The Ultimate Montenegro Packing Guide – What to Pack For Every Season
Whether it’s planning a trip to the ‘Montenegrin Riviera’ or exploring the cobblestone streets of Kotor, relaxing by the beach in Ulcinj, or skiing in Zablak, one of the first questions that comes to mind is what to pack for Montenegro.
Montenegro’s prime location in southeastern Europe means the coast enjoys warm, pleasant weather and a Mediterranean climate almost the entire year. Further inland you’ll be met with all four seasons, with northern Montenegro turning into a snowy wonderland (and popular skiing resort) during the winter months.
(P.S. – Although most people associate Montenegro as a summer destination, it’s just as fantastic in the winter — especially if you plan to head up north or go skiing!)
No matter when you’re traveling to Montenegro, my blog post has you covered!
This Montenegro packing list is divided into three categories. First off, we’ll start with a brief overview of each season and what the weather is like in Montenegro.
From there, I have a list of essential things you need in any season, such as luggage, electronics, clothes, shoes, etc.
Finally, I talk about what to pack specifically for spring/summer in Montenegro and then what to pack for fall/winter.
Are you ready? Pop open your luggage and let’s start packing!
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!
PACKING FOR MONTENEGRO: Travel Tips
Actually, before you start chucking stuff into your suitcase, let’s go over a few things to consider when packing your luggage!
Which season are you going? — Fairly self-explanatory, but I usually like to check the average weather of the month that I’m going to visit a country. I have more information on the weather in Montenegro right below this section.
What do you plan to do? — Hiking through Durmitor National Park and chilling on the beach are two very different things, and, consequently, require two very different outfits. If you know you’re not going to do a specific activity (such as hiking), I wouldn’t pack those items ‘just in case.’
Are you traveling with a carry-on or a big suitcase? — This is a very important point that I expand on in the ‘BAGGAGE’ section below. But in short: Montenegro’s cobblestone streets are very rough on luggage, and the last thing you want is a big, heavy suitcase bouncing on the stones. 
Seasons in Montenegro
Although Montenegro has four seasons, its Mediterranean climate allows the country to enjoy favorable temperatures without extreme weather. Case in point: you’ll usually see hot summers and mild winters, especially along the coast. Snow is rare, except for the mountainous regions.
However, snow lovers fear not — inland Montenegro can boast temperatures as low as -20 C (-4 F) during the winter, which makes it a perfect off-the-grid destination to ski and snowboard.
Here’s a quick rundown of each season in Montenegro:
🌸 Spring: March, April, May
🏖 Summer: June, July, August
🍁 Fall: September, October, November
☃️ Winter: December, January, February
Is everything closed in Montenegro in winter? Nope! Although most people might think of Montenegro as a summer destination, it actually works all year ‘round. Winter in Kotor is fairly mild (the average daytime temperature is 10C / 50F) and the streets are free of the typical cruise ship crowds. Hotels, transportation, and tours work, albeit some busses might have as many departures.
When to visit Montenegro
There are different versions of when is the ‘best’ time to visit Montenegro depending on your interests and plans. Here’s a quick overview:
Best time to visit the beaches: June to mid-September for the warmest water
Best time to ski in the mountains: December to March (and sometimes up to April!)
Peak tourist season in Montenegro: July and August
Hottest months: July and August
Coldest months: December through February
Best months if you want to avoid crowds: May/June and September/October
Fun fact: Herceg Novi is the sunniest city in Montenegro, with an average of 200 days of sunshine per year. 🌞
Now that we’ve got our seasons sorted, let’s look at what to pack!
WHAT TO PACK FOR MONTENEGRO
THE ESSENTIALS
Good for any season!
BAGGAGE
Let’s start off with where we’re going to pack all of our stuff.
I recommend choosing a small carry-on as your luggage, especially if you plan to travel around different parts of Montenegro.
Due to thousands of years of history, the majority of Montenegro’s coastal cities have rough cobblestoned streets — which make it difficult to drag your huge suitcase as you find your hotel!
In fact, I recommend carrying your luggage (versus rolling it) when walking on uneven terrain. You might save yourself from the heartache of trying to superglue the wheel back on… as was the case with my friend’s cheap carry-on that got destroyed on Montenegro’s streets. 😅
Packing Cubes — Once you have picked out your luggage, it’s time to organize it! I like to use 3 to 4 packing cubes to organize all of my clothing and items: one bag for my tops/bottoms/dresses, another for my makeup and cream, a third for underwear, and a fourth to group together shoes.
Backpack — Montenegro was part of our mini digital nomad route, and one of the things that really helped keep everything organized was my trusty Kroser backpack.
