Bar Montenegro Highlights Shore Excursion
Budva, Montenegro
- 5 to 7 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
What's Included
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Private transportation
- WiFi on board
- Fuel surcharge
- Parking Fees
- Government Fees
- Optional Skadar Lake Cruise OR Wine & Food Tasting paid on site€20.00 per person
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Arranged start time
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
- 01/08/2026 - 10/05/2027
Monday - Sunday : 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Itinerary
1
Budva
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
2
Sveti Stefan
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Skadar Lake National Park
1 hour 15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Stari Bar
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
3.5
based on 39 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
The guide was very knowledgeable and accommodating, but the van did not have
Effective air-conditioning and it was an extremely hot day and everyone was complaining and sweating. Also, the description of the tour did not mention traveling up a mountain with switchbacks, causing my son to get sick in the van from car sickness. My 31 year old son.
This was a 5 to 6 hour tour. It was wonderful to see all the panoramic views of Montenegro. The tour guide will offer a boat trip for an hour. It was relaxing, but the boat driver did not provide any information of what we were seeing. It is something nice to do, but it is not necessary to do this. Our tour guide ,Dragon, was fantastic. At times, he was a little hard to understand, but overall he was terrific. I would highly recommend this tour.
Very difficult to enter into and out of boat. Steps down to river are boards that are uneven, cracked and missing. Very poor boat entrance. In need of much repair. Not for mobility impaired.
Overall, I enjoyed the tour, but would have appreciated to know what I was looking at. Our tour operator did speak at the beginning of the tour, but the people in the back could not hear him. The bus was air-conditioned and very nice. He would drop us off and would pick us back up at the designated time. There were no instructions or history of the towns that we went to, so I felt like this was just a bus ride to each town.
The Montenegro Highlights tour was great, except for a pair of extremely rude tourists who demanded that our lovely tour guide Svetlana (Lana) be replaced because they couldn’t understand her accent. Svetlana was fantastic, very friendly and knowledgeable. I highly recommend any tour led by Svetlana. The change of tour guides also wasted a lot of time on our tour. We were all unhappy with the changes. The two rude tourists should have been more patient and understanding and simply enjoyed the absolutely beautiful scenery!
This tour was basically an overpriced bus ride. Went to a little tourist trap town where the only thing to do was take an optional boat ride for 49 euro. If you didn’t, the only thing to do was look at a bunch of souvenir booths. On top of that, the boat cruise provider told our tour guide that they would not allow us to use our credit card since they supposedly had a problem the day before. That information was told to us after we were on our transport vehicle. I had a problem with this as I didn’t have enough euros with me and there wa a problem with using an atm at the site. Our tour guide finally talked them into taking US dollars, thus I overpaid. Boat trip was in a state park lake as nd boring.
The rest of the tour consisted of driving to two other locations with nothing significant to do but wander around during “free time”. The one thing that I was really interested in seeing was the beautiful church that was shown on the vendors Viator ‘ s site. This was bait and switch as we initially passed at a distance while heading through town. When I questioned the tour guide, she then said that she would ask the bus driver to go past the church. So, we ended up circling the church without any visitation.
So we got ripped off for $178. Don’t deal with Royal Services. Not the guides fault but strip with wasted itinerary.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dobar dan and thank you for your feedback, though I must clarify that our optional National Park cruise is just €20 per person (including entrance fees), not €49 as mentioned. Furthermore, this was far from a simple bus ride, as our dedicated local guide accompanied your group for the entire duration of the trip to share Montenegro’s rich history!
Between the extreme heat wave and heavy road congestion, August 4th was simply a bad day for all of us in Bar. I am genuinely sorry that your excursion suffered as a result, and I remain committed to ensuring we address your feedback appropriately.
Absolutely great tour! We saw a lot and the country is just beautiful! We were on a cruise ship and I felt like this tour showed us a lot more than any of them got to see. I just wish I would have taken my swim suite because the water looked amazing and I was jealous of all of the people swimming. I would definitely recommend it and we really liked our guide Dragan.
