The ultimate solo travel guide to Montenegro: Everything you need to know
Say zdravo to coastal beauty, lakeside vineyards and making the most of the wild, mountainous outdoors. Montenegro is a pocket rocket of culture, history and rugged charm, with 117 beaches, warm welcomes and a penchant for magnificent landscapes.
Some cities and towns combine Montenegro’s rich cultural heritage with a more modern vibrancy, such as buzzy Budva with its marble stone streets and lively nightlife, while others bask in their storied history, like Kotor: a maze of cobblestoned alleys, Venetian palaces and breathtaking cathedrals.
Like many Montenegrin towns, Kotor sits within spectacular scenery. The Bay of Kotor is a turquoise paradise of glittering bays, fringed by medieval towns and limestone cliffs. Solo travellers have a wealth of compelling scenery here, including Durmitor National Park boasting dramatic gorges, ice caves, pine forests and some 50 peaks rising above it all. Or how about lily-covered Lake Skadar with its sunny vineyards and hundreds of bird species, including the endangered Dalmatian pelican?
Montenegro is a compact country with big adventure (plus easy access to the rest of the Balkans, including Albania), and we haven’t even mentioned the rafting, skiing and kitesurfing… Below, we’ve covered everything you need to know about this rising Mediterranean star, from hotels to itineraries, so pour yourself a rakija and explore. Learn more about group solo travel with Flash Pack.
Montenegro travel facts
Montenegro is known for its rich cultural history, ancient charms and exceptional natural beauty, all rightly recognised by Unesco, which lists the medieval stećci tombstones, the Durmitor National Park with its genuinely jaw-dropping vistas and Kotor: the cobblestoned, fortified town within the world’s southernmost fjord. Just one of many ‘ests’ attracting visitors in fact, with Durmitor’s Tara Canyon the deepest in Europe, Skadar Lake the Balkans’ largest and plenty more. Independent since 2006, Montenegro is the seventh smallest country in Europe (population c.630,000), and its name means ‘black mountain’, thought to have come from Mount Lovćen’s dense forest cover.
Is Montenegro good for solo travel?
If you enjoy both culture and action, awesome natural beauty and warm people, then Montenegro has an embarrassment of solo travel riches. Find thrills and tranquillity in the extraordinary Durmitor National Park, from whitewater rafting the record-breaking Tara Canyon to peaceful dips in sparkling glacial lakes; visit the vast Lake Skadar, a wildlife haven surrounded by mountains and family-run wineries; wander the marbled streets of historic yet lively Budva. Exploring with a group of like-minded solo travellers is a secure, stress-free way of discovering its highlights, in the company of expert local guides.
Best places to visit in Montenegro
The country may be small, but it packs a punch: so what should you do on a group solo trip to Montenegro? Flash Pack rounds up the unmissable headliners and the local diamonds on our Balkans escape. You’ll explore the Bay of Kotor by speedboat and wander the beautiful Unesco-listed Old Town, swim the glacial mountain lakes of Durmitor National Park and experience Europe’s deepest canyon by rafting its whitewater rapids. You’ll sip wine from vineyards by the stunning Lake Skadar, eat homemade lunch hosted by a local family and visit Njegoš – the world’s highest mausoleum.
Where to stay as a solo traveller in Montenegro
What are hotels like in Montenegro? There’s plenty for solo travellers; accommodation ranges from elegant 4-star abodes in the heart of historical quarters, such as Kotor’s Old Town, to comfortable lodges with gorgeous mountain views and easy access to Durmitor National Park and Black Lake. Hotels vary from bigger coastal resorts to boutique spots, while many opt for private accommodation, such as villas with private pools or apartments. You’ll find eco resorts in the south-western Crmnica region, and statement design in the cities. Flash Pack trips always offer the opportunity to share a room, meaning stays in beautiful, local and original hotels without the costly single supplement (though if you want to pay extra for a private room, that’s fine too).
How to get to Montenegro
There are direct flights to Montenegro from European cities, coming into the capital Podgorica (TGD) and coastal Tivat (TIV) from several European destinations. However, heading in from neighbouring countries allows for more exploration; flying into Dubrovnik, Croatia, before taking a bus or driving is popular, although note that border checkpoints can be congested in peak season. The weekly ferry service to Bar from Ancona in Italy is back in operation too, but if you’re after the picturesque option, you can’t beat the famously scenic train from Belgrade in Serbia.
