Dylan and Maddy
The Ultimate 3 Days in Montenegro Itinerary for First Timers
Montenegro was one of the destinations we were most excited to visit during our summer trip through the Balkans. With its dramatic mountains, beautiful Adriatic coastline, and charming towns like Kotor and Budva, it seemed like the perfect place to spend a few days exploring.
We spent three days in Montenegro, splitting our time between Budva, Kotor, and a private boat tour through the Bay of Kotor. While three days only gives you a taste of what Montenegro has to offer, we were able to see some of the country’s highlights and experience a little bit of everything.
We visited in early July during a heat wave, so it was HOT — around 95°F (35°C) most days. That definitely affected how we planned our days, but it didn’t stop us from having a great time.
If you’re planning your first trip to Montenegro and only have three days, here’s exactly how we’d recommend spending them.
Table of Contents
How to Get to Montenegro
There are a few different ways you can get to Montenegro depending on where you’re coming from.
Montenegro has two major international airports: Podgorica Airport and Tivat Airport. If you’re already traveling through Croatia, another option is to fly into Dubrovnik and travel overland into Montenegro. That was actually our original plan.
We were supposed to fly into Dubrovnik and then drive into Montenegro because flights that way were significantly cheaper for us. It also seemed like a convenient way to combine Croatia and Montenegro into one trip. Of course, travel plans don’t always go exactly as planned.
Our first flight was delayed, which caused us to miss our connecting flight in Frankfurt. And somehow, this was the second time we’ve missed a connecting flight in Frankfurt. At this point, we’re convinced that Frankfurt Airport is simply cursed for us.
We had to completely pivot our plans and ended up flying into Podgorica instead. From there, we took a taxi to our stay in Budva. It definitely wasn’t how we expected to arrive in Montenegro, but thankfully, we were able to make it work and didn’t let the travel fiasco ruin the start of our trip.
If you’re planning a trip similar to ours, we’d recommend looking at all three options before booking your flights. Depending on where you’re coming from, flying into Dubrovnik and crossing into Montenegro can sometimes be a much cheaper option.
How to Get Around Montenegro
This is one area where we’d definitely recommend planning ahead. There is no Uber or Bolt in Montenegro, so your main options are rental cars, taxis, and buses.
The buses were actually pretty reliable for us. They generally stuck to their schedules, which was reassuring because we had a few different connections to make during our trip.
However, getting to the bus stations and figuring everything out was not exactly our favorite travel experience.
The bus stations weren’t always particularly convenient to get to, and we found some of the interactions when trying to ask for help to be frustrating. There was definitely a bit of confusion at times. That said, once we were actually on the buses, everything went pretty smoothly.
Should You Rent a Car in Montenegro?
If we could do our trip again, we would probably rent a car.
Driving in Montenegro did look like it could be stressful at times, especially with the winding roads and mountains, and parking in popular destinations can also be a challenge. But having a car would have given us so much more freedom.
We had originally wanted to visit Sveti Stefan, for example, but without a car and with only three days, getting there was more complicated than we wanted to deal with. A rental car would also make it much easier to stop at viewpoints, explore smaller towns, and adjust your itinerary as you go.
We ended up relying on buses because we had to make our last-minute switch to Podgorica and couldn’t find a rental car available on such short notice.
If you’re planning your trip ahead of time, we’d seriously recommend renting a car.
Our 3 Days in Montenegro at a Glance
If you only have three days in Montenegro, here’s how we’d recommend breaking up your time:
- Day 1: Budva
- Day 2: Kotor
- Day 3: Blue Cave, Our Lady of the Rocks & Perast
This itinerary gives you a nice mix of beaches, historic towns, mountains, and time on the water.
You won’t see everything Montenegro has to offer in three days, but you’ll get a really good introduction to the country’s coastline.
Day 1: Budva
We spent our first full day in Montenegro exploring Budva.
Budva is one of the country’s most popular coastal destinations and is known for its beaches, Old Town, and lively atmosphere.
After the travel chaos we experienced getting into Montenegro, we were definitely ready for a slower day.
Explore Budva Old Town
We started our day by exploring Budva’s Old Town.
The Old Town is surrounded by historic stone walls and is filled with narrow streets, restaurants, shops, and historic buildings.
It’s a really pretty area to walk around, although we found that you don’t necessarily need an entire day just to explore the Old Town itself.
There are a few major sights worth checking out while you’re there, including the Citadela and the Church of St. John.
Citadela Budva
One of the highlights of Budva’s Old Town is Citadela Budva, a historic fortress located right along the coast.
