If you are a German traveler looking for sea views, mountain roads, and peaceful towns, Montenegro should be on your list. This small country is rich in history, full of nature, and beautifully scenic. You can walk through ancient towns, swim in clear blue bays, and drive across mountain passes with stunning views. Renting a car in Montenegro is simple and turns your journey into an adventure. You won’t follow a schedule, you will create it. In this guide, you’ll discover the best places to visit in Montenegro and why this country is worth visiting.
Montenegro’s Adriatic coast offers some of the most beautiful seaside scenery in Europe. You will drive along clear blue waters with towering mountains on one side and sandy beaches on the other. The coastline stretches nearly 300 kilometers and boasts around 72 km of beaches, giving you countless places to stop for a swim or a sunset view. Historic coastal towns like Kotor and Budva dot the shore, and you can park your car and wander their stone streets. Kotor is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its medieval architecture and stunning bay views. Budva’s Old Town is famous for its Venetian-era charm and seaside atmosphere.
In the warm summer months, you will see why Montenegro’s coast is a paradise for beach lovers and photographers. You can relax on golden beaches during the day and then continue your road trip to a new coastal village by evening. Don’t miss the islet of Sveti Stefan and the long sandy Velika Plaža near Ulcinj. It’s one of the longest beaches in Europe at 12 km. The Adriatic Highway that hugs the shoreline provides breathtaking views at every turn. As you drive, you’ll discover that some of the best places to visit in Montenegro are right off the road.
If you love mountains and nature, Montenegro will truly amaze you. The country’s interior is filled with majestic peaks, deep valleys, and pristine national parks. “Montenegro” means “Black Mountain,” a nod to the dark mountain forests covering the land. Driving north or inland, you can reach dramatic mountain landscapes just a few hours from the coast. Durmitor National Park in the north is a must-see for any road tripper. It’s home to the Tara River Canyon, which plunges 1,300 meters. It’s one of the deepest canyons in the world. Standing at a viewpoint over the Tara Canyon will make you feel tiny and exhilarated. You can go rafting in the turquoise waters at the canyon’s base if you’re adventurous.
During your Montenegro road trip, you should explore at least one of the country’s five national parks: Durmitor, Biogradska Gora, Lovćen, Lake Skadar, and Prokletije. In Durmitor, you can hike to Black Lake, a beautiful glacial lake, or drive the scenic road around the park for sweeping alpine views. If you visit in winter, places like Durmitor (Žabljak) and Kolašin offer affordable skiing and snowboarding. Montenegro has ski resorts too. In winter, you could be skiing in the mountains. By afternoon, you can drive down to the mild coast.
The contrast for German travelers exploring Montenegro’s mountains is incredible. One day you’re sunbathing by the sea, the next day you’re surrounded by snowy peaks. Don’t forget Lovćen National Park, where a winding road leads you to the famous Njegoš Mausoleum at 1,657 meters. From there, you’ll have a 360-degree view of the country.
Montenegro has a rich history and diverse cultural heritage. As you drive through the country, you can stop in towns that feel like open-air museums. Kotor’s Old Town, for example, is over 2,000 years old and has been influenced by the Romans and the Venetian Empire. Walking its narrow cobblestone streets, you’ll see medieval churches, palaces, and squares that transport you back in time. Budva’s Old Town is a 2,500-year-old fortified town where you can wander ancient lanes and walk on the city walls. Many of Montenegro’s cultural sites are conveniently located near the main roads.
For instance, you can drive to Cetinje, the historical royal capital in the mountains, to visit its museums and monasteries that tell the story of Montenegrin independence and royalty. Another short drive away is the Ostrog Monastery, a Serbian Orthodox monastery built into a cliffside. It’s one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Balkans and open to visitors of all faiths.
Throughout your journey, you’ll notice coastal towns have a Mediterranean flair with Venetian-stle architecture. Meanwhile, inland areas show Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian touches. You can stand in Kotor and see Venetian lion statues, then drive a couple of hours to encounter the Oriental vibe of the old Podgorica bazaar or the Austrian architecture in Herceg Novi.
One huge advantage of a Montenegro road trip is the country’s compact size. Montenegro is not even half the size of Bavaria, meaning you can cover a lot of ground quickly. You can drive from one end of Montenegro to another in just a few hours. This is perfect for German travelers who want to maximize sightseeing. You could have breakfast by the Adriatic Sea and, at lunchtime, be high up in the mountains enjoying a picnic. With your car, you have the freedom to stop anywhere that catches your eye, and in Montenegro, there’s always a hidden beach, a waterfall, a hillside village, or a panoramic viewpoint. The roads connect major destinations like Kotor, Budva, Cetinje, and Žabljak (Durmitor area).
For German tourists who are used to driving across larger countries, Montenegro will feel small and manageable. For example, the drive time from Podgorica to Budva is 1 hour and 30 minutes. From Kotor on the coast to Žabljak in the northern mountains is about a 3-hour drive. As a result, you can choose a base and do easy day trips by car, or move to a new hotel each night without feeling tired.
