Cetinje Travel Guide: How to Explore Montenegro’s Colorful Royal Capital
With less than 15,000 inhabitants, only being mentioned in a few sentences in most travel guidebooks, and an unassuming blip on the map, Cetinje seems like any other typical Montenegrin city.
However, Cetinje actually had a huge influence in shaping Montenegro into what it is today — in more ways than one!
Cetinje was the first capital of Montenegro (until Podgorica took that title after World War II) and is still fondly called ‘The Old Royal Capital’ by locals to this day.
A trip to Cetinje means you’ll experience authentic Montenegrin culture away from mass-marketed cities like Kotor or Budva, have a chance to delve into the country’s interesting history, and relax as the locals do.
Cetinje, as I like to say, is a small town with big history. Are you ready to travel to Cetinje?
Let’s check it out!
PSA: Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you book something through them. This is at no cost to you and helps keep this site running. Thank you!
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CETINJE CITY GUIDE
Perfect for …
Brushing up on your Montenegrin history 🇲🇪 Colorful houses 🏩 Montenegro off the beaten path 🗺 Natural wonders ⛰
Besides holding the title of The Old Royal Capital, Cetinje is often referred to as the capital of culture thanks to its numerous museums (there are six spread across the city!), colorful buildings, and close proximity to other traditional Montenegrin sites (such as Lovcen National Park and the historical village of Njeguši).
Cetinje makes for a wonderful day trip from Kotor or Budva (it’s less than an hour from either city) or as a stand-alone destination. After you visit, I’m sure you’ll agree when I say that Cetinje is one of Montenegro’s most underrated cities. :)
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How many days do I need in Cetinje?
If you’re planning a trip to Cetinje on your way to other cities (i.e. Podgorica to Kotor), you can do Cetinje in one day. However, I recommend staying at least two so you can comfortably visit its natural wonders (like Lovcen National Park and Lipa Cave) as well as take time to learn more about Montenegro’s history in the many museums scattered around the city.
HOW TO GET TO CETINJE
Bus: Thanks to its central location, you can catch a bus to Cetinje from virtually any major city in Montenegro, such as Kotor, Ulcinj, Herceg-Novi, Podgorica, and so on. Tickets cost around 3 to 5 EUR and you can buy tickets to Cetinje here.
Car: Two major roads, P1 and M2.3, pass through Cetinje. Cetinje is located in the middle of the route if you’re driving from Kotor to Podgorica, and it’s also right in the center of a trip from Podgorica to Budva. You can drive to Cetinje from either of these three cities in less than 1.5 hours.
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TRANSPORTATION & GETTING AROUND CETINJE
Thanks to its compact size and lack of hills, getting around Cetinje is very easy. You can walk around the entire city in about an hour or two (without stopping at a museum or for food).
If you prefer to use a taxi, there are plenty of drivers waiting around the main square. This is where we found our fabulous taxi driver who took us to the Lipa Cave and back (but more info on that later!)
THINGS TO DO IN CETINJE
Learn About Montenegro’s History In A Museum
Cetinje is colloquially called the City of Museums because, well, there are 6 museums in a city with around 15,000 inhabitants. So naturally we’re going to start off with that! 
If you only have time for one museum, I highly recommend it to be the National Museum of Montenegro (also sometimes referred as Vladin Dom). Judging from the outside, it appears small… but once you walk through the entire exhibit, you’ll be a bonafide expert in Montenegrin history (and I’m only half-joking!)
The museum has 5 sections and takes you on a journey through Montenegro’s history, starting from ancient times all the way to World War II, its role in Yugoslavia, independence, and the present day. Budget at least one or two hours to get through the museum because there’s a lot of exhibits and information to take in (which is conveniently written in English). :)
If you’re a fan of history, I recommend buying a combination ticket so that you can visit all the museums and save a few Euros. Here are the other museums in Cetinje to visit:
🎫 King Nikola’s Palace– This colorful red building is hard to miss in the main square. Originally built to house the Montenegrin Royal family, it now contains perfectly preserved historical furniture and gifts that King Nikola received from other leaders during his reign.
🎫 Ethnographic Museum – Right across from King Nikola’s Palace is this lovely little museum that features Montenegrin-style clothing, traditional costumes, jewelry, and more.
🎫 The Biljarda – Named after the first billiard table in the country, this fortress-looking building was originally Prince Njegoš’ residence. Nowadays it contains Njegoš’ personal belongings, an impressive 3D map of Montenegro, and, of course, the famous billiard table. :)
🎫 Museum of Money – Although Montenegro doesn’t use the dinar anymore, you can see the fascinating and colorful bills that were circulated in this museum.
