Montenegro
Kotor's walled old town, Adriatic beaches, Lake Skadar and the Tara canyon all sit within one small country.
Montenegro is a small country on the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe, with a coast on the Adriatic Sea. Its capital and largest city is Podgorica. Most of the country is mountainous karst, and the coastal plain is only 1.5 to 6 km wide before Lovćen and Orjen fall steeply into the Bay of Kotor. Kotor's walled old town has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979. Perast, Herceg Novi, Budva and Ulcinj are other well-preserved old coastal towns.
Inland, Lake Skadar, shared with Albania, is the largest lake in the Balkan Peninsula. Durmitor National Park has high peaks and the Tara canyon, about 1,300 m deep, and the Belgrade to Bar railway crosses its mountains. The coast has hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. The mountains stay cool and wet in summer, and winter is long and harsh with frequent frost.
Five things to know before Montenegro
- Register within 24 hours of arrival
Hotels and some holiday lets register you. In private rooms the host should do it within 12 hours; if not, report the stay to the tourist organization or police within 24 hours, or you may be fined, detained or face court.
- Check the rule for your passport
US, UK, Canadian, Australian, German and Spanish passports need no visa for up to 90 days. Your passport must be under ten years old and valid at least three months past departure. Visa checker
- Pick Kotor or Budva as your coast base
Kotor is the walled old town at the head of the bay; Budva is the beach resort with an old town on a peninsula. They are a short ride apart, so most trips sleep in one and visit the other. Kotor or Budva
- Allow border time from Dubrovnik
The tourism board lists two road crossings with Croatia, Debeli brijeg and Kobila. UK advice says congestion at borders is common in summer, and EES checks can add time when you re-enter the Schengen area. Dubrovnik to Kotor
- Go north by road for the mountains
Durmitor and Biogradska Gora are the summer hiking and rafting bases. UK advice says road conditions are worse in rural areas, especially in winter and after bad weather, so check the route before you drive. Durmitor
Montenegro travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
The walled old town, the fortress path and where to sleep.
Read the guideBay of KotorA loop of Perast, Tivat and Herceg Novi by road and boat.
Read the guideBudvaRiviera beaches, the old town and the airport transfer.
Read the guideAdriatic CoastSplit a week between the bay, the Riviera and Ulcinj.
Read the guideLake SkadarBoats, kayaks and birds on the Balkans' largest lake.
Read the guideDurmitorThe Black Lake, the Tara canyon and summer rafting.
Read the guidePodgoricaThe capital as a hub for the lake, coast and mountains.
Read the guideVisa checkerEntry rules by passport, checked against official pages.
Read the guide
Destinations in Montenegro
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- €18
- Food
- €18
- Transport
- €3
- Sights
- €5
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- €45
- Food
- €40
- Transport
- €15
- Sights
- €15
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- €85
- Food
- €85
- Transport
- €40
- Sights
- €60
When to go
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- JanuaryRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh9°Low2°Wet; skiing northJanuaryRain
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 245 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet; skiing north
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh12°Low4°Wet; skiing northFebruaryRain
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 194 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet; skiing north
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh14°Low6°Spring, showersMarchRain
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 248 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, showers
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Warm, quietAprilRain
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 127 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quiet
- MayRain12 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Warm, greenMayRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 155 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JuneClear8 rainy daysHigh28°Low18°Hot, hiking seasonJuneClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, hiking season
- JulyClear3 rainy daysHigh32°Low21°Hot, crowdedJulyClear
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, crowded
- AugustClear4 rainy daysHigh32°Low21°Hot, crowdedAugustClear
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, crowded
- SeptemberRain8 rainy daysHigh26°Low16°Warm seaSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 186 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberRain10 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Mild, quieterOctoberRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 226 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°RainyNovemberRain
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 404 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy
- DecemberRain12 rainy daysHigh11°Low4°Mild, wetDecemberRain
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 273 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wet
Average daily high and low in Kotor, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Montenegro
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 5°
- Humidity
- 62%
- Wind
- 21 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 38%
Montenegro
09:05 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today12°7°38%Monday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 38%.
- Tue10°7°93%Tuesday: Rain. High 10°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 93%.
- Wed11°7°3%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Thu11°6°0%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri11°5°3%Friday: Clear. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sat11°5°31%Saturday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 31%.
- Sun9°7°43%Sunday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 43%.
Updated 05:20 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Before you go to Montenegro
Montenegro FAQ
Do I need a visa for Montenegro?
Not on a US, UK, Canadian, Australian, German or Spanish passport for a stay of up to 90 days. The UK and Australian pages count it as 90 days in any 180; stays beyond that need a permit. Check your passport in the visa checker.
Is Montenegro in the EU or Schengen?
No. It uses the euro but is outside the EU and Schengen, so you pass passport checks at its borders and its days do not use up your Schengen allowance.
Can I day-trip to Kotor from Dubrovnik?
Yes, by road across a border that can queue in summer, or on a fast catamaran in season. The day-trip guide compares the two and says who should stay a night instead.
How many days do you need in Montenegro?
Four or five days cover Kotor, the bay and one beach base. A week adds Lake Skadar or Podgorica; Durmitor and Biogradska Gora need a separate northern leg of two or three days.
When is the best time to visit Montenegro?
May, June, September and early October for the coast. July and August are the hottest and busiest months; the northern parks suit summer hiking, and winter suits snow sports.