It was a very small group (nice), with a friendly guide and excellent van. Beautiful scenery. Old Budva is very interesting and the lake boat ride was very pleasant. By the end the hour long stop at Old Bar seemed a bit too much (not much to do) but the final stop at the old olive tree was brief and fun. The tour would benefit from some shortening/ tightening. It took 7 hours plus on a Sunday with lighter traffic than most days.
First let me start by saying our guide Tanya was very kind and nice. But, the van was very warm (I don’t think the air conditioning worked very well) which did not make a very hot day enjoyable. We wished we had booked a beach day because Tanya showed us videos of the beaches on her phone. We had a nice lunch and spent an hour of free time on our own walking around Budva. We did not learn much at all.
Our multigenerational family took this tour. We enjoyed seeing medieval villages and a boat tour on the lake. I would advise people with mobility issues that this is not the best tour for you. There is lots of walking. The boat tour involves inclines and entering and exiting boats without steps or railings. Our guide was very accommodating and quickly helped a guest by getting a different transport when they saw they could not walk to the boat area. They were able to wait inside a hotel until we returned. Overall it was a great trip but prepare for longer drives and walking.
Peter was our tour guide he was very knowledgeable and personable. We loved the old town of Budva it was beautiful with many different shops and historical sites to explore. The river cruise was simple but very relaxing and a nice way to wind down
Our guide was lovely and very knowledgeable!!! There was a lot of driving and the buses air conditioning was not working properly!!!! It was extremely hot! We did choose to add a wonderful boat tour that was a very nice addition!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for the lovely review of our guide and the boat excursion! Yesterday was an extraordinarily hot day in Bar, and although we did our absolute best to cool down the vehicle for your journey, we apologize that it wasn't enough to ensure a comfortable ride.
I am extremely dissatisfied with the service provided by the tour operator for several reasons:
- Wait Time: The operator kept us waiting for over 30 minutes past the arranged meeting time.
- Unauthorized Changes: The operator took a vote regarding the boat ride portion of the tour. Despite 9 people voting for it and 12 against, the situation was handled poorly and several other participants have expressed their complaints.
The experience has not met the standards expected, and given these significant delays and deviations from the itinerary, I requested a refund.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback regarding your recent tour. We take all guest feedback seriously and we have thoroughly reviewed your request for a refund, alongside the reports from our field team. While we sincerely regret that certain aspects of the day fell short of your expectations, we are unable to approve a refund for this excursion.
Please allow us to provide some context regarding the points you raised:
Wait Time: Your tour started exactly at 8:30am, as agreed.
The Schedule and Lake Delay: The tour itinerary was delivered in full as described. Majority was for the lake cruise (our vehicle can't accommodate 21 people). The delay at the lake was unfortunately due to an unexpected operational issue on the part of the boat operator, which was entirely outside of our team's control. Our guide did everything possible to manage the situation and expedite the return to the group.
We appreciate your understanding.
When others in your tour group take the optional Lake tour delays in the itinerary may occur and you will be required to wait for them. If the tour guide attends with them, they may not advise of delays and you become concerned about their whereabouts and if return to ship will occur as planned? Additionally the tour van has poor air conditioning and is unable to cool the van when hygrometer one destination to another !
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for reaching out to us and sharing your feedback regarding your recent tour. We take all guest feedback seriously, alongside the reports from our field team. We sincerely regret that certain aspects of the day fell short of your expectations.
Please allow us to provide some context regarding the points you raised:
The Schedule and Lake Delay: The tour itinerary was delivered in full as described. The delay at the lake was unfortunately due to an unexpected operational issue on the part of the boat operator, which was entirely outside of our team's control. Our guide did everything possible to manage the situation and expedite the return to the group.
The Van Climate: Our vehicles undergo regular maintenance to ensure guest comfort. On days with extreme external heat, like it was on June 23rd, standard air conditioning units can struggle to instantly cool a cabin after the vehicle has been parked, though our driver did their utmost to keep the climate as comfortable as possible.
Our team worked diligently under challenging weather conditions to ensure the safety and completion of the tour itinerary for everyone.
This guided trip felt very unorganized. The guide was knowledgeable but his communication about the days events and timing was not very clear. The van that was supposed to be air conditioned was definitely not. The lack of AC and clear communications led to some disgruntled passengers which made the experience pretty miserable.
