10 Days in Montenegro: An Adventurous, Budget‑Savvy Journey from Kotor Bay to Durmitor and the Lake Skadar Coast
Montenegro may be small, but it packs dramatic variety: a dazzling Adriatic coast, a UNESCO-listed bay and stone towns, and alpine national parks with glacial lakes and limestone peaks. From Venetian ramparts in Kotor to the wild ridgelines of Durmitor, this 10-day itinerary blends hiking, boating, wine tasting, and photogenic villages—crafted for adventurous travelers watching their budget.
Historically, Montenegro sat at a crossroads of empires—Illyrian, Roman, Venetian, Ottoman—each leaving churches, fortresses, and foodways. You’ll taste that mix in hearty mountain fare (kačamak, slow-cooked lamb) and coastal seafood (octopus, Adriatic mussels), plus the velvety reds of the Crmnica valley near Lake Skadar. Expect mountains meeting the sea, and a culture that prizes hospitality.
Practical notes: the euro is the currency; summer is busy and hot on the coast, with perfect hiking in shoulder seasons. Roads are winding; buses are reliable and budget-friendly. Pack good shoes, a light jacket for mountain evenings, and swim gear for the Blue Cave and lakes. Flights land in Tivat (TIV) or Podgorica (TGD), with Dubrovnik (DBV) just over the border.
Kotor & Boka Bay
Cradled by steep limestone walls, Kotor sits on a mirror-calm bay often called Europe’s southernmost fjord. Venetian lions still guard the gates; cats claim the sunlit squares. Nearby Perast and its islet shrine, Our Lady of the Rocks, make classic boat-hop targets. Photographers love blue hour from the old walls; food lovers drift to konobas grilling just-caught fish.
- Top sights: Kotor Old Town, St. Tryphon Cathedral, San Giovanni fortress walls, Perast, Our Lady of the Rocks, Prčanj waterfront.
- Great eats: Tanjga Steakhouse (grill and sides, great value), Cesarica (local seafood), Bastion (Montenegrin classics), Old Winery (wines and meze), Forza (coffee and cakes).
- Stay: Search central stays near Sea Gate for easy walks and early fortress ascents.
Where to book stays: VRBO Kotor | Hotels.com Kotor
Getting in: Fly into Tivat (20–30 min to Kotor) or Podgorica (1.5–2 hr). For Europe-based flights use Omio Flights. Coming from outside Europe, compare on Trip.com Flights and Kiwi.com. From Dubrovnik, buses to Kotor take ~2.5–3.5 hours (border dependent)—check Omio Buses.
Day 1: Arrive in Kotor
Morning: Travel to Kotor. If landing in Tivat, a taxi or local bus gets you to the Old Town in under 30 minutes (~15–30 EUR by taxi).
Afternoon: Check in and orient yourself on a gentle loop: Sea Gate → Square of Arms → Flour Square → St. Tryphon Cathedral. Coffee and a slice of krempita at Forza. Pop into the Maritime Museum to decode the bay’s sailing past.
Evening: Sunset stroll along the promenade outside the walls. Dinner at Tanjga for budget-friendly platters (try the cevapi with ajvar), then a glass of Vranac at Old Winery. Early night to prep for a sunrise hike.
Day 2: Fortress Sunrise, Perast, and Our Lady of the Rocks
Morning: Beat the heat with a sunrise climb of Kotor’s fortress steps (allow 1.5–2 hours round trip; wall ticket ~10–15 EUR season-dependent). Breakfast after at Kafeterija in the Old Town (solid espresso, flaky burek).
Afternoon: Bus or boat to Perast (15–25 min). Visit the islet church Our Lady of the Rocks and museum, then lunch at Conte (black risotto, bay views). Photograph Baroque bell towers against the karst peaks.
Evening: Back in Kotor, join a guided ramble for deeper context: Private Kotor Walking Tour - Rick Steves Recommended.
Day 3: Blue Cave and Mamula Island by Speedboat
Morning: Pack swim gear for a half-day boat adventure to the luminous Blue Cave, Mamula Fortress (external view), submarine tunnels, and Our Lady of the Rocks. Book: 2025 Blue Cave Speedboat Tour from Kotor.
