Why Montenegro for a Honeymoon
The scenery is the headline. The Bay of Kotor is often described as Europe's southernmost fjord, though geologists call it a submerged river canyon. Either way, the effect is the same: steep limestone walls dropping to calm water, church bell towers and stone villas lining the edge. Waking up in a room above that water is the core of most Montenegro honeymoons.
Variety comes next. Within a week you can climb Kotor's fortress walls, swim at a beach club near Budva, boat out to an island church at Perast and eat smoked ham in a mountain village above the coast. Couples who like a little adventure can raft the Tara River or hike in Durmitor.
The country also feels less polished than its neighbors. That is part of the appeal. Family-run konobas serve grilled fish and local Vranac wine at fair prices. Old men play cards in village squares. The coast has luxury marinas, but you do not have to live inside them.
Best Time to Visit
May, June and September are the best months for most couples. The sea is swimmable from late May through October, with September often the warmest. Days are sunny, prices are below peak and the coast is lively without being overwhelming.
July and August are hot and crowded. The Budva Riviera fills with European vacationers, roads jam near Kotor and cruise ships can unload thousands of visitors into the old town on the same day. Inland, Podgorica regularly tops 95°F in July. If you must come then, base yourselves on the quieter Luštica peninsula or in Perast and plan sightseeing for early morning.
The mountains run on a different calendar. Durmitor is best from June to September for hiking and rafting, with snow on the high peaks well into spring. In winter it becomes a modest ski area. Coastal winters are mild but wet. The Bay of Kotor area is among the rainiest inhabited places in Europe. Many seasonal hotels close from November to March.
Where to Go
The Bay of Kotor is the essential stop. Kotor's walled old town, the Baroque village of Perast with its island church, the yacht harbor of Porto Montenegro in Tivat and the green Luštica peninsula all sit within half an hour of each other.
The Budva Riviera is the beach coast. Budva's compact old town has a lively summer scene, while the coves farther south around Sveti Stefan, Pržno and Petrovac feel calmer. The famous islet of Sveti Stefan itself is a private resort that has been closed for several years, though you can still admire it from the beaches.
Durmitor National Park, in the north, is for mountain lovers. Žabljak is the base for walks around the Black Lake, hikes into the high karst and rafting in the Tara Canyon.
Worth a day trip: the old royal capital of Cetinje, the Lovćen mountain road with its many hairpins above Kotor, the cliffside Ostrog Monastery and Lake Skadar, a huge freshwater lake with wineries and water lilies.
Sample 10-Day Itinerary
- Day 1: Fly into Tivat, or into Dubrovnik and drive about two hours south. Check into a waterfront hotel on the Bay of Kotor.
- Days 2–4: Explore the bay. Climb the Kotor fortress at dawn, take a boat to Our Lady of the Rocks from Perast and spend a lazy day on Luštica. Drive the Lovćen serpentine road to Njeguši for smoked ham and cheese, then continue to Cetinje.
- Days 5–6: Move to the Budva Riviera. Swim at Mogren or near Sveti Stefan, walk Budva's old town in the evening and have dinner in Petrovac.
- Day 7: Head inland via Lake Skadar for a boat ride and a wine tasting around Virpazar.
- Days 8–9: Continue north to Žabljak. Walk around the Black Lake, raft the Tara Canyon and cross the Đurđevića Tara bridge.
- Day 10: Drive to Podgorica for your flight home, or loop back to the coast if you are flying from Tivat or Dubrovnik.
Budget and Costs
Montenegro is usually cheaper than Croatia or Italy, though prices on the coast rise sharply in July and August. All figures below are approximate for two people.
Comfortable mid-range hotels and boutique guesthouses on the bay often cost about $120–$250 a night in high season, less in May and October. The top luxury resorts around Tivat and Luštica can run $500 or more. Apartments in Perast, Kotor or Petrovac are a good value if you want a kitchen and a terrace.
A konoba dinner of grilled fish with a bottle of Vranac might be $60–$100. Coffee and pastries are inexpensive. Beach club loungers and umbrellas often cost $20–$60 for a pair in summer, more at the trendiest spots.
Rental cars are relatively affordable outside peak season. Boat trips, rafting and private transfers add up, so set aside about $80–$150 a day for activities. A comfortable ten-day trip often lands around $4,000–$7,000 before flights.
Getting There and Around
Tivat Airport (TIV) sits right on the bay, a few miles from Kotor and about 12 miles from Budva. Most of its flights are seasonal, from roughly May to September, with year-round links via Istanbul and Belgrade. Podgorica (TGD) is the capital's airport, open all year with connections through Istanbul, Vienna, Warsaw and Frankfurt. It is about an hour or more from the coast.
Dubrovnik is the other gateway. It has more flights to Western Europe and has had seasonal nonstops from the New York area in recent summers. The drive to Kotor takes around two hours depending on the border queue, which can be long in summer.
A rental car gives you the most freedom. Roads are two-lane, often winding and busy in summer, so drive defensively and keep headlights on. Within the bay, a short car ferry between Kamenari and Lepetane saves the long drive around. Buses connect the main towns cheaply. Water taxis hop across the bay.
Culture and Etiquette
Montenegrins tend to be hospitable and famously relaxed about time. Meals and coffee breaks are long. Rushing a waiter is pointless, so settle in.
The majority are Orthodox Christians, with significant Catholic and Muslim communities, especially on the coast and in the south. Dress modestly in churches and monasteries, covering shoulders and knees. Carry a light scarf for monastery visits like Ostrog. Topless sunbathing is limited to designated beaches.
A few words help: dobar dan for good day and hvala for thank you. When toasting with rakija, the strong local fruit brandy, look your companion in the eye and sip rather than shoot.
Tipping around 10 percent in restaurants is appreciated. Rounding up taxi fares is common. Politics and the region's 1990s history can be sensitive topics, especially regarding relations with Serbia. Let locals lead those conversations.
Quick tips
- Check the Kotor cruise ship schedule and visit the old town early or late on heavy port days.
- Carry some cash for beach loungers, small konobas and local buses; ATM fees vary by bank.
- Book Tivat flights early, since most routes there are seasonal and fill up for July and August.