Travel tip: You can buy a combination ticket from any of the museums.
Stroll along Ulica Njegoševa
Also known as the ‘main street’ of Cetinje, Ulica Njegoševa is lined with colorful houses, children playing in the square, and locals chatting with each other at outdoor cafes. A trip to Cetinje wouldn’t be complete without walking the entire length of this street at least once (and stopping to enjoy some kava or čaj)!
Pssst… Want to know even more about Cetinje? I recommend booking a Cetinje city tour like this one.
Go Embassy Hopping
This might sound weird, but stay with me — we’re not going to collect any stamps or passports! 
Since Cetinje was Montenegro’s former royal capital, there were, naturally, plenty of diplomats from foreign countries that set up their embassies and consulates in Cetinje and many have survived to this day! Although they’re not currently in service (virtually all of the embassies were moved to the current capital, Podgorica), it’s still fun to walk around Cetinje and see the beautiful buildings for yourself.
📍 French Embassy — It’s hard to miss the former French Embassy in Cetinje, with its multi-colored tiles proudly showing off on Njegoševa street. Fun fact: this building was originally supposed to be the architectural plan for the French Embassy in Egypt, but along the way it was mixed up and Montenegro got it instead. Still a pretty cool coincidence, huh? 
Nowadays it houses special collections from the country’s national library. You can check out the French embassy in the photo above.
📍 Serbian Embassy — The former Serbian embassy is now the Ethnographic Museum of Montenegro.
📍 Russian Embassy — My personal favorite and most likely winner of ‘Best Embassy Design,’ the Russian embassy in Cetinje features beautiful reliefs like those found in its native Saint Petersburg and now houses the faculty of fine arts.
📍 Austro-Hungarian Embassy — A charming white and brown building that even comes with a chapel. :)
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DAY TRIPS FROM CETINJE
Explore Lipa Cave
Although Montenegro is mostly famed for its mountains, there’s another form of nature — Lipa Cave — hidden right below those mountain formations!
Located a short drive from Cetinje, Lipa Cave is one of the largest caves in Montenegro (there’s over 2.5 km of tunnels) and the only one that welcomes travelers to go inside.
Traveling to Lipa Cave by yourself is fairly easy, even if you don’t have a car. All you need to do is find a taxi near the main square (there are plenty just chilling around) and ask them to take you to the Lipska pećina. We paid 10 EUR for the driver to take us there and back, with waiting time included in the price.
Lipa Cave can only be accessed by a tour, which you can book once you arrive at the parking lot/ticket office. Be sure to get there at least 15 minutes before the tour to secure your spot. :)
If you’re lucky, Lipa Cave does discounts on some weekends, which is how we bought tickets for 5 EUR/person (normally they’re 11EUR/adult).
Tours run every hour from 10 AM to 4 PM, although I would recommend checking their website beforehand to account for any seasonality changes. There are also Adventure Tours available for adrenaline junkies, where you can rappel down the cave on a rope, explore off the beaten track nooks and crannies, and learn more about the cave with your personal guide.
Lovcen National Park
Continuing the theme of nature, we get to Lovcen National Park, which was the place that inspired the name of the country.
Yes, that’s right: Montenegro’s name in the local language is Crna Gora, which means ‘black mountain’ and was coined by Stefan Milutin in 1276 after he saw Mount Lovćen covered in dense trees that gave it the appearance of, well, a black mountain!
I highly recommend taking one day in your itinerary to visit Lovcen National Park, which offers cultural and nature activities. It houses the mausoleum of Montenegrin ruler Petar II Petrovic Njegos at the top of Lovcen and offers a stunning view of the mountain ranges below.
Other activities include hiking, zip-lining, and cycling, since Lovcen’s cool temperatures offer respite from the sweltering temperatures of the cities below (especially in the summer months!)
The easiest way to get from Cetinje to Lovcen National Park is to turn onto Lovcenska Road (located in the center, where the National Library of Montenegro is), which is a straight route that will directly take you to the park.
No car? No problem – although most people travel to Lovcen National Park by car, there are plenty of tours that include a stop at Lovcen in their itinerary. Here are just a few to check out:
If you’re planning a trip to Lovcen, round off your adventure with a stop at Njeguši, a small village located on the other side of Lovcen National Park. The village is famous for being the birthplace of the House of Petrović-Njegoš, the family who ruled Montenegro for more than 300 years, as well as traditional local delicacies such as Njeguški sir (cheese) and Njeguški pršut (prosciutto).
