7 Day Montenegro Itinerary: Perfect for Your First Visit
Montenegro is a place that’s been growing in popularity a lot over the last few years, and with good reason. There’s excellent hiking trails, a stunning coastline, and a heap of beautiful towns and villages. It’s a pretty small country, so with 7 days in Montenegro, you can cover a lot of ground.
I spent a week exploring Montenegro and absolutely fell in love with it. It’s even more beautiful in real life than in pictures. The views here are simply incredible, with quaint villages emerging from the mountains, overlooking crystal clear water.
My Montenegro itinerary covers everything I did on my trip, starting in the lesser visited Luštica Peninsula, before heading to the towns of Kotor, Dobrota and Perast, taking a boat trip on Lake Skadar, and ending with a relaxing day at a beach club.
Day 1: The Luštica Peninsula
Arrive in Montenegro and head straight for the Luštica Peninsula. It’s an area on the west coast of the country known for quieter beaches, picturesque towns and beautiful landscapes, and it still feels pretty untouched by mass tourism.
It’s around a 40 minute drive from Tivat airport, so you can be there pretty quickly after you arrive.
Explore Rose
My favourite place on the Luštica Peninsula was Rose, a quaint fishing village with lots of character.
It’s really small and there’s not much to do there, but that’s exactly why I loved it. It’s the perfect place to spend your first afternoon in Montenegro, enjoying a dip in the crystal clear water followed by a drink at Forte Rose, a hotel and restaurant overlooking the water.
Where to stay on the Luštica Peninsula
I spent two nights on the Luštica Peninsula at The Chedi. The hotel is located in Luštica Bay, a modern development of apartments, villas and restaurants – it even has its own harbour for boats to dock.
I absolutely loved my stay here, there’s two swimming pools, a private beach, four restaurants and bars and a spa. The rooms are spacious and modern and mine had a balcony overlooking the harbour.
The team were fantastic and went above and beyond to make my stay special, it’s the perfect base for your time on the Luštica Peninsula.
Day 2 – Boat trip around the Bay of Kotor
The Bay of Kotor is a 28km bay of the Adriatic sea, and taking a boat trip around it is one of the best ways to see Montenegro.
From the water you can really appreciate Montenegro’s beauty, as you’ll be able to see the coastal towns surrounded by vast mountains.
Also, you’ll get to visit places only accessible by boat, like the Blue Cave, a natural sea cave where the water glows bright blue when the sun hits it, and the Submarine Tunnels, which were used during the Cold War to hide ships from the enemy. You can actually go inside these tunnels which is an incredible experience.
My boat trip was organised by my hotel and lasted three hours. I visited Our Lady of the Rocks, which is a man made island just off the coast of Perast, as well as the Blue Cave and the Submarine Tunnels. And I also got to swim in the most amazing bright blue water.
Not every boat tour includes the submarine tunnels, so I’d recommend booking this one which does as it was a highlight for me. It’s also a small boat which means you’ll only be with a few other people which is a much nicer experience than some of the huge boats I saw where everyone was crammed on.
This boat trip stops at Our Lady of the Rocks, the submarine tunnels and the Blue Cave, and is a small group which I think is a much nicer experience.
Day 3 – Kotor
It’s time to leave the Luštica Peninsula behind and head to Kotor, one of Montenegro’s most well known towns. It’ll take you about 40 minutes in the car.
Hike the San Giovanni Fortress
Start your day by hiking the San Giovanni Fortress, which is part of Kotor’s city walls. It was built in the 6th century to defend the city from invasion, but most of what you see now is from the period of Venetian rule between the 14th-17th century.
Hiking the fortress is one of the best things to do in Montenegro, as you get incredible views over the town out to the Bay of Kotor from the top.
I’d recommend starting as early as possible to avoid the heat, as there’s over 1,300 steps to the top and there’s not much shade on the trail.
Entrance is €15, and you can pay by card, or if you’re back down before 8am, you can technically do it for free as there’s no one on the turnstiles.
Explore Kotor’s Old Town
Kotor has one of the best preserved medieval old towns in the Adriatic. It’s a beautiful place full of ancient churches, historical squares and quaint cafes and restaurants.
Spend the rest of your day exploring the town at a leisurely place. I loved the farmers market, which sells fresh, local produce, and Hotel Hippocampus, which has a great rooftop with views over the town. I actually stopped here for breakfast after hiking the fortress and the crepes were delicious.
Kotor cable car
In the evening, ride the Kotor cable car! The station is located a ten minute drive outside of Kotor and there’s a huge car park, or regular shuttle buses run from Kotor town if you’re not driving.
The cable car takes eleven minutes to reach the summit on Mount Lovćen, and on the way up you’ll get amazing views over the Bay of Kotor and the mountains.
I rode the cable car around one hour before sunset, so there was a beautiful golden glow everywhere. At the top, the Monte 1350 bar is a great place to watch the sunset and enjoy a drink, but a word of warning that it’s very expensive!
The summit of the cable car is on the edge of Lovćen National Park, so if you like hiking, you could head up earlier in the day as there’s lots of great trails there.
