what to see in montenegro

We suggest starting your tour of Montenegro from the breathtaking Bay of Kotor. This is undoubtedly the flagship attraction of Montenegro, described in all guides and advertising brochures, which you must see. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List, it is referred to as the “Mediterranean fjord”, although it has nothing to do with the fjord. It was created as a result of the flooding of the river valley, and not the activity of the glacier.

The Bay of Kotor is commonly known as Boka Kotorska, which means mouth in Italian (bocca). Looking at it from above, one gets the impression that its shape undoubtedly resembles them. In addition, the bay is surrounded by several picturesque ranges of the Dinaric Mountains. To the north-west it is Mount Orjen, to the north-east it is Ledenice, and to the south-east it is Lovcen. The bay itself cuts deep into the mountainous land, and there are as many as 9 islands in its dark blue waters. The unique topography and the surroundings of high mountains make the Bay of Kotor one of the most unusual places in Europe.

In addition to its breathtaking view, the Bay of Kotor is also famous for its charming medieval towns with a rich history. The most popular of them are Kotor, Perast, and Risan. Their old towns, filled with charming stone houses with orange tiles, contrast beautifully with the blue sky and the navy blue waters of the bay. The view is insane, especially from the ramparts above the Old Town of Kotor! There are also popular resorts located on the bay. The largest of them is Herceg Novi, the most luxurious and modern is Tivat.

Montenegrin attractions are also national parks. This small country has five of them. The most popular of them is the Lovćen National Park because it is visited during a visit to the Bay of Kotor. The park covers an area of ​​6,220 ha, and its highest peak, Štirovnik, rises 1,749 m above sea level.

In addition to breathtaking views, the Lovćen National Park also offers the opportunity to visit the Mausoleum of Peter II Petrović-Niegosz – an extremely important historical figure in Montenegro. The bishop and former ruler of Montenegro was the forerunner of the country’s modern state organization. He initiated, among others the development of education, introduced taxes, and throughout his reign he fought with the Turks to maintain Montenegro’s borders. His mausoleum was erected on the Jezerski Vrh mountain (1657 m above sea level), on which there was also a viewing platform with a beautiful view of the park and the Bay of Kotor. And even for the latter, it is worth visiting this place.

The interior of Montenegro, apart from the mountains and lakes, also delights with picturesque canyons: Tara, Piva, and Moraca. We have already mentioned the Piva Canyon above. You can admire it while driving along Lake Piva between Plužine and the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The views are amazing there. Nevertheless, it is the Tara River canyon that leads the way in Montenegro. It is the longest canyon in Europe, stretching for about 150 kilometers, and its depth sometimes reaches 1,300 m. Its uniqueness is also evidenced by the fact that it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List.

You will cross the Tara Canyon driving from Zabljak to Mojkovac. Make sure to stop at the popular Durdjevic Bridge along the way. This is another attraction of the Durmitor National Park that is extremely popular. The bridge was built before World War II. It is 170 meters high and 360 meters long, and its characteristic feature is 5 huge spans. At one time, the bridge was the largest structure of this type in Europe. You can walk on the bridge. However, you have to be careful because it is not excluded from car traffic! The best views of the bridge, however, are from the banks of the canyon.

Skadar Lake is one of five National parks in Montenegro and has things to do in Podgorica. It’s just 20 min drive from the Capital. It is completely different from the other four but just as unique. What’s so special about it? Well, among other things, it covers the picturesque Skadar Lake, which is the largest lake on the Balkan Peninsula! 2/3 of its area belongs to Montenegro and 1/3 to Albania. The Montenegrin-Albanian border also runs through Lake Skadar.

As if that were not enough, almost half of all bird species that occur in Europe live in Lake Skadar. They include, among others, ducks, swallows, herons, and cormorants. It is also home to pelicans, one of the few places in Europe where you can meet this species of birds. Carps also live in the lake, and on its surface, there are numerous islets (including Beska, Grmozur, Moracnik, Starcevo, Tophana) famous for their historic churches and monasteries.

As a curiosity, we will add that Skadar Lake has a complicated and variable coastline depending on the water level. In winter and early spring, the rivers that flow into the lake supply its waters, and the surface area of ​​the lake grows up to 540 square kilometers. In summer, the lake’s surface shrinks to around 360 square kilometers.

As the main attraction of this place, we recommend a boat or canoe trip on the lake. Skadar Lake cruises depart from Virpazar. Their cost is approx. 30 Euro/hour, plus an entrance ticket to the Skadar Lake National Park (4 EUR).

You can choose from several routes of different lengths. You can sail to the east or west side of the lake, to sunrise or sunset, on a full-day or several-hour cruise. It all depends on your preferences.