza and bowl of mussels here, at a reasonable price!
After dinner, you can either take a taxi straight back to your accommodation in Kotor, or head back to the Budva bus station and take a bus back into Kotor town from there.
Day Three: Perast
Perast is a small, but gorgeous town that’s about 30 minutes from Kotor on bus. To catch the bus to Perast you’ll want to catch the blue line bus that departs near the marina just outside Kotor old town. Unfortunately, this bus has a timetable that’s quite difficult to understand, so if you have the budget, I would suggest skipping the bus, and catching a taxi, or driving your rental car there, instead.
Perast is mostly known for a small man-made island, which sits just off the coast, called The Church of Our Lady on the Rocks, which you can get to on a 5-minute boat trip from Perast town. Local legend says that a couple of fishermen found a rock here that looked like the Virgin Mary, so the town claimed it to be a sacred site, and built the island up to what it is now by sinking old ships and rocks over hundreds of years, to honour the Virgin Mary. The church on the island has a 3 euro admission fee, that allows you entry into the church museum, too.
Our Lady of the Rocks Church
The old town of Perast is tranquil and much quieter than Budva and Kotor. The hotels here seem to be more up market and exclusive. The restaurants that line the seafront all looked incredible, so I’d highly recommend planning for either lunch or supper at one of them. Its about 1.5km, or a mile, from one end of Perast to the other along the waterfront, so the town itself is tiny, but along the way you’ll spot some gorgeous churches, guest houses, shops and huge palaces that once belonged to the historical royal and wealthy inhabitants.
The small but beautiful town of Perast from the water front
Perast really is one of the most photogenic small towns we’ve ever been to, so make sure to explore down the little alleys and streets away from the main road and get lost in its beauty.
If you really want to make the most of your day here, you may want to bring your swimming gear, as there are rocky jetties all along the waterfront that locals use to swim and the views of the Bay of Kotor and the surrounding mountains are just so gorgeous from here!
A lovely view from one of the water front restaurants in Perast
Day Four: Kotor Cable Car
The Kotor cable car, which opened in 2023, is a convenient and thrilling way to experience the beauty of the Bay of Kotor. We didn’t get a chance to include this while we were in Montenegro, but I definitely think we missed out on something special. At the airport on the way back home, I overheard a group of friends chatting about how much they enjoyed their time going up on the cable car, so I’ve included it as a must do of this itinerary!
The cable car station is located a 10-minute drive away from Kotor old town, so a taxi would be your best option to get there. Plan to get here at around 08:30am, as the station opens at 9am and it can get busy! The tickets are 23 euros per person, return, so not cheap, but I’m sure it’ll be worth the price when you get to see the views from the top of the mountain!
As with any mountain excursion, make sure to check the real-time weather conditions before you go up. Cloudy days or fog will definitely take away from the views of the bay below. Make sure to pack a light jacket too, in case of cooler weather on top of the mountain.
An arial view of the magnificent Bay of Kotor
Once you get to the top of Mount Lovcen, you are free to wander around at your own pace. There are walking paths and hikes that you can do that will take you along the mountain to some amazing viewpoints, so remember to wear solid shoes that you can hike in! You could choose to spend an hour or two walking the trails, or enjoy a full day on the trails, it’s up to you!
There’s also a restaurant located close to the arrival station, called Forza KUK, if you’d like to stop here for lunch or something to drink. It is quite an upmarket restaurant, so if you’re looking for more of a casual break, you can choose an outdoor patio table instead. Be prepared – the prices are quite high, so if you’re on a tighter budget, it might be a good idea to bring a packed lunch for a picnic along the trails.
If you're short on time and you'd like to combine days three and four into one, GetYourGuide has a tour that will take you from Kotor to Perast, Our Lady of the Rocks and Kotor Cable Car with an experienced guide that comes highly rated.
Once you’ve made your way back down to the bottom station, you can head back to Kotor Old Town and enjoy a leisurely evening meal at a local restaurant, taking in the beauty of the city for your last night here, because your last few days in Montenegro will be based in Durmitor National Park.
Day Five: Arrival in Durmitor National Park and Exploring the Black Lake
It is quite a distance (about 158km) from Kotor to Durmitor National Park, and you could either rent a car for this part of the trip, or you could take the bus that travels from Kotor to Zabljak, the capital of the National Park. If you’d like to take the bus, it would be best to ask for some information about this route at Kotor bus station a few days before you leave, to make the process as stress free as possible.
Zabljak is the gateway to the Durmitor National Park and would be the ideal place to base yourself for the second part of your Montenegrin adventure. You can find a range of accommodation options in this small mountain town – I’d highly recommend getting a room with a view of the mountains, if your budget allows. A lot of the chalets and hotels in Zabljak look similar to the chalets found in Switzerland or Austria and many locals and tourists visit the area during winter to ski or snowboard on the snowy slopes.
