Things to Do in Montenegro
Things to Do in Montenegro
Montenegro is small enough that one base can reach the coast, a lake, a mountain road and a river canyon within a few hours of driving. Prices below are in euros, the only currency in use, and are worth confirming close to your trip.
Climb or Ride Above Kotor
The fortress climb above Kotor is 1,350 stone steps up to San Giovanni, roughly 260 vertical meters, and takes 45 to 60 minutes on the way up. Entering the Old Town costs nothing; the wall ticket is €15 in the main season, with a lower rate generally offered through winter. In summer, start before 08:30 or after 17:30 and carry at least a liter of water.
The easier route up is the Kotor-Lovćen cable car, which links Dub with Kuk, 1,348 meters up, in 11 minutes. A round trip is €25 and one way is €14. It operates seasonally, roughly May to October, and tickets are sold at the terminal and on the operator’s site . At the top, Monte 1350 serves coffee and alpine walking paths start from the station.
Boats on Lake Skadar
Virpazar is the usual base for Lake Skadar, the largest lake in the Balkans, which Montenegro shares with Albania. A two-hour trip in a traditional wooden boat generally costs €20 to €30 per person, plus the €5 national park entry fee. Routes thread through water lilies and reed channels and pass the island fortress of Grmožur. More than 280 bird species have been recorded here, including the Dalmatian pelican. For lunch, Konoba Badanj in Virpazar serves fried carp or dried bleak alongside Vranac wine.
Rafting the Tara Canyon
The Tara River canyon inside Durmitor National Park is often cited as the deepest in Europe, at about 1,333 meters. The standard run covers 14 km from Brštanovica to Šćepan Polje through Class III and IV rapids. Packages typically cost €45 to €65 and cover wetsuit, boots, helmet, life vest, guide, a transfer up the gorge, park fees and a meal at the finish camp. High water in May and June gives the strongest rapids, while July to September is warmer. Two operators with bases near Šćepan Polje are TaraSport and Rafting Camp Modra Rijeka .
Beaches and Local Food
Budva’s Mogren beaches have soft golden sand sheltered by cliffs, and Jaz has shallow water and rental pedal boats. Many other Montenegrin beaches are pebble or coarse shingle, so pack water shoes.
On the table, look for Njeguški pršut, a beech-smoked ham with protected status, Njeguši cheese, kačamak (cornmeal and potato with kaymak) and black cuttlefish risotto. Rakija, a grape or plum brandy, is the customary welcome drink.
National Park Fees
Park entry is charged per person per day: Durmitor €5, Lovćen €3, Lake Skadar €5, Biogradska Gora €4 and Prokletije €3. An annual pass for all parks costs €13.50 and beats paying daily once you spend three or more days in the parks, bought at park gates or through nparkovi.me . The Njegoš Mausoleum on Lovćen is a separate €8 ticket.
Moving Between Places
No passenger railway reaches Budva, Kotor, Tivat, Perast or Herceg Novi. The only line runs from Bar through Podgorica and Kolašin to Belgrade, so coastal travel is by coach, taxi, rental car or boat. A Kotor to Budva coach costs about €3.50 to €5 and takes around 45 minutes.
A car is most useful inland. Mountain roads are narrow, tunnels can be unlit and headlights must be on day and night, so avoid driving them after dark.
Read more: the outdoor activities guide goes deeper on hiking, canyoning and other active days.
Comparing a pre-booked half-day activity on GetYourGuide with the walk-up price at the dock takes a minute and shows what is included.