Montenegro/Bosnia/Albania

Del007

I've a weeks holiday during Easter and I'm looking at getting a Ryanair flight to Podgorica in Montenegro.

I'll have 7 full days (Sunday to Sunday)

I've been reading that there's not much to see or do there so I'll be looking at going to Kotor as soon as possible.

Has anyone combined a holiday to Montenegro with a couple of days in another country like Albania or Croatia?

Cheers

irish_goat

I've been to Sarajevo and will possibly be back this March. There's not a lot there though, a nice old town and you can visit a section of the tunnels used during the siege during the Bosnian War. Can also see the spot where WW1 kicked off. Not a whole pile to do anyway though.

Bawnmore

We took a detour over to Mostar in Bosnia during a 10 day road trip in Croatia. We stayed for a few days, but well worth a day trip.

cdeb

Took a day trip from Montenegro to Shkoder in Albania last year. Was staying in Ulcinj though, in the south of Montenegro. Albania was interesting - noticeably poorer than Montenegro, yet quite lively nonetheless. But if you've only a week, then from Kotor (which is lovely), I think Albania is a bit far away. The roads aren't great - no motorways to speak of, so you'd need to factor in an average of 40mph I'd say. It makes longer trips that bit harder when you're short on time. Dubrovnik is 90 minutes from Kotor and would be a better option

There's enough in Montenegro for a week though if hiking/national parks/mountains are of interest. Lake Shkoder is lovely too

Del007

Thanks for your replies.

I'm now thinking of doing 3 nights in Kotor and 3 in Mostar. You can get a transfer between the 2 cities in just over 3 hours which isn't too bad

I wouldn't stay 3 nights in Mostar, it's very small & an afternoon trip would do it really.

Kotor is beautiful, you can visit budva & other places further south in Albania, or you could travel up to Dubrovnik, but honestly mostar would not be a good base for a few days. & it's a full days journey from kotor.
Better off near the coast, or even Sarajevo for a night or two, if you really want to travel to mostar.

If your flying in & out of Podgorica, maybe you could go to ochrid in Macedonia? Not sure what public transport is like though, I was driving everywhere when I was there.
Honestly, I would stay along the coast, north or south of Kotor.

Del007

Del007 wrote: »

Thanks for your replies.

I'm now thinking of doing 3 nights in Kotor and 3 in Mostar. You can get a transfer between the 2 cities in just over 3 hours which isn't too bad

I think it would take longer, honestly.
You're on public transport & you have a few country borders to cross. Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia, it can take a lot longer than 3 hours!
I have driven in a private car & it took a lot longer

johnire

To be honest I think you are being way too ambitious in trying to cover too much in that time period.
Your flight gets in very late on the Sunday night so I’d imagine Monday would be spent having a wander around Podgorica.
On the Tuesday then you could get a bus to Kotor. You’ll arrive there by early afternoon so then you’ll have all day Wednesday Thursday Friday and Saturday. Remember you’ll need to get back to Podgorica for late afternoon on the Sunday.
Kotor is absolutely stunning and isn’t worth being rushed. You can easily go on bus trips to Herceg Novi,Porto Montenegro,the monastery in Ostrog and take a boat trip to Perast.
You can go to Dubrovnik but it’s about 2-3 hours each way through the mountains and isn’t worth it as there’s so much to see and do there it’s warrants it’s own dedicated trip.
You’re going at a nice time of the year-it shouldn’t be too busy or very hot.

Del007

I was thinking of just spending the night in Podgorica and leaving early the next morning for Kotor.

It sounds like a better bet is to stay in Kotor the entire time and do day trips from there

Del007

Del007 wrote: »

I was thinking of just spending the night in Podgorica and leaving early the next morning for Kotor.

It sounds like a better bet is to stay in Kotor the entire time and do day trips from there

I think this is the right thing to do!
By the time you travel from Podgorica to kotor you might be happy enough to stay off the roads!
You will have a super time there, it's one of my favourite places

johnire

Definitely! That’s what we did and had a ball. Kotor is stunning.

Del007 wrote: »

I was thinking of just spending the night in Podgorica and leaving early the next morning for Kotor.

It sounds like a better bet is to stay in Kotor the entire time and do day trips from there

Living Off The Splash

bubblypop wrote: »

I think this is the right thing to do!
By the time you travel from Podgorica to kotor you might be happy enough to stay off the roads!
You will have a super time there, it's one of my favourite places

Are the roads bad? Other half not great with the travel sickness.

Living Off The Splash

Living Off The Splash wrote: »

Are the roads bad? Other half not great with the travel sickness.

Ah not all of them, & the views are great. It's more the other drivers! Bit mad drivers..... But I lived in the Balkans for 18 months & managed to stay out of their way!

Ferris_Bueller

I'd highly recommend Mostar, we went there for one night from Dubrovnik and would have liked to stay for at least another night. Not a whole lot to do but the city is beautiful and the bazaar is fun to look around. I remember there were a couple of day trips that looked interesting from there if you found the city was too quiet for you.

Muahahaha

Has anyone gone hiking around Kotor? Are there any multi day hikes or all day trips?

germanTourist

I would very recommend albania. It is a place where you could do anything. I was there last summer and I will be back there again in april.

The people are very very nice and helpfull. I was in shkodra and then in theth. I hiked from theth to valbona (around 8 hours walk). I must say it was very very nice. The nature is still like it was centuries ago in those mauntains.
Last summe I was doing hiking and traveing the albanian mountains. This summer I will be heading south to visit ancient sites and the south albanian beaches.

When in Kotor vicinity an atmospheric restaurant to drop by is Stari Mlini, which translates as “old mill”, a converted water mill down by the shore of the fjord. Gets mixed reviews, but the setting is idyllic.

Del007

germanTourist wrote: »

I would very recommend albania. It is a place where you could do anything. I was there last summer and I will be back there again in april.

The people are very very nice and helpfull. I was in shkodra and then in theth. I hiked from theth to valbona (around 8 hours walk). I must say it was very very nice. The nature is still like it was centuries ago in those mauntains.
Last summe I was doing hiking and traveing the albanian mountains. This summer I will be heading south to visit ancient sites and the south albanian beaches.

Albania does sound amazing. I'm not sure if I have the time thought.

I fly in and out of Podgorica, I arrive Sunday morning and leave the following Sunday night