Nestled in the heart of the Balkans, Montenegro is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered by intrepid travellers. With its rugged mountains, pristine Adriatic coastline, and charming medieval towns, this small European country is a paradise for those seeking both natural beauty and rich cultural experiences. And what better way to explore this picturesque land than by embarking on a summer adventure in a motorhome?
Imagine waking up to the soothing sounds of the Adriatic Sea, stepping out of your cosy mobile home to the breathtaking views of towering cliffs and turquoise waters. Montenegro's diverse landscapes and warm Mediterranean climate make it the perfect destination for motorhome enthusiasts looking to embrace the freedom of the open road. From the enchanting Bay of Kotor to the remote Durmitor National Park, there's a world of wonder waiting for you to discover.
In this blog post, we'll take you along on our journey through Montenegro, offering insights, tips, and inspiration for an unforgettable motorhome expedition during the summer months. Whether you're a seasoned road warrior or a novice adventurer, Montenegro has something extraordinary to offer, and we're here to guide you every step of the way. So, fasten your seatbelts, prepare your itinerary, and get ready to explore the stunning landscapes, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality of Montenegro on four wheels.
BEST TIME TO VISIT MONTENEGRO
The optimal time to visit Montenegro falls roughly between April and September. Montenegro's climate follows two distinct patterns: the coastal region has typically Mediterranean weather, with hot summers and mild winters. The interior of the country, however, has a sub-alpine climate, typified by warm summers and freezing winters. During the winter, temperatures can drop to as low as -15 °C or -20 °C degrees, with heavy rainfall that often manifests as snow.
The Montenegrin coast is a pleasant place to be at any time of the year, but it can get uncomfortably crowded in July and August. During this time, temperatures and tourists reach their peak. Accommodation is also at its most expensive during this period, with rates almost doubling in some places.
June and September are widely regarded as the optimum months for a visit when the sunshine is virtually guaranteed, and there's far less pressure on facilities. Some hotels close between late October and early April, but you may well be able to take advantage of excellent rates from those that remain open.
Find more details on visiting Montenegro see our dedicated destination page:
This was our route through Montenegro. We entered Montenegro from Serbia and continued on from Montenegro into Bosnia and Hertzogovenia.
All locations mentioned in this post can be found in the interactive map below:
WELCOME TO MONTENEGRO!
Entering Montenegro from Serbia was like driving into a 3D picture storybook!
We didn't feel like visiting any tourist attractions or struggling to find suitable overnight parking on a Sunday, so we decided to stop at Mijakovici Campground (10-15 EUR pn). We were greeted by the owner, Goran who gave us a quick tour of the very neat facilities (2 toilets & 2 showers). The next morning, Goran's wife brought us coffee at our camper, which we enjoyed while admiring the fresh spring flowers. Their playful puppy insisted on doing yoga with (on top of) me!
Andre discovered this perfect little scenic spot while out running that morning, so after leaving the campsite, we pulled inhere for breakfast. Nothing beats French toast, smoked bacon, fried banana, walnuts and honey for breakfast with a view!
TARA BRIDGE
Montenegro • 19 June • 30°
The Đurđevića Tara Bridge was built between 1937 and 1940 in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The 365-metre-long bridge has five concrete arches and at the time of its completion, it was the largest reinforced concrete road bridge in Europe. The longest span is 116 metres and the roadway stands 172 metres above the Tara River. The Tara River Canyon, over which the bridge extends, is 1333 meters deep, which makes it the deepest in Europe and second in the world, after the famous canyon of the river Colorado.
This spectacularly beautiful bridge, unfortunately, also has a tragic story. In 1094, during World War II, a decision was made by the Yugoslavian establishment to demolish the bridge to prevent the enemy units from penetrating Montenegro. They planned to do so in such a way that the bridge could later be repaired. This pertinent task was given to the civil engineer Lazar Jaukovic, who had participated in the construction of the bridge. The support structure of the last small arc on the left bank of Tara was to be demolished, while other parts of the bridge remained undamaged. When the occupying forces discovered what had been done, they shot Jaukovic on the bridge. The reconstruction of the bridge began in 1945 and was completed in 1946. Today the Tara Bridge is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Montenegro. Apart from being visually spectacular, many recreational activities are available both on the bridge and on the river itself. Two of the most popular are rafting on the rapids of the river and one of the longest zip lines in Europe!