The location is probably the best part. You get beautiful views over the Adriatic Sea and the surrounding coastline, and it’s a great place to appreciate just how beautiful Budva’s setting is.
It’s also a great spot to take some photos while you’re exploring the Old Town.
Church of Saint John
The Church of Saint John is another notable landmark inside Budva’s Old Town. The church dates back centuries and is one of the most recognizable buildings in the historic center.
It’s easy to include during your walk through Old Town since everything is relatively close together. Overall, we enjoyed exploring Budva’s historic center, but we wouldn’t say there was an endless list of things to do here.
For us, the best part of the day ended up being getting out of the Old Town and spending some time by the water.
Spend Some Time at Tropico Beach
After exploring Old Town, we headed to Tropico Beach. And honestly, it was exactly what we needed.
It was 95°F outside, so spending some time in the water was basically non-negotiable. The beach itself was beautiful, and the surrounding cliffs make the scenery even better.
One thing that surprised us, though, was how cold the Adriatic Sea was in July. We were expecting the water to feel much warmer considering it was basically 95 degrees outside.
Instead, we stood at the edge of the water for a minute debating whether we actually wanted to get in. Eventually, we just had to commit and jump in and once we were in, it was actually pretty refreshing.
After walking around in that kind of heat, the cold water felt pretty amazing. If you’re visiting Budva during the summer, we’d definitely recommend making time for a beach stop.
Optional: Visit Sveti Stefan
One place we originally wanted to visit during our time in Montenegro was Sveti Stefan.
We had planned to go during our Budva day when we were supposed to have a rental car, but since we were relying on public transportation and only had three days, getting there wasn’t as convenient as we wanted.
If you have a rental car, we’d definitely recommend looking into adding Sveti Stefan to your itinerary. The tiny island village surrounded by the Adriatic is one of Montenegro’s most recognizable sights, and it’s a place we’d still like to see properly if we return.
If you have a car and more flexibility than we did, Sveti Stefan would make a great addition to your first day.
Day 2: Kotor
If there was one place in Montenegro that completely blew us away, it was Kotor. Kotor was easily one of the most beautiful cities we’ve visited in Europe.
The combination of the historic Old Town, towering mountains, and the Bay of Kotor creates a setting that is honestly hard to beat.
Explore Kotor Old Town
We started our day by exploring Kotor’s Old Town.
Much like Budva, Kotor has a beautiful historic center filled with narrow stone streets, historic buildings, churches, restaurants, and little squares. But Kotor felt different to us.
The mountains surrounding the city make the setting feel almost unreal, and we constantly found ourselves looking up at the massive mountains surrounding the Old Town. Kotor also felt less commercialized than Budva, which we enjoyed.
Visit St. Tryphon Cathedral
One of the major landmarks inside Kotor’s Old Town is the Cathedral of St. Tryphon.
The cathedral is one of the city’s most important historic buildings and is beautiful both inside and out. It’s also conveniently located within the Old Town, so it’s easy to visit while you’re exploring the city
Say Hi to Kotor's Cats
Okay, we have to talk about the cats. There are cats everywhere in Kotor.
And we’re not complaining. Cats are a huge part of the culture here, and you’ll see them wandering through the Old Town, hanging around restaurants, and generally doing whatever cats feel like doing.
What’s especially interesting is that these aren’t simply stray cats that everyone ignores. The city and local organizations take care of them, and you’ll find places around Kotor dedicated to caring for the city’s cat population.
We thought this was one of the most unique things about Kotor. So if you’re a cat person, like we are, prepare yourself. You’re going to have a great time.
Walk the City Walls
One of the top things to do in Kotor is walk along the city’s historic walls.
We didn’t actually walk the city walls ourselves, but we could see them winding up the mountainside above the Old Town. If you’re up for a bit of a climb, you can make your way along the fortifications for some incredible views of Kotor, the Old Town, and the Bay of Kotor.
It definitely involves some elevation, so keep that in mind if you’re visiting during the summer. We were there during a heat wave, so we decided to admire the walls from below instead!
If you’re visiting when the weather is a little more manageable, though, walking the city walls would be a great way to see Kotor from a different perspective.
Hike to Kotor Fortress
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can hike up toward Kotor Fortress, also known as the Castle of San Giovanni.
The views from above are supposed to be incredible. We wouldn’t know.
There was absolutely no way we were hiking up a mountain in 95-degree weather. Sometimes you have to know your limits.
If you’re visiting during cooler weather, though, this would definitely be something we’d consider adding. The panoramic views over Kotor and the Bay of Kotor look incredible.
