Day trips
Day trips from Tivat and Kotor by car
If you stay in Tivat or Kotor, you do not need to move hotel to see a lot of Montenegro. Each trip below fits into one day from the bay, with time to stop. In summer, start early: the coastal road and the ferry queue are the slowest parts of any day.
In short
- Every trip starts in Tivat or Kotor; drive times are approximate outside the July-August peak.
- Lovćen and the Njegoš Mausoleum are a trip for 11 April to 15 November, when the mausoleum is open.
- The Kamenari-Lepetane ferry costs 5 EUR per car and shortens the trip to Herceg Novi.
- Paid parking applies in Kotor, Perast, Budva and Herceg Novi; keep coins or use the posted payment options.
1. Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks
Perast
A short boat ride from the waterfront takes you to the island church. Afterwards drive on to Risan for its Roman mosaics.
- Drive
- Approx. 25 min from Kotor, 35 min from Tivat
- Parking
- Car parks at the town entrances.
- Time to allow
- Half a day
- Families
- Short boat ride; the waterfront is easy to walk.
2. The Luštica peninsula
Luštica and Žanjic
Quiet peninsula south of Tivat with olive groves, small villages and pebble coves.
- Drive
- Approx. 30 to 45 min from Tivat
- Parking
- Beach car parks, some paid in summer.
- Time to allow
- A beach day
- Families
- Pebble beaches; bring water shoes.
3. Herceg Novi by ferry
Herceg Novi
Old town with steep lanes and fortresses at the entrance to the bay. Use the Lepetane-Kamenari ferry one way and the bay road the other.
- Drive
- Approx. 10 min Tivat to Lepetane, a short crossing, then 20 min to Herceg Novi
- Parking
- Paid car parks above the old town.
- Time to allow
- Half a day
4. Lovćen and Cetinje (April to mid-November)
Lovćen National Park and Cetinje
Up the old serpentine road from Kotor to Njeguši for smoked ham and cheese, on to the Njegoš Mausoleum and down to Cetinje.
- Drive
- Approx. 1 hour Kotor to the mausoleum, then 30 min to Cetinje; back to Kotor via Budva approx. 1 hour
- Parking
- Car park below the mausoleum steps.
- Time to allow
- A full day
- Families
- 461 steps to the mausoleum; it is cold and windy at the top.
5. Budva and Sveti Stefan
Budva old town and Sveti Stefan
Walk Budva's walled old town, then drive south to the viewpoint above the Sveti Stefan islet and the beaches around Pržno.
- Drive
- Approx. 30 min from Tivat or Kotor through the Vrmac tunnel
- Parking
- Paid car parks in Budva; arrive early in summer.
- Time to allow
- Half to a full day
6. Lake Skadar from the coast
Virpazar
Boat trips through water lilies and reed beds of Lake Skadar National Park.
- Drive
- Approx. 1 hour 15 min from Tivat via Budva and Petrovac
- Parking
- Small car parks in the village.
- Time to allow
- A full day with lunch by the lake
Open in Google Maps
Summer weekends bring long queues at the Kamenari-Lepetane ferry and on the road into Budva. Leave before 09:00 or after the afternoon rush.
Car rental in Podgorica | Car rental in Tivat
Sources
- Njegoš mausoleum: opening hours, National Museum of Montenegro (checked October 27, 2026)
- Kamenari-Lepetane ferry timetable and fares, Novosti (checked October 27, 2026)
- Montenegro tourism, National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro (checked October 27, 2026)
Rules, prices and opening hours change. Check the official source before you travel. Drive times are approximate.
More guides
Montenegro in 5 days by car: a loop from Tivat or Podgorica
Bay of Kotor, Perast, Lovćen and Cetinje, the Budva coast, Lake Skadar and Ostrog Monastery in five days, with a winter variant for when the mountain roads close.
Driving in Montenegro: rules, tolls, ferries and winter tyres
What to know before driving a rental car in Montenegro: road rules, the two tolls, the Bay of Kotor ferry, winter equipment from 15 November and taking the car across a border.
Montenegro in winter: coast, ski slopes and what is closed
A winter plan for Montenegro by car: quiet coastal towns, skiing at Kolašin, Ostrog and Cetinje, plus what closes after mid-November and the winter tyre rule.