Nacionalni Parkovi Crne Gore
Montenegro • 19 June • 27°
TOP TIP FOR VISITING MONTENEGRO
There are 5 National Parks of Montenegro (Nacionalni Parkovi Crne Gore): Skadarsko Jezero, Durmitor, Lovćen, Biogradska Gora & Prokltije. Each of these National Parks has its own daily entrance fee which varies between 3 - 5 EUR per person per day. If you plan to spend some time in Montenegro, there is a much better alternative to paying these daily park fees. Not widely advertised (we had to ask about 5 times before we were told about this alternative!) is the annual all-parks card which costs only 13.50 EUR per person and is valid for a year for all 5 of the National Parks. The card can be purchased at most of the main park entrances and is linked to an individual (you will need to show identification when purchasing and using the card). We would highly recommend getting this card as it’s well worth spending many more than 3 days in the National Parks!
In addition to the daily National Park fees, there is a “camping fee” for overnighting within the National Parks. This is 3 EUR per night per vehicle and is applicable to motorhomes, campervans as well as cars with tents. Once you have paid this overnight fee, you are free to camp anywhere within the National Park. There are very few formal camping areas, which means that one can usually find a peaceful spot no matter the season. Despite the obscure entrance, we found one of the formalised motorhome areas just 500m walking distance from the Black Lake. What surprised us the most was that it wasn’t very busy at all. We spent 3 wonderfully peaceful nights here while exploring the Black Lake and the adjacent town of Žabljak.
Black Lake (Crno Jezero)
Montenegro • 20 June • 28°
Black Lake (Crno Jezero) is situated within the Durmitor National Park just 3km outside the town of Žabljak and is one of the main tourist attractions of the entire Durmitor area. Black Lake sits at an elevation of 1416 m and is the largest and the best-known of 18 glacial lakes in the Durmitor region. It actually consists of two smaller lakes: Big Lake (Veliko Jezero) and Little Lake (Malo Jezero). The lakes are connected by a narrow strait that dries up during the summer, creating two separate bodies of water. Even though Little Lake has only about half of the surface area compared to Big Lake, Little Lake actually has a greater volume because it is so much deeper (max depth of 49.1m vs 24.5m). After all the recent rains, we had no doubt that the lakes would appear as one at the time of our visit! There are many hiking trails in every direction throughout the Durmitor National Park. We chose the roughly 3.5km route (which turned out to be quite a bit further due to the high water levels) which circumnavigates the entire Black Lake.
Although the path was never very challenging, it did include a few rather exciting waterfall crossings! Be sure to take some snacks and drinks with you as there are so many stunning picnic places along the way. Nothing can really prepare one for the magnificent natural beauty of this place. It’s spectacular to say the very least and you simply have to see and experience it for yourself! Tourist buses visit Black Lake by the hordes. However, very few people hang around for longer than half an hour and even fewer take the effort of meandering far from the first viewing point. Even though it was peak season, we only met a handful of people during our walk around the lake. Do yourself a favour and take some time to appreciate this beautiful place. It’s also possible to rent a row boat to get a completely different perspective of the lake and surroundings.
Žabljak
Montenegro • 21 June • 30°
Žabljak’s main attraction is undoubtedly Black Lake. The town itself consists mostly of tourist lodging. It’s nice enough to walk around and grab an ice cream. Be sure to pop into the little “Pekara” BEHIND the “VOLI” - it’s so much cuter, cheaper and more authentic than the fancy one opposite the “VOLI”! We tried the sugary dough balls (Priganice) and a delicious cherry pie (Grcka pita). There’s also a lovely view from the war memorial and cemetery.
Stećci
Montenegro • 22 June • 32°
Leaving Žabljak, we drove along 15kms of narrow road through the most beautiful countryside. We passed two more lakes (Vražje jezero & Riblje jezero) which both looked so incredibly inviting for both a swim and an overnight stay. These lakes are far less touristy compared to Black Lake and only a few fishermen and locals seem to enjoy them. Next time we would definitely return to this location to overnight, but for now we were in search of some of the many Stećci scattered throughout Montenegro. Stećci are medieval monolithic tombstones found on the territory of almost the entire Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the western parts of Serbia and Montenegro and in central and southern parts of Croatia. They bear exceptional testimony to the medieval culture of Southeast Europe that was developed within a unique historical context in an area where traditions and influences of the European West, East and South meet. This particular necropolis of Stećci has 300 stećci of which 10 slabs, 50 chests, 10 gabled roof tombstones and 230 amorphous blocks. All stećci are said to have originally been laid in rows and east-west oriented.
