Montenegro, a country on the Balkan peninsula is one of the most beloved “hidden gems” that travellers can’t seem to shut up about. But to most, the country is as mysterious as it is challenging when it comes to choosing where exactly to stay while visiting.
Depending on how much you may or may not already know about Montenegro, chances are you’ve heard of Kotor Bay. While the Bay of Kotor does reign supreme in many departments, it’s not the only area to stay in while visiting Montenegro.
From UNESCO ranked national parks to turquoise beaches once frequented by Sophia Loren, there’s no shortage of areas in Montenegro to find the perfect stay. Whether you’re seeking the best place to camp, party or spend a honeymoon, we’ve got it covered in this guide.
After traveling throughout Montenegro’s top destinations, we’ve compiled our top six best areas to stay in for your next trip.
JUMP TO
- The Essentials for Finding the Best Area to Stay in Montenegro
- Where to Base Yourself in Montenegro
- Sveti Stefan – Best Area to Stay in Montenegro for Couples
- Durmitor National Park – Best Area to Stay in Montenegro for Camping and Hiking
- Bay of Kotor – Best Area to Stay in Montenegro for Families
- Budva – Best Area to Stay in Montenegro for Nightlife
- Petrovac – Best Area to Stay in Montenegro for Beaches
- Biogradska Gora National Park – Best Area to Stay in Montenegro Without Other Tourists
- Which Is Better: Kotor or Budva?
- Where to Find Luxury Hotels and Resorts in Montenegro
- Is It Worth Travelling to Podgorica, Montenegro?
- Safety for Tourists in Montenegro
- Final Thoughts on the Best Area to Stay in Montenegro
- Montenegro Travel Resources
The Essentials for Finding the Best Area to Stay in Montenegro
👍 A majority of Montenegro’s highlights are either found along its coast or in the national parks. While the cities in Montenegro are compelling to a certain type of travelers, they’re not the best areas to stay in for a typical vacation, particularly for first-timers.
🚐 If you’re choosing to base yourself in one area of Montenegro and travel around, you can get by with booking guided tours as your form of transportation as long as you’re staying in a popular area like Kotor or Budva.
🚘 Venturing off the main path in Montenegro is best with a car, which you can rent from the Podgorica Airport. Public transportation is not easily utilised, especially in lesser known areas.
⛺️ Car camping is very popular in Montenegro and you’ll find campsites all over the country, even in major destinations.
🧖🏼♀️ The most number of resorts and luxury hotels in Montenegro can be found along the coast, particularly in the Bay of Kotor, Sveti Stefan and near Budva.
☀️ Read More: Best Places to Visit in Montenegro in Summer
Where to Base Yourself in Montenegro
Sveti Stefan – Best Area to Stay in Montenegro for Couples
The very nature and setting of Sveti Stefan is incredibly romantic. It only makes sense that it’s the best place to stay in Montenegro for couples. Sveti Stefan is a miniature island that’s merely connected to mainland by a sandbar.
Once a coastal fortress and then a humble fishing village, Sveti Stefan has since been known as a dreamy vacation destination for celebrities of both past and present including members of the British Royal Family.
Guests who choose to stay in Sveti Stefan are rewarded with an idyllic setting and two beautiful beaches with crystal clear waters. Without question, it’s among the most posh and memorable places to stay in Montenegro (perfect for a honeymoon!).
🛌 Top Rated Accommodation in Sveti Stefan
Hotel California – Best Beachfront Location
Villa Geba – Best Boutique Hotel
Vivid Blue Serenity Resort – Best Rooftop Pool
Maestral Resort & Casino – Best Resort with Casino
Durmitor National Park – Best Area to Stay in Montenegro for Camping and Hiking
It’s not every day that you can spend the night in a UNESCO World Heritage Site but Durmitor National Park makes it possible. The Durmitor National Park is a jewel of Montenegro’s nature and consists of Bobotov Kuk, the tallest peak in the country with an altitude of over 2,500 metres.
Within Durmitor National Park, you will also be surrounded by glacial lakes, with the Crno Jezero being the most admired for its picturesque setting. In addition to being a beloved destination for river rafting through the Tara River Canyon and ziplining across gorges, Durmitor National Park is simply heaven for outdoor lovers.
As many things there are to do in the national park, there is also an abundance of campsites for both tents and camper vans. We personally stayed at Auto Camp Ivan Do for around €15 per night (2 adults + 1 car + 1 tent) and woke up to the most beautiful views each morning.