Great tour! She helped us avoid the crowds while she shared the history and showed us the sites. We loved hearing about the city from her. We would book her again!
Too hot. No AC. Driver smoking in van. No idea of time constraints. No time for lunch or on your own. Not well organized. Some people took a taxi back on their own. Sick from the heat in the van.
The trip is nice and the guide was very good, he gave good information and was telling the history of every spot we visited. The 3 stars review is for the bus, it was old vehicle with almost no air conditioner for almost 7 hours during the month of June and the weather was very hot. The bus was smelling cigarette because of the driver! Make sure you bring your own water.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your feedback and for highlighting the excellent work of our guide. We sincerely apologize for the condition of the bus and the discomfort caused by the air conditioning and odor issues, and we are addressing these concerns with our transportation partner to improve future tours.
Our group of six had mixed feelings about this tour. While it promotes it is a curated shore excursion to fit our cruise schedule, our limited time in Bar due to the ship's itinerary meant we missed out on 2 of the 4 stops per the itinerary but yet paid full price.
Petar met us at the designated location about 10am. He was an excellent driver and good guide for what little we saw. He suggested we see the oldest olive tree in Budva which was fine but it did cost each of us an extra 5 euro. Then off to Budva Old Town. While the streets outside of the historic area were free, if you wanted to go inside to view the ruins, this too was an extra fee. After our tour inside, he was not wanting to drive us into Sveti Stefan and so we opted to travel to Skadar Lake National Park. That was a mistake as there is no real area to enjoy scenery or walk as it is just the lake which again is an exta cost of 20 euro each. So we left there disappointed after the long drive and asked to stop for lunch since it was mid-afternoon and we had to return to the shuttle stop by 3:15. Petar did take us to a lovely restaurant on the coast where we enjoyed lunch and beautiful views. In hindsight, had we known of the limitations of the time it took to follow the published itinerary, we should have just stayed in Bar and enjoyed the sites on our own.
The itinerary was very good. We can experience different places near Bar.
However the English of the guide was not good enough but we appreciate her effort. Her service was good. The air conditioner was not powerful enough for 17 people in the bus.
Tour involved a boat-ride on a lake that is not covered in the cost. Upon arrival, our group had to wait considerable time for guide to arrange ride and then wait for boat to be available. It cost an additional 20euros and quite frankly was a waste of time as there was nothing remarkable to see. Time would of been better spent longer in the old town of Bar.
No time from start of tour (0800 to 1430) to purchase/stop for lunch therefore bring something along.
Have traveled extensively and used Viator many times with great success. However this tour was a total disappointment. It was a small group tour and 15 people were crammed into an old bus. The scenery was beautiful and the towns quaint but we were rushed through. When we stopped at the lake for the boat ride a person in the group was almost an hour late returning to the bus. People were very frustrated and most demanded to be let off by the cruise terminal. Our group of six continued on. At the next stop our tour director walked us into the old town right down the middle of a street. My brother was almost hit by a taxi driver. Then the tour director was very insistent we walk up a series of steep steps to a restaurant at the top. My sister was on oxygen so I told her we refused to climb the steep incline. She was not thinking about her group and their limitations at all. We feel there should be a policy with people being rude and disrespectful to fellow travelers by not returning to the bus on time. We all stood around waiting for this unkind man who never said anything upon boarding the bus. The whole experience left us disappointed.
Our tour guide gave very little history about Bar and Montenegro. She did give us lots on beaches and restaurants and as far as anything historical she just said next time we should explore these places.
They crammed way too many on the bus. We had 18 on our bus and we ended up in the back room. No one should sit there. We had no window so we couldn’t see anything we passed , and the ride was so uncomfortable and bumpy. My back aches after that day.
Then tour guide also spoke so quietly that we couldn’t hear her at the back over the air conditioning that blasted down behind us. There were 2 others sitting beside us and they complained and at the first stop the driver checked to make sure all the speakers were on which made it a bit better. 10 people asked to be let off before we went into old town and they walked to the shuttle. We
Walked up to the castle but then found out it was 5 euros which was fine but then we only had about 20 mins to get back down so not worth taking. We had a couple of people who could not make the walk but she never told them they discovered it when they started.