Durmitor National Park
Montenegro • 22 June • 32°
Durmitor National Park is Montenegro's largest protected area, which constitutes the heart of a landscape shaped by some fifty peaks higher than 2000 metres above sea level, alpine meadows and forests, including Bobotov Peak (2525 metres above sea level). Numerous rivers, underground streams and glacial lakes, locally known as “mountain eyes”, cover the landscape. Following the suggestion of a couple we met a few days earlier, we set off to drive a section of the very popular Durmitor Ring, about 45 kilometres along the P14 from Žabljak to Pluzine. The road is steep, narrow and winding and most definitely not suited to larger motorhomes. Luckily, we were driving in the suggested counterclockwise direction and in the late afternoon there wasn’t too much traffic.
After possibly the slowest and most scenic 10 kilometres of driving we reached the “Planinska osmatračnica Sedlo” observation deck area. This was the perfect spot to spend a night (or 2) enjoying a bit more of Durmitor National Park. One great thing about Durmitor National Park is that once you have paid your daily park fee (5 EUR per person or 13.50 EUR for the year - see the previous day's post regarding the National Parks of Montenegro) it costs only 3 EUR per vehicle per night to overnight and camp freely within the Park. This is applicable to both motorhomes and cars with tents. A Park Ranger comes around in the morning to collect the “camping fee”.
We squeezed Milli in between the local farmer’s truck and Lada with the most incredible panoramic view out over the dramatic green landscape. Of course, we also had to take a few obligatory photos with the frame! We spent two peaceful nights here, only relocating Milli for a different view on the second day. There are so many hiking paths that you can explore, this area could easily keep one entertained for days. But with foul weather approaching, we knew it was time to move on. Next time we will definitely spend more time in this area as it is simply spectacular!
Piva Canyon Viewpoint
Montenegro • 24 June • 24°
We set off really early to drive the remaining 35 kilometres along the P14 towards Pluzine in the hope of avoiding any other traffic on the narrow and winding road. This was well worthwhile and we were able to enjoy the drive through the most stunning scenery as it changed from the mountainous Durmitor National Park to open countryside and then through tiny rock tunnels until we were rewarded with the stunning view of Piva Canyon.
Pluzine
Montenegro • 24 June • 26°
We drove into Pluzine in search of fresh water to fill the camper and for a grocery shop. While we didn’t manage to find fresh water, we did get some food supplies and some of my new favourite snacks - pretzels with peanut butter inside! We stopped at the most beautiful lookout point to make breakfast. Just as we were considering whether it would be a suitable overnight spot, an angry local arrived hooting and shouting making it very clear that we were not welcome! Instead, we headed back into the town to the little beach area to take a swim in the refreshing turquoise water of Piva Lake.
Piva Monastery
Montenegro • 25 June • 27°
The Piva Monastery is located near the source of the Piva River in northern Montenegro. Built between 1573 and 1586, it is the largest Serbian Orthodox church constructed during the Ottoman occupation in the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1982, a new reservoir, created by the Piva Hydro Electric Project, required moving the monastery. Stone by stone it was relocated to where it stands today. Even its notable frescoes were remarkably successfully relocated. It’s really quite incredible to imagine how this relocation was carried out and Piva Monastery is quite correctly described as a "breathtaking medieval masterpiece that stores ancient writings and works of art".
The Monastery also provides a parking area welcoming campers to overnight and even provides fresh water (which we were in desperate need of). We saw on Polarsteps that our Aussie overlanding friends were nearby and so we arranged to meet at Piva Monastery. We always enjoy meeting people along our travels and we once again enjoyed a fun evening together. Joined by our obligatory stray dogs of course!
