Town
Kotor
Montenegro
A walled medieval town at the end of the Bay of Kotor, with a fortress climbing the mountain behind it.
Balkans
Montenegro
A small country of dramatic fjord-like bays, stone old towns, deep canyons and rugged mountains, all within a couple of hours of each other.
For storytellers
Why Montenegro matters
Montenegro is small enough to see a coastline, a lake, a mountain and a canyon in the same day. The Bay of Kotor winds between steep mountains like a fjord, with stone towns hugging the shore. Inland, the Durmitor mountains offer glacial lakes, hiking and some of Europe's deepest canyons. The name means black mountain, and the landscape lives up to it. Add a relaxed pace, strong coffee, grilled fish and monasteries on cliffs, and you have a destination that feels wild yet easy to travel in.
Talking points
- The Bay of Kotor looks like a fjord but is actually a drowned river canyon.
- You can swim in the Adriatic and hike in the mountains on the same trip.
- Monasteries are built in remarkable places, including a cliff face.
- Skadar Lake is one of the biggest lakes in southern Europe and a haven for birds.
- Distances are short, but mountain roads are winding, so plan extra time.
Free to read aloud or adapt in your video. Check facts that matter to you against an official source before you publish.
- Capital
- Podgorica
- Languages
- Montenegrin
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Best time to go
- May to June and September for warm sea and fewer crowds; July and August are the beach peak, and the mountains are best from June to September.
Where to base yourself
Cities and towns in Montenegro
Town
Budva
Montenegro
A coastal resort with a walled old town, sandy beaches and Montenegro's busiest summer nightlife.
Town
Cetinje
Montenegro
The former royal capital, a quiet mountain town of old embassies, museums and a historic monastery.
Town
Zabljak
Montenegro
A mountain town and base for hiking, rafting and skiing in and around Durmitor National Park.
City
Podgorica
Montenegro
The modern, low-key capital, set between rivers and hills, and a useful hub for exploring the country.
Top places
What to see in Montenegro
- Top places
- Historic site 3
- Church, mosque or temple 3
- National park 3
- Lake 2
- Castle 1
- Island 1
- Viewpoint 1
- Bridge 1
Historic site · UNESCO
Kotor Old Town
Kotor, Montenegro
A tangle of medieval stone lanes, squares and churches inside massive defensive walls.
National park · UNESCO
Durmitor National Park
Zabljak, Montenegro
A wild mountain park of limestone peaks, glacial lakes and the deep Tara canyon.
Castle · UNESCO
Fortress of St John (Kotor Fortress)
Kotor, Montenegro
Hilltop fortifications reached by a long stone stairway, with the best view of Kotor and the bay.
Lake
Black Lake
Zabljak, Montenegro
A glacial lake in pine forest below the Durmitor peaks, with an easy loop trail around it.
Historic site
Budva Old Town
Budva, Montenegro
A compact walled town on a small peninsula, with a citadel, tiny squares and a seafront promenade.
Lake
Lake Skadar National Park
Montenegro
A huge lake shared with Albania, with water lilies, islands, old monasteries and a rich bird life.
National park
Lovcen National Park and Njegos Mausoleum
Montenegro
A mountain park above Kotor, famous for the hilltop mausoleum of the poet-prince Njegos and its panoramic view...
Island · UNESCO
Our Lady of the Rocks
Kotor, Montenegro
A small artificial island with a church, built over centuries by sailors dropping stones into the bay.
Historic site · UNESCO
Perast
Kotor, Montenegro
A tiny baroque seafront town with stone palaces and churches, once home to many sea captains.
Viewpoint
Sveti Stefan
Budva, Montenegro
A small fortified island village linked to the shore by a causeway, one of Montenegro's best-known coastal vie...
Church, mosque or temple · UNESCO
Cathedral of St Tryphon
Kotor, Montenegro
The Romanesque cathedral at the heart of Kotor, dedicated to the city's patron saint.
Church, mosque or temple
Cetinje Monastery
Cetinje, Montenegro
A historic Orthodox monastery on the edge of Cetinje, an important spiritual centre for Montenegro.
Church, mosque or temple
Ostrog Monastery
Montenegro
A white monastery set into a near-vertical cliff, one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the Balkans.
National park
Biogradska Gora National Park
Montenegro
A national park with one of Europe's last primeval forests and a calm glacial lake.
Bridge
Millennium Bridge
Podgorica, Montenegro
A modern cable-stayed bridge over the Moraca river, the best-known landmark of the capital.
Missing something in Montenegro?
Add a place you love. We review every suggestion before it goes live.