In this blog, I am sharing our personal itinerary with you, along with vegetarian-friendly options, in case they meet your requirements as well.

Additionally, you can read my detailed Montenegro travel guide for couples, which includes all the crucial information, such as eSIM providers, car rental price ranges, driving tips, money-saving hacks, culture and heritage, supermarkets, fascinating facts about Montenegro and more.

How to Spend 4 Days in Montenegro in an Affordable Luxury

Here is my Montenegro 4-Day itinerary for you:

1. London to Tivat and Porto Montenegro Village
2. Perast, Old Kotor Town, Kotor Cable Car and Alpine Coaster
3. Lake Skadar, Sveti Stefan and Budva
4. Island of Flowers and Back to London

Day 1: London to Tivat and Porto Montenegro Village

Our Staycation in Montenegro

Then, our Kostic Sea View apartment appeared in the scene. It was more beautiful than in the images. Our host was waiting for us at the car park. The moment we stepped into the stoned, narrow alleys, we were transported metaphorically to an imaginary movie set.

From the parking area, a lane led us to the apartment, with pretty houses on one side and the lake on the other, and it was lined with cobblestone staircases.

Honestly, the apartment didn’t appear like one because there were two floors, and nobody else was staying there. So, it felt like a villa which was entirely ours, with a corridor featuring a coffee table and chairs, and a terrace with deckchairs for sunbathing. Further, there was a view of the mountains and the Adriatic Sea.

Let me show you some pictures to bring your imagination to life.

This apartment was located outside the central Tivat in a fishing village Bjelila, and we chose to stay here because we had rented a car; otherwise, it would have been difficult to commute. However, with these breathtaking views and the amenities, the accommodation was totally worth it. We had booked it through Booking.com.

Note: Recently, I checked the availability of this apartment on Booking.com for November and December, but it’s not available for reservation. You can check other Kostic Sea View apartments in a similar range (€200-250)here.

Now I am going to share some essential information. In Montenegro, visitors must register with the local police or tourism office within 24 hours of arrival; failure to do so may result in a significant penalty. Either the hotel staff or a host can do it, or you can take responsibility for it.

Thankfully, our host took care of it on our behalf, but she was asking for a hard copy of our passports. It felt unsafe to be in a new country without a passport, so I asked her if there was an alternative, and she agreed to use passport photos. As a result, we didn’t have to submit our passports.

We were welcomed with a complimentary bottle of Montenegrin wine and candies in our apartment. After relaxing in the apartment for half an hour, we decided to visit Tivat for a late lunch, as we were famished.

We were on the edge while boarding the flight, so we didn’t have time to eat. On the flight, we just had tea, coffee and oat bites.

There was a restaurant next to our accommodation, but it only offered fish as a vegetarian option, which we don’t consider vegetarian.

Porto Montenegro Village, Tivat

We found an Indian restaurant, Masala Art Kitchen, also known as Blue Room, in the exterior of Porto Montenegro Village. We found a car park close by for €1.50 for two hours.

We walked for ten minutes to reach the restaurant. From the outside, it looked like a sports pub, and we were doubtful about the taste of the food, but to our surprise, it was scrumptious.

We ordered two Veg Biryani, one starter and two Masala Teas. It was the first time that an Indian restaurant served a kettle full of tea, and it tasted nice. Moreover, it was soothing for my throat because the night before travelling, I caught a throat infection.

The quantity was praiseworthy, too, considering the price.

Porto Montenegro, in Tivat, is a glamorous waterfront marina that blends luxury living with a relaxed Adriatic vibe. It’s filled with stylish boutiques, high-end restaurants, superyachts, and elegant hotels — perfect for a romantic seaside stroll or sunset dining. Even if you do not stay there, it’s a beautiful place to explore, shop, enjoy cocktails by the marina, and soak in Montenegro’s upscale coastal charm.

After having a late lunch and an early dinner, we roamed around, watched the mountains getting red in the sunset hues, and left for our apartment. On our way, we noticed that the route to our destination was equally impressive, and we could also watch the sunset there.

Another best part was that we could watch the sunrise, sunset, and the night view of the illuminated mountains from our place.

Two more things I forgot to mention, it was the day of my birthday that we travelled, so after reaching the apartment, my husband asked me to sit inside and wait.