Vidikovac Valdanos Viewpoint
Montenegro • 26 June • 30°
With summer suddenly fast approaching (after the previous night’s hailstorm), we decided to tackle the 180 km drive and head straight to the coast. Driving along the coast, we very quickly realised that we were far too deep into the summer holiday season for travelling by camper to be easy and relaxing. We will simply have to return to see more of Montenegro in the shoulder season, now is not that time! Heading for one of the very few places that allow overnighting along the coast, we passed this viewpoint from which we could spot where we were heading - the bay of Valdanos.
Valdanos Beach
Montenegro • 27 June • 30°
Valdanos Beach is one of many beaches along Montenegro's South Coast. Just 5km outside of the City of Ulcinj, Valdanos Bay is within a significant olive production region. The olive groves at Valdanos are among Montenegro's largest and most productive, encompassing more than 400 000 square metres and an estimated 18 000 olive trees. Driving through this area reminded us so much of Puglia and the Salento Region of Italy.
Valdanos is a small crescent-shaped pebble beach that extends for only 300 metres. The current beach bar and restaurant allow free camping on the big grassy field and there are even public toilets and fresh water outside showers available on the beach. There’s plenty of public beach space in addition to the beach loungers and umbrellas available to rent. This was one of the very few free places that we found available along this stretch of coast. With the summer season well underway, we were very happy to find this place fairly uncrowded. The parking and beach area was pretty busy during the day, but once the restaurant closed at 8pm it was very peaceful with around 5 to 10 motorhomes / vans / tent campers overnighting. We ended up enjoying 3 wonderful sunsets here and also cycled to the nearby Ulcinj City from here.
As a side note: The construction of a military resort at Valdanos started in 1980 and the resort opened in 1983. The resort consisted of tent camps, residential trailers, prefabricated bungalows, duplex housing and even two exclusive villas reserved for high-ranking officials or important guests. The resort offered mini-golf, basketball, football, a bowling alley, table tennis, a swimming pool, restaurants and a disco bar. After the secession of Montenegro in 2006, the situation changed and in the summer of 2007, the Valdanos military resort received its last visitors. Today the buildings remain abandoned and dilapidated.
Ulcinj
Montenegro • 28 June • 29°
Ulcinj is a town on the southern coast of Montenegro. It is so far south that the majority of its population is in fact Albanian. As one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic coast, it was founded in the 5th century BC and over the years has been known as a base for piracy. Today Ulcinj is a tourist destination for tourists, known for its two-millennia-old Ulcinj Castle, Small Beach within the town centre, Long Beach which stretches on for approximately 3km and Ada Bojana Island.
Seeing as we were enjoying our location at Valdanos Beach so much, we decided to cycle the very steep 5km from there to Ulcinj. After only driving past Budva and Bar and seeing the extreme summer chaos there, Ulcinj appeared to be slightly more relaxed albeit still very touristy and with a very distinctly summer holiday town vibe! Walking up to the old castle gives beautiful views over the town and coast but with the summer heat pressing, the best part of the day was enjoying an ice cream from one of the many ice cream shops along the beach promenade!
Mausoleum of Njegos
Montenegro • 29 June • 27°
Right at the very top of Mount Lovćen, located within the Lovćen National Park is the Mausoleum of Njegoš. Petar II Petrović-Njegoš, commonly referred to simply as Njegoš, was a Prince-Bishop (Vladika) of Montenegro, poet and philosopher whose works are widely considered some of the most important in Montenegrin and Serbian literature. Njegoš was born in the village of Njeguši, near Montenegro's then-capital Cetinje and became the country's spiritual and political leader following the death of his uncle Petar I.
Even if you do not have the time, money (8 EUR pp) or inclination to go into the Mausoleum itself, it is still worth going up to the viewpoint to get 360-degree panoramic views over the Lovćen National Park. The Mausoleum has daytime hours of operation, so if you want to be there without the crowds aim for around opening or closing time. The last kilometre or two of road up to the Mausoleum theoretically also closes (for vehicles) so be prepared for the walk!
