Durmitor National Park And Zabljak Montenegro With Kids: A Complete Guide

The Best Things to Do in The Durmitor National Park and Zabljak with Kids

Tucked away in the North of Montenegro, the Durmitor National Park and the nearby town of Zabljak are some of Montenegro’s most breathtaking destinations. They’re also surprisingly family-friendly. Whether you’re visiting with toddlers or older children, this stunning mountain region offers an unforgettable mix of outdoor adventure, dramatic scenery, and peaceful nature perfect for little explorers. In this complete family guide, I’ll share everything you need to know about visiting Durmitor National Park and Zabljak, Montenegro with kids, including hikes and trails, fun things to do, where to eat, and tips to make your trip as memorable as possible.

We visited here in April, at this time our boys were 4 years old and 14 months old. On our first morning here, we woke up to snow! This made our experience at the Durmitor National Park with kids even more magical.

Family Guide to The Black Lake Durmitor National Park

This was the final stop in our family Montenegro road trip, We’ve posted guides on many locations in Montenegro.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

GUIDE TO THE BLACK LAKE & DURMITOR NATIONAL PARK

A PERFECT MONTENEGRO ITINERARY

TIPS FOR VISITING MONTENEGRO

OR READ ABOUT OTHER PLACES IN MONTENEGRO WE VISITED:

TIVAT – KOTOR – BUDVA – LAKE SKADAR – NIKSIC – TARA CANYON

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Getting to Zabljak and the Durmitor National Park, Montenegro

The Durmitor National Park is located in the North of Montenegro. We drove to Zabljak from Lake Skadar. This was a 3-drive, which was quite winding in places. We stopped off at Nicsik to break up the journey as our kids don’t love being in the car.

While it is possible to visit this area on a day trip from Kotor, it would be a lot of travel time, which can be tricky with kids. We hired a car while in Montenegro (search rental car prices here), so we were able to explore properly. Usually, we would always opt for public transport, but it is very limited in Montenegro, so a car was the best option. For this trip, we used Enterprise.

Where to Stay to Explore the Durmitor National Park

To explore the Durmitor National Park. It’s best to stay in Zabljak, it’s still a small town, but the largest one close to the park. There is a large supermarket here as well as a few restaurant options. There is also a cute playground that kids will enjoy.

Family posing in front of the Zabljak sign surrounded by snow in Montenegro

Colorful children’s playground in Zabljak

ZABLJAK HOTELS:

Affordable: Ville Uskoci

Luxury: NORTH STORY – Luxury Chalet

How Long to Spend in Zabljak and the Durmitor National Park, Montenegro with Kids

We had 4 nights here. Realistically, you could do the main things here in 2, but if you like hiking (unlike me) you should allow extra time.

We planned extra time as getting here and back was our longest drive of the trip, and we wanted to leave some time between those journeys. It was also so nice to have some relaxing time in the countryside before heading to our next city.

Where to Eat in Zabljak

Zabljak has quite a few options; most places serve more traditional food (meat and two veg), but there are also pizza options.

A lot of other blog posts recommended the restaurant Or’o; however, their menu was heavily meat-based, and as I’m vegetarian, we decided not to eat there. We walked slightly further down the road to Konoba Luna. This was a friendly, family-run restaurant and also a fraction of the price of Or’o! The food was great, but we massively over-ordered!

We also ate pizza at Zlatni Papagaj. This was also great!

Exterior of Konoba Luna traditional restaurant in Zabljak

raditional Montenegrin dishes served at Konoba Luna in Zabljak

Durmitor National Park and Zabljak Weather

We probably should have, but didn’t realise before visiting here that it is so high up in the mountains. The elevation is 1,448 meters, so the temperature in the Durmitor National Park and Zabljak is much colder than the rest of Montenegro. As I mentioned, we had snow in April. Luckily, I’d packed warm coats for the kids, but personally, I was unprepared!

Generally, in Montenegro, the weather is unpredictable. You’ll likely experience a huge downpour, then brilliant sunshine a couple of hours later.