Where to stay in Kotor
If you want to be in Kotor old town, Kerber-Graz 1860 is located in the centre. Each room has a balcony or terrace, and there’s a spa, as well as a spacious garden and terrace.
I stayed in Dobrota for the night, which is five minutes in the car from Kotor, or you can walk in around twenty five minutes. It’s a lot quieter than Kotor which I really liked, and the accommodation is mostly apartments rather than hotels. I stayed at Vila Maestral, a family home that’s been converted into apartments, with access to a private beach.
Or, if don’t mind travelling into Kotor, the Hyatt Regency in Kotor Bay has its own private beach, two swimming pools, and modern bedrooms with incredible views. This would be a great place to base yourself for the rest of the trip.
Day 4 – Dobrota
On day four, head to Dobrota, a coastal town just five minutes from Kotor. It’s very different to Kotor’s walled old town, as it’s essentially one long road with houses, restaurants and cafes on one side and the water on the other.
The views here are incredible – you’re looking out onto the water with huge mountains surrounding you.
There’s also lots of small, pebbly beaches in Dobrota and it’s a lovely place to spend a day relaxing.
Dinner at La Ricetta
Book a table for dinner at La Ricetta. This was one of my favourite meals of my trip; they serve Italian food using locally sourced ingredients and you can really tell that they put a lot of love into the cooking.
The owner is really friendly, he spent a lot of time chatting to me about Montenegro, his life and the food. It’s a really lovely place with incredible views over the water.
Day 5 – Perast
Perast is a coastal town twenty minutes away from Kotor. It has a population of around 400 people, and it feels like you’ve stepped straight into a fairy tale when you arrive.
It’s really peaceful, with loads of charm, great restaurants, and incredible scenery. Old houses line the waterfront, and you’re surrounded by mountains. The views are breath taking.
The most popular thing to do in Perast is to visit Our Lady of the Rocks, a man made island with a centuries old church in the middle.
If you’re doing a boat trip on day two, you’ll most likely have already seen it, so instead explore the town at your own leisure. It’ll only take you around thirty minutes to walk from one end to the other, but there’s lots of beautiful buildings, churches, streets and shops to stop at along the way.
Other things to do in Perast include climbing The Bell Tower of St. Nicholas and visiting the Perast museum.
Kraken underwater wine cellar
In the afternoon, book a table at Kraken, a floating wine bar in the middle of the sea, ten minutes outside of Perast.
They store the wine bottles underneath the sea which helps them age faster and gives them a really unique flavour. You’ll get a two hour time slot for your table where you’ll get to try the wine, and swim in the sea. You can even see the wine bottles under the water on a clear day.
This was my favourite activity I did in Montenegro, it’s such a unique experience, and very popular, so make sure you book in advance on their website.
Where to eat in Perast
For such a small place, Perast has a lot of good restaurants, and I had some of my favourite meals of the whole trip here.
My number one recommendation is Trattoria Rosmarino, a beautiful restaurant with views over the bay and the mountains. They’re known for their fresh seafood, but they also do risotto and pasta. I ate here twice during my time in Perast, once for lunch and once for dinner, and I’d recommend dinner because the light over the town is absolutely beautiful.
I also ate at Eho, which is located in the centre of Perast. It’s a slightly fancier place than Trattoria Rosmarino, and they do great cocktails and food.
Where to stay in Perast
Perast is often visited as a day trip from Kotor, but I based myself here for two nights and I’d recommend doing the same. I actually went to Budva after Perast but I didn’t like it, it’s very touristy and built up and I struggled to find nice restaurants. So instead, I’d recommend staying in Perast for the rest of your trip and using it as a base for day trips.
I stayed at the Heritage Grand Perast, which is located in the middle of the town. It’s got a swimming pool, direct access to the sea, as well as two restaurants and a large courtyard where there’s often live music.
They also have an ice cream stand at the entrance to the hotel which was my favourite part, I must have had at least two a day.
Day 6 – Lake Skadar and Sveti Stefan
After breakfast at your hotel, drive to Virpazar, the departure point for boat trips on Lake Skadar. It takes one and a half hours from Perast.
Lake Skadar is the largest lake in the Balkans, with half of it in Montenegro and half in Albania. It’s a great place for spotting wildlife, especially birds. Most people choose to see the lake by boat, but you can hire kayaks.
I choose a boat trip because I visited in summer and I didn’t fancy pushing myself around a lake in 33°C!
Boat trip on Lake Skadar
There’s lots of different companies that offer boat trips, but there is also a scam that I want to make sure you don’t fall for (because I stupidly did).
I made the mistake of turning up without a booking and going with the first group of people that stopped me. They will stop you at the entrance to the village saying you can park for free in the car park if you book a tour with them.
I ended up paying double what I should have (around €50). The price felt high, but I hadn’t done enough research to have a comparison at the time, and they were pressuring me to pay because the “boat was ready to leave”.
I was promised a small group of no more than five people, but the boat stopped twice to pick people up and there were fifteen people on it by the time the tour properly started. I was also shown photos of locations I’d be visiting, and we didn’t go to any of them.