More about the Mausoleum:
The mausoleum is where Petar II Petrović-Njegoš was interred. Prior to his death, Njegoš had asked to be buried atop Mount Lovćen, in a chapel dedicated to his predecessor Petar I Petrović-Njegoš (who is canonized as Saint Peter of Cetinje in the Serbian Orthodox Church). He had designed the chapel himself and oversaw its construction in 1845. Following his death in October 1851, Njegoš was interred at the Cetinje Monastery. His remains were transferred to Mount Lovćen in 1855. They remained there until 1916, when during the First World War, Montenegro was occupied by Austria-Hungary and the Habsburg occupiers decided to erect a monument to Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph on Mount Lovćen. Not wishing for a monument to the Austrian Emperor to be located on the same perch as a symbol of South Slavic national feeling, Austro-Hungarian authorities demanded that Njegoš's remains be moved back to Cetinje. The Montenegrins had little choice in the matter and the remains were removed under the supervision of Serbian Orthodox clergy so that the Austro-Hungarians would not be accused of desecration. By the end of the war, Njegoš's chapel was severely damaged. Local authorities negotiated with the Yugoslav government for years over the question of where, when and at whose expense Njegoš was to be buried. Montenegrin officials favoured restoring the original chapel, while the authorities in Belgrade opened a competition over the designs of a planned mausoleum. Some of the plans differed greatly from the original Byzantinesque building. Due to lack of funds, plans for a mausoleum were discarded by 1925 and the original church building was reconstructed. In September 1925, in the course of a three-day ceremony sponsored and attended by Yugoslavia's King Alexander and Queen Maria, the chapel was rededicated and Njegoš's remains were reburied. At the end of the Second World War, Yugoslavia came under communist rule. In 1952, Yugoslavia's communist authorities decided to replace Njegoš's chapel with a secular mausoleum designed by Ivan Meštrović. Wachtel suggests that this was done to "de-Serbianize" Njegoš and eliminate any trace of the chapel's Byzantine design. In the late 1960s the chapel was demolished, and a mausoleum was constructed by 1971. Njegoš's remains were transferred back to Mount Lovćen in 1974, and the mausoleum was officially inaugurated that year.
Lovćen National Park
Montenegro •30 June • 28°
It was getting far too hot and busy along the coast, so we made our way back inland with the hope of finding slightly cooler temperatures at elevation in the Lovćen National Park. Having purchased the annual pass for the National Parks of Montenegro (see previous section “Nacionalni Parkovi Crne Gore” for more details), we were keen to make further use of it for the Lovćen National Park. We entered the Park via the scenic southern road from Cetinje. Although there was a spacious grassy area to overnight at the bottom of the road that leads up to the Mausoleum, we were in search of something with a little more of a view…
We continued about 2km past the “Stone viewpoint over Kotor” and the “Best View of Kotor” viewpoints (btw in our opinion the best view is actually from the stone viewpoint!) until we found the spot we were looking for - an elevated outcropping with the most beautiful views over the Bay of Kotor. There were already 2 vans parked and we weren’t sure if the terrain was really suitable for our Milli. After having a friendly chat with the others and taking a closer look at the area, we soon had one of the best overnight parking spots of our entire 2 years of travelling with Milli to date! Watching the spectacular sunset, we both knew that we simply had to stay another day! Luckily we had plenty of “Plazma” biscuits so there was no fear of going hungry either!
Early the following morning we walked back up to the “Stone viewpoint over Kotor” to try and catch a glimpse of the infamous “Kotor Serpentine” road that we would soon need to drive down to reach Kotor itself. But alas, the mountain is so steep that we were only able to do so by drone. We spent the rest of the day alone at this wonderful spot, admiring the view and reflecting on just how incredible this unconventional life is that we are experiencing. That evening we were joined by a lovely couple, Martin & Monika, who have been travelling full-time for over 10 years now! It was wonderful to exchange stories and we found it very inspirational that even after 10 years, they are still as excited to continue exploring more of this word. We hope our paths will cross again soon as one evening wasn’t nearly enough to ask them all the many questions that kept popping into our heads!
