Things to do in Montenegro in Winter

2022-12-24


Things to do in Montenegro in winter


Things to do in Montenegro in winter, you can't know right away. Read this text and see how many beautiful and varied things await you in Montenegro during the winter.


Most tourists and travel enthusiasts perceive Montenegro as a summer destination. Even so, you can visit in winter as well, because the experience of this country depends on important desires and preferences.


Believe that you have many things to do in Montenegro in winter. The first thing I would say is that outside the main season, all prices are extremely affordable. Accommodation, food, car rental, and all other contents are cheap and at the same time considerably cheaper than the surroundings. In second place is the mild climate and the availability of all the attractions that are normally visited during the summer. Third, but no less important, is that there are no large crowds, because she visited minorities, so you have more time to enjoy everything. In fourth place is the availability of restaurants and local wineries where you can taste national specialties in peace. And finally, it is also very important that you can take extraordinary and precious photos that are unavailable during other seasons.


Montenegro in November


Montenegro in November is usually mild when it comes to temperature. Especially at the beginning of this month, there can be a dry period. National parks are open, which is a great opportunity to visit all areas of the country. The second half of this period is rich in rain, but you can still walk, look for beautiful landscapes and photos of the sky between the clouds. There are also local, charming restaurants offering traditional dishes.


November at the national park Durmitor


I should add that you must look for a rent a car so that you can easily visit everything you want. Especially because in this period the prices are low and range around 15 euros per day.


Montenegro in December


Montenegro In December, temperatures are much lower, there are rainy and windy days. Warmer shoes and clothes are needed, but it is not icy. You can still visit the central and southern part of the country. By law, winter tires are required on the car and chains in the trunk. If you want to go to the mountains, keep in mind that some roads may be impassable due to snow. The main roads towards Žabljak and Kolašin are regularly cleaned. Winter usually begins in the second half of December. Morning temperatures range from 5 degrees on the coast to -10 in the mountains. Later, during the day, it will be a few degrees above zero in the mountains.


Montenegro in January


During January, you can visit different cities in the continental and coastal belt. There is a festive atmosphere in this month, so some events are organized in most cities. If you are not a fan of snow, stick to the coast and the central part. The roads here are always passable, you can expect some sunny days for walking.


Montenegro in February


February in Montenegro brings a slight rise in temperature. However, winter is still going on so you have to carry all the necessary equipment. The days are getting longer, which is another reason to use this period to visit the planned places.


Montenegro in March


March is the month when temperatures start to rise. There are a lot of rainy days, but you certainly have enough time to spend the rest of the days visiting nature, cities or some sights. It is important to point out that if you are choosing accommodation during March or winter, you should look for an apartment in a hotel or similar building. This is because old stone houses are very cold and often difficult to heat. Also, try to be close to the center, because since there is no crowd, it is a way to quickly reach everything. And finally, the cities outside the Bay of Kotor are warmer and have more sun during the winter months. If you really want a bay, then I suggest Tivat or Herceg novi, which are the warmest in this region.


Cetinjski manastir


Things to do in Montenegro in winter


If you want to know things to do in Montenegro in winter, I will try to give you a detailed answer. This is a mountainous country, so most of the mountains are covered with snow.


Ski tourism


Ski tourism is quite developed. There are two ski centers in the country, which can mostly satisfy all snow lovers.


The ski center Zabljak is located right next to the town and is located at 1500 meters above sea level. It has two cable cars and three ski lifts. You can rent complete equipment, and during January a one-day ski pass costs 15 euros, while in February and March it costs 13 euros. In addition to skis, you can also rent electric snow sleds, the price of which is around 80 euros per hour. It is located next to the national park Durmitor, which means that other possibilities are open. If you want a walk in untouched nature, or a fantastic view of the frozen Black Lake, you can do it now. There are hotels in the city that have an excellent offer of national specialties and comfortable accommodation. Accommodation prices are around 100 euros for houses, or 15 euros for a bed.


Ski center Kolasin is about 85 km from Podgorica, and you can use the highway, for which the toll is 3.5 euros one way. Only skiers have a large number of trails with a total length of 45 kilometers. It is equipped with fast ski lifts and cable cars. Next to it is the modern Troglava restaurant. You can also rent all ski equipment. A daily ski pass is 13 euros in January, and 15 euros in February and March. You can leave your ski equipment in a special depot. In addition to skis, you can rent snowmobiles, but also four-wheelers. You will find accommodation in Kolasin, either in private apartments or in a large number of hotels. During the winter period, temperatures are not extremely low. Average daytime temperatures are from 0 to 2 degrees Celsius, while nights are colder to -10.


Canyons during winter


If you decide to go to the north of Montenegro, you should also visit the unique Tara canyon. It is the deepest canyon in Europe, and the view is fantastic when you reach the bridge on Tara. During this period, there is no rafting, but you will certainly enjoy the view of this pearl of nature.


On the 38th kilometer of the Podgorica Kolasin road, there is the village of Medjurecje. Next to the beginning of the trail to Mrtvice canyon. This is one of the most beautiful excursion tours, and it is also available during the winter. The height of the canyon is 1100 meters, while the length is 8.5 kilometers, and it is a true masterpiece of nature.


Food and drink


If you are a lover of good food and wine, choose a national restaurant or a local winery. The wine route and the Sipcanik wine cellar within the Plantaze company are very popular. This is one of the largest vineyard complexes in Europe. There are still plenty of local wineries in the Skadar Lake area that produce excellent wines.


