A Country Built for National Parks
Montenegro packs five national parks into a country smaller than Northern Ireland. Each park protects a completely different landscape, from the Mediterranean wetlands of Skadar Lake to the glacial peaks of Durmitor at over 2,500 metres. All five are reachable by car, though the roads range from smooth dual carriageways to single-track gravel paths that test your nerve.
You could visit all five parks in a week if you drove hard, but spreading the trip over ten days gives you time to hike, swim, and sit in mountain restaurants without constantly checking the clock. Pick up your car at Tivat or Podgorica and work north.
Durmitor National Park
Durmitor is the headline act. The park covers 390 square kilometres of high-altitude terrain centred on Zabljak, the highest town in the Balkans at 1,456 metres. Black Lake is a twenty-minute walk from the car park and one of the most photographed spots in the country. The water is cold even in August.
Drive from Podgorica via the E65 north, then turn west at Mojkovac. The total journey takes about 2.5 hours and climbs steadily through dense forest. The last 30 kilometres offer views across multiple mountain ranges. Fill up with fuel in Mojkovac because there is nothing between there and Zabljak.
Biogradska Gora National Park
This park protects one of the last three primeval forests in Europe. Some of the trees are over 500 years old, and the undergrowth is so thick that light barely reaches the forest floor. Biogradska Lake sits in the centre, and you can walk around it in about 90 minutes.
The park entrance is right on the main road between Mojkovac and Kolasin, making it easy to stop on the way to or from Durmitor. The access road from the gate to the lake is about 4 kilometres of gravel, manageable in any car if you take it slowly.
Lovcen National Park
Lovcen looms over the Bay of Kotor and is visible from almost everywhere on the coast. The road from Kotor to the summit involves 25 numbered hairpin bends, each one tighter than the last. The views from the top stretch across Montenegro, the Adriatic, and into Albania on clear days.
At the summit sits the Njegos Mausoleum, a stone monument to Montenegro's most revered poet-king. The final approach involves climbing 461 steps from the car park. The park entrance is free, but the mausoleum charges €5 admission.
Skadar Lake National Park
The largest lake in the Balkans, shared between Montenegro and Albania. Skadar is a wetland paradise with over 280 bird species, including the Dalmatian pelican. The main access point is Virpazar, a 40-minute drive from the coast through the Sozina tunnel.
Combine a lake visit with the wine road through the Crmnica valley. Several viewpoints along the north shore are accessible by car, and the drive between Virpazar and Rijeka Crnojevica is one of the most scenic short routes in the country. Read more in our guide to Montenegro's wine road.
Prokletije National Park
The newest and most remote national park, bordering Albania and Kosovo. Prokletije means 'accursed mountains' in local language, and the terrain lives up to the name. Peaks above 2,500 metres, deep valleys, and glacial lakes make this serious hiking country.
Access is via Plav or Gusinje, both about 4.5 hours from the coast. The roads are decent but winding, especially the final stretch from Berane to Plav. An SUV is recommended for the gravel roads leading to trailheads. This park sees far fewer visitors than Durmitor, which is part of its appeal.
Parks at a Glance
Practical Tips
- Tickets: Buy entry tickets at park gates. No online booking needed for any Montenegro national park.
- Roads: Main approach roads are paved. Internal park roads may be gravel. Check conditions if visiting before June.
- Wildlife: Bears live in Biogradska Gora and Prokletije. They avoid humans but store food properly at campsites.
- Water: Mountain springs are drinkable throughout Montenegro. Carry a refillable bottle.