Žabljak in 10 days

Choose a public car park near the centre, then explore Trg durmitorskih ratnika and the nearby streets with food shops and restaurants. This first hour identifies useful places for breakfast, provisions and evening meals during the rest of the stay. Pick up the car where you left it and head for the Black Lake entrance.

Park by the national park entrance and follow the prepared forest path on foot. The approach opens its first view of Međed behind the water and reaches the shore beside the circular trail. Look around the landing area, choose the direction of the full circuit and set off around the lake from there.

The path circles both Veliko jezero and Malo jezero through conifer forest, open stretches of shoreline and the narrow connection between the two bodies of water. Follow the full loop to see how the view towards Međed and Savin Kuk changes. Finish where you first reached the shore and take the forest approach back to the car.

Drive from Black Lake towards the Ribnica settlement and the lower station at Savin Kuk. Use the large car park next to the ski centre, then walk across the meadows beneath the rocky slopes. The open ground offers a clear view of the ascent towards Savin Kuk, and the short exploration ends back at your vehicle.

The short road from Ribnica brings you directly to your accommodation, where the car remains overnight. Have dinner in the centre on foot and bring the local first day to a close. Starting and finishing at one address also makes the early departure for Sedlo straightforward the next morning.

Leave Žabljak for Sedlo and park beside the beginning of the marked walking trail. Pack water, food and layered clothing before setting out because you will not return to the car during the climb. From the car park, follow the trail markings directly towards Zeleni Vir.

From Sedlo, cross below Sedlena Greda and enter the high valley enclosed by Durmitor's summits. Trail markings lead across the opening terrain to Zeleni Vir, a small lake beneath the steeper part of the ascent. Rest by the water before taking the uphill path for Velika Previja.

Climb above Zeleni Vir to Velika Previja, where the trail coming from Black Lake joins your route. Rock replaces the gentler valley ground and the gradient becomes noticeably steeper. Use the pass for a rest and a clear look at the final ridge, then follow the markings towards Bobotov Kuk.

Experienced hikers wearing proper mountain footwear can tackle the steep and exposed final section of Bobotov Kuk. From the top, the view reaches Zeleni Vir, the Škrčka Lakes and the dominant ridges of Durmitor. Leave the summit by following the trail markings back to Velika Previja and Zeleni Vir.

Descend via Velika Previja and Zeleni Vir to the car park at Sedlo, following the route used on the climb. Reaching your car completes the hike without arranging transport from another side of the massif. Drive directly from Sedlo to your accommodation in Žabljak.

Travel from Žabljak through Šavnik and Nikšić, then follow the signs to the car park at the Lower Monastery. The final approach contains several bends, so count the driving time all the way to the car park rather than the first turn for Ostrog. Your visit to both levels begins here.

At the Lower Monastery, visit the Holy Trinity Church and the space around the guest buildings. Drive up the signed approach to the parking below the Upper Monastery, then take the steps for the last section. The cave churches and rock terraces finish the visit before you return to the car for Nikšić.

Leave the car close to Freedom Square and cover central Nikšić in one pedestrian loop. Visit the Cathedral Church of Saint Basil of Ostrog, King Nikola's Palace and Bedem Fortress before turning back towards the square for lunch. The route through the planned street grid ends at the original car park.

Take the principal road from central Nikšić to Krupac Lake and stop in the parking space by the water. The shoreline walk looks west to the surrounding hills and supplies a genuine rest after Ostrog and the city circuit. End beside the vehicle, ready for the homeward journey to Žabljak.

From Krupac, drive back through Nikšić and continue by Šavnik to Žabljak. This closes the inland circuit without approaching Ostrog a second time. Park at your accommodation on arrival and spend the third night in the same base.

Drive from Žabljak towards Đurđevića Tara Bridge and Mojkovac, then follow the approach into Biogradska Gora National Park. Use the car park beside Biogradsko Lake, where the driving ends and the woodland part begins. The shore and start of the circular path are immediately beyond the car park.

