Montenegro’s south coast, Lake Skadar and Lovćen

Route description

From Budva the coast road passes the island village of Sveti Stefan, best seen from the viewpoint above, and continues to Bar. Stari Bar, the ruined old town at the foot of the mountains, is a quiet place to wander among churches, a hammam and an aqueduct.

Ulcinj, the southernmost town, has an Ottoman-era old town on a rocky point and the long sandy Velika Plaža stretching towards the Albanian border. The atmosphere here is noticeably different, with minarets alongside church towers.

For Lake Skadar, take the narrow, winding road along the southern shore through Ostros to Virpazar, or the faster route back via Bar and the Sozina tunnel (toll). Boats leave Virpazar for the water lilies and monasteries of the lake, and the road north to Rijeka Crnojevića passes the famous meander viewpoint.

Cetinje, the old royal capital, has palaces, former embassies and a monastery. Finish on Mount Lovćen at the Njegoš mausoleum, then descend the Kotor serpentine with its 25 hairpins, a road for small vehicles only and not for large motorhomes.