What to see in Montenegro
Montenegro is a magnificent country for travel, where everyone can find literally everything, but in different cities. For example, in Budva you can party, in Tivat — enjoy luxury, and in Herceg Novi — relax on the beach.
We tell you about cool places worth visiting in Montenegro to remember your vacation for a long time.
Main cities of Montenegro
Tivat
This is one of the two cities where you will most likely fly. It is small, only 46 square kilometers, with a population of about 9,500 people. But despite its size, crowds of tourists literally pass through it every day — mostly those who love a quiet beach holiday.
Tivat's main feature is Porto Montenegro marina, a berth for the most expensive yachts. If you love luxury or at least admiring it— this is the place for you.
Herceg Novi
The city of a hundred stairs or a thousand steps — that's Herceg Novi. Here you will indeed have to climb and descend frequently. But you won't see such a landscape anywhere else.
The city has interesting sights like the old sea fortress, where cannons are still preserved. And also an embankment, churches, and a lot of greenery. One could say that Herceg Novi is concentrated Montenegro, so it is still worth visiting.
Kotor
Like any city on the coast, Kotor is proud of its historical part. Here is a fortress wall, along which you can calmly walk and take photos.
And Kotor is also a city of cats, which are everywhere here. There's even a Cat Square: if you sit on a bench, a bunch of purring buddies will run up to you in a few seconds.
Budva
The country's main party city: it has two nightclubs, over ten beaches, and even a whole water park. During the off-season, a peaceful atmosphere reigns here, but as soon as it gets warmer, Budva joyfully welcomes crowds of tourists.
Almost everyone likes Budva because everyone can find entertainment here. And it's very easy to get to — for example, directly by bus from Tivat.
Bar
The country's main maritime city, but not entirely touristy — there's a port through which many ships pass. This city is perfect for getting acquainted with the real Montenegro: without pretentiousness and tourist entertainment.
Oh, by the way, Bar has many churches and mosques. So you'll definitely be able to enjoy the architecture!
Žabljak
The highest city in the entire Balkans and a center for mountain tourism. People come here specifically for active recreation: rafting, mountaineering, and hiking. Žabljak is small, literally looking like a village. But this is more than enough for those who are passionate about mountains.
By the way, tours to the Durmitor National Park and Reserve usually depart from this city.
You can always find cheap flights to Tivat and Podgorica on Kupi.com.
Popular beach resorts
Bečići
A cozy resort on the Adriatic coast, just three kilometers from Budva. It has great hotels, a lovely beach, and is a starting point for interesting excursions throughout Montenegro.
By the way, the main highlight of Bečići is its beach, which received a medal and the title "Best Beach in Europe". Wow, such an award is quite an achievement!
Rafailovići
A small village next to Bečići with shared beaches. Currently, it is a modern resort with developed tourist infrastructure. Rafailovići is worth choosing for its layered rocks and excellent fish restaurants, for which people come here from all corners of Montenegro.
Sveti Stefan
A closed island-hotel just nine kilometers from Budva. True, it's an island with a stretch: it's only 500 meters from the mainland, and you can reach it via a sandy causeway. This is a popular spot among the elite: members of royal families from Italy, Monaco, and the Netherlands have stayed here, as well as celebrities like Yuri Gagarin, Sophia Loren, Claudia Schiffer, Sylvester Stallone, and others.
Overall, heading to Montenegro in summer is a blast. Here you'll find the sea, cool castles, and all without extra hassle with documents. And we've already told you where you can go to the sea without a visa.
Cultural and historical attractions
Old Town in Budva
Actually, there are Old Towns in Bar, Herceg Novi, and Ulcinj. But it is in Budva that this area has gained iconic status: it is the most popular party spot in Montenegro.
Porto Montenegro
A luxurious marina in Tivat that attracts owners of expensive yachts. In general, this is a luxury place and a city within a city, where all luxury lovers dream of visiting. Here you can enjoy upscale restaurants, aromatic coffee, and exquisite wine*.
Đurđevića Bridge
A calling card of Montenegro. This is a high arch bridge, 365 meters long and 172 meters high, spanning one of Europe's deepest canyons. It was designed by architect Mijat Trojanović, but named after the owner of a nearby farm.