Then he called me out, and I was surprised to see that he had arranged pastel coloured flowers, a tiny Tiramisu cake, and had decorated the table in the corridor. Plus, the backdrop made it unforgettable.

He had already given me a gift in the morning, before we left home. Additionally, two cats also arrived from somewhere and sat like our friends. One of them was the black cat with glossy eyes, and she had all the power to scare. The other one was regular visitor for the next three days.

Overall, it was a perfect celebration with my beloved husband and at the most romantic staycation.

Day 2: Perast, Old Kotor Town, Kotor Cable Car and Alpine Coaster

On Day 2, we were a little late to start because of my throat infection, but it was a bright, beautiful day. We could have got a free parking space in Perast if we’d been early, but never mind.

In Perast, people combine the parking fee with the boat tour trip and charge accordingly, but we didn’t opt for it. Although we later realised that it cost us the same amount, €30. We paid €10 for the whole-day parking, but if we had taken a boat tour for €15 per adult, the parking would have been free.

Now, the Luna and other boat tours to Our Lady of the Rocks are €10 per person, so we paid a total of €20. Earlier, it was €5 pp.

Perast is a small village that can be explored on foot in about an hour. Since we didn’t have breakfast, we preferred to eat before roaming around.

We stopped at Restaurant Armonia, which opens after 10 a.m. and serves delicious, vegetarian-friendly options. It features an open dining area overlooking the seaside, transporting you to Lake Como in Italy.

Perast town has an Italian influence, which is reflected in its stone buildings, terracotta rooftops, and the predominantly Italian cuisine available in the area.

After filling our stomachs, we took a stroll in the village and then took the boat tour to Our Lady of the Rocks. Usually, people sit inside the boat, but since it was full, the staff gave us special permission to sit outside and enjoy the views.

Our Lady of the Rocks is a tiny island, and it only takes thirty minutes to explore, including clicking photos. From this island, you get a magnificent view of Perast, which is worth capturing. The entry to the church on the island costs €3.

We left Perast and visited Kavač to take the Kotor Cable Car ride to the top station. The lower Dub station is at Kavač. The ride costs €18 per adult for a return trip. Still, the panoramic views of Kotor Bay and the Adriatic Sea are incredible, and it’s an enthralling experience—definitely a must-do activity in my opinion.

Reaching the top of Lovćen Summit through Kotor Cable Car

Along with the cable car ride, I also chose to take the Alpine Coaster ride, which cost an additional €8. The views are not different from what you see during the cable car ride, but it’s the turns and twists down the cliffs of Lovćen that give a little jump scare, especially from that kind of height.

The altitude of the top station of the Kotor Cable Car, located at Kuk village on the summit of Mount Lovćen, is 4,429 feet.

At the top station, there is a toilet, a shop, and a restaurant. The ticket counter for the Alpine Coaster ride is also here. Although it was off-season, there was still a long queue for the coaster ride.

Next, we visited Kotor Bay and the Old Town of Kotor. We skipped visiting the Old Fortress (Kotor) or San Giovanni Fortress because the entry fee was €15/adult, and we didn’t want to do it after seeing the views from the top. Kotor Bay also serves as a port for numerous cruise ships.

I recommend visiting the tiny medieval lanes in Kotor Old Town. The ambience is very unique. We also stopped for dinner at the Square of the Arms in Café San Giovanni. They serve nice vegetarian pasta and pizza.

Then we strolled through the charming medieval lanes of Kotor Old Town on our way out and saw cats everywhere. The words have fallen short to express my feelings about the time we spent in these lanes, and when we exited towards the parking, we witnessed a splendid sunset over Kotor Bay.

We also couldn’t visit Saint Tryphon’s Cathedral because it was closed when we visited Kotor.

The car park was very near the Kotor Fortress. Our day 2 ended on a lovely note, while we enjoyed the tranquillity around our apartment.

Day 3: Lake Skadar, Sveti Stefan and Budva

Day 3 began at 6:30 a.m. as the sunrise broke. I started my date with hot sips of green tea, and by 7:30 a.m., we left the apartment to visit Lake Skadar.

