Nature
The mountain half of Montenegro: canyons, national parks, glacial lakes and a primeval forest. If you want at least one day away from the beach, here is the drive from the coast, what entry costs and what fits into one day or two.
Tara Canyon: The Deepest Canyon in Europe
Tara Canyon: up to 1,300 m deep and about 80 km long. Where to see it from above, how to run it from below by raft, how to get there and what to expect.
Lovćen: Njegoš Mausoleum, tickets, the drive and trails
Lovćen National Park: €3 entry, Njegoš Mausoleum €8 (15 April–15 November, arrive by 16:30), the drive from Kotor and Cetinje, Ivanova Korita, trails.
Durmitor and the Black Lake: A Day Trip From the Coast
Durmitor National Park: the Black Lake, trails to suit you, park entry and the drive from the coast. What fits into a day and when to go.
Đurđevića Bridge: More Than 150 Metres Above the Tara Canyon
Đurđevića bridge over the Tara canyon: how to get there, the zipline across the gorge, the 1942 demolition story and where to park.
Biogradska Gora and Kolašin: lake, forest, skiing, prices
Biogradska Gora: €4 entry, boats €10 an hour, the lake 30 minutes from Kolašin. Kolašin: about 45 km of pistes, ski pass prices and a €3.40 train.
Montenegro’s national parks
The country’s main mountain park is Durmitor: 18 glacial lakes, 48 peaks above 2,000 metres, and the Black Lake at 1,416 m with a 3.5 km path around it. The massif’s highest summit, Bobotov Kuk, reaches 2,523 m. Durmitor National Park was founded in 1952 and added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980.
Lovćen is not the country’s highest mountain, but it is the one that matters most to Montenegrins: it rises above Kotor and Cetinje, and 461 steps lead up to the Njegoš Mausoleum on top. Biogradska Gora, near Kolašin, is one of the few primeval forests left in Europe, with a lake in the middle. Lake Skadar has been a national park since 1983 and is home to about 280 species of birds.
Entry is €3 at Lovćen, €4 at Biogradska Gora and €5 each at Durmitor and Lake Skadar. Under-15s go free, and an annual ticket covering all five national parks costs €13.50. The mausoleum is extra, €8; it is open from 15 April to 15 November and closed in winter.
Tara Canyon and the Đurđevića Bridge
The Tara Canyon is the deepest in Europe, up to 1,300 metres, and about 80 km long; the Tara basin has been a biosphere reserve since 1977. You see it from above from the Đurđevića Bridge — 365 metres long, more than 150 metres above the river, built in 1937–1940 — and from below from a raft, in season.
In autumn 2026 the bridge is closed for reconstruction until 26 October, though it may reopen sooner. Check before you go.
How to get to the mountains from the coast
Budva to Žabljak is 160 km, three to three and a half hours; to the bridge, about 185 km and four hours. The route north uses the Smokovac–Mateševo motorway, €3.50 for the full length. You can fit the bridge and the Black Lake into a single day, but most of it goes on driving — a night in Žabljak makes the trip far more relaxed. For your own wheels, see car hire. There is also a group tour of the Tara and Morača canyons from €58 per person, but it runs only with a Russian-speaking guide; if a Russian commentary is no use to you, driving yourself is the better option.
Common questions
Can I see Montenegro’s mountains on a day trip from the coast?
Lovćen is the easiest: it rises above Kotor and Cetinje, and Budva to Cetinje takes 40 minutes. The Tara Canyon and Durmitor can be done in a day, but Budva to Žabljak is three to three and a half hours each way.
How much does it cost to enter Montenegro’s national parks?
Lovćen €3, Biogradska Gora €4, Durmitor and Lake Skadar €5 each. Under-15s go free, and an annual ticket for all five parks is €13.50.
Is the Tara Canyon the second deepest in the world?
What can be said for certain is that it is the deepest canyon in Europe, up to 1,300 metres. It is often called the second deepest after the Grand Canyon, but there is no verified comparison behind that claim.
When is the best time to visit the Montenegrin mountains?
Late spring to mid-autumn: the Njegoš Mausoleum on Lovćen is open from 15 April to 15 November, and in the summer heat the mountains are cooler than the coast. In winter Žabljak and Kolašin turn into ski resorts.