Naturally, camping is not the only type of accommodation in Durmitor National Park and you can opt for a cozy mountain hut instead.
🛌 Best Accommodation in Durmitor National Park
Boskovica Brvnare – Best Wooden Cottage
Domaćinstvo Krstajić – Best Budget Stay
Vila Montana – Best Scenic Location
Bay of Kotor – Best Area to Stay in Montenegro for Families
Also known as Kotor Bay, this area of Montenegro is the most well known, even among international tourists. Unsurprisingly, it is where you will find the largest supply of accommodation, ranging from budget rooms to high-end luxury resorts. For families, it’s nice to have plentiful options, which means you have a bigger chance of finding something that suits your family perfectly.
The Bay of Kotor is a complex shape which can make it difficult to choose where exactly is the best place to stay. If you’re looking for flexibility to explore other areas but at the same time, feel like you’re in the middle of all the action, find a place to stay in Kotor town. The historic town centre of Kotor is ideal for admirers of history, going out to eat and swimming at Kotor Beach.
People who are seeking a more laid-back and even elegant trip to Montenegro will have better luck finding a high-end place to stay in Perast. The town of Perast is much smaller but equally as picture-perfect, largely thanks to the islands of Saint George Catholic Monastery and Our Lady of the Rocks.
🛌 Top Rated Accommodation in Kotor Bay
Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort – Best Resort
Monte Bay Retreat Villa – Best Villa with Pool
Dekaderon Lux Apartments – Best Luxury Apartments
Budva – Best Area to Stay in Montenegro for Nightlife
For decades, the Budva Riviera has been a coastal vacation hotspot for Europeans. Even during the socialist era, it was famous as a resort town. With just one look at this quintessential beach town it’s easy to understand why so many people consider it as the best coastal destination in Montenegro.
In recent years, Budva’s reputation has expanded to foreign visitors and is largely known for its nightlife. While Budva does consist of a historic center, stone architecture, and beautiful beaches, these are usually not the primary reasons that lure guests in. Bars and clubs which operate in both daytime and into the late hours are often the reason why certain guests choose Budva as their destination in Montenegro.
Along with boutique hotels, luxury resorts, and entire villas for rent, Budva is also home to a lot of fantastic restaurants.
🛌 Top Rated Accommodation in Budva
Splendid Spa Resort – Best Spa Hotel
Avala Resort & Villas – Best Beachfront Location
Iberostar Bellevue – Best All Inclusive Resort
Petrovac – Best Area to Stay in Montenegro for Beaches
Also known as Petrovac na Moru, this village is comparatively tiny against the giants of Montenegro tourism, but only in area coverage. A majority of the homes and apartments found in Petrovac are indeed meant for guests which demonstrates just how sought after this small seafront town is.
Petrovac is nestled in between green hills and is equidistant from both Budva and Bar. It consists of a large half-moon beach that also offers clear views of the two islets in the bay, not too far from the shore. St. Nedjelja Church sits atop a jagged rock that juts out from the sea and is a popular endpoint for kayakers or boat trippers.
Although Petrovac is not a hidden gem by any means, it is admired for being the most stereotypical “quaint coastal town” that lives along the Montenegro coast.
🛌 Top Rated Accommodation in Petrovac
Hotel Riva by Aycon – Best Beachfront Location
Hotel Eleven – Best Modern Hotel
AMI Hotel Budva Petrovac – Best 5-Star Experience
Biogradska Gora National Park – Best Area to Stay in Montenegro Without Other Tourists
Sitting in the shadows of the Durmitor National Park, Biogradska is equally as stunning but widely known for different reasons. It is among the last virgin forests in all of Europe, which means that the trees in Biogradska National Park have never been logged. Many of the forest trees are at least 500 years old and have been left completely untouched. Back off, IKEA!
Given its protection and stature, the Biogradska National Park is admired for its fauna which consists of over 35 mammal species. It is also home to glacial lakes, a system of hiking trails and dreamy meadows.
Many travellers don’t make their way to Biogradska which makes it the best area to stay in Montenegro for venturing off the beaten path. Although you will not find any grand resorts, there are a handful of family-operated campsites and rustic wooden cabins for rent.
🛌 Where to Stay in Biogradska Gora National Park
Kamp Janketic – Best Campsite
Raković Katun – Best Wooden Cabin
Eko Katun Kolijevka – Best Secluded Location
Which Is Better: Kotor or Budva?