How to get around Montenegro
Montenegro has a relatively good bus network connecting cities, however they can be irregular and poorly equipped, so you might prefer booking a private ride or car hire (be aware peak season can lead to bad traffic around the coast and some mountain roads aren’t in great condition). Otherwise, travelling by train is truly memorable; the line runs from Bar on the coast right through to Serbia, with one branch out west to the city of Nikšić. It’s famed for its cheap tickets and beautiful scenery, with spectacular mountain vistas around Kolašin and views from the Mala Rijeka viaduct, one of the world’s highest railway bridges.
Best time to visit Montenegro
Montenegro has a Mediterranean climate on the coast, so expect hot, dry summers with temperatures averaging between 25 and 35ºC (77-95ºF) and mild, wetter winters around 7-15ºC (45-59ºF), though mountainous areas can be significantly cooler. Peak tourist months are July and August for the sunny coastal weather, but inland you might prefer winter, as the heavy snowfall attracts visitors to the ski resorts – and plenty of visitors enjoy calmer city meandering outside the hot summer peak, too. In June and September, the sun is still out but prices are often lower, and there are different festivals throughout the year, too.
Montenegro travel itineraries
Our Flash Pack escape to Montenegro brings culture, history and stunning scenery from the off, beginning in picturesque Kotor, where you’ll speedboat the famous fjord, float in the impossibly turquoise Blue Cave grotto and sample Montenegrin cuisine. Expect more majestic panoramas in Durmitor National Park as you raft whitewater rapids and zipline canyons, before a dose of perfect chill at serene Lake Skadar, where peaceful kayaking and vineyard lunches await. There’ll be the rugged, high-altitude Lovćen National Park and buzzing Budvar along the way, as well as the lowkey pleasures of feasting with local families and wild swimming in still mountain lakes. Remember, you can always extend your trip with a foray into Montenegro’s southern neighbour, Albania – another emerging solo travel destination – for added wanderlust.
What to pack for solo travel in Montenegro
Though credit cards are widely accepted, take cash too for some smaller businesses and for tipping. While not a member of the EU, Montenegro uses the Euro as its sole currency. Cash machines are available but many charge a withdrawal fee. Alongside your passport and travel insurance documents, don’t forget adaptors for two-pin plugs (types C and F), mosquito repellent and comfortable walking attire if you plan to hike. For summer trips, pack sun protection and swimwear to take advantage of the coastline and wild swimming opportunities, and you might want binoculars to spot the beautiful birds of Lake Skadar.
Solo travel advice for Montenegro
Montenegro is the small but mighty rising star of the Adriatic, offering astonishing landscapes, picturesque beaches, ancient culture and as much of the wild outdoors as you can handle. From ziplining the dramatic Tara Canyon to relaxing in the mirror-still waters of glacial lakes in the Unesco-protected national parks, it’s got it all. Flash Pack carefully curates solo group trips with local experts to take the stress out of travel. Boutique accommodation, reliable transport, unique experiences and like-minded travel companions are all sorted in advance, so all you have to do is rock up and enjoy.
Is it safe to travel solo in Montenegro?
Montenegro is generally regarded as a safe country, however no travel can be guaranteed trouble-free and we recommend always checking your country’s official travel advice before departure, such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (for UK solo travellers) or the Department of State Travel Advisories (for US solo travellers). Take usual sensible precautions against street crime, such as keeping valuables secure, being aware of pickpocketing in tourist areas and keeping any payment cards in sight when you use them. Solo travel with Flash Pack lends the security of group travel led by a local Pack Leader, and all activities, transport and accommodation arranged and paid for in advance.
Ready for your next adventure? Try group solo travel to Montenegro with Flash Pack – designed exclusively for people in their 30s and 40s, seeking the independence of solo travel within the safety of a group.
A cool 98% of Flashpackers arrive solo to join our group adventures. So, you’ll be in good company – whether you’re a first-time solo traveller or a seasoned pro looking for like-minded new friends.
Images: Sam Walker for Flash Pack