After doing my research whilst still on the boat, I realised this is a very common scam, and if I’d have walked into the village a bit further, I’d have found lots of reputable companies I could have chosen instead.
So don’t do what I did, and either walk into Virpazar and take your time deciding, or book a tour in advance. After looking at different companies online, I’d recommend Kingfisher tours. They get amazing reviews, have English tour guides so you can learn about the lake and the wildlife, and they charge a fraction of what I paid.
I still had an amazing time at Lake Skadar, the scenery is really beautiful, but it could have been better, so learn from my mistakes!
Sunset at Sveti Stefan
On your way back from Lake Skadar, stop at Sveti Stefan for sunset. Sveti Stefan is a town located about 20 minutes outside Budva, but it’s most famous for the island (also called Sveti Stefan) that’s connected to the mainland by a small path.
The island was built in the 15th century as a fortress, designed to protect the country from attacks.
Over the years its been turned into different resorts, and was most recently an Aman, but the hotel is currently closed due to ongoing legal issues, so the island is currently unused and inaccessible to the public.
The view of the island is beautiful though, and is probably one of Montenegro’s most iconic scenes. Once you’ve got a picture from the top, head down to the beach for a swim and an incredible sunset.
Day 7 – Relax at a beach club
For your final day in Montenegro it’s time to unwind at a beach club. And luckily Montenegro has a lot of them.
As much as I love exploring and trying to see as much as possible when I’m visiting somewhere new, I always like to have at least one day of doing absolutely nothing.
I went to Galija Beach, which is in Sveti Stefan. I paid €20 for a sunbed which also included a bottle of wine, which I thought was great value for money.
The water there is absolutely beautiful and so clear, and there was a DJ when I went so there was a good atmosphere.
However, I was quite disappointed by the food, it was pretty average. So I’d only really recommend going here to relax, swim and enjoy a few drinks.
Other beach clubs I had on my list that may be worth a visit are Dukley Beach & Bar, Almara Beach Club, Aura Beach, and Portonovi Beach Club.
What to add to this Montenegro itinerary
I wrote this Montenegro itinerary based on my experience, but of course there’s a lot more to do in the country. If you have more time, or fancy doing things differently, you could also visit:
Durmitor National Park
Great if you like hiking. I really wanted to go but it’s a 3 hour drive from Kotor and I decided it would be too much to try and fit into a 7 day trip.
Ostrog Monastery
A 17th-century monastery built into the cliff. It’s a popular pilgrimage site as it’s believed to have healing powers.
If you want to visit Durmitor National Park and Ostrog Monastery, this day trip will pick you up from your accommodation, and you’ll visit Durmitor National Park, Ostrog Monastery, and Tara Canyon, the deepest canyon in Europe. It gets fantastic reviews and is a good option if you don’t want to drive the whole way yourself.
Porto Montenegro
The “fancy” part of Montenegro with a marina and superyachts. It’s 40 minutes from Kotor so it’s easy to reach.
Planning your trip to Montenegro
The best time to visit Montenegro
The best time to visit Montenegro is from May to September. This is when you’ll get the best weather, but also when everything will be open. Before then, a lot of the restaurants and beach clubs won’t have opened for the season yet.
I visited Montenegro in July and generally found that the crowds weren’t too bad, mostly because it’s still growing in popularity compared to neighbouring Croatia.
Arriving in Montenegro
Montenegro has two main airports – Tivat and Podgorica. They’re both international airports but Podgorica is bigger with more flights. Tivat is closer to the places you’ll be visiting on this Montenegro itinerary, and it’s where I flew into.
You can also fly into Dubrovnik airport in Croatia and then cross the border into Montenegro. Depending on where you’re coming from you might find more flights available there.
Getting around Montenegro
I’d recommend hiring a car for your trip to Montenegro as it’ll give you more flexibility for this itinerary. There is a good bus network between the main towns, but not to the smaller villages and remote beaches.
I hired my car from Tivat airport with a company called Greenmotion. I used Discover Cars to compare the cost for my trip and they were the cheapest.
I was really impressed with the service, they were very thorough in inspecting the car when I collected it, and logged all of the damage properly whilst I was there. The process was really quick on collection and when I dropped it off, so I’d really recommend them.
Driving in Montenegro
A word of warning, the driving in Montenegro is pretty crazy. When I visited (July 2025), the road between Kotor and Budva was undergoing pretty intense roadworks. It’s pretty much being completely redone, which means you can’t drive fast, so allow a lot longer for the journey.
Around Tivat airport the traffic is really bad as well, I was stuck in a queue for about twenty minutes before even getting into the airport car park.
The driving style is also quite chaotic. People pull out in front of you, and they often won’t give way at roundabouts. You need to constantly be alert!
Getting an eSIM
Montenegro isn’t part of the EU, so you’ll need a local sim if you’re coming from the UK (or the US).
Purchasing an eSIM is the easiest way to do this, as you can activate it within your phone and you don’t need to waste time at the airport queuing up for a physical sim. I use Airalo everytime I need an eSIM.
You just put in your destination and the length of your trip, select the amount of data you need, and then install the eSIM on your phone. The whole process takes less than five minutes.