The Kotor Serpentine
Montenegro • 1 July • 23°
Also known as the “Ladder of Kotor” the Kotor Serpentine road ascends from the Bay of Kotor and takes a scenic zig-zagging route all the way up to the base of Mount Lovćen. With 30 hairpin curves and some of the best views on this side of the Adriatic, it’s one of the most famous hairpinned roads in the world. The narrow switchback road can be treacherous to drive in an ordinary vehicle, so you can imagine my trepidation about driving it in a motorhome! The mostly narrow one-lane road is tarred, but with its inward-leaning low concrete barriers on one side and jagged rock on the other, many vehicles have to reverse when meeting oncoming traffic. The journey all the way from Kotor to Cetinje is 36.3km and it is recommended to plan 1.3 hours to complete the drive one way! Of course, such an infamous road has been featured on Top Gear and many high-end auto commercials. If you can manage to take your eyes off the road for a few seconds at a time, you can admire the stunning views over Kotor Bay.
Knowing how nervous I would be and how much concentration it would take for Andre to manoeuvre Milli down this pass, I was very glad that we had already spent a couple of nights admiring the panoramic views over the Bay of Kotor from the top of Lovćen National Park. We set off bright and early hoping to encounter the least amount of oncoming traffic but of course, there were still quite a few treacherous moments of reversing and extremely tight manoeuvering to get past oncoming vehicles. We encountered people who clearly drive this road regularly and know exactly how to handle meeting an oncoming motorhome, then there were those who simply froze in panic and there was the young #vanlife driver who had clearly never reversed in his life before! Luckily Andre stays as cool as a cucumber and we made it all the way down unscathed. It’s definitely a drive you will remember, but it’s probably not one you should do if you are not an experienced driver!
Kotor Old Town
Montenegro • 1 July • 23°
As we descended along the Kotor Serpentine road, the clouds rolled in and it started to drizzle. Even though it was not yet 9am, the traffic was thick as we drove into Kotor. As soon as we had parked at “Bex d.o.o. Campground” (which is not an actual campground by the way, it is just a very simple parking lot), I set foot outside to go and find a bakery and the heavens opened. I arrived back at the camper soaking wet but at least I had managed to find some fresh Burek for breakfast and at least we had a view of “Kotor Natural Beach” through the rain and hail storm that followed!
With a slight clearing in the weather, we put on our rain jackets and set off to explore the Old Town. Unfortunately, the weather just did not play along and it was difficult to really appreciate the old cobbled streets and charming atmosphere, let alone capture it. The upside was that there were very few people around, partly due to the weather but more so because it was one of the very few days when no cruise ship was docked. During the summer months, up to 3 cruise ships can dock here at a time bringing as many as 7 000 day tourists to the town!
When the rain showed no sign of letting up, we headed (via the bakery) back to the camper. The “Bex d.o.o. Campground” parking area is one of the few suitable parking areas for motorhomes. Although it provides no camper services, it is perfectly located within a short walk to the Old Town and cost 20 EUR for 24 hours. We had a good night’s rest and the next morning we were greeted with sunny skies and the most beautiful view of Kotor Bay.
Kotor Bay Coastal Drive & Ferry Options
Montenegro • 2 July • 27°
The coastal drive around the Bay of Kotor is absolutely stunning. In season it can get very busy (taking as long as 2 hours to travel just 18 km between Kotor and Risen!) so we would suggest driving in the morning before 9 am. Also worth noting is that the road past “Donji Stoliv” is very narrow so consider avoiding this if you are travelling by motorhome. There is a very short ferry crossing between Lepetane and Kamenari which can save you the drive or just be a fun experience. It’s really cheap (free for pedestrians; 5 EUR for cars; 10 EUR for campers). You don’t book in advance but although it usually operates efficiently, there can occasionally be very long queues depending on the number of ferries in operation. Alternative modes of transport between Kotor, Perast and Risen are the Blueline Bus (1 EUR pp per trip) or taxi boat (5 EUR pp per trip). There are of course tourist boat cruises to visit the many attractions of the bay and these cost around 35 EUR pp.
Perast
Montenegro • 2 July • 27°
Situated just a few kilometres northwest of Kotor, Perast is probably the second most popular town to Kotor itself. Perast lies beneath the 873 m high hill of St Ilija, on a peninsular that separates the Bay of Risano from the Bay of Kotor. Perast also overlooks the Verige Strait, the narrowest part of the Bay of Kotor. Perast is best known for its proximity to the two islets of St George (Sveti Juraj) and Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Škrpjela), each with its own picturesque chapel. Boat trips are available to these islets but only Our Lady of the Rocks is accessible to the public.
