Montenegro is a small Balkan country blessed with incredible natural beauty. The best way to uncover that beauty is by hiking in the Montenegro mountains.
There is no shortage of hiking options, as most of Montenegro’s surface area is covered by the rugged Dinaric Alps, a mountain chain that extends from Slovenia to Albania.
However, compared to well-known alpine destinations in Europe, Montenegro is still a bit of a mystery.
Because not all hiking areas in Montenegro are accessible by transit, it can be challenging to reach some of the country’s most stunning trails.
The upside is that if you make the effort and rent a car you’ll be blissfully alone in some of Europe’s most untouched landscapes.
We recommend using the intuitive Discovercars.com car rental reservation platform to search for and book car rentals in Europe. This easy-to-use booking platform compares car rental deals from 500+ trusted providers, so that you can choose the best option for your trip. Check car rental rates here.
In this Montenegro hiking guide, we’re going to map out and detail where to hike in the land of black mountains.
- When to Hike in Montenegro: spring and fall for hiking along the coast, summer for hiking in the mountains.
- Signage and Waymarking: This varies depending on the region you’re hiking in. Some trails are marked with the Knafelc waymark, while others are marked with other blazes.
- Recommended Itinerary: 2-Week Montenegro Road Trip Itinerary
- Get the Hiking Guidebook: Mountains of Montenegro
- Get the Trail Map: Prokletije & Durmitor Trekking Map (1:65,000)
Montenegro Hiking Map
Prokletije National Park
Prokletije, meaning “the accursed mountains,” is a mountain range that makes up the southernmost and highest part of the Dinaric Alps.
Extending also into Albania and Kosovo, this wild and remote mountain region can be accessed from many different valleys and villages.
The multi-day Peaks of the Balkans trek traverses all three countries, giving long distance hikers an opportunity to explore this region deeply.
However, there’s no need to trek for weeks in the Accursed Mountains to experience the most epic summits.
A day hike to Volušnica, in Montenegro’s Prokletije National Park, will deliver the most awe-inspiring views of the vertical Karanfili peaks across Grebaje Valley.
To learn more about planning a trip here, read our Prokletije National Park hiking guide.
Stay in Grebaje Valley
Grebaje Valley (also spelled Grbaje) is a scenic and narrow valley at the foot of the Karanfili peaks in Prokletije National Park. This is the ultimate base for exploring the area.
These are the two accommodation options in Grebaje Valley: Bungalows Katun Maja Karanfil (budget) and Bungalows Prokletije (budget).
Durmitor National Park
Durmitor National Park is located in northeast Montenegro, situated between the canyons of the Tara and Piva rivers. Durmitor is often described as the most beautiful area in Montenegro. We agree.
In 1980, the park was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are numerous, easy-to-follow hiking trails across the park to various lakes and summits.
Trails are well-marked and well-signed.
Find out where to hike in our Durmitor National Park hiking guide.
Stay in Žabljak
Žabljak is the gateway to Durmitor National Park. We recommend staying in the town center so that you are walking distance to various restaurants and the main park entrance.
We recommend staying in Casa di Pino Eco Lodge Apartments, a modern, tastefully-furnished accommodation with 8 rooms and apartments. The room rate includes a breakfast buffet and use of the Finnish sauna.
More great options: SNAM Rooms (budget), Vuk Popovic (midrange), and Hotel Soa (luxury).
Kotor
Cradled by mountains, the glistening Bay of Kotor is one of Montenegro’s best-known destinations. There are a few notable hikes around the Old Town of Kotor that provide stunning views of Boka Bay as well as the Old Town’s impressive fortifications.
The well-graded Ladder of Kotor hike begins just outside the Kotor Old Town, near the North Gate, and zigzags up the mountainside along 70 switchbacks. Start early to avoid the midday sun.
The Ladder of Kotor (aka the Ladder of Cattaro) is a historic mule trail, which was built in the 19th century by the Austrians, in order to connect Kotor with Njeguši and Cetinje, Montenegro’s former royal capital.
A shorter day hike option is the hike to the hilltop Kotor Fortress, also called Fortress of St. John, or the San Giovanni Fortress. This trail starts in the Old Town.
There is an entrance fee to tackle the 1,350 steps leading up to the Fortress. The hike first passes Our Lady of Remedy, a church built in 1518.