Montenegro offers something special every season. Unlike some countries that are only fun in summer, here you will find great experiences in spring, summer, autumn, or winter. In spring (April and May), the countryside turns lush green and wildflowers bloom in the meadows. It’s warm but not too hot, ideal for hiking in national parks or driving through scenic routes like the Serpentine Road above Kotor.
Spring is also less crowded, so you can enjoy popular spots with more peace. Summer (June to August) is the peak season, perfect for swimming and nightlife on the coast. July and August can be hot and busy on the beaches, but if you’re on a road trip, you can explore early in the day or venture to quieter beaches off the beaten path. You can also escape the heat by driving up into the mountains. In mid-summer, Durmitor and other high areas stay cooler, offering a refreshing break from the coastal sun.
Autumn (September and October) can be the best time for many experienced travelers. The weather is comfortable, the summer crowds leave, and autumn colors paint the forests in gold and red. Driving through the hills around Lake Skadar or the vineyards in the fall is beautiful. You can still enjoy the beach in early fall and hike without the summer heat.
Winter (November to March) turns Montenegro into a different adventure land. While the coast becomes quiet with some hotels closing in off-season, the north sees snow, which means skiing and snowboarding opportunities. Resorts in Kolašin and Žabljak (Durmitor area) welcome visitors to ski at a fraction of the cost of the Alps. Imagine skiing in the morning and then driving down to Kotor for a seaside coffee in the afternoon. Montenegro’s tourism board actively promotes all-year tourism, and you can find varied adventures year-round.
A Montenegro road trip is affordable, which is great news for budget-conscious German travelers. The country is known to be cheaper than many Western European destinations for food, lodging, and activities. You can enjoy a nice meal of local grilled fish or hearty mountain stew for a fraction of what it would cost in Germany. Fuel for your car and parking fees are also reasonably priced. Montenegro uses the Euro (€) as its currency, even though it’s not in the EU. You won’t have to worry about exchange rates or getting local currency. You can bring the euros from home and use them everywhere.
German tourists will also find that Montenegro is safe and welcoming. Montenegro has become increasingly popular as a tourist spot partly because it is relatively safe, small, and cheap. Violent crime is very low, and as long as you take standard precautions with your belongings, you should feel at ease wherever you go. Montenegrins are known for their hospitality. If you need directions or assistance, locals often go out of their way to help, even with a language barrier. English is widely spoken in tourist areas, and many young people speak at least some English.
For those who love to drive, Montenegro is a thrill. The country’s roads take you through a huge variety of landscapes. Picture yourself cruising along the winding Kotor Serpentine Road, a famous stretch full of switchback turns that climb from Kotor into the Lovćen mountains. Every few minutes, you’ll want to pull over and take a photo of the Bay of Kotor unfolding below you. Or consider driving through the Piva Canyon in the northwest. The road cuts through rock tunnels alongside a turquoise reservoir, which is an exciting route. Despite some narrow and winding sections in the mountains, driving in Montenegro is quite manageable for anyone used to European roads. You just need to drive cautiously on mountain lanes. Use your horn on blind curves, and be ready to yield on very tight passes.
Renting a car also means you can reach hidden gems that group tours skip. You can detour to remote villages, stop at roadside farm stands for fresh fruit, or take a spontaneous drive up a hill because you saw a sign for a waterfall. One highly recommended drive is around Lake Skadar, where the road weaves through vineyards and overlooks the largest lake in the Balkans.
Another adventure is driving to the summit of Mount Lovćen. A twisting road leads you to the national park. From there, you climb 461 steps to the Njegoš Mausoleum at the peak. At the top, you’ll have one of the most breathtaking panoramic views of Montenegro’s mountains and sea.
To start your road trip, you can easily rent a car in Montenegro at airports in Tivat and Podgorica. Most rental companies operate there, alongside local agencies. The good news is that an EU driver’s license is valid in Montenegro, so you do not need any special permit. The driving side is also on the right-hand side. Road signs use international symbols, often with place names in Latin script. Roads are generally well-marked. With GPS navigation or a map, you should have no trouble reaching the top destinations in Montenegro.
When it comes to logistics, Montenegro is quite accommodating for travelers. The country is connected by a paved road network that reaches small towns. While some mountain roads are curvy and require slower speeds, recent improvements have made driving easier. For example, a new motorway now links Podgorica closer to the north, reducing travel time to the Durmitor area.
You’ll also find plenty of petrol stations, especially along the main coastal route and near cities. They usually accept credit cards and sometimes euros in cash. Parking in Kotor or Budva can get busy in peak season. However, there are paid parking lots and street parking zones where you can leave your car while you explore on foot. As a foreign visitor, you might be pleasantly surprised by the relaxed pace of driving. There are no toll highways or complex interchanges, just scenic two-lane roads. Also, locals are used to tourists driving around, so they are generally patient if you go slowly to enjoy the view.
You’ve seen how much Montenegro offers in a short time. You can swim in the Adriatic in the morning, explore old towns like Kotor in the afternoon, and drive into the mountains by evening. For German travelers, it’s the perfect country for a road trip. Rent a car with Final Rentals to start your trip smoothly. Choose the right car for your trip, book it online in just a few steps, and pick it up at the airport when you land. Whether you’re heading to the coast or the mountains, Final Rentals makes it easy to reach the best places to visit in Montenegro.