It was Sunday, and all the cafés in Tivat were closed. Express Restoran & Caffe Chef’s Express was the only café in Kotor which was open on Sunday at 7 a.m., and it served vegetarian-friendly options. It was a 10-minute drive from our place. The prices at this café are reasonable, and the salad and main course options are yummy. This café serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I wanted a healthy meal, so the salad and main-course options, such as mashed potatoes and spinach, mixed vegetables in spiced curry with rice, and Tzatziki dip, worked for me.

My husband chose a combo meal that included a croissant, juice, and coffee. One can also select an omelette instead of a croissant for the same price.

After having a hefty breakfast, we drove to Virpazar to visit Lake Skadar National Park. The beautiful route along mountains and Adriatic sea coast also passes through Budva and Sveti Stefan. There is a tunnel toll of €2.50 to pay on the way back from Virpazar to Budva.

Virpazar is a village in the municipality of Bar, from where you can hire boat tours to Lake Skadar National Park. These boat tours also include a parking fee for your car. Virpazar is also a great place to purchase traditional olive oil and wine from local sellers.

As soon as you enter the village, people stop the car and ask you for boat tours. So, a person stopped our car too and suggested a group boat tour for €30 for two people, lasting two hours, which included lily pads and other attractions in the national park.

However, we opted for a private boat tour at €50 for an hour to save time and enjoy more, and it also included a ticket for the National Park of Skadar Lake at €5/adult and car parking. These tours run daily from April to October at 10 a.m.

Trivia about this tour: Surprisingly, we got a blue boat, which added an extra layer of beauty to our pictures. Also, the kind of photoshoot I had on this tour made me feel like an influencer. We had blankets and binoculars on the boat, and it was a shiny and bright day, due to which we could appreciate the surroundings better.

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Note: To book this boat tour or other tours, visit the website of Monte Frog. There are long-duration and short and sweet cruises too. The basic price of the boat tour begins with €10/person.

Alex was our guide on the boat tour, and he explained everything about the attractions to us. He was so tall that even my husband hesitated in standing in front of him. It is also a unique fact that Montenegrins are the second-tallest population in the world, with 6ft and above, influenced by a combination of nutrition and genetics.

After finishing the tour, we roamed around Virpazar village, had lunch and drove to Budva.

Next stop: Photos at Sveti Stefan

While going to Budva, we stopped at the viewpoint of Sveti Stefan, which we also noticed on our way to Virpazar, because a huge crowd was standing there taking pictures. This observation deck is the best spot to get exotic images of this island.

Mogren Beach at Budva

Just after a 20-minute drive, we arrived in Budva and parked our car in the front parking lot of Mediteranska Street. Then we walked to Mogren Beach, which was an 11-minute walk from the parking.

I want to share an incident that happened here. When we reached Budva, I had to pee urgently, but there was no public toilet nearby, so I visited a posh restaurant, bought a €3 water bottle, and used their washroom. Except at the Kotor Cable Car Top Station and Virpazar (a paid one), I didn’t see public toilets anywhere else. The shopping centres in Budva were closed on Sunday.

This seaside stroll to Mogren Beach was worth taking, and at one point, the limestone cliff path reminded me of King of Aragon’s Staircase in Bonifacio, a shooting location for the Hindi movie ‘Tamasha’ in Corsica.

Old Town Budva

From the beach, we went to Old Budva Town and dear god, there was another cluster of charming narrow lanes in it like the Kotor Old Town. I thought that I was in Venice or Bastia for a moment.

Then we got pizzas from Budva because the restaurants were closing early on Sunday. The kitchen in our apartment was fully equipped with utensils, crockery, an oven, a gas stove, a kettle, and even a washing machine, so we had the privilege of warming it again in the oven. I am not sure why I mentioned here washing machine though 😂.

Evening dip at the beachfront outside the apartment

After coming back from Budva, we had an hour before sunset, and I was feeling much better, so we used the time to swim in the private Adriatic Sea pool.

Then Day 3 ended with sipping hot tea and eating pizzas while watching the sunset, and later a movie.

Day 4: Island of Flowers and Back to London

Our flight was at 12 p.m., so we had time to visit one more attraction, and we chose to visit Prevlaka Island, also known as the Island of Flowers. It was near the airport, so we could see flights taking off.

Disclaimer – All the photographs are copyrighted.

The prices mentioned in the post tend to change.