The view of the walled city is very satisfying, so some people even turn around at this point. However, if you push on to the San Giovanni Fortress, you’ll be happy you did.
One of our favorite hikes around Kotor starts at Fort Vrmac atop the Vrmac mountain ridge. The Vrmac ridge trail follows an old military road, built by the Austro-Hungarians, to the panoramic Sveti Ilija (765 m) peak. This is an easy hike that only takes 3 hours out-and-back.
Another short, but rewarding hike near Kotor is Pestingrad Peak.
Learn More: Best Hikes in Kotor
Stay in Kotor Bay
Kotor Bay is rimmed with seaside villages. We’ve summarized the best places to stay in Where to Stay in Kotor.
If you’re traveling without a car, stay in the Old Town of Kotor, or nearby.
If you’re traveling with a car, it’s more convenient to stay outside the city walls, especially if your accommodation has private parking. There are some great apartments, just steps away from the various gates of the Old Town.
You can also stay in the neighboring villages of Dobrota, Muo, or Prčanj. Orahovac and Perast are also possibilities, but further away from the main hiking trails.
Kotor Old Town (Inside City Walls) | Old Town Youth Hostel (social hostel), Palazzo Sindik (apartment), Katareo Apartments (apartment), Hotel Hippocampus (boutique luxury hotel), Boutique Hotel Astoria (luxury hotel), and Hotel Vardar (luxury hotel).
Kotor (Outside City Walls) | Apartments Ana (budget) and Apartments Qualitas (budget).
Dobrota | Apartman Castello (midrange), Solaris Lux Apartments (midrange), Corso Levante Luxury Suites (seafront luxury suites with private beach), Hotel Forza Terra (5-star seafront boutique hotel), and Three Dots (seafront private villa).
Muo | Nikola Lux apartments (budget), House 44 Apartments (midrange), or Apartments Residence Portofino (midrange)
Prčanj | Palazzo Sbutega (midrange)
Komovi Mountains
The Komovi mountain range is located in eastern Montenegro, close to the Albanian border. It’s a wonderfully remote area dotted with katuns (herdsmen settlements).
The highest peaks of the range are Kom Kučki (2487 m), Kom Vasojevićki (2461 m) and Kom Lijevorečki (2483 m). The best base for exploring Komovi is Štavna, a high alpine plateau at the base of Kom Vasojevićki.
We recommend hiking from Štavna to Kom Vasojevićki. This is a 4:30-hours hike out-and-back, with a total elevation gain of 710 meters.
Stay in Štavna
We highly recommend staying in Eko Katun Štavna (midrange), which is located directly on the Štavna plateau. Bonus: Eko Katun Štavna also has a restaurant that makes delicious, homemade Montenegrin cuisine.
If Eko Katun Štavna is not available, there are two other options close by: Komovi – Kobil Do Guesthouse (budget), or Mountain House Komovi (midrange).
Keep Reading about Hiking in Europe
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- Best Treks in Europe
- Best Hikes in Mallorca, Spain
- Best Hikes in Picos de Europa, Spain
- Best Hikes in Slovenia
- Best Day Hikes in Austria
- Best Hikes in the Dolomites
- Best Hikes in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
- Best Hikes in Appenzell, Switzerland
Montenegro Trip Planning Essentials
Use our Montenegro Travel Guide to plan an unforgettable trip.
When to Visit Montenegro
We recommend traveling to Montenegro during shoulder seasons: spring and early fall.
For coastal exploration, May, September and October are ideal months. For hiking in the mountains, it’s best to visit in summer, or early fall, when trails are mostly snow-free.
Car Rental
We always rent a car when visiting Montenegro, so that we can reach trailheads and visit destinations that are not accessible by transit.
Follow our 2 Week Montenegro Road Trip Itinerary for route planning.
Use the intuitive Discovercars.com car rental reservation platform to search for and book car rentals. This easy-to-use booking platform compares car rental deals from 500+ trusted providers, so that you can choose the best option for your trip.
Places to Visit in Montenegro
Take a look at Top Places to Visit in Montenegro for a summary of the most beautiful coastal and mountainous destinations across this Balkan country, including Kotor, Lake Skadar, Durmitor National Park, and Ulcinj.
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