Zabljak Crnojevica national park Skadarsko jezero


Things to do in the central and southern regions


Things to do in the central part is a visit to the Skadar lake national park. The famous fortresses on Lake Zabljak are Crnojevica, Besac, Grmzur, Lesendro. On the shore of the lake is the town of Rijeka Crnojevica, which can often be recognized on postcards. Next to it are the remains of the old town of Obod. There was a printing house where in 1494 the first book in this part of Europe was printed - the famous Oktoich. The lake is the largest on the Balkan Peninsula and home to 280 species of birds and a kind of bird reserve. The trademark of the lake is the big curly Pelican, which is the only one that lives here.


Unique Lustica


A suggestion for visiting another exceptional place is the Lustica peninsula. The peninsula is home to olive groves and several farms that produce olive oil. You can also find some of the most beautiful Montenegrin beaches. Old fishing villages that preserve authentic houses and docks for boats. At the same time, on the other side, see what Lustica bay looks like - a modern residential complex and a marina for yachts.


One of the sports available are rowing and sailing. There are clubs in Kotor that rent rowing boats throughout the season. Sailing is available at the exclusive club Porto Montenegro.


Porto Montenegro yacht club Tivat


If you have rented a car, traveling on the roads during the winter is a real pleasure. You can stop wherever you want to observe the scenery, or take a photo. The restaurants are warm and waiting for you without crowds. You should feel the winter atmosphere of small coastal towns such as Perast or Herceg Novi. From Kotor to Lovcen there is an old road - the so-called serpentine. When you get to the top, the view is magnificent. You cannot reach the mausoleum that belongs to the national park because it is closed, and is usually hit by heavy snow.


Forts and old towns


Especially interesting are the fortresses and old towns that bear witness to the rich and stormy past in these areas. The Kotor fortress is under the protection of UNESCO, and take advantage of the calm days to visit it in detail. There are 1,400 steps leading to the church of San Giovanni, which is located above the town, and from there you will enjoy the view of the Bay of Kotor. Apart from Kotor, Herceg Novi also has its old town and the Spanjola fortress, which was built by the Spaniards in 1538 when they conquered this area. Budva's old town is also very famous and visited. It is also home to several bars that operate throughout the year. On the other side of the Montenegrin coast is the town of Bar, which has its own old core. There is also the oldest olive tree in the Balkans, which is protected by law. After Bar is Ulcinj, and its old town, which is about 2500 years old. This city is one of the largest cultural and historical monuments in this area, and you can easily visit it during this period.


Old Bar Montenegro


The best museums


Use the winter months to visit the most famous museums of this country. Cetinje is the old capital, with several museums that have valuable collections. That's how there is the Castle of King Nikola, which was at the head of the state for the entire 58 years. The events and history of that time are depicted through his life. Cetinje is home to the Art Museum, which houses the priceless icon of the Virgin Philarmosa, which tradition says was drawn by the evangelist Luke. Here I will mention that in Cetinje there is the Cetinje Monastery where you can see some of the greatest holy places of the Christian world - the right hand of John the Baptist, and part of the Holy Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified.


The Museum of Living History is located in the Bay of Kotor. In it, you can try on medieval armor, shoot with a bow and arrow, and discover how life used to be. Near Prcnje is Kotor, which opens its doors to visitors of the Maritime Museum. This museum hides many valuable exhibits and details from the history of this region.


Sacred objects


Close to this museum is the famous cathedral of St. Tripun, which is worth visiting. The cathedral was built in 1166 and is on the UNESCO cultural heritage list. You should definitely include a tour of the Ostrog monastery on your trip. It houses the remains of the miracle worker St. Basil of Ostro, and the monastery is one of the most visited in the Orthodox world. Its location in the rocks is particularly interesting. During the season, people wait for several hours to enter and worship the saint.


Mountaineering routes


There are many nature lovers who want to use this time to conquer some mountain peak. In the coastal zone, you have excellent hiking trails, where there is no snow, or very little snow. The Orjen-Lovcen-Rumija route is particularly challenging. It includes three peaks, namely Orjen, whose height is 1894 m. Lovcen -1657 and Rumi 1595 meters. The length of this trail is 138 kilometers, and it takes about 10 days to complete it. This route can be shortened if desired.


Which festival to visit in Montenegro during winter


There are more festivals to visit in Montenegro during the winter. These are great events where you can try Montenegrin specialties, but also learn more about history, gastronomy and tradition.


Kotor's winter festivals start on December 1 and end on January 8. During this period, various cultural and entertainment events take place in Kotor. In Ulcinj, a New Year's bazaar is organized on the small beach. In addition, in the period from December 15 to January 10, numerous parties, concerts and performances are held.


In the small town of Virpazar, in the Skadar Lake National Park, a wine and fish festival is held at the end of December. Tasting is free for all visitors, and exhibitors from this region promote local cuisine and quality wines. During the festival, the first part of the competition for the best exhibited products is held.


Probably the most famous event is the mimosa festival in Herceg Novi, which starts in mid-February. This festival lasts more than a month, and brings together numerous exhibitions, bazaars, wine and food fairs that are held in all the cities of the bay.


Mimosa festival Herceg Novi


In February, the camellia festival is held in Stoliv. Camellias are a type of flower that is a symbol of this region, and the event gathers exhibitors of food, wine and local handicrafts.