Relax at Kotor Beach
After exploring the Old Town, we also spent some time at a small beach in Kotor. The scenery here was beautiful, with the mountains rising dramatically around the water.
It was another perfect opportunity to cool down after spending time walking around the city. And honestly, when it’s 95°F outside, having a beach nearby is a pretty nice luxury.
Take the Kotor Cable Car
Later in the day, we headed to the Kotor Cable Car. This was one of our favorite experiences in Montenegro.
The cable car takes you up the mountain above Kotor, giving you incredible views over the Bay of Kotor along the way. The views alone make the ride worth doing.
But once you’re at the top, there’s even more to do.
Ride the Kotor Alpine Coaster
Our favorite thing at the top of the mountain was the Kotor Alpine Coaster. And this was SO much fun.
You’re essentially in your own little coaster car, and you can control how fast you go. So naturally, we had to see how fast we could go.
The ride winds down the mountain with incredible scenery surrounding you, and there were moments where we were basically just laughing while taking in the views.
Looking out over the Bay of Kotor from the coaster was such a cool experience. This ended up being one of our favorite things we did in the entire country.
If you’re looking for something beyond sightseeing and historic landmarks, we highly recommend adding the Alpine Coaster to your Kotor itinerary.
Other Things to Do at the Top
There are a few other activities available around the cable car’s upper station as well. You can try the Falcon Fly, grab something to eat or drink, and browse some of the shops.
We mainly came for the Alpine Coaster, but it’s easy to spend some extra time up here enjoying the views.
And honestly, after spending a day walking around Kotor, it was nice to end the day doing something completely different.
Day 3: Blue Cave, Our Lady of the Rocks & Perast
Our third day in Montenegro ended up being our favorite. We booked a private boat charter and spent the day out on the water visiting the Blue Cave and Our Lady of the Rocks.
This was such a different experience from our first two days, and we loved being able to slow down and enjoy the scenery.
Take a Boat Tour of the Bay of Kotor
There are plenty of different boat tours available around the Bay of Kotor, but we decided to do a private charter.
And we were so glad we did. One of our favorite parts was simply being out on the water. After spending the first two days walking around towns in 95-degree heat, getting on a boat and having the wind hit your face was pretty much perfect.
We also loved being able to get away from the crowds. Montenegro is beautiful from land, but seeing the mountains and towns from the water gives you a completely different perspective.
Visit the Blue Cave
The Blue Cave was one of the main reasons we wanted to take this boat tour. The cave is known for its bright blue water, which is created when sunlight enters the cave and reflects through the water.
And while it was definitely cool to see, we do want to give you a little reality check. It wasn’t nearly as blue as we were led to believe.
We’ve all seen the photos and videos where the water looks almost neon blue, and we were expecting something pretty spectacular. The reality was a little less dramatic.
That doesn’t mean we didn’t enjoy it. It was still really cool to see the cave, and we got some really fun GoPro photos while we were there. We also got to swim in the water, which made the experience even better.
Just don’t go into it expecting the cave to look exactly like the most heavily edited photos you’ve seen online.
Swim in the Adriatic Sea
Honestly, one of our favorite parts of the boat tour wasn’t even a specific attraction. It was just swimming in the Adriatic Sea.
Being out on the boat, surrounded by mountains and beautiful blue water, with nowhere we needed to be for a little while was exactly what we wanted.
After the heat and sightseeing of the previous two days, it felt incredibly relaxing. This is one of those travel experiences that doesn’t necessarily show up on a list of “top things to do”, but it’s the kind of moment that sticks with you.
Visit Our Lady of the Rocks
Our next major stop was Our Lady of the Rocks. The small island sits in the Bay of Kotor and is home to a church that has become one of the area’s most recognizable landmarks.
We thought it was really neat to actually visit the island and learn more about it. The location is beautiful, and seeing the surrounding mountains and water from the island was another highlight of the day.
See Perast From the Water
Our boat tour also gave us the opportunity to see Perast from the water. And wow, this looked like a place we’d love to explore more.
Perast is a small historic town sitting along the Bay of Kotor, with beautiful stone buildings and mountains rising behind it. We didn’t have as much time as we’d have liked to explore Perast on foot, but seeing it from the water gave us a great glimpse of the town.
If you have extra time in Montenegro, we’d definitely recommend adding some time in Perast to your itinerary. It looked like the perfect place to slow down, walk along the waterfront, and enjoy the scenery.
What to Eat in Montenegro
We thought the food in Montenegro was overall pretty solid. One of the foods you’ll see everywhere is cevapi, a type of grilled minced meat typically served with bread and various sides.