There was not enough time to even stop for a drink so we just said we would go back to the ship at 4pm . She seemed relieved .
Also she struggled with finding the right words when describing something
Definitely a big disappointment as we knew people who went on a smaller bus and they didn’t get back to the ship til almost 5pm .
Really we took 5 tour through Viator and this was the worst .
Old Town Budva and Starri Bar were excellent, definitely worth a visit. The lake and scenery were lovely but just a handful of our group opted for a boat trip, leaving the rest of us wandering around for an hour. Maybe would be better if the organisers had separate groups for those that want to spend time at the lake
This trip description was misleading. The scenery on the van trip was stunning, and the guide was very knowledgeable. However, if you want to go into the museum at Budva you must pay extra. The same happened in Stari Bar. While we could walk up to the site (among trinket shops and cafes), it cost extra to actually get in.
We also thought we were going to a national park where we could walk around and view the lake. The suggested boat ride was "optional" but if you didn't pay the 20 euro to take the ride, there was no way to even see the lake nor were there any trails or anything to do. Once again, a few tourist shops and small cafes. The boat trip should be part of the excursion and the cost included in the overall price, or it should be mentioned that you will be left for an hour with nothing to really see or do, if you don't take the boat ride.
"Admission ticket free" was not totally accurate for all the experiences at the listed locations.
Tour Review: Day Trip from Bar, Montenegro
I took a day tour from Bar, Montenegro, expecting to see Shkodra Lake and Budva. While Montenegro’s landscapes are beautiful, the tour itself felt rushed and poorly planned, with not nearly enough time at each stop to actually enjoy or explore them.
The guide arrived late, and there was little overall organization or communication. Restroom stops were never clearly planned or announced, so we had to ask on the spot, which added to the chaotic feel.
The vehicle was an older, squeaky van that was overloaded and had no seatbelts. This was noticeable on the winding mountain roads to Shkodra Lake, where long stretches had no guardrails. Safety-wise it was okay, but the ride wasn’t comfortable.
At Shkodra Lake, if you didn’t pay extra for the boat ride, there was essentially nothing to do — just a quick look around before getting back on the van. The stop felt pointless without the optional activity.
Budva was the biggest letdown time-wise. After rushing off for a restroom, we had only a very short window (maybe 15–20 minutes) to walk through the old town or look at souvenirs before being called back. We barely scratched the surface.
The tour also skipped the advertised photo spot entirely — the driver simply passed it by without stopping, ignoring the itinerary.
Overall, the tour gave a surface-level glimpse of some nice places, but the lack of time at each location meant you couldn’t really experience or enjoy them. Better planning, a more reliable vehicle, and realistic stop durations would make a huge difference. I wouldn’t choose this operator again.
The stay at Lake Skadar is not long enough as the boat trip is around an hour, but the stay is only 75 minutes. This does not leave enough time to walk from the bus, buy tickets, take the trip and return to the bus. This then reduces the time to spend in Stari Bar. Otherwise a good trip. Would recommend Budva for a visit.
Our guide, Jelena, offered an excellent tour of Montenegro, showing us the history, nature and culture of the country. We had ample time at each stop to explore, and Jelena offered alternative activities at each location.
Was ok, but not enough time at the first or last stops, felt too rushed. At the middle stop for the lake there should be an alternative to going on the boat - maybe arrange a wine tasting with the restaurant that advertised their wine cellers? There is no time to eat and see the attractions - if you eat at old Town there is not time to actually walk up and see the ruins. It is give a nice overview of the islands geography.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your honest feedback. We’re happy to hear that you found the tour to be a good overview of Montenegro’s landscape.
We appreciate your suggestion regarding Skadar Lake and the possibility of offering a wine tasting alternative. This is a great idea, and we will certainly explore options to enhance the experience at this stop.
As for the timing, we understand that it can feel rushed. However, this excursion is specifically designed for cruise guests with limited time in port. The one hour in Bar Old Town is planned to allow guests to see the main attractions while ensuring a guaranteed return to the ship. The concept of the tour is to provide a bit of everything within the available timeframe.
We truly appreciate your input, as it helps us continue refining our tours.
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