Afternoon: Recover with a swim at Orahovac or Dobrota’s stone jetties. Quick lunch of priganice (fried dough with cheese and honey) from a local bakery and seasonal fruit from the market outside the gates.
Evening: Dinner at Bastion for slow-cooked lamb or seafood stew. Blue-hour photo sweep of the Old Town lanes; gelato on the promenade.
Day 4: Lovćen National Park, Njeguši Village, and Cetinje
Morning: Head up the Serpentine Road to Lovćen National Park for panoramas over Boka Bay and a visit to the Njegoš Mausoleum (entry ~5–8 EUR). If you prefer a guided full-day with multiple stops: Great Montenegro Tour—Lovćen NP, River of Crnojević, Sveti Stefan.
Afternoon: Taste prosciutto and cheese in Njeguši village, then continue to Cetinje, the old royal capital, to stroll embassy-lined streets and small museums. Fast-casual lunch: local sausages and kajmak at a roadside grill.
Evening: Back to Kotor. Light dinner—shopska salad and grilled veggies—at a konoba; pack for tomorrow’s mountain transfer.
Žabljak (Durmitor National Park)
Durmitor is Montenegro’s high country: glacial lakes, meadows, and serrated peaks that glow gold at dusk. Žabljak, the region’s little hub, makes a perfect base for hikes to Black Lake (Crno jezero), ridge walks to Prutaš, and rafting or ziplines over the Tara River Canyon—the deepest in Europe.
- Top sights: Black Lake, Prutaš ridge, Bobotov Kuk (for experienced hikers), Curevac viewpoint, Đurđevića Tara Bridge and ziplines.
- Fuel up: Restoran Or’o (hearty soups, grilled trout), National Restaurant Savardak (kačamak, cicvara), cafés around the main square for pastries and espresso.
Where to book stays: VRBO Žabljak | Hotels.com Žabljak
Travel Kotor → Žabljak (Day 5 morning): Bus via Podgorica: ~4.5–5.5 hours total, ~20–28 EUR; check Omio Buses. By rental car: ~3–3.5 hours over mountain roads (allow extra for photo stops).
Day 5: Transfer to Žabljak and Black Lake Golden Hour
Morning: Depart Kotor by early bus or self-drive. Pack snacks and water; mountain shops are small.
Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs on the 3.5 km loop around Black Lake (flat, family-friendly; Durmitor NP entry ~5–7 EUR). Watch the spruce reflections shift with the light—great for photography.
Evening: Dinner at Savardak for kačamak (cornmeal, potatoes, kajmak) and grilled lamb. Tea or rakija to warm the chill.
Day 6: Durmitor Ridge Hike and Curevac Viewpoint
Morning: Choose your adventure. Moderate: Prutaš (2393 m) via Škrka valley, renowned for folded limestone “ribs.” Strenuous: Bobotov Kuk (2523 m), the park’s high point, for experienced hikers in stable weather. Start early; bring layers.
Afternoon: Late lunch at Restoran Or’o (trout with garlic and parsley). Drive or taxi to Curevac viewpoint for sweeping Tara Canyon views—sunset is spectacular.
Evening: Hot chocolate in town; review tomorrow’s rafting or zipline plans. Many operators can be booked same day in season (May–Oct).
Day 7: Tara Canyon—Rafting and Ziplines
Morning: Head to Đurđevića Tara Bridge (30–40 min). Zipline across the canyon (various lines; ~25–50 EUR) with GoPro-ready angles. If water levels are good, join a half-day rafting trip in the lower or upper canyon (typically ~50–80 EUR including gear and lunch).
Afternoon: Riverbank lunch of grilled trout or stews at Restaurant Most near the bridge. Easy forest walk around Zminje or Jablan Lake if legs allow.
Evening: Casual bites—warm bread, kajmak, local cheeses. Early to bed; tomorrow you roll back to the sea.
Bar & Lake Skadar Coast (with Budva Day Trip)
Bar is a lived-in port city with Roman and Ottoman layers, a breezy promenade, and the ruins of Stari Bar framed by mountains and aqueduct arches. It’s also a gateway to Lake Skadar’s bird-rich waters and Crmnica’s small wineries. Budva’s beaches and sea caves sit just up the coast for a fun day trip.
