Things to do in  Montenegro

Carving inland from Montenegro’s Adriatic Coast, the UNESCO–listed Bay of Kotor is nature at its grandest. This roughly 17-mile (28-kilometer) fjord-like channel is hemmed by limestone peaks, scattered with grottoes and islands, and lined with stone settlements. Attractions range from the UNESCO–protected, fortified town of Kotor to the picturesque Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Skrpjela). Here, you can enjoy boat trips, water sports, and mountain ascents, all backed by phenomenal bay views.

Perched on one of two small islands in the Bay of Kotor, just off the coast of Perast, the 17th-century Our Lady of the Rocks church is a majestic sight. Framed by mountain peaks and cobalt blue waters, the church appears to float on the water’s surface, and has fast become one of Montenegro’s most photographed landmarks.

Nestled into Montenegro’s steep Bay of Kotor, Kotor Old Town is one of the Mediterranean’s best-preserved gems. Ringed by stone walls that climb the limestone cliffs behind it, its knot of streets hosts centuries-old architecture, quirky museums, and countless shops and alfresco eateries, making it a magnet for sightseers and cruise liners.

Burrowed into the Adriatic-washed cliffs of Montenegro’s Lustica Peninsula near the Bay of Kotor, the Blue Cave—also called the Blue Grotto—is one of the region’s star attractions. Formed by millennia of wave erosion, it draws visitors with its luminescent blue waters, which are ideal for photo ops, swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking.

High in the Dinara Alps in Montenegro, encompassing Mount Lovćen and its surroundings, Lovćen National Park is known for its beautiful views and its diverse flora and fauna. It's also the site of the mausoleum of Petar II Petrović Njegoš, a poet and philosopher who once served as Montenegro's ruling Prince-Bishop.

Montenegro's most-visited religious pilgrimage site, the Ostrog Monastery is dedicated to St. Basil of Ostrog, whose relics are kept inside the complex's Church of the Presentation. It draws in pilgrims from across the region, but even the non-devout will find plenty worth seeing.

St. Tryphon Cathedral is an impressive sight sandwiched between Montenegro’s UNESCO-listed walled city of Kotor and the mountains behind it. Rebuilt several times between the 12th and 17th centuries, this remarkable church is known for its original Romanesque architecture and sacred treasures and as a religious and cultural cornerstone of this history-steeped old town.

Snaking through Montenegro’s lush Durmitor National Park, the 94-mile (151-kilometer UNESCO-listed Tara River Canyon is Europe’s deepest gorge and one of its longest. Dramatic walls, turquoise waters, and bordering pine-coated hills make it a magnet for nature lovers and adventure sports enthusiasts.

Built in 1602, the Kotor Clock Tower is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Kotor Old Town. Dominating Kotor’s largest square—the Square of the Arms—its plain stonework and clock faces match the stark mountains behind it and are the first things you see as you emerge from the Sea Gate entrance in the town walls.

Hidden away in the northeastern fringes of Kotor Old Town, the Church of St. Luke is one of the city’s oldest churches. Dating from 1195, this tiny and modest-looking Romanesque church hides a shimmering interior and an unexpected feature: Christian and Orthodox altars sitting side by side.

Snaking around Kotor Old Town and the mountain behind it, Kotor’s UNESCO-protected walls have guarded this well-preserved city since the Middle Ages. Mainly built between the 4th and 14th centuries, tourists walk along them to see the mountainside St. John’s Fortress and spectacular panoramas over Kotor and the Bay of Kotor beyond.

Spanning the border of Montenegro and Albania, Lake Skadar is a large, tranquil lake teeming with birds and the occasional ruin. In Montenegro, its main gateways are the towns of Vranjina and Virpazar on either side of the lake’s bridge. Hilltop viewpoints overlook Lake Skadar’s green shores lined with lilies and the iconic horseshoe bend at the lake’s northwest point.

A small pocket of stone houses with orange roofs squeezed between beaches, Budva Old Town is the historical part of Budva and the city’s most popular attraction. Behind its walls lies a dense network of houses and pathways, as well as some landmarks such as the Budva Citadel and multiple churches. It’s a must-see for anyone interested in the city’s history and scenery.

Once you move past the maybe overly grand aspirations of its name, the Montenegro Niagara Falls offer a picturesque place to visit outside of Podgorica. The clear turquoise water of the Cemi River flows over these falls into a tight gorge lined with a jumble of rippling rocks—a pretty waterfall without the clouds of mist and the deafening roar of its namesake.

Squeezed between the Adriatic and steep hillside surroundings covered in thick nature, Mogren Beach carves out a slim space for beachgoers in Budva. A sheer rocky outcrop separates the two halves of the beach, with just a playful wooden bridge through a tunnel linking the two. Sunbeds increasingly fill the limited real estate here, but there are still some spaces to spread out towels and relax.