Perast is also known for its historical free trade with the Republic of Venice. It was also known for having had one of the best maritime schools, where Peter I was sent from Russia by promising sailors for training with the extraordinary captain Marko Martinovic. According to the 2011 census, the town had a total of 269 inhabitants, but it is fast becoming a popular destination for having a summer home.
With the number of tourists far exceeding the number of residents, it is understandable that the coastal road of Perast is reserved for residents only. Luckily for us, we were going to visit a local resident (with their vehicle)! The town is indeed beautiful but also extremely touristy. Be sure to climb up the church tower for just 1 EUR per person!
Our Lady of the Rocks
Montenegro • 2 July • 27°
Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Škrpjela) is one of the two islets off the coast of Perast in the Bay of Kotor. This island is particularly interesting given that it is the only artificially-built island in the Adriatic. The Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rocks is the largest building on the islet. There is also a museum and small gift shop and a navigation light at the western end of the islet.
With an area of 3 030 m², this island was created by a bulwark of rocks and by sinking old and seized ships loaded with rocks. According to legend, the islet was made over the centuries by local seamen who kept an ancient oath after finding the icon of the Madonna and Child on the rock in the sea on 22 July 1452. Upon returning from each successful voyage, they laid a rock in the Bay. Over time, the islet gradually emerged from the sea. The custom of throwing rocks into the sea is alive even nowadays. Every year on the sunset of 22 July, an event called fašinada (in the local dialect) takes place, when local residents take their boats and throw rocks into the sea, widening the surface of the island.
Risan
Montenegro • 2 July • 27°
After meeting our friends Debbie and Zoran in Strp, we hopped in the car with them and took a short drive to Risen for breakfast Burek and coffee. Risen is a lovely relaxed and laid-back town compared to Kotor and Perast.
We had in fact considered parking on the public pier in Risen (where it is also possible to overnight), however, Sunday is market day so the pier was jam-packed! Later that evening we returned to Risen, but this time by boat - a tiny inflatable boat definitely not designed for 4 adults and a cute dog! We were a little concerned that after consuming the biggest pizza I had ever seen and a few giant beers later, the boat might not make it back. Thankfully we returned to Strp perfectly safely with huge grins and loads of laughter! That evening we sat at the water’s edge admiring the full moon and discussing the value of the simple things in life.
One last view of Montenegro
Montenegro • 3 July • 29°
As we turned up the steep and winding road away from the Bay of Kotor, we stopped at a scenic viewpoint to make breakfast. What a perfect place to end our time in Montenegro with this view down over the incredibly beautiful Bay of Kotor. We'll definitely return to Montenegro in the future. However, next time we will be sure to avoid the busy summer holiday months!
Should You Travel Montenegro By Motorhome?
If you are looking for a unique and adventurous way to explore this gem of Europe, why not consider visiting Montenegro by motorhome?
A motorhome gives you the freedom and flexibility to travel at your own pace, without worrying about accommodation, transportation or schedules. You can choose where to go, when to go and how long to stay, depending on your interests and preferences. You can also enjoy the comfort and convenience of having your own home on wheels, with all the amenities and facilities you need.
One of the main advantages of visiting Montenegro by motorhome is that you can access some of the most beautiful and remote places in the country, that are otherwise difficult or expensive to reach. You can drive along the stunning coastline, with its sandy beaches, rocky coves and charming towns. You can also venture into the mountains, where you can discover ancient monasteries, medieval fortresses and pristine lakes.
Another benefit of visiting Montenegro by motorhome is that you can save money on your trip, compared to other modes of travel. You can avoid paying for hotels, flights, car rentals or public transportation, and instead use that money for other activities or experiences. You can also cook your own meals in your motorhome kitchen, or shop at local markets and try the delicious local food. You can also camp at designated sites or wild camp in nature, as long as you respect the environment and the local laws.
Visiting Montenegro by motorhome is not only a fun and exciting way to travel, but also a rewarding and enriching one. You can learn more about the country's history, culture and people, as well as appreciate its natural beauty and diversity. You can also challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone and try new things, like hiking, kayaking or rafting. You can also make new friends along the way, with other motorhome travellers or locals.
If you are looking for a memorable and meaningful travel experience, visiting Montenegro by motorhome is a great option. You will not regret it!
