Kotor in 10 Days

Drive from your lodging to Benovo Parking and leave the car there for the entire city visit. Walk across the Škurda bridge, pass Kampana Tower, and follow the outside of the walls to the Sea Gate. The gate opens directly onto Square of the Arms, where the Old Town walk begins.

Start with the Clock Tower and the Pillar of Shame on Square of the Arms, then walk through the lanes to St. Tryphon Cathedral. If the cathedral is open to visitors, step inside to see the Romanesque architecture, stone canopy above the altar, and treasury. Continue from the cathedral to Flour Square.

Visit the Maritime Museum inside Grgurina Palace on the Square of the Boka Navy. Its ship models, portraits, weapons, and household objects explain how the sea shaped Kotor. Continue to St. Luke's Square and visit the neighboring churches of St. Luke and St. Nicholas before taking a break ahead of the wall climb.

Enter the walls at the marked access point and climb the stone steps to the Church of Our Lady of Remedy. The terrace looks over the Old Town roofs, harbor, and inner bay. Return down the same stairs, cross the Old Town, and leave through the River Gate beside the Škurda River.

From Benovo, walk along the Dobrota waterfront to St. Matthew's Church. Pause on the nearby stone piers for a view back toward the Kotor walls. Retrace the waterfront to Benovo, collect the car if your lodging is farther from the center, and end the day at the same address.

Leave your Kotor lodging and drive through Dobrota, Ljuta, and Orahovac to the public parking lot at the Perast entrance from the Kotor side. Keep the car outside the old center and explore the waterfront on foot. Before boarding, confirm which pier your boat uses and agree on the return time.

A short boat ride reaches the artificial island and Church of Our Lady of the Rocks. Inside, look for the paintings, silver votive plaques, and objects left by generations of seafaring families. From the stone platform, look across to the natural island of St. George, then take the same boat back to the Perast waterfront.

Walk from the pier to St. Nicholas Square and the tall bell tower that defines the Perast waterfront. Continue past Zmajević and Smekja palaces, then enter the Perast Museum in Bujović Palace to see portraits of captains, weapons, and objects once used aboard ships from the Bay of Kotor. Finish the walk at the far end of the waterfront and return to the car.

Drive about 10 minutes from Perast to the Roman Mosaics in Risan and park beside the site. The floor mosaics reveal the room plan of a Roman villa, and the best-known panel depicts Hypnos, the god of sleep. After the visit, take a short walk to the Risan waterfront and return to the car.

From Risan, follow the same shore through Perast, Orahovac, and Ljuta. The final stretch ends at your lodging parking area in Kotor. Leave the car there and spend the evening in the same part of town where you are staying.

Leave the lodging parking area early and climb above the bay toward Njeguši. Park beside the birthplace of Petar II Petrović Njegoš and tour the simple stone house with objects from his childhood and the Petrović family. Before continuing to Lovćen, pause to taste Njeguši prosciutto and cheese.

Continue from Njeguši to the parking area below the mausoleum. Reach the entrance by climbing 461 steps, then see Meštrović's caryatids, the large statue of Njegoš, the mosaic, and the sarcophagus inside. Walk to the circular viewpoint behind the mausoleum before descending the same stairs to the car.

Descend from Jezerski vrh to Ivanova Korita and park by the visitor center. Have lunch in the area, then spend about 30 minutes walking through the meadows and beech forest near the spring. Return to the car and continue downhill toward Cetinje.

Leave the car at the visitor parking area near Ćipur and explore the historic center on foot. Visit King Nikola's Museum and Biljarda, then continue to Cetinje Monastery and the Court Church at Ćipur. The entire museum and monastery loop can be completed without moving the car.

Drive from Cetinje toward Budva and continue to Kotor. Return the car to the lodging parking area and have dinner nearby. The day ends at the same base after visiting Njeguši, Lovćen, Ivanova Korita, and historic Cetinje.

Leave the same lodging, drive through Muo, and follow the shore to the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Prčanj. Park in the marked area beside the church, which stands at the center of the village. Continue on foot to the waterfront and nearby palaces.

