Montenegro - The Hidden Gem of the Balkans | Travel Montenegro
This is probably my most favorite country in the Balkans because of its idyllic location. Montenegro is an affordable country to visit in spite of having euro as their currency. It's really a hidden gem right now.
Must places to visit in Montenegro:
-Podgorica
-Kotor
-Herceg Novi
-Budva
-Sveti Stefan
-Perast (Our Lady of the Rocks & Saint George)
-Lake Skadar
-Tivat
~~ Montenegro Trip Itinerary ~~
For this trip, we took the night schedule of Tito’s Blue Train from Belgrade (Topcider station) to Podgorica. It was the famous train ride because of the stunning views that await travelers. There is a catch however, the travel time takes 12 hours and the train is really old and crappy. It was not a great experience at all because the cabin we were in had drunk youngsters and all the comfort rooms were unbearable. But if this is not a concern for you, go ahead and try it. It will be one of those unforgettable travel experiences.
Ticket for a one way ride was 27 euros because we bought it on the train. It could’ve been cheaper if you purchase it in the ticket booth/sales office.
*note*
Make sure to have Serbian Dinars with you. Topcider station in Serbia do not accept euros. Which is why we ended up buying with the conductor in the train. If taking the Bar to Belgrade route then euros will be accepted for sure because that is Montenegro’s currency.
Upon arriving Podgorica station, you can either take a taxi or a bus going to your accommodation or to the next town. A taxi ride to the center of Podgorica costs about 1 euro.
PODGORICA to KOTOR by bus
The bus costs 7 euros each way. It is a 3 hour bus ride. Spent 6 nights in Kotor but 5 nights will definitely be enough to visit Kotor Old Town, Perast, Herceg Novi, Budva, Lake Skadar and Sveti Stefan.
KOTOR to HERCEG NOVI by bus
We took a day trip to Herceg Novi but I suggest to at least stay there for a night or two because it’s a beautiful town of its own.
Upon arriving Kotor, before leaving the bus station, buy a ticket for your trip to Herceg Novi. This ticket will take you directly to Herceg Novi.
OR
KOTOR to PERAST to RISAN to HERCEG NOVI by bus
If you opt to visit Perast first before going to Herceg Novi, take the “Blue line” bus (stopping only in bus stops, every hour) from Kotor to Perast. We rode the bus at around 12:45pm. A one way ticket costs 1.5 euros and a 20 minute ride.
When in Perast, do not miss to visit Our Lady of Rocks. A two way ferry boat ride costs 5 euros.
We roamed around Perast for 2 hours and was able to catch the Blue line bus at 2:45pm to Risan.
There was not much to do in Risan so we just stayed around the bus stand area and waited for a bigger bus going to Herceg Novi at 3:45pm. Travel time was about 30 minutes.
KOTOR to BUDVA, LAKE SKADAR and SVETI STEFAN
For our last 2 days in Kotor we rented a car to go to Budva, Sveti Stefan and Lake Skadar because we did not want to waste any more time waiting for the bus. It was way more expensive (150 euros / day) than taking a bus of course and it kicked me out of the budget but it was more convenient and hassle free. But if renting a car is not an option for you and time is in your side then there is definitely public buses going to these towns.
Just a tip, once you are in a town, the best way to go around is by walking because the streets in Montenegro are narrow.
I hope this itinerary will help you plan your trip to Montenegro.
If you need help or have any questions don’t hesitate to ask. If you’ve been to Montenegro share your journey in the comments.
Traveling makes colorful memories which helps you through difficult times!
Have a bright and colorful one!
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