WHERE TO STAY IN CETINJE
ACCOMMODATIONS IN CETINJE
Since Cetinje is still very off the beaten path, you’ll find more family-run apartments than hotels. Thankfully, there are plenty of highly-rated accommodations!
Gradska Cetinje — Set in the former Bulgarian embassy, Gradska Cetinje is the epitome of luxury and sophistication. The hotel has a very modern and stylish feel, which is surprising considering that Cetinje isn’t really a “tourist” city like its bigger siblings (such as Kotor or Budva). Nonetheless, this five-star hotel has nine apartments, a historical restaurant/cafe and even a garden.
However, don’t take my word for it — Gradska has many positive reviews like this one: “Wow, just wow. This true five-star hotel has captured our hearts. We initially booked for only four nights but extended to eleven nights.”
Book here: Agoda || Booking.com || Hotels.com
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Apartments Kapisoda — We stayed here during our trip to Cetinje and would highly recommend it. The apartment had everything we needed, including a spacious studio, fully-stocked kitchen, and even a washing machine! It was a short walk to the center of the city and offers complimentary parking for those traveling by car.
Book here: Agoda || Booking.com
Apple House — “Wauw. My stay in the wooden house was just like a fairytale” pretty much sums up this charming cabin.
Set in the middle of an apple orchard, Apple House is a beautiful wooden cabin that will make you feel like you’re in nature (but you’re actually a short walk away from the center of Cetinje!)
Book here: Agoda || Booking.com
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Hotel Dapčević — Although Hotel Dapčević recently opened in late 2020, it has already been garnering positive feedback. The hotel is family-run, with a mother and her kids welcoming guests and making sure everything about their stay is perfect. Hotel Dapčević is located in the center of Cetinje and offers light and spacious rooms.
Book here: Agoda || Booking.com || Hotels.com
WHERE TO EAT IN CETINJE
Metro Food — I’m going to be very biased, but Metro Food is arguably one of the best restaurants in Cetinje. We ate here 4 times in 3 days!
The cafe/bistro is very budget-friendly, as we usually spent between 10 to 12 EUR for two people (and this includes an appetizer, main, and a drink). The service was extremely friendly and it doubles as a nice spot to get some work done if you’re a digital nomad.
Caffe bar “Pećina” — Located right next to Metro Food is Pećina, a traditional tavern that serves Montenegrin food. During the summer months, you can enjoy people watching at the outdoor terrace while enjoying some local Njeguški sir and Njeguški pršut.
Gradska Kafana — Not to be confused with the other Gradska Kafana in Herceg Novi (which is also definitely worth a visit), this cafe/restaurant is located in the Gradska Cetinje hotel mentioned above. The restaurant features a full menu of Montenegrin, seafood, and meat dishes, along with a wine menu and delicious desserts.
Restaurant Kole — Hearty portions, delicious food, and the perfect place to relax after a long day of museum hopping or hiking Lovcen. :)
USEFUL REFERENCES FOR TRAVELING TO MONTENEGRO
Looking for more information before your trip to Montenegro? I recommend the following websites that I personally used:
🛂 Need a visa to Montenegro? Check out iVisa for more information.
✈️ Once you have your visa all set, it’s time to book airline tickets! I use both CheapOAir and SkyScanner to book flights.
🛏 Book accommodations on Booking or Hotels. These two offer fantastic options for every traveler, from hostels to hotels, apartments to penthouses, local guesthouses, and everything in between!
✨ Speaking of amazing accommodations… I have an entire blog post dedicated to the best guesthouses, apartments, and Airbnbs in Montenegro!
📷 Find tours, day trips, or sightseeing activities at Get Your Guide or Viator.
❗️One of the most popular day trips is the All Montenegro Tour. This 12-hour tour gives you a taste of Montenegro as you enjoy breakfast at a local village, tour the Old Royal Capital, visit the birthplace of the Petrović dynasty, enjoy a boat ride through River Crnojevica, and finish the day with a panoramic view of the famous Sveti Stefan.
🚗 Prefer to carve out your own itinerary? Rent a car through RentalCars.com, which has the biggest selection of car rentals and the company that I use whenever I rent a car.
🧳 Not sure what to pack? I have an entire blog post that details what to pack for a trip to Montenegro for all four seasons!
🇲🇪 Looking for even more information before traveling to Montenegro? Check out my Ultimate Montenegro Travel Guide for everything you need to know before your trip OR 17 Montenegro Travel Tips for some bite-sized tips…
🇲🇪 … Or check out all of my blog posts on Montenegro here! Happy travels :)
Wow, I want to explore Lipa Cave!! It looks interesting!
It’s pretty cool, I’m sure you’d love it! 😁