Epic Adventures Await: Road Tripping Through Montenegro
During our road trip to Albania & Montenegro we spend around 7 days in Montenegro. As the country is only 1/3 of Belgium we do think this is enough to visit the highlights. However, Durmitor National Park and several other regions could easily serve as perfect location to do some more day hikes. We did enjoy the days near the cost where we could combine day hikes with ending with 1 or 2 hours on the beach before having dinner.
- Podgorica
- Mrtvica Canyon
- Biogradska National Park
- Bobotov Kuk
- Durmitor National Park
- Nicsic area & Ostrog Monastery
- Tivat & Kotor
- Budva
- Ada Bojana
When we came from Albania it was noticeable that prices were higher in Montenegro. We paid 4,5 euro for a Coca-Cola in Tivat (2025) which is quite expensive to our standars. In Albania we didn’t pay more than 3 euro for a Coca-Cola.
1. Podgorica
Coming from Albania you can visit the Nijagara Waterfall before reaching Podgorica. I guess the name was selected little opportunistic but nevertheless it’s a nice waterfall that isn’t that far from the main road. There is a big restaurant next to the river before you reach the waterfall which seems cosy to have a coffee or a drink.
When looking for some information about the capital we read everywhere that it isn’t a big deal. Still we wanted to go and check it out ourselves. We started with visiting the Temple of Christ’s Resurrection as it was close to the parking lot and the Temple is nice inside. We walked a bit around, pasted the Millenium bridge and the square with the Hard Rock caffee and a pedestrian area, but to be honest we can confirm that this city isn’t too special. You can safely just pass by without even spending some time. Continue your journey to go and explore why you are in Montenegro: nature!
2. Mrtvica Canyon
We continued our journey in the direction of Kolasin and before you reach the city, you will pass the Mrtvica Canyon. It’s a great canyon to hike through and there is an opportunity to swim. You will reach the bridge and swimming hole quite shortly after the parking, but we decided to keep it for last and first do the hike. It’s a return hike and it’s really worth of your time. After several kilometers there is a carved walking path which makes it quite special. The hike we planned was 14 km and although we went a bit further than planned, Strava made it 19 km. Probably a bit too much due to the high mountain walls, so probably the hike was around 16 km.
When coming back we went to the swimming hole near the bridge that we spotted ealier. There is no clear path to the river, or at least we didn’t find it. We did however find a path where you have to climb a bit from the walls. Mostly save in our opinion, but we’ll leave it up to your judgement whether you go for it or not. We were there around June and the water was freezing cold! Nevertheless we managed to go in and the refreshment was very welcome after such an intense hike. We ended the evening in our small hotel in Kolasin and went for dinner in Restauran Vodenika. They have a very nice terrace at the river where you see fisherman trying to catch some fish.
3. Biogradska National Park
We started the day early in Biogradska NP which was convenient to get parking as it quickly fills up later on the day. We found a nice loop hike towards viewpoint Bendovac, for a distance of 15 km. It started through the forest with quite some turns and then a final steep part to the viewpoint. We however would encourage to do the loop in the opposite direction as after the viewpoint the descent was quite steep of which we think it’s beter to go up the path and then have a more gentle downhill, or at least that is our preference.
4. Bobotov Kuk (Durmitor National Park)
Today we went on a mission as we wanted to reach Bobotov Kuk. We started quite early in the morning and left from Zabljak to the parking lot near Valovito lake. On the parking we were asked to buy a ticket for day entrance to the National Park. Later on the day we went to the Crno Jezero and there you can also use this day ticket, so make sure to keep it with you if you still want to visit the lake like we did.
The hike to Bobotov Kuk isn’t to be underestimated. Shortly after the start at the parking lot you have the first chains and ropes you have to overcome. What follows is a more straightforward part of the hike, but then the scrambling and crawling starts again. As we were hiking early June we had to overcome the first parts which were still covered with snow. However we found a way to do it (relatively) safely and moved on. We started to cross people who informed us that they returned as upper parts were just not safe enough. We thought to go on and check it out for ourselves, but near the top we saw parts that we didn’t think it was safe enough. We are adventurous but not fools so we also decided to return. You win some, you lose some. Some days later we crossed a couple that would continue anyway when we turned back but they informed us they also returned after a while as it was too dangerous. So when you want to reach the top, you might go a bit later in the season.
Nevertheless, even without that last part we can strongly recommend this hike but it’s not for the faint of heart. It was an intensive hike and the views very stunning and incredible. We enjoyed a simple lunch with views on the mountain range and also admired some strange rocks. It was a day fully in nature and we enjoyed it big time. We returned to our hotel and went for a hike around the black lake. The combination of both hikes was intense but we were rewarded with a refreshing swim in the lake. Enough to call it a day and enjoy a nice dinner.
5. Durmitor National Park
The next day we found another challenging hike in Durmitor NP. It started gentle with some nice paths near the mountain ranges but just when we were saying it was way easier that the day before towards Bobotov Kuk the path turned sharply to the right and we could start scrambling again. The views were beautiful an after a while we stared to hike on the ridge. It was very quiet over there and we only met like 4 other people during the hike, so this is an ideal choice if you want to avoid the crowds.