Examine the monumental church facade and the broad staircase facing the bay. Walk along the waterfront to the Ivo Vizin House and the stone palaces once owned by Prčanj's maritime families. Return to the car along the same shore.

Drive a few miles to Donji Stoliv and use the marked parking area near St. Elijah Church. Walk between stone houses, small piers, and camellia trees while the car remains outside the narrow residential lanes. Finish the walk back at the church and continue toward Tivat.

Park in the public Porto Montenegro garage and begin at the Maritime Heritage Collection, then tour the Hero submarine. After the museum, walk through the marina to the Pine waterfront, Large City Park, and the Buća-Luković Summer House. This route links the former Arsenal, modern marina, and older center of Tivat on foot.

Drive directly from Tivat to Kotor and finish at your lodging parking area. The day has now covered Prčanj, Stoliv, the Maritime Heritage Collection, Porto Montenegro, and the Pine waterfront. Spend the evening and night at the same Kotor address.

Leave your lodging in Kotor and drive directly to the Stari Grad parking lot in Budva. Keep the car outside the pedestrian zone and enter through the Old Town gate. An early arrival leaves time for the Citadel, churches, and waterfront without moving the car through central Budva.

Walk through the lanes to the churches of St. John, Holy Trinity, and Santa Maria in Punta. Continue into the Citadel and along the accessible section of the walls for views toward Sveti Nikola Island and Mogren Beach. Return to the parking lot through the square outside the main gate.

Drive from Budva to the lot labeled Parking Miločer and enter the former royal grounds on foot. The path passes cypress and cedar trees, Miločer Beach, the former royal villa, and Queen's Beach before opening to a view of the fortified Sveti Stefan island. Retrace the park path to the car.

Park by Petrovac Bus Station and walk downhill to the town beach. Follow the promenade to Kastio Fortress and look across the water toward Katič and Sveta Nedjelja islands. Have dinner by the waterfront, then return to the parking lot by the same pedestrian route.

Collect the car after the Petrovac walk and drive directly to Kotor. End the drive in the same lodging parking area and spend the fifth night at the address where the ten-day plan began.

Leave Kotor early and drive to the parking lot near the Old Town Gate in Old Bar. Keep the car there throughout the fortress and bazaar visit. Walk uphill through the bazaar to the main entrance of the fortified town.

Inside the walls, explore the old streets, Clock Tower, aqueduct, and religious buildings from the medieval and Ottoman layers of Bar. Viewpoints in the upper part of the fortress overlook Mount Rumija and the olive groves below town. Exit through the same gate, walk through the bazaar, and return to the car.

Drive a short distance from Old Bar to Mirovica and park beside the enclosed Old Olive Tree site. Walk around the broad hollow trunk and living crown, then read the displays about the long olive-growing tradition of the Bar area. Return to the car and continue toward Ulcinj.

Leave the car at the Skela parking lot below the walls and climb on foot into Ulcinj Old Town. Enter near the square traditionally known as the Slave Market, visit the local history collection in a building that first served as a church and later as a mosque, and continue to Balšić Tower and the upper Citadel. View Small Beach from the walls, then return through the same streets to the car.

Drive from central Ulcinj past Port Milena to the parking lot at Miami Beach near the start of Long Beach. Walk along the broad sand and take a break by the sea before the long return drive. Retrace the beach access to the car and depart for Kotor.

Return from Long Beach through Bar and Budva toward Kotor. Park in the same place at your lodging when you arrive. The sixth day ends at the address where it started that morning.

Leave the lodging parking area early and drive toward Ostrog Monastery. Park first beside Lower Ostrog and walk from the car to the courtyard entrance. Keep the car in that parking area during the lower monastery visit.

Visit Holy Trinity Church, the monastery residence, and the broad courtyard at Lower Ostrog. From the courtyard, look up to Upper Ostrog built into the cliff above. Return to the car and drive uphill to the parking area below the upper monastery.

Walk the final uphill section from the upper parking area. Inside the cliff, visit the Church of the Presentation of the Mother of God, the Church of the Holy Cross, the terraces, and the shrine containing the relics of St. Basil of Ostrog. Descend to the car by the same approach and continue toward Nikšić.