- Top sights: Stari Bar fortress, Old Olive Tree, Lake Skadar boat tours from Virpazar, Budva Old Town and Mogren Beach, Sveti Stefan lookout.
- Budget eats: In Stari Bar, Kaldrma (local grills, veggie plates) and Knjaz (hearty mains); on the Bar promenade, seafood grills and gelato stands; in Virpazar, Konoba Badanj (lake fish, meze).
Where to book stays: VRBO Bar | Hotels.com Bar
Bar hotel picks (value to midrange): Stara Čaršija Hotel & Spa (steps from Stari Bar, modern spa), Hotel Princess (seafront promenade), Hotel Pharos (good value, quiet area).
Travel Žabljak → Bar (Day 8 morning): Bus Žabljak→Podgorica (2–3 hr) then train or bus to Bar (train ~1 hr, bus ~1.5 hr). Expect ~12–20 EUR total; check Omio Buses and Omio Trains. By car: ~3.5–4 hours.
Day 8: Stari Bar and the Old Olive Tree
Morning: Travel to Bar and drop bags. Grab a light lunch from a local pekara (bakery)—try cheese burek and yogurt.
Afternoon: Explore Stari Bar’s fortress ruins, stone lanes, and aqueduct remains. Visit the 2,000+ year-old Old Olive Tree (Stara maslina), a symbol of endurance and peace.
Evening: Dinner in Stari Bar: Kaldrma for grilled meats, peppers, and salads; or Knjaz for mixed platters and mountain views. Stroll the seafront for gelato.
Day 9: Lake Skadar—Boats, Birds, and Crmnica Wine
Morning: Train or bus to Virpazar (train ~25 min). Join a 2-hour boat tour through water-lily carpets under limestone cliffs—prime for birding and photography. Bring a hat and sunscreen.
Afternoon: Lunch at Konoba Badanj (lake carp or eel, local cheeses). Then sample wines in the Crmnica valley—family cellars around Godinje often pour Vranac and Krstač; or arrange a visit to the dramatic Šipčanik cellar near Podgorica for Plantaže’s range.
Evening: Back to Bar for a budget seafood dinner on the promenade—grilled sardines, shopska salad, and cold Niksicko beer. Early night or beach walk.
Day 10: Budva Sea Caves and Farewell
Morning: Day trip to Budva (~1 hr by bus). Paddle along cliffs and into small caves on a guided kayak or SUP: Budva Bay: Kayak & SUP Tour to Coastal Caves.
Afternoon: Quick wander of Budva’s walled Old Town and Mogren Beach, or bus back to Bar to collect bags. Transfer to Podgorica Airport (bus ~1.5 hr to Podgorica + 15-min taxi) or Tivat (allow ~2–2.5 hr total via Budva). For Europe routes, check Omio Flights. For long-haul options, compare on Trip.com and Kiwi.com.
Evening: If time allows, farewell dinner at Jadran Kod Krsta in Budva (generous seafood, lively vibe) or a simple pizza-by-the-slice near Bar station before your flight. Aim to be at the airport 2 hours early in summer.
Cost-Savvy Tips
- Eat your main meal at lunch; many konobas have better prices midday.
- Use buses between hubs and trains where possible (Podgorica–Bar line is scenic and cheap). Check schedules/tickets on Omio Buses and Omio Trains.
- National park entries are modest; always carry cash for small fees and rural tastings.
Why this route works: It balances Kotor’s coastal classics and boat tours with Durmitor’s big-mountain hiking and Tara Canyon thrills, then winds down amid Lake Skadar’s slow waters and winery stops—maximizing adventure without blowing the budget.
Accommodation quick links by city: Kotor: VRBO | Hotels.com — Žabljak: VRBO | Hotels.com — Bar: VRBO | Hotels.com (plus Bar picks: Stara Čaršija Hotel & Spa, Hotel Princess, Hotel Pharos).
In 10 days you’ll trace Montenegro’s greatest hits and hidden angles: a UNESCO bay by boat, limestone peaks by boot, and lake country by glass and oar. Expect full memory cards, sore but happy legs, and a plan to come back for the trails you didn’t yet conquer.