By the fact that you are here, you have come because your spirit is impatient with the extraordinary. You are hearing it, aren’t you? The beat of the Adriatic sapphire heart, the mute antique clamour of the ‘Black Mountains’, mountains which thrust up through the heavens like a lost crown. I have known that Montenegro is not another place that you visit after a lifetime searching the secret corners of the world: it is a state of being. It is the odour of trudged sage in a spring shower, the stinging coldness of salt in a July afternoon, and the damp silence of a stone piazza in a shroud of snow in the winter. One will have to dance with the changing moods of Montenegro to really experience it. I will show you the seasonal soul of this wild shrine so you can decide the best time to visit Montenegro and make your own story start at the time most convenient to you.
The Awakening: Spring (March to May).
Best for: Alone wanderers, botanists, and sportspeople.
There is some special magic in the rising of Montenegro. A kiss of the mountains lingers in the air in March, but with May, the valleys of the Bay of Kotor are a madness of emerald green and mimosas in blossom. When planning holidays in Montenegro during this period, you’ll find the landscape transformed.
I will suggest spring to you, as it is the best time to visit Montenegro for those who like to be quiet. It is time to roam within the paved mazes of the Old Town of Kotor without the buzz of the summer population. You may sit in a cafe in Herceg Novi, take a Montenegrin coffee, and think that the town is all yours.
The spring is the spring of the Great Thaw for the adventure-loving. Go to the Durmitor National Park or the Skadar Lake. If you are wondering what to do in Montenegro during the thaw, the lake, being the biggest one in the Balkans, turns into a colourful refuge for migrating birds. It is the paradise of photographers, greener, wetter, and more alive. My only caution regarding the Montenegro weather, on a personal notebook note, is that in case you want to climb the highest mountains, the snow does not melt away in time. Follow the lower paths and watch the falls as long as they last at their most roaring.
Golden Symphony: Summer (June to August).
Best for: Sun lovers, sailors and night owls.
By the time June comes, Montenegro will be wearing the most glamorous clothes. The sun remains in the sky, and the Adriatic is transformed into a piece of liquid turquoise. For beach lovers, this is the best time to visit Montenegro to enjoy the climax and the best of the season. The weather in Montenegro during these months is consistently brilliant, perfect for those long days by the shore.
It is time to be a traveller and enjoy energy, vibrant nightlife, and the experience of a warm sea breeze at midnight. Budva becomes a beach paradise, and the exclusive island of Sveti Stefan is a jewel at a distance. When considering holidays to Montenegro for a summer getaway, keep in mind that the coast is the place to be for peak tourism.
Being a travel expert, I should confess to you a little secret: summer is the season in which you need to go to the water. Hire a boat and sail around the fjords of the Mediterranean. Stop at Prcanj, a small, peaceful village in the Bay of Kotor, which seems to have been the scene of some forgotten movie. If you need ideas for what to do in Montenegro, exploring these hidden coves by boat is unbeatable.
As highlighted by the National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro, the summer months represent the peak of cultural vibrancy across the country.
Yes, it will be busy. Yes, the prices will increase with the temperature. But here, there is a reason why the world flocks in July. The victory of the sea-air concerts, the beach clubs of Ada Bojana, and the very exultation of the Montenegrin people on their endless summer evenings are contagious. In case you desire to have the whole, sun-tanned experience, take your lightest linen and jump in.
The Poet in his Season: Autumn (September to November).
Best for: Photographers, foodies, and romantic ramblers.
As a professional, in case of a choice to visit Montenegro once, I would prefer September. This is the “Goldilocks” best month. The intense heat of August has softened into a soft warmth, and the sea has been all the summer quenching the sun, so the Montenegro weather is usually warmer today than it was in June.
The mountains are starting to blush by October. The beech and pine trees of the Biogradska Gora National Park become a piece of scalded oranges and deep ochres. To a hiker, there is no better time to visit Montenegro. The summons are cool enough to spend long walks in the Prokletije (the Accursed Mountains), but even the towns on the coast are still lingering over summer like an old maid.
It is also the harvest season in autumn. It is the season of wine, olives and pomegranates. Go to a local vineyard located in the Crmnica area and sample the deep, dark Vranac wine. For foodies planning holidays to Montenegro, this is a feast for the senses. It is an abundance and contemplation, the tempo of which slows down, and the coarse and genuine essence of Montenegro appears.
The Silent Wonder: Winter (December to February)
Best for: Ski lovers, cost-effective travellers and lovers of cosy getaways.
When the snow piles on, Montenegro is forgotten by most people. For those seeking power and solitude, this is the best time to visit Montenegro. The weather in Montenegro shifts dramatically, with the coast passing into a dreamy hibernic slumber, while the north turns into a winter fairy-tale defined by Low Cost Vibes, which compares the Alps, yet at a tenth of the price.
In case you love the excitement of the slopes, then your playgrounds are Kolašin and Žabljak. The ski resorts in this case are small and lovely. If you are looking for what to do in Montenegro in the colder months, you can think of spending your day on the slopes of the white powder of the Bjelasica mountains and your evenings near the fire in a typical katun (mountain hut), savouring kacamak (local potato and cheese dish).
The sea resorts such as Kotor acquire a ghostly, ethereal air during winter, and your Montenegro holidays can be spent in quiet reflection. The grey-blue of the winter sea can be traced in stone walls, and the Christmas markets add a hint of glitz to the medieval squares. For those taking holidays in Montenegro in the off-season, it is an hour of the dawdling tourist, the one who desires to read a book by the shore and to listen to the rain on the roof of an ancient stone dwelling.
When planning your trip, you may also find this guide on where to stay in Montenegro helpful.
Which Season Calls to You?
Montenegro does not insist that you should look at it at once. It beckons you back, back and back. You will have a nation that is savage, cultured, and completely memorable, whether you visit it in the spring, the summer sun, the autumn gold, or the winter snow.
Therefore, dear travellers, will you start off your story? The Black Mountains are lying in wait.
A Travel Expert’s Final Notes
You have a trip on your way to this Balkan gem, and once you have chosen the best time to visit Montenegro, you will not go without a few tips from an insider, which you had better slip into your passport:
- The Language of the Heart: Although the most spoken languages in tourist destinations tend to be English, a few words of Montenegrin (close to Serbian/Croatian) will go a long way. Even a mere ‘Hvala’ (‘Thank you’) will open doors and hearts.
- The Roads Less Travelled: Montenegro requires wheels to see it properly. Take a car on rent and drive along the notorious road (called Serpentine) through Kotor to Lovcen. It includes 25 switchbacks of hair-raising nature, yet the scenery at the top is literally the best in the nation.
- Safety & Connection: For all holidays to Montenegro, I would always be insured and use an e-SIM to keep your maps functional, especially since the Montenegro weather can change quickly in the peaks.
FAQs about the Best Time to Visit Montenegro
June to August. It is the summer season, and the weather is always sunny, and the Adriatic Sea is warm.
September. It is referred to as the Goldilocks month with warm temperatures in the sea and nice air without the summer heat and overcrowding.
Yes. During the winter period between December and February, the northern cities of Kolašin and Žabljak turn into winter ski resorts of wonderland where people can enjoy affordable prices.
Spring (May) or Autumn (October). Spring is the time of fertile green valleys and waterfalls, and autumn is a period of slightly cooler conditions for hiking and picturesque fall leaves.
Yes. A vehicle is strongly suggested in order to really venture through the roads less travelled, like the Lovcen serpentines, and remote national parks.
