Montenegro Travel Guide for UK Visitors
Independent, practical advice to help you decide where to stay, what to see and how to plan your Montenegro holiday.
Montenegro packs a remarkable variety of landscapes into a relatively small country. Around the Adriatic coast and Bay of Kotor are historic towns, waterfront villages and beaches, while inland Montenegro changes quickly to lakes, forests, river canyons and mountains.
For British visitors, that variety creates plenty of choice — but also makes deciding where to stay, how long to spend in each area and whether to hire a car surprisingly important.
VisitMontenegro.uk is being built as an independent travel-planning resource for visitors from the UK. Our guides concentrate on practical questions and genuine differences between destinations rather than simply telling you that everywhere is wonderful.
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Where Should You Go in Montenegro?
For many first-time visitors, Kotor and the Bay of Kotor are the natural starting point. They combine dramatic scenery, historic towns, boat trips and plenty to explore without necessarily needing a car.
But Montenegro is much more varied than the famous bay.
Travel north and you reach the mountains, glacial lakes and hiking country of Durmitor and Biogradska Gora. Explore further around the coast and different towns offer quieter waterfront stays, beaches, nightlife or a more traditional seaside holiday.
Kotor
Best for first visits, history and sightseeing
Kotor’s walled Old Town sits between steep mountains and the Bay of Kotor. Its churches, palaces, fortifications and compact medieval streets make it one of Montenegro’s most rewarding bases for a first visit.
It is particularly good for travellers interested in history, scenery, boat trips and exploring without a car.
Bay of Kotor
Best for scenery, boat trips and multi-centre stays
Kotor is only one part of the much larger Bay of Kotor.
Historic settlements and waterfront communities are scattered around the bay beneath mountains that rise steeply from the water.
The area works particularly well for travellers who want to combine sightseeing with boat trips, waterfront restaurants and several different places without travelling huge distances.
Perast
Best for couples and atmosphere
Small Perast has a completely different character from Kotor.
Its historic stone buildings line the waterfront opposite the islands of St George and Our Lady of the Rocks, reached by short boat trips from the town.
Herceg Novi
Best for longer coastal stays
At the western entrance to the Bay of Kotor, Herceg Novi combines an historic centre, fortifications and a long waterfront promenade.
It feels more like a lived-in coastal town than tiny Perast and can be a good alternative for visitors wanting to stay in one place for longer.
Durmitor National Park
Best for mountains, hiking and outdoor activities
The landscapes of northern Montenegro are dramatically different from the coast.
Durmitor National Park surrounds the mountain town of Žabljak and contains high limestone peaks, glacial lakes, forests and the spectacular Tara River Canyon.
Biogradska Gora National Park
Best for forests, walking and nature
Biogradska Gora protects mountain forests, meadows, streams and glacial lakes in northern Montenegro.
Its best-known area surrounds Biogradsko Lake and provides a gentler introduction to Montenegro’s mountain landscapes than some of Durmitor’s more demanding terrain.
Where Should You Stay in Montenegro?
Where you stay can make a bigger difference to a Montenegro holiday than the country’s small size might suggest.
For a first sightseeing-oriented visit, we would start by looking at Kotor or neighbouring Dobrota. If you are considering either, our guide to where to stay in Kotor compares the Old Town, Dobrota and other nearby areas, with advice on walking distances, parking and choosing accommodation.
For a more traditional summer holiday where beaches and nightlife matter more, the Budva Riviera is likely to be a stronger choice.
Perast works particularly well for couples and short atmospheric stays, while Tivat suits travellers looking for modern hotels, marina life and convenient airport access.
If hiking and outdoor activities are a priority, Žabljak is the principal base for Durmitor.
Where to Stay in Montenegro
Our full accommodation guide explains the advantages and disadvantages of the main areas rather than simply listing hotels.
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Last checked: October 2026.