We liked it! But after eating cevapi approximately 10+ times, we eventually reached the point where we were like, “Okay… maybe we don’t need cevapi again.” We definitely think you should give it a try while you’re in Montenegro!
Gluten-Free Food in Montenegro
As someone with celiac disease, finding gluten-free food is always something I have to think about when traveling.
One of the restaurants we really enjoyed was La Catedrale Pasta Bar in Kotor, which had gluten-free pasta available. And the pasta was actually some of the best pasta we’ve ever had.
Finding good gluten-free options while traveling can be a challenge, so having a restaurant in Kotor with a gluten-free pasta option was a huge win for us.
If you’re traveling with dietary restrictions, we’d still recommend doing your own research before visiting and communicating your needs clearly at restaurants, but it was nice to have a great option during our time in Kotor.
Visiting Montenegro in July
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Montenegro in July was HOT.
We visited in early July during a heat wave, and temperatures reached around 95°F (35°C). That’s definitely hotter than what you’d typically expect in Montenegro during July, when temperatures are generally more in the 80s°F.
So, while our experience was very hot, don’t let that scare you away from visiting Montenegro in July! We just happened to be there during an unusually intense stretch of heat.
The 95-degree temperatures definitely made sightseeing more tiring than it normally would have been. Walking around historic Old Towns is one thing when it’s in the 80s. Doing it when it’s pushing 95°F with barely a cloud in the sky is a completely different experience.
If you’re visiting Montenegro in the summer, we’d still recommend:
- Starting outdoor activities earlier in the morning
- Taking breaks during the hottest part of the day
- Bringing plenty of water
- Packing sunscreen
- Building in time for swimming or relaxing
- Not trying to cram too many activities into one day
For us, having beaches and the boat tour built into our itinerary was perfect because it gave us plenty of opportunities to cool down.
And honestly, if you’re lucky enough to visit when temperatures are in the more typical 80s, you’ll probably have a much easier time exploring everything Montenegro has to offer!
How Many Days Do You Need in Montenegro?
We think three days in Montenegro is a great amount of time for a first visit, especially if you’re mainly interested in the coastal region.
Three days gave us enough time to experience Budva, Kotor, and the Bay of Kotor without constantly feeling like we were rushing from one attraction to another. That said, we definitely could have used more time.
If you truly want to see more of the entire country and take a proper road trip through Montenegro, we’d recommend setting aside at least 10-14 days. There are mountains, the incredible Durmitor National Park, smaller towns, beaches, and other areas throughout the country that we simply couldn’t fit into a three-day coastal itinerary.
If you have four or five days, we’d recommend slowing things down and adding some of the places we couldn’t fit into our trip.
Sveti Stefan would be high on our list, especially if you have a rental car. We’d also spend more time in Perast and explore more of the country beyond the coast.
Montenegro is a relatively small country, but there’s a surprising amount to see. Three days is enough for a great introduction, but if you want to really explore the country, give yourself at least a week and ideally 10-14 days.
Final Thoughts: Is Montenegro Worth Visiting?
Overall, we really liked Montenegro. Would we put it in our all-time favorite destinations? Probably not.
But that doesn’t mean we didn’t have a great time. Kotor was one of the most beautiful cities we’ve ever visited in Europe, and some of the experiences we had there — especially the Kotor Cable Car and Alpine Coaster and our private boat tour — were some of our favorites from the entire trip.
We also loved getting out on the water, swimming in the Adriatic, exploring Budva, and seeing places like Our Lady of the Rocks. Our experience with the people in Montenegro was a little more mixed.
We met a couple of people who were absolutely amazing, funny, and incredibly kind. However, we also had several experiences where people were extremely rude or unhelpful. At one point, we weren’t even allowed to talk on the bus without being shushed.
Trying to ask for help at the bus stations could also be frustrating, and we didn’t always feel particularly welcomed.
That was simply our experience, though, and we’re sure there are plenty of wonderful and welcoming people throughout Montenegro. We don’t want a handful of our interactions to define an entire country or its people.
Despite some of those experiences, we had a really great time exploring Montenegro. The scenery is incredible, Kotor is absolutely stunning, and there are so many fun experiences packed into such a small country.
If you’re an avid traveler looking for somewhere a little different to add to your European itinerary, Montenegro should absolutely be on your list. Three days gave us a great introduction to the country, but it also left us wanting to come back and see more.
And honestly, that’s probably one of the best signs of a great destination.
As always, thank you for supporting our blog, and safe travels!
Want to see what our time in Montenegro actually looked like? Our friend at Jackson’s Adventures on YouTube made a video documenting our trip, so you can see some of these places and experiences for yourself!
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