In this guide to coastal Montenegro, I reflect on my time in this small country, just south of Croatia. In my short time in Montenegro, I visit Kotor, the central port city of the country. Then take a mountainous drive to the country village of Njeguši to have native meat, cheese, bread, and beer. Finally, we visit the famous coastal city of Budva, a palm tree-lined beach city.
Itinerary:
For my guide to coastal Montenegro, we first start in the city of Kotor. This is an ancient city on the coast with a cute old town. Honestly, we didn’t need much time in Kotor because it is pretty small and only takes about an hour to walk. Because we were on a cruise, we got a short tour of the city early in the morning. Even by 8 in the morning, the sun was out and already scorching.
Now if you’re not familiar with Montenegro, it’s a very mountainous country. Kotor sits in a well-protected bay surrounded by mountains and was always hard to conquer. Even today, cruise ships must be careful to guide their way into the harbor. From here the roads out of the city are windy, and they must work up mountains if you want to get into the interior parts of the country. At roughly 80 miles across in both directions, the shape of the country is roughly a box.
From Kotor, we wind up one of the roads up into the mountains to the village of Njeguši. At roughly 3,000 feet, the climate is much different than Kotor. Today Njeguši is known for its cheese specifically prosciutto because of how it’s processed. Really that’s about all there is to do here, and we got to try some local cheese, meat, and wine. They were all good, and the drive alone up the mountain was worth it; however, I did think it was a little inconvenient.
From Njeguši, we traveled back down the mountain to the coastal city of Budva. Now Budva is actually pretty famous for its old town and for its celebrity culture. In fact, we learned that the movie Casino Royale was filmed at a renowned hotel nearby.
Now by midday, Budva was very hot. We saw many Europeans heading down to the beach, and we saw many restaurants and clubs lining the main street. It’s actually pretty modern, and there are some excellent restaurants to consider. We ate at one that served local dishes and was adorable inside.
We toured the old town, stopping by the famous Budva church, and visiting the ancient city. Like Kotor, it’s small but still worth a walk around. The thing about Montenegro in the summertime is that’s extremely hot. Like uncomfortably hot and that wore us down. Local white wine did help, though!
Map of Montenegro:
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A Map of Montenegro
Favorite:
Some of my favorite restaurants, spots, pictures, and videos in this guide to coastal Montenegro!
Restaurants
Selling traditional cheese, meat, and alcoholic drinks
Restaurants lined on the beach in Budva
There are many restaurants to choose from along the waterfront near the old town of Budva. We ate at a traditional restaurant that I don’t remember the name of, but it was pretty good.
Spots
The old town of Kotor
The old town of Budva
What to Wear:
Montenegro is like nearby Croatia in terms of style. As a whole Montenegro is more conservative and traditional but still European at heart. Your own western style is certainly acceptable, and you’ll see a European flair while in Montenegro. It is my opinion that men like to wear tight-fitting clothes and black seems to be a popular color.
For male tourists, stick with clothes that fit well so nothing baggy. The coastal areas of Montenegro feel very Mediterranean with palm trees, beaches, and usually sunny weather. Dress according to how hot it will be as well. Linen is popular in Montenegro, and there is a good reason. It will keep you way more comfortable in the summer months.
However, Montenegro is pretty mountainous, and the weather can change dramatically. It can be balmy by the coast but cold in the mountains any time of the year. So if you’re coming offseason or dead in the winter, you may need to wear warmer clothing, especially if you intend to travel away from the coast.
For summer, stick with an upscale casual look. You don’t need to dress up, but if you want to look presentable, then shorts that are not gym shorts are perfect. Florals, prints, graphics, and stripes are definitely in right now. I like short and tight, but I know that’s not everybody’s go-to. Make sure it fits appropriately first of all.
Bring shorts that can easily mix and match with your other items. A blue or khaki shorts for your entire trip is more than enough. I used those to mix and match with every shirt I had, sometimes throwing in linen short. Your shorts are like the base of your outfit, and you should have a good solid base to mix and match with your shirts.
Go for the florals, plain, or even stripe shirts. They are easy to mix and match with a solid base for your shorts. Comfort is critical, but please don’t be lazy or have oversized shirts. Then it won’t look good at all. A nice polo or even a dress shirt also a good look as long as it’s not too hot.
For the off-season like in winter, Montenegro can be cold. You’ll need to bring long pants, jeans, and some jackets. It’s not hardcore cold, but it’s enough that you can even have a scarf. If you go further into the mountains, snow is pretty standard.
An Ideal Look:
What I Loved:
For me, Montenegro’s natural beauty is the allure of the country. It still sits on the poorer end of Europeans nations, and it’s trying to open up to more tourists. Give it a couple of years, and this country may be flooded with them! But that’s for good reason because although tiny, Montenegro is geography packed with beaches, mountains and charming cities. And the people of Montenegro are more self-deprecating than you’d think, always taking jokes about them with stride.
What I Disliked:
The drive up the mountains are on small roads and can take a while. But honestly, the views alone are worth the trip. But even if you’re not afraid of heights, it can still feel very tedious. Other than that, nothing terrible to say about this country.
Ideas and Tips:
Kotor is perfect for an afternoon. Walk around the city and then stop in a cafe to have a drink or eat.
Taking a tour might be a better option since driving can be tedious up the mountains.
Perhaps take some time in Budva to enjoy the beach and the old town.
Thoughts:
We really enjoyed our time in Montenegro even if it was short and I hope this guide to coastal Montenegro will help your travels. This country is coming out as a new tourist country with many cruises stopping in the summer months in Kotor. Honestly, this is an excellent way to at least glimpse the country given the dramatic views of the Bay of Kotor. We saw beaches, old cities, and mountain villages all within a day! Overall I would come back to explore more of this country.
More Info on Montenegro
If you’re looking for more info on Montenegro, I have a few guides and books to read on.