In Nikšić, park in the public lot on Novice Cerovića Street and begin at Freedom Square. Walk to the Cathedral of St. Basil of Ostrog and King Nikola's Castle, home to the local history museum and art gallery. Return through the center to the car after the visit.

Drive from central Nikšić to the parking area beside Krupac Lake. Walk along the shore for about 30 minutes, then sit by the water for a late lunch or drink. Begin the return to Kotor from the same parking area.

Drive from Krupac back to Kotor and finish at your lodging parking area. Leave the car there and return to the same lodging for the night. Day seven connects Ostrog, central Nikšić, and Krupac Lake without changing the base.

Leave Kotor in the early morning and drive through Nikšić and Šavnik to Žabljak. Take a short break in town, then continue to the parking area for Black Lake. Leave the car there for the entire lake walk.

Follow the forest path from the parking area to the Black Lake shore. Walk the marked loop around the Small and Big Lake basins and pause at the open viewpoints toward Međed peak. Return to the parking area on the same access trail.

Return to central Žabljak and leave the car in a town parking lot. Try kačamak, cicvara, or another Durmitor dish in a restaurant near the center, then walk to Durmitor Warriors Square. Collect the car after lunch and continue toward the Tara.

Drive about 25 minutes from Žabljak to the parking area at Đurđevića Tara Bridge. First view all five arches from the roadside viewpoint beside the approach, then walk across the bridge to see the river and steep canyon walls. Return to the car by the same path.

Return from the bridge through Žabljak, Šavnik, and Nikšić to Kotor. The drive ends in the same lodging parking area. Leave the car there and spend the night at the lodging where the morning began.

Leave the same Kotor lodging early, drive toward Podgorica, and continue through the Morača Canyon. Park in the visitor area beside the monastery complex. Walk from the car through the main gate to the courtyard in front of the Church of the Assumption.

Visit the main Church of the Assumption, smaller Church of St. Nicholas, and monastery courtyard. Inside the main church, look for the Raven Feeding the Prophet Elijah fresco, one of the complex's best-known works. Return to the parking area after the visit and continue to Kolašin.

Park near Trg boraca, the central square in Kolašin, and have lunch nearby. Walk across the square to the Memorial House, recognizable by its angular concrete roof forms. Return to the car and continue to the national park entrance and Biogradsko Lake parking area.

Begin at the visitor center, then follow the educational trail around Biogradsko Lake. The loop runs for just over two miles through old-growth forest beside the water, with rest areas and displays about the park's plants and wildlife. Finish the circuit where you started beside the parking area.

Leave the national park and return through Kolašin and Podgorica to Kotor. The final drive starts beside Biogradsko Lake and ends at the lodging parking area. Leave the car there and spend the night at the same Kotor address.

Leave your lodging parking area and drive to Lepetane for the ferry to Kamenari. After the short crossing, continue through Bijela, Kumbor, and Meljine to the public parking spaces along Branka Ćopića Street near Savina. Leave the car there while visiting the monastery and Savina Forest.

Visit the Small Church of the Assumption, the Large Church of the Assumption, and the courtyard shaded by old cypress and other Mediterranean trees. Follow the path through Savina Forest to the Church of St. Sava, then retrace it to the monastery. Collect the car on Branka Ćopića Street and continue toward central Herceg Novi.

Park in the Municipal Garage on Marshal Tito Square and follow Njegoševa Street to Nikola Đurković Square. Pass beneath the Clock Tower to Belavista Square and the Church of Archangel Michael, then descend past St. Jerome Church to Forte Mare Fortress. Look across the entrance to the bay before walking down to Škver.

Descend from Forte Mare to Škver and see the former railway station and monument to King Tvrtko. Follow Pet Danica Promenade toward Topla, pass through the old narrow-gauge railway tunnel, and continue to Rafaelo Beach. Turn back there, retrace the promenade to Škver, and climb the steps to the garage.

Drive from Herceg Novi to Kamenari, take the ferry to Lepetane, and continue past Tivat to Kotor. The ten-day plan ends in the same lodging parking area where day one began. Leave the car there and finish the final evening at the same Kotor address.