Once you reach the highest point, you start on a very steep downhill where you’d better be careful. But as usual it’s hard to capture that on a picture. After a long period of going down it eased out but then that path wasn’t smooth anymore so again some scrambling on the rocks before you go down with the last twists and start to hike through the forest. It was an intense hike and the last few kilometers were hard, so we were happy to reach our starting point and could take a well deserved shower. We can strongly recommend this hike if you want to beat the crows in Durmitor NP.
6. Nicsic area
Nicsic is the second largest city of Montenegro. We arrived there in the late afternoon and called it a day. We went for a drink and dinner in the center where you have several bars and restaurants. People were very excited as in the evening Montenegro was playing a soccer game. All people were dressed up and preparing to go to the game, it added to a vibrant feeling. We didn’t do much more in the city itself, but I also don’t there there is much more to do.
In the morning we went at once to the Ostrog Monastery. You might have seen pictures of this building which is half in the rocks which makes it quite unique. The road is narrow and twisty, so we were lucky to be there early in the morning and we didn’t have to cross to many cars. Once you park there are still several stairs to overcome till you reach the Monastery. However, there is a parking way closer for people who need it. In the end it’s a monastery like you have many of them, but the facts it’s in the rocks is really special, however, without a drone it’s not easy to take pictures that really showcase this.
7. Tivat & Kotor
We approached the Bay of Kotor from the direction of Nicsic. It’s a great twisting route towards the bay and there are several marvelous viewing points. We drove next to the Bay in the direction of Kotor and initially planned to visit the Lady of the Rocks church ben when we got closer and saw what kind of tourism flow there was, we quickly decided to skip it. Several boat around it, plenty of tourists queueing to get on the boats, and in the end it’s yet just another church. Around Kotor itself it was very busy so we decided to end the day with a couple of hours at the beach in Tivat. Later in the evening we went back to the promenade in Tivat which looks very luxurious and prices are noticeable higher. We were charged 4,5 euro for a Coca-Cola and a single scoop of ice cream suddenly was 3 euro’s. We walked around, had dinner near the water and called it a day.
The next day we went very early back towards Kotor so finding a parking spot was a breeze and we were already in the city at 07:30. It was calm and relaxed and the streets empty. We had breakfast on a small square and really lived in the moment. By the time we were done eating and exploring the city the first hurdles of tourists coming from the cruise ships already started to fill the city and quickly it was very busy. We were happy to leave it all behind and were heading back into nature.
We drove to the Lovcen National Park via the Serpentine P1 track. There are plenty of viewpoints to watch the bay and the area. A must do in our opinion. In the National Park we skipped the Mausoleum and went for a relaxing hike instead.
8. Budva
Budva is another great older city near the coast. It isn’t the biggest one, but the old part is full of narrow twisty streets which makes it awesome to explore. There are several nice beaches but prepare yourself of crowds following the sun. Most gather at Mogren beach which can be reached from the old city via a small coastal path. In the late afternoon the beach loses it’s sun and then people start to move to other beaches. It exists out of 2 parts which are connected via a tunnel. Prepare yourself on crowded beaches. Alternatively you can explore other beaches as there are enough. When ending our day and walking on the promenade we did see a wall of houses or appartments which made us think about Berat. It also has thousands of windows, but isn’t known by that name. We had a nice dinner on the terrace of Kuca Pub. You can either sit in the street, although close with people passing by, or go to the terrace on the first floor. Budva certainly deserves your time and attention.
Golf klub Krimovica
Anno 2025 there is no official golfclub in Montenegro but there is an amateur club Krimovica. It is an 9-hole club which is in fact on building plots. There used to be 9 connected plots but they lost one in 2025 as the owner has built a summer house. Instead of downgrading to an 8-hole they were very creative and now you can tee off from their club house and like this they were able to secure the 9-hole. When we contacted the club to ask if we could play, they were very responsibe and collaborative to make it work. It was in fact just incredible that one of their members joined us to show us around, provide us with material and allowed us to play another round when she had to go to another appointment. We had a great afternoon so when you are around in Montenegro and want to play golf, get in touch with golfclub Krimovica
9. Ada Bojana
We were little intrigued by this resort and beach as you read so many different opinions on the internet. So the best is then to go out and check it out for yourself. Our moto is often: you win some, you lose some. By just going for it we have experienced incredible moments and yes, sometimes it’s not what you thought, expected or hoped for, but then you just move on.
Mixed reviews on the internet were going from great beach to dirtiest beach of Montenegro. We also read on some posts that the atmosphere was questionable. But the fact that there were also quite some positive reviews means it might be that such locations initiate stronger subjective experiences. So, how was it? We had a great time at the beach and the place was spotless clean. The water was clear and the wave quiet which was perfect to go for a swim. The first few hundred meters or so the water is shallow, only later it gets a deeper. The atmosphere was relaxed and laid back and we didn’t see any strange things or questionable people. So our conclusion is that this is just another great spot of Montenegro to visit if you are open to it.