Montenegro · Itineraries

Montenegro with family: a 5-day coast and mountain plan

A good five-day family trip to Montenegro runs from the Bay of Kotor and Sveti Stefan on the coast up to Durmitor National Park and the Tara River bridge in the mountains, then back down to Budva. You need a rental car for the mountain half. Go in May, June or September, when the coast is warm and the roads are quieter.

Day by day

1

Start in the Bay of Kotor

The Bay of Kotor is a long, folded inlet of the Adriatic ringed by steep mountains, with the walled old town of Kotor at its inner end. Give it a full day and sleep nearby. Walk the old town lanes early, before cruise passengers arrive in the late morning. Climb the town walls toward the fortress above if your children can handle a very long set of steps, and bring water. Then follow the shore road to Perast, a baroque village facing two small islands.
2

Look up at Sveti Stefan

Sveti Stefan is a fortified islet joined to the mainland by a narrow causeway, with stone houses and terracotta roofs packed onto one rock. It is now a private resort, so the island itself is largely for guests. The classic view is from the roadside viewpoint above, where a short walk from the parking area gives you the whole shape of it. Come in the morning or late afternoon for softer light, and stop at a nearby beach on the way to Budva.
3

Drive up to Durmitor

Durmitor National Park sits in the north of the country, around the mountain town of Žabljak. It is a UNESCO-listed area of limestone peaks above 2,500 metres, pine forest and glacial lakes. The easy family walk is the loop around Black Lake, which takes about an hour and needs no gear beyond decent shoes. Treat Durmitor as an overnight, not a day trip. The drive from the coast is three to four hours, and you want daylight on arrival to walk.
4

Stop at the Tara bridge

The Đurđevića Tara Bridge is a tall concrete arch completed in 1940 across the Tara River canyon, one of the deepest in Europe. It sits a short drive from Žabljak, so it slots neatly into the mountain leg. Stop at the bridge for the canyon view and walk out along the roadside to look straight down. A zipline crosses the canyon beside it, with age and weight limits. Rafting trips on the Tara start nearby; check minimum ages before you plan on it.
5

Finish in Budva

Budva is the busiest resort on the coast, with a small walled old town on a point, a long run of beaches and a lot of cafes. It works best at the end of the trip, when children want sand and an easy dinner after the mountains. The old town takes an evening, so spend the day on the beach. Avoid July and August if you can: the town fills up, and the coast road slows to a crawl at weekends.

Plan it

Best time: May, June and September give a warm sea and open roads. July and August are hot and crowded on the coast. Durmitor is best for walking from June to September, and turns into a ski area in winter.
How long: Five days covers one coastal base and one night in the mountains. Add two more days if you want Lake Skadar or a slower pace on the coast.
Getting around: Rent a car. Buses link the coastal towns, but they do not reach mountain viewpoints or the Tara bridge in a useful way. The nearest airports to the bay are Tivat and Podgorica, and Dubrovnik across the border is a common alternative.

Good to know

Mountain roads are narrow and slow. Take the drive time shown on a map and add a third.
Montenegro uses the euro but is not in the Schengen area, so expect passport checks if you cross into Croatia or Bosnia.
Pack layers for Durmitor even in summer. Evenings in the mountains are cool.

Frequently asked

Is Montenegro good for a family holiday? +

Yes, particularly for families with children old enough to enjoy a road trip. The coast is compact, the water is clear and the mountains are within a day's drive. Beaches are mostly pebble, so bring water shoes. Younger children do best with one coastal base and a single overnight inland.

How many days do you need in Montenegro? +

Five days is enough to see Kotor, Sveti Stefan, Durmitor and Budva without rushing. A week lets you add Lake Skadar and a slower beach day. Two or three days only covers the coast and Kotor.

Which airport is best for the Bay of Kotor? +

Tivat is the closest, a short drive from Kotor. Podgorica is farther inland but has more routes. Dubrovnik in Croatia is also used, but the border crossing can add time in summer.

What currency does Montenegro use? +

The euro. Montenegro adopted it without joining the European Union. Cards are accepted in most hotels and restaurants, but carry some cash for small cafes, parking and mountain areas.