While partying is not Budva’s only identity, it is the one that it’s most recognized for. Budva is sprawling with clubs, both day and night which is not something you’ll find in other coastal towns along the Montenegro coast.
Choosing to stay in Budva is ideal for groups of friends or a solo traveller looking to meet other adventurers. The social scene in Budva is bustling which makes the overall energy of the city feel youthful and fun.
Budva is not very large so it’s a great place to stay in Montenegro if you’re interested in remaining in one spot, simply to enjoy the boardwalk, beaches and places to grab a drink.
→ 🛌 Find a place to stay in Budva ←
Kotor is the better choice for people visiting Montenegro for the first time or anyone looking for a well-rounded trip. The Bay of Kotor is actually rather massive, but this is one of its best features. If you’re the type of person who wants to see various landmarks and towns, staying in Kotor Bay guarantees you will see and experience a lot.
By staying in Kotor, travelers also have access to a diverse style of activities. You can just as easily find nightlife as you can find a spa resort, boat excursion, fun for the kids or hiking expedition. It’s also easy to book day trips which depart from Kotor Bay, since it’s such a prominent tourist hub in Montengro.
→ 🛌 Find a place to stay in Kotor Bay ←
Where to Find Luxury Hotels and Resorts in Montenegro
Luxury hotels and resorts can be found along the entire coast of Montenegro. However, the most dense area of high-end places to stay is the Bay of Kotor. Throughout the bay, the most popular towns which have luxury hotels include Kotor, Perast, Tivat and Herceg Novi.
Kotor Bay is the most internationally known destination in Montenegro, so it only makes sense that this is where developers have chosen to spend the big bucks.
The next best areas for luxury stays in Montenegro are Budva, Sveti Stefan, and the village of Petrovac. In addition to resorts, you’re able to find entire villas and vacation apartments for rent.
🍾 Top Rated Luxury Hotel in Kotor: Hotel Palazzo del Mare
Is It Worth Travelling to Podgorica, Montenegro?
The largest city in Montenegro is also the capital of Podgorica. Naturally, Podgorica is the most active point in Montenegro and the center for politics, economy, education, and administration for the entire country. However, it is not one of the best places to travel to in Montenegro.
Don’t get us wrong – there are a ton of reasons to explore Podgorica, but if you’re tight on time or looking for a traditional vacation, you’re safe to skip it on a Montenegro itinerary.
Podgorica is an extremely interesting city to visit for its history, primarily because it’s dripping in old relics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. If you’re big on hunting down some of the most grand war memorials in Europe and socialist era concrete architecture, Podgorica can be very compelling.
→ 📚 Book a history walking tour of Podgorica ←
Safety for Tourists in Montenegro
There is no need for any particular safety precautions for foreign tourists in Montenegro. In general, Montenegro is a safe country to visit and travel around. Of course, there are common concerns that people should be aware of in any worldwide tourist area, like pickpocketing and tourist scams or traps. Aside from using common sense and keeping a close eye on your belongings, safety in Montenegro for tourists is as good as any other hot spot in Europe.
We have experience with visiting big cities, small villages and remote areas of Montenegro. None of which made us ever feel like we were in a dangerous situation.
⛑ Protect your trip to Montenegro with travel insurance
Final Thoughts on the Best Area to Stay in Montenegro
For first-timers, families, and people looking to book guided tours as their means for transportation, the Bay of Kotor is the best area to stay.
The most romantic place to stay in Montenegro is Sveti Stefan – no competition! It’s ideal for couples and is rapidly becoming one of the most compelling destinations for a Montenegro honeymoon.
Budva is known as a resort town with energy and isn’t the first choice for a relaxing stay. It is famous for its luxury hotels in addition to many day and night clubs.
National parks in Montenegro allow camping and are hands down the best areas in Montenegro to stay for sleeping in a tent or in a camper van.
Montenegro Travel Resources
TRAVEL INSURANCE: EKTA or VisitorsCoverage
FLIGHTS: Skyscanner, CheapOair or Kiwi.com
CAR RENTALS: Discover Cars or Rentalcars.com
TRAINS, BUSES, FERRIES: Busbud, Trainline or Omio
ACCOMMODATION: Booking.com, Agoda or Trivago
ESIM / CELL PHONE DATA: Airalo
TOURS & ACTIVITIES: GetYourGuide or Viator
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