Take the whole circuit around Biogradsko Lake, moving between dense old forest, wooden footbridges and open water views. Seeing every side of the lake reveals far more of the woodland than a brief shore stop and naturally returns you to the starting point. Follow the entrance path back to the car and continue to Kolašin.

Park in central Kolašin and visit Trg Boraca, the Memorial House and the surrounding streets. Have lunch in town because the remaining part of the day is the journey back through the Tara valley. End the walk at the same car park and set off towards Mojkovac.

Travel back from Kolašin via Mojkovac and past Đurđevića Tara Bridge to Žabljak. Biogradsko Lake and Kolašin now form one full excursion without changing accommodation. Park at your base and finish the evening in Žabljak centre.

Reach Kotor from Žabljak by passing Šavnik and Nikšić, then leave the vehicle at Benovo. Its position gives a short walk to the North Gate and removes the need to drive around the fortifications. Mark the car park on your map and cover every Old Town sight on foot.

Enter through the North Gate and continue to Saint Mary's Church, Flour Square and Saint Tryphon's Cathedral. Pass the churches of Saint Luke and Saint Nicholas on the way to Arms Square and the Sea Gate. Follow the inner lanes back to Benovo and collect the car.

Collect the car at Benovo and follow the bay shore to Perast. Park in the public car park at the entrance because the narrow waterfront is best covered on foot. Walk from there towards Saint Nicholas Church and the jetty for the island boats.

Stroll along Perast's waterfront to the central jetty and book a boat that brings you back after visiting Our Lady of the Rocks. Explore the church and museum, then step outside for the view across the Verige Strait. Once ashore again, see the remainder of the waterfront and retrace the promenade to the entrance car park.

Take the shore road from Perast to Risan before turning inland for Nikšić, Šavnik and Žabljak. Kotor and Perast have already supplied the day's two long walks, so no further visit is required on the way home. The route ends when the car is back beside your accommodation.

Leave Žabljak through Šavnik, Nikšić and Podgorica for Petrovac. Use the public car park near the bus station, which offers pedestrian access to the promenade without driving along the waterfront. Walk downhill from there towards the western end of the bay.

Follow the full promenade to Kastio Fortress and climb to the terrace above the small harbour. The view takes in Petrovac Bay, the islets of Katič and Sveta Neđelja, and the coastline stretching north. Return along the promenade to the car and drive onwards to Sveti Stefan.

Use the public car park above Sveti Stefan and descend to the viewpoint facing the island village. From the shore, enter Miločer Park and follow the former royal grounds towards Miločer Beach and Queen's Beach. Turn this into one connected walk by retracing the park paths to the car.

Leave the vehicle in the public car park beside the Old Town at the end of Mediteranska Street. Inside the main gate, connect Poets Square with Saint John's Church, Holy Trinity Church, the Citadel and a stretch of wall above the Adriatic. Come out by the marina and walk to the same car park.

Leave Budva for Cetinje and Podgorica, then continue through Nikšić and Šavnik to Žabljak. Visiting Petrovac, Sveti Stefan and Budva in this order keeps the whole return in one direction. The sixth day ends when you park at your accommodation.

Travel south from Žabljak by Nikšić and Podgorica, pass modern Bar and climb to the old settlement. The parking beside the lower end of the bazaar is the practical starting point for the fortress. Leave the vehicle there while you follow the cobbled street to the ticket entrance.

Paths within the fortifications connect ruined churches, palace foundations, the aqueduct and the Clock Tower. Looking over the plain towards modern Bar and Mount Rumija makes the old town's defensive position immediately clear. Leave by the entrance you used, descend the bazaar and collect the car for Ulcinj.

Choose the public parking above Small Beach, then climb into Ulcinj's historic quarter without moving the car again. Beyond the gate are the former slave market square, Balšić Tower and narrow stone streets overlooking the Adriatic. Descend towards the beach at the end and retrace the approach to your vehicle.

Drive from the centre to Donji Stoj and use the main developed access to Long Beach. Park beside that entrance, walk along the broad sandy shore and allow time for a late lunch. Return to the same approach before beginning the journey north.