Father and two young children playing in the snow together in Zabljak

Toddler bundled up and smiling while playing in the snow in Zabljak

Things to Do in Zabljak, Montenegro with Kids

There is not a whole lot to do in Zabljak with kids (or even without them!) In the town itself, there is a cute playground that kids will love. Our kids loved playing in the snow; however, there is no guarantee you will also have snow!

There is also a supermarket and some resteraunts (that I mentioned earlier in this post). All the attractions I am going to talk more about below are just a short drive from Zabljak.

Zabljak is a lovely place to slow down and enjoy the mountain views!

DURMITOR TOURS & ACTIVITIES:

TARA BRIDGE: The longest and fastest Zip Line Adventure

From Žabljak: Rafting in Durmitor National Park

What to Do in Durmitor National Park as a Family

Below are some great things to do in and around the Durmitor National Park with kids.

Visit The Black Lake (Crno Jezero)

The Black Lake is the main sight in the National Park. It is an extremely beautiful lake and definitely worth visiting. It is a less than 10-minute drive from Zabljak. You can park in the car park there. Entry is €5 each for adults, and parking is €2, cash only!

The walk to the lake is easy and pushchair-friendly. There is even a playground en route. However, the hike around the lake is not so easy. I’ve written all about it in a separate post.

Dad sitting by Black Lake with two young children, enjoying the peaceful nature of Durmitor National Park

Beautiful view of the Black Lake from the hiking path in in the Durmitor National PArk

Durmitor National Park Hikes

The Durmitor National Park is a hikers dream! There are plenty of hiking trails in the Durmitor National Park. One of the most popular is a hike around the Black Lake. The lake is surrounded by an approximately 3-kilometre hiking trail through a picturesque dense pine forest. It wasn’t an easy hike, taking us about two and a half hours with young children, but it was beautiful.

Again, I have put a full review and all the details about what to expect when hiking around the Black Lake in the guide, linked here.

There are also lots of other hikes to do in this area. After our hike around the lake (which was our second hike of the trip), the kids and I were done with walking. If you are an adventure family, you can also hike to the ice cave or Bobotov Kuk, which is the highest peak in the area.

The Sedlo Path is also meant to be a beautiful drive. We decided against it as a long, winding drive in the car with kids is not super fun!

See The Tara River and Tara Canyon

The Tara Canyon is another beautiful sight. We hoped it would also be sprinkled with snow, but unfortunately, it was further down the mountain, and there was only rain. Even in the rain, the view was beautiful, the river was so blue. It would be even more sparkling in the sunshine.

In warmer months, you can go rafting on the river, and there is also a zipline across the canyon.

Mother and baby at Tara Canyon with Đurđevića Tara Bridge in the background, Montenegro family trip

Aerial view of Tara Canyon and the Tara River surrounded by forested mountains in Montenegro

Go Rafting on The Tara River

If you’re visiting with older kids and are looking for an adrenaline rush, you can go rafting on The Tara River!

Note: this is only open in the summer months.

FAQ’s About the Durmitor National Park & Zabljak with Kids

Is Durmitor National Park good for kids?

Yes, the Durmitor National Park can be a fantastic destination for kids of all ages thanks to its stunning scenery, fun outdoor experiences, and nature walks. Families love the Black Lake (Crno Jezero) for hiking trails and playtime by the water, and there are plenty of short, scenic drives and picnic spots that don’t require long hikes. That said, some trails get steep or rocky, so planning outings to match your children’s ages and abilities is key.

Do you need a car to explore Durmitor National Park and Žabljak?

A car is highly recommended, especially with kids. Public transport in northern Montenegro is limited and most of the must-see spots, including lakes and viewpoints around the park, are best accessed by road.

How long should you spend in Durmitor National Park with kids?

I would reccomend a minimum of 2 days, ideally 3 or 4 to go at a relaxed pace. This gives you time to explore the highlights like Black Lake, take short hikes, visit the Tara River Canyon, and enjoy Zabljak town without rush.