We just got back from the beautiful country of Montenegro and had the most amazing time! I wanted to share this 2 week Montenegro itinerary which is the perfect way to explore the best of what Montenegro has to offer. It’s a vastly underrated country that is rapidly becoming more popular and for good reason. We visited the main tourist spots and also some off-the-beaten-track.
We visited Montenegro as a family, our boys were 4 years old and 14 months old at the time of our visit and we had the best time, making unforgettable memories. So this is a great Montenegro itinerary for families. I also thing it is a great Montenegro first-time travel guide that would be just as good for couples of solo travellers, you’ll just likely go at a different pace.
We had 11 nights in Montenegro followed by 3 in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Honestly, I would have liked to have the extra 3 nights inMOntenegro, and I will share below the places we skipped the I wished wed been to as well!
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OR MORE DETAILS ABOUT ALL THE PLACES IN MONTENEGRO WE VISITED:
TIVAT – KOTOR – BUDVA – LAKE SKADAR – NIKSIC – TARA CANYON – ZABLJAK
VISITING MONTENEGRO FOR THE FIRST TIME AS A FAMILY
Why Visit Montenegro for a Family Holiday?
Montenegro is an ideal destination for a family holiday, offering a unique mix of mountain landscapes, crystal-clear lakes, charming old towns, and beautiful beaches. You’ll be able to discover all of these within relatively short driving distances.
It’s perfect place to visit for families who want variety or to get a mix of exploring and relaxing. It is also still relatively unvisited by tourists (lthouhh I predict this will soon change) making it an affordable European destination!
With a slower pace than more touristy European countries and a welcoming attitude towards children, Montenegro offers plenty of opportunities to explore nature, history, and local culture at a relaxed, family-friendly pace.
Is 2 Weeks in Montenegro Enough?
We had 11 nights in Montenegro and it was a lovely amount of time, however there were a couple of places we didnt get to that we would have liked to, I think a full two week Montenegro itinerary would have been perfect to see all the best places Montenegro has to offer.
We live in London and have a fast-paced lifestyle so we consciously decided not to be rushing around during this Montenegro trip with kids. It would be possible to condense this itinerary to 10 days, if you like to go at a faster pace, I will give further recommendations on how to do this below.
Getting Around Montenegro
The main airport is in Tivat. If you want to explore Montenegro properly, I would recommend hiring a car. Usually, we are big fans of public transport but in Montenegro, it’s limited and unreliable. Your best option to explore properly is to hire a car and plan a perfect Montenegro road trip itinerary.
The Perfect 2 Week Montenegro Itinerary for First Timers and Families
I’ll describe each place briefly below but I’ve also written detailed guides to all the places we visited. I’ve linked them all so just click to read more.
This 2 week Montenegro with kids itinerary covers:
- Tivat – (5 nights) with day trips to Kotor, Perest, Herceg Novi and Budva
- Lake Skadar – (3 nights)
- The Durmitor National Park (3 nights)
- We then went on to spend 3 nights in Dubrovnik, Croatia
Tivat: 3-5 Nights – The First Stop on our 2 Week Montenegro Itinerary
The first stop on our 2 week family-friendly Montenegro itinerary was Tivat. The main town is only a 10-minute drive from the airport making it a perfect base. We had 3 nights in Tivat but I wish we had 5. Tivat is a small but gorgeous coastal town with an affluent vibe.
The best things to do in Tivat, Montenegro with kids include, visiting the beach, walking the waterfront, exploring a disused submarine and splashing in the fountains at Porto Montenegro.
There are so many towns close by that you can also visit, the most popular one being Kotor which is just a 15-minute drive from Tivat.
PHOTOS FROM TIVAT, MONTENEGRO. THE START OF OUR 2 WEEK MONTENEGRO ITINERARY
Kotor is one of the most popular destinations in Montenegro. It’s a small medieval old town, surrounded by city walls. It’s much more quaint and historic than Tivat and also beautiful.
In the summer months, boat taxis run from Tivat to Perast and Herceg Novi, which is where we would have gone with our extra two days if we’d had them. I would have also liked an extra day in Tivat itself, just to relax!
PHOTS FROM KOTOR, MONTENEGRO
A lot of people just come to this area and if you do, you’ll have a lovely time. It would be a great 5 days in Montenegro itinerary but Montenegro still has so much more to offer. I would recommend continuing your journey to discover these less-explored gems!
Lake Skadar: 2-3 Nights
En route from Tivat to Lake Skadar (also called the Shkodra Lake), stop at Budva. It is another small town with a similar vibe to Kotor and Perast. This was a great place to stop and we loved exploring here despite the rain.
PHOTS FROM A DAY TRIP TO BUDVA ON OUR 2 WEEK MONTENEGRO ITINERARY
Lake Skadar is one of the best places to visit in Montenegro and also one a lot of people miss. The best place to stop to explore Lake Skadar is the town of Virpazar. We made a conscious decision that we didn’t want to be rushing on this trip so we planned three nights here but it’s possible to do it in two.
The best thing to do here is take a boat tour on the lake, we highly recommend the one we did. At only 15 Euros per adult which includes a glass of wine, it is a real bargain! I’ve linked it below. In this area, you can also hike and there are also some incredible viewpoints.
AMAZING BOAT TOUR ON LAKE SKADAR
PHOTOS FROM LAKE SKADAR AND VIRPAZR
The Durmitor National Park: 2-3 Nights – The Final Stop on our 2 Week Montenegro Itinerary
Our final stop on our 2 week Montenegro road trip with kids was the small town of Zabljak. This is the best place to stay to explore the North of Montenegro, including the Durmitor National Park. This area is high in the mountains and much colder than the rest of Montenegro, we woke up to snow our first morning there.
PHOTOS FROM THE DURMITOR NATIONAL PARK AND ZABLJAK
The National Park is beautiful and we had snow there, which made it even more incredible. Here you should see The Black Lake (Crno Jezero) and also The Tara Bridge and River Canyon.
Again, there are many beautiful views in this area. There are also more hiking opportunities as well as rafting or ziplining on the river.
PHOTOS FROM THE TARA RIVER CANYON
From Zabljak, we dove through the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Thank you so much for reading about our 2 week Montenegro itinerary for families and first timers , I hope we’ve helped you to plan your Montenegro road trip.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
OR MORE DETAILS ABOUT OTHER PLACES IN MONTENEGRO WE VISITED:
TIVAT – KOTOR – BUDVA – LAKE SKADAR – NIKSIC – TARA CANYON – ZABLJAK
Happy Exploring,
