Montenegro Family Holidays – Top 10 things to do with kids

This little-visited country is one of the smallest in Europe so you can get from north to south, east to west all in one trip. Here we’ve listed the top ten things we think you shouldn’t miss on a Montenegro family holiday.

Our top ten activities to do on Montenegro family holidays

1. Zip-line over the Tara Gorge

The Tara Gorge is one of the deepest in the world, and for many centuries has formed a natural barrier between the empires of Central Europe and the Ottomans. A bridge was built in the 1930s only to be blown up a few years later to prevent the Nazi advance. Fast forward to the 21st century and there is now a zip-line over the gorge and you can fly over the 800m chasm.

2. Take a boat ride on Lake Skador

Lake Skador is a beautiful area of marshland, canals, and open lake. Take a boat ride across the water, nosing through the reeds and narrow channels, with pelicans soaring overhead. You can stop on a small beach to swim and soak up the views or hire bikes and follow peaceful roads around the edge of the lake.

3. Experience rural life at an agrotourism farm

One of the great attractions in Montenegro is the chance to get off the beaten track and enjoy the countryside. There are many different rural accommodation options, from simple but friendly agrotourism properties with quaint stone houses and lots of scope to interact with the animals, to exquisite boutique properties on immaculate vineyards, where you can pack a picnic and lunch amongst the grapevines. Contact us to discover what will suit your family.

4. Go canyoning in the Durmitor Mountains

With its many mountains, it’s no surprise that Montenegro has some amazing canyoning opportunities. Choose an easier option in the dramatic hills above Kotor or take older teens to Nevidio Canyon in the Durmitor Mountains. Both involve exciting descents down narrow river canyons, jumping into pools, and abseiling down rock faces.

5. Hike with a guide in spectacular landscapes

Montenegro is a magnificently mountainous country (even the name Montenegro means ‘Black Mountains’), and there are seemingly endless spectacular landscapes to explore. In the far north, the high peaks of Durmitor National Park are wild and remote, with craggy peaks jutting from wild meadows dotted with a few grazing sheep. Here you can strap on your hiking boots and enjoy a guided walk (in our experience, the children are infinitely more likely to spend a day hiking if accompanied by a guide, rather than just following Mum and Dad). Further south, the ski resort of Kolasin offers similarly beautiful scenery but with a ski infrastructure that can whizz you to the top of the mountain without breaking a sweat.

6. Boats, fishing and swimming

With almost as many lakes as mountains, there are lots of opportunities for water-based fun on a family holiday to Montenegro. Each is different and offers something unique; the vast waters of Lake Skadar are perfect for a lazy day drifting through the reed beds, fishing rod in hand before enjoying the fruits of your labours cooked on a barbeque. Further north, Black Lake is encircled by huge peaks, with a walking trail around it and numerous spots where you can jump in and cool off.

7. White-water raft on the Tara River

Cutting through the gorge, the startlingly turquoise waters of the Tara River are the perfect place for an adrenalin-pumping white-water rafting excursion. Even without the excitement of the river rapids, the views are incredible, the sheer walls of the canyon rising sharply on either side. An outing here will be a highlight of many Montenegro family holidays.

8. Flex your muscles in the coastal mountains

Most family holidays in Montenegro will finish with a well-deserved break on the coast. But for those who find enforced relaxation a challenge, some beautiful mountains rise sharply behind the bays of the Adriatic. Criss-crossed by numerous trails, these mountains offer stunning coastal views and provide the opportunity to flex the muscles before another delicious seafood dinner in a balmy seafood restaurant…

9. Enjoy a gelato in Kotor

Kotor is the jewel in the Montenegran cultural crown and is a small walled town encircled by thick stone walls and topped with an imposing fort. It perches on the edge of Bokor Bay, a fjord-like inlet from the Adriatic. Keep the kids happy with a gelato as you wander around the cobbled streets before tackling the zigzag path up the mountain to the fort.

10. Relax on the elegant Adriatic Coast

Round off your family holiday in Montenegro with a few nights in a lovely coastal hotel. There are many different resorts, some very over-developed and commercialised but others much smaller and more family-friendly. We love the new luxury hotel in Herzog Nova, with a stunning private beach and gorgeous rooms. It’s a great base for some relaxation and you can take a speed boat from here to Kotor.

Interested in a Montenegro family holiday?

If you feel inspired to find out more, get in touch by phone – 01728 752751 – or use our website contact form. We’d love to help you and your family plan your next trip to Montenegro. You might also be interested in family holidays in Croatia and Slovenia, or our Active Family Holidays in Europe round-up.