Check out these highly rated options for places to stay in Zabljak:
NORTH STORY - Luxury Chalet - Apartments & rooms
A tranquil home in the Montenegrin Mountains
During the summer months, the snow melts from the peaks of the national park, revealing a beautiful landscape of glacial lakes, towering mountains and green forests, as you’ll get to experience on days five and six of this itinerary. This part of the trip is about getting out into nature, switching off and giving yourself time and space to relax and unwind.
Once you have arrived at your accommodation and have settled in, if you feel up for it, take a packed lunch and go on a leisurely 7km walk from the centre of Zabljak to the stunning Crno (Black) Lake. This stunning glacial lake is known for its deep blue, almost black colour, created by the depth of the lake and the beautiful dense pine forest that surrounds it. The lake changes colours, depending on the time of year, and can turn a brilliant turquoise colour in late summer. You’ll have to pay a 5-euro entry fee every time you enter the national park, but it’s worth it to experience the Montenegrin nature in all its glory.
The glacial waters of the Black Lake surrounded by deep green pine forests
There is a walking trail that circles the lake and you’ll be sure to find a good spot to enjoy your lunch while taking in the views of the serene lake, lush forests and surrounding mountains. There are designated swimming spots in the lake, if you’re up for some wild swimming. Boats are also available to rent if you’d like to enjoy the lake from a different perspective.
When you feel ready to leave the lake, enjoy a slow evening walk back into Zabljak to find somewhere to eat and head back to your accommodation for an early night’s sleep.
Day Six: Your Choice of Mountain Roads, River Rafting or Hiking
For your last full day in Montenegro, you’ll be spending day 6 exploring more of the Durmitor National Park, either by driving along the winding mountain roads in your rental car, river rafting along the Tara River Canyon, or choosing to do one of the many different hiking trails in the park. Which ever activity you choose, day 6 will definitely be filled with fun and adventure!
Driving along the Durmitor ring in your rental car is one of the best ways to explore the beautiful scenery of the national park without having to break a sweat. This scenic panoramic route is 76km long and takes about 4 to 5 hours to complete, with time added in for photo and video stops along the way! The starting point of the route is in Zabljak and you can find free Durmitor Ring maps at the visitor centre in town. There will also be brown road signs along the route to direct you, so don’t worry about getting lost. Some highlights of the trip include views of the Tara Canyon, as well as the Susica Canyon, the majestic mountain views of Sedlena Greda and Bobotov Kuk, and stops in small mountain villages like Trsa and Pisce. There are some steep hairpin turns along the route, especially driving down to the valley between the Susica Canyon and Lake Susica, that will definitely have you at the edge of your seat.
The Mountain roads of the Durmitor National Park
If you’re keen for something a little bit more adventurous, you can head to Tara River Canyon to do some river rafting. This rafting trip on GetYourGuide has great reviews and seems good value for money, because average pricing for this seems to be around 65 euros per person for a three-hour trip. During the rafting activity, you’ll most likely descend down the most beautiful part of the Tara canyon along the river, with lots of photo and swim breaks. You will likely get to see the Ljutica river – the shortest river in Europe and biggest spring of fresh water in the world– as well as the Tara Bridge, which towers over the river canyon.
River rafting adventures along the Tara river
If you don’t have a rental car and would prefer a calmer way to enjoy the national park, there are many different hiking trails to choose from. The most popular hike of the area would be the Bobotov Kuk trail, which takes you to the highest peak in the park, Bobotov Kuk. This hike can be quite challenging though, so if you’re not an experienced hiker, maybe opt for something easier, like the trail that takes you to the Curevan Peak viewpoint.
The Bobotov Kuk mountain hiking trail
Whichever way you choose to spend the day, I’m sure the Durmitor National Park won’t disappoint. You’ll be blown away by the amazing scenery of the mountains, lakes and forests of Northern Montenegro.
Day Seven: Head to the Airport and Fly Back Home
On the morning of day seven, you’ll need to have an early breakfast before checking out of your accommodation and heading back to the airport to catch your flight back home. I wouldn’t recommend catching the bus back to the airport, so definitely budget in the cost of taking a shuttle to the airport straight from Zabljak, if you don’t have access to a rental car. Tivat Airport is quite small and you are limited for food options here, so try stop at a local supermarket or bakery in Zabljak before leaving, for some airport snacks while you’re waiting for your plane to arrive.
Us enjoying our time in the beautiful country of Montenegro
My husband and I really loved our summer holiday in this small, but beautiful country. If you’re looking for a destination that has all the vibes of Croatia, for much more reasonable prices, Montenegro should definitely be on your travel list! I hope this itinerary will be inspiring and useful to you as you plan your own Montenegrin summer trip!