There are two zip lines on the bridge that you can ride. There used to be bungee jumping here too, but it was recently banned — such entertainment interfered with motorists.
Sedlo Pass
The highest mountain road in the country: the highest point is at an altitude of 1,907 meters. Keep in mind that this pass is an endless narrow serpentine road. But it's very beautiful — it's worth going here at least once, and if you're an experienced driver, it's pure pleasure by car.
* smoking and alcohol are harmful to your health.
Natural parks and reserves
Durmitor
A national park in northern Montenegro right in the center of the Durmitor mountain range. Skiers love it, although non-athletes will also find something here — the nature is beautiful.
By the way, the climate in this park is very different from the coast: winter here is long, and summer is short, but despite this, every year there is a vibrant bloom.
Lovćen
A national park near the city of Kotor in southwestern Montenegro. Here, two climates meet: marine and high-mountain. It is said that the air in this area is healing — so breathe deeply.
Lake Skadar
A unique place that belongs to two countries: Montenegro and Albania. The lake is one of the largest in the country: it stretches for 50 kilometers and is up to six meters deep. Here you can also see the ruins of ancient fortresses and active churches.
Active recreation and adventures
Rafting
Entertainment and even a sport for the bravest travelers. Hop on a raft and try to conquer the turbulent mountain rivers. If you're a pro, you already know what to do. But if you're a beginner, only go with an instructor and only in a group. Such activities are dangerous and not for everyone.
Diving
Conquer the bays of Montenegro, which have long been sought after by Romans, Germans, and Turks. There's plenty to see: picturesque reefs, marine life, and even sunken ships — all the beauties are hard to describe. Most people go to Budva for diving, specifically to the Budva Riviera. Here you can easily find an organized group with whom you can safely dive to the bottom.
Canyoning
There are many mountain rivers in Montenegro, which means there are also many canyons — almost all of them can be conquered. Essentially, it's rock climbing, but instead of ascending a mountain, you squeeze between rocks. Canyoning programs usually also include swimming in mountain rivers, jumping into natural pools, and extreme descents down cliffs and waterfalls. As with rafting — amateurs should not try to do this on their own.
The most popular places are the Tara and Nevidio canyons. You can easily book a tour there with professionals.
How to get to Montenegro
First, you need to decide what you love more — mountains or the sea. If mountains, then head to Podgorica; if the sea, then to Tivat. Only these cities have airports.
Unfortunately, it's not possible to get to Montenegro by direct flight from Russia: the airspace for planes from our country is closed.
But that's no problem at all, especially with Kupi.com: here you can find cheap tickets with layovers and fly with pleasure. Or maybe you'll even decide on a stopover: that's when you spend a few days partying in the layover city.
What you need to know before your trip
– Time difference: –1 hour time.
– Tourist season: May — October.
– Currency: Euro.
– Visa: not required for Russians, you can stay in the country for up to 30 days. If you wish to stay longer, you only need to do a visa run (exit and re-enter).
– When you arrive in the country, you need to register to pay the tourist tax. If you checked into a hotel, there are no problems — they will do everything for you. But if you are renting an apartment, it's better to take care of your safety and very persistently remind the hosts about registration: if they forget, you could be fined up to 40 euros at the airport for each day without registration. Therefore, insistently ask for a receipt for the registration payment — it will confirm that the hosts have completed all documents.
Useful tips for tourists
– In Montenegro, Russian cards are not accepted, so it's best to think about currency in advance. We do not recommend exchanging at the airport — the exchange rate there is very poor. If you still want to exchange money in the country, join tourist chats — people there will tell you where it's most profitable to do so.
– SIM cards in Montenegro are inexpensive, and any tourist can get one. It's better to bother and get one to always stay connected. Believe me, the internet can come in handy in the most unexpected situations.
– Be prepared to walk a lot. Montenegro is a country of mountains, and even in large cities there can be significant elevation changes. Therefore, comfortable clothing and good sneakers are simply vital.
– If you want to travel in the mountains, you don't have to worry about special equipment: rentals are available almost everywhere.
– Download the Kupi.com app. We will notify you of any changes to your flight, and you will also be able to access your tickets even without internet — very useful for international travel.
– Read our blog further. We talk about where to go to the sea abroad.
We wish you a great trip to Montenegro!