Return from Long Beach through Bar and Podgorica, then continue by Nikšić and Šavnik to Žabljak. Old Bar, Ulcinj and the shore now make one closed southern circuit. Park at your accommodation and finish the longest coastal day at the same base.

Drive from Žabljak towards Bosača and stop in the designated car park for Ćurevac. The way to the viewpoint is a marked forest path, not a roadside pull-in, and the return includes the same climb in reverse. Leave the car here for the whole visit and take drinking water with you.

The forest opens on a ridge high above the Tara, with the canyon falling away below and northern mountain ranges across the horizon. Reach the principal viewpoint on the marked trail and use that path again for the descent. Once back beside the car, set off for Đurđevića Tara Bridge.

Stop in the designated car park at Đurđevića Tara Bridge and cover the span on foot. The central section looks down to the river, across the wooded walls and along the bridge's succession of concrete arches. Once you have seen both sides of the gorge, collect the car and follow the Tara downstream to Dobrilovina.

Turn off for Dobrilovina and leave the car at the approach to its compact monastery enclosure. Saint George's Church and the quiet courtyard sit directly beneath the wooded sides of Tara Canyon. After seeing both, walk back to the vehicle and travel farther downstream to the protected black pines at Crna Poda.

Use the marked entrance at Crna Poda for a short walk among the reserve's exceptionally tall black pines above the Tara. It is the low-level forest counterpart to the morning view from Ćurevac and the crossing at the bridge. Finish the canyon sequence here, then retrace the valley road to Žabljak.

Take the northern side of the Ring out of Žabljak until the road reaches Mala Crna Gora. A stop in the village centre reveals houses and pasture spread across the high land between the Tara and Sušica gorges. Explore the immediate lanes on foot and then resume the circuit for Nedajno.

After Mala Crna Gora, cross the exposed Durmitor plateau and descend towards Nedajno. A marked outlook over Sušica Canyon has space to leave the vehicle while you approach the rim on foot. See the valley from the open point, then rejoin the Ring and head towards Trsa.

Park in central Trsa and stop for lunch featuring food from the Piva and Durmitor region. The village's position halfway around the Ring offers a clear pause between Sušica Canyon and the final mountain passes. Continue towards Pišće after the meal.

Between Trsa and Pišće, the Ring passes open pasture beneath the steep flanks of Durmitor. Pause in Pišće and stretch your legs among the village surroundings before tackling the final rise of the loop. The next destination is Sedlo, reached directly from here.

At Sedlo, park by the pass and take a short walk for an unobstructed view of Sedlena Greda and the neighbouring peaks. This is where the Ring reconnects with the approach used for the Bobotov Kuk hike. The last drive descends from the pass and closes the loop at your Žabljak accommodation.

Travel from Žabljak through Mojkovac and Kolašin towards the Morača valley. Park in the visitor area beside the monastery and use the short path to the gate. This brings you directly into the courtyard where the visit begins.

Within Morača Monastery, see the large Church of the Dormition, Saint Nicholas Church and the courtyard spring. The historic frescoes and iconostasis deserve attention inside, with the normal conduct expected in an active religious site. Conclude at the gate, retrieve the car and descend the valley for Podgorica.

Use the public garage on Novaka Miloševa Street in central Podgorica and save the exact entrance location. The whole city circuit can be completed on foot from here, so the car does not move between nearby sights. Begin by crossing Independence Square towards Stara Varoš.

Walk from Independence Square to the Clock Tower on Bećir-bega Osmanagića Square and continue through the stone lanes of Stara Varoš. Descend to the Ribnica fortress remains, the old stone bridge and Sastavci where the Ribnica enters the Morača. Finish the visit by returning towards the modern centre.

Take Bokeška Street to Njegoš Park, then follow the Morača riverfront to Moscow Bridge and Millennium Bridge. The sequence adds green riverbanks, a pedestrian crossing and modern architecture to the earlier streets of Stara Varoš. Complete the Podgorica walk through the centre and finish at the garage.

Leave the garage towards Kolašin and Mojkovac, then continue to Žabljak. The final drive ends at the same car park from which all ten outings began. Park at your accommodation and finish the whole plan without changing base.