By the Airport Rent a Car team · Updated
Montenegro Road Trip by Car: 5 Days from Bar and Podgorica
A five-day route by rental car: the coast from Ulcinj to the Bay of Kotor, Lovćen and Cetinje, Skadar Lake and an optional day in the northern mountains. With rough drive times and practical tips.
Montenegro is small enough to see the best of it in five days by car. Base yourself in Bar or near Podgorica Airport, spend two days on the coast (Ulcinj, Budva, Kotor), one on Lovćen and Cetinje, one on Skadar Lake, and keep one day for the beaches or the mountains of the north.
Why a car makes sense in Montenegro
Buses link the main towns, but the best viewpoints, beaches and villages are off the bus routes. With a car you can stop wherever the view is good, reach a beach before the crowds and change the plan when the weather does.
Distances are short. Most of the trips below take under two hours of driving each way; summer traffic on the coast is what makes them longer, so start early.
Day 1: Bar and the south coast to Ulcinj
Start in Bar with the ruins of Stari Bar, the old town on the hill above the modern city, and the old olive tree of Mirovica, one of the oldest olive trees in Europe.
Then drive south along the coast to Ulcinj (roughly 30 minutes). Walk through the old town above the sea and finish at Velika Plaža, a sandy beach about 12 km long, where you can always find space even in August.
Day 2: Sveti Stefan, Budva and the Bay of Kotor
Head north on the coastal road. Stop at the viewpoint above Sveti Stefan, the island village connected to the mainland, then walk the old town of Budva.
Continue to Kotor (from Bar about 1 h 30 min without traffic). Park outside the walls in the morning and walk the old town; if you have the legs for it, climb the fortress walls for the view over the bay. In the afternoon, drive round the bay to Perast and take the short boat to the island of Our Lady of the Rocks.
Day 3: Lovćen and Cetinje
From Kotor, take the serpentine road up to Lovćen National Park: 25 hairpin bends with views over the whole bay. At the top, walk the steps to the Njegoš Mausoleum on Jezerski vrh.
Drop down to Cetinje, the old royal capital, for lunch and the museums, then return to the coast or continue to Podgorica. Drive the serpentines slowly and early in the day, before the tour buses.
Day 4: Skadar Lake
Skadar Lake is the largest lake in the Balkans and a national park, shared with Albania. From Bar it is only about 30 minutes through the Sozina tunnel to Virpazar, the lake’s main village.
Take a boat trip from Virpazar, try the local wine in the villages around the lake and drive on towards Rijeka Crnojevića to the Pavlova Strana viewpoint over the river’s horseshoe bend. The roads around the lake are narrow, but they are some of the most beautiful drives in the country.
Day 5: beach day or the northern mountains
Keep the last day flexible. On a hot day, stay on the coast: the beaches between Bar and Budva, such as those near Petrovac, are easy to reach by car.
If you want mountains, the A1 motorway from Podgorica shortens the drive north. Kolašin, Biogradska Gora National Park and the Morača Canyon make a long but memorable day; Durmitor and Žabljak are better as an overnight trip.
Approximate drive times from Bar
Times are without heavy traffic; add more in July and August, especially on the coastal road.
| From Bar to | Approximate drive |
|---|---|
| Ulcinj | 30 min |
| Virpazar (Skadar Lake), via the Sozina tunnel | 30 min |
| Podgorica Airport | 45 min |
| Budva | 50 min |
| Kotor | 1 h 30 min |
| Cetinje | 1 h 15 min |
Tips for the route
- Start early: coastal traffic and parking get hard after 10 am in summer.
- Carry a few coins and small notes for parking meters and the Sozina tunnel (€2.50).
- Download offline maps; signal drops in the canyons and on the mountain roads.
- Keep dipped headlights on all day, as the law requires.
- Planning to cross into Albania or Croatia? Arrange it when you book, as cross-border travel needs our prior approval.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need to see Montenegro by car?
Five days covers the highlights: the coast from Ulcinj to Kotor, Lovćen and Cetinje, and Skadar Lake. Add two days if you want Durmitor and Žabljak in the north.
Is it easy to drive from Bar to Kotor?
Yes. It is a coastal road through Petrovac and Budva, about 1 h 30 min without traffic. In July and August, start early because traffic and parking in Kotor get difficult by mid-morning.
Where should I pick up the car for a Montenegro road trip?
At the airport you fly into: we deliver free to Podgorica, Tivat, Tirana and Dubrovnik airports, and you can also pick up or return in Bar.