It’s extremely multifunctional and can fit all of the ‘small’ items that you’ll need on your trip (such as a laptop, small purse, electronics, etc). It’s carry-on friendly and you can also use it as a daypack to keep your camera, tripod, snacks, and other necessities when you’re out exploring Kotor. There are even two pockets on the side so you can keep your water bottle or thermos within reach. :)
If you don’t have that many electronics (or prefer something minimalistic), you can swap this with a smaller backpack — especially if you plan to go hiking, enjoy a day at the beach, or go up to Kotor fortress.
Kroser backpack | Adidas gray backpack | 3-way Drawstring backpack
Small purse — Perfect for day-to-day life, a small purse will keep your wallet, phone, and keys safe while you explore Montenegro. Although crime is rare, I still recommend taking a purse with a zipper to thwart pickpockets, especially in crowded areas like Kotor.
Black Double Compartments Crossbody Bag | Vintage Vegan Leather Bag | Handwoven Wicker Crossbody Wallet | Women’s Jolie Leather Crossbody Purse
CLOTHING
Tops — Depending on the season, you’ll need two or three tops for your trip to Montenegro. In the summer, choose lightweight fabrics, while in the winter you can pick one heavier item and add thermal layers underneath if needed.
Bottoms — I recommend one pair of shorts and one pair of lightweight pants in the spring/summer, and thicker pants during the winter.
Bras & Underwear — If you’re planning to hike or do some sort of adventurous activity, it’s a good idea to pack a sports bra. Cotton and other light fabrics work best to wick away moisture.
Socks – One to three pairs of socks is enough. In the summer you’re most likely going to be in your sandals half the time, while in the winter a nice thick pair of socks will get you far. :)
SHOES
Besides your passport, a good pair of shoes is perhaps the most important thing you’ll need to pack for your trip!
As I noted in my 17 Montenegro travel tips if you can only bring one thing, let it be a comfortable pair of walking shoes. They will literally save your feet. 😅
SHOE TIP: No matter the season, I would recommend bringing a maximum of two pairs of shoes. First off, your luggage will be lighter (😅) and secondly, many shoes can do double duty.
Here’s a quick breakdown of which shoes to choose depending on your plans:
Exploring the city – Whether you’re planning to explore the forts of Herceg Novi or go hunting for Soviet architecture in Podgorica, a pair of comfortable shoes are a must.
If it’s summer, I recommend choosing something practical and stylish, like these Adidas superstar shoes (which go with everything!)
In the winter, you’ll want something that’s waterproof yet still comfortable — such as a nice pair of boots or ankle-length booties.
Hiking – If you’re planning to explore the great outdoors — such as Durmitor, Prokletije National Park, or the Komovi Mountains — definitely opt to pack some sturdy hiking shoes. To save even more space, you can wear them on the plane to Montenegro.
Merrell Women’s Crosslander 2 Hiking Shoe | Columbia Men’s Newton Ridge Plus
Beaches – Although Montenegro is famous for its beaches, you’d be surprised to find out that not all of them are sandy! There are lots of stone and pebble beaches (such as those in Budva), which can be downright painful to walk on if you don’t have the proper shoes.
Always wear a comfortable pair of flip flops when making your way down to the shore, and maybe even upgrade to a pair of water shoes if you plan to swim often.
Women’s Costas Sandal Flip-Flop | Steve Madden Women’s Travel Flat Sandal | Men’s Adidas Shower Slide | Birkenstock Essentials Unisex Sandal TECHNOLOGY
Taken in Herceg Novi on my GoPro 8 — cool, right?
Camera — Not surprisingly, Montenegro has no shortage of beautiful, postcard-worthy scenes.
Just imagine getting a jaw-dropping photo of the charming harbor near Perast, a panoramic shot of Kotor from the top of the fortress, an action scene from skiing in Žabljak … ok ok, I’m getting side tracked. Whether you plan to shoot photos on your phone or on a digital camera, just don’t forget to pack it! 😁
I’ve been using my trusty Sony a6600 camera in more than a dozen countries and love it. It has all of the necessary modes (such as auto, movie, panorama, scene, etc) and a flip screen (!) so that you can use it to shoot vlogs as well.
Sony Alpha A6600 | Canon EOS M50 Mark II
—
GoPro — If you plan to go on adrenaline-rushing adventures or need a good action camera, then the GoPro is it. We used our GoPro 8 in almost every city we were in Montenegro, including getting underwater photos in Ulcinj, wide-angle panoramic shots while hiking up to the Kotor fortress, low-light photos at Lipa Cave, and even cinematographic videos in a Herceg-Novi cafe.
Also, the GoPro takes really cool wide-angle photos, so that you can fit the entire scene in the photo instead of accidentally cropping something important!
TRAVEL TIP! Montenegro has a lack of ‘big brand stores’ and mega shopping centers, and it might be hard to find proper accessories for your technology. In fact, we searched the entire country to find a head mount for our GoPro and ultimately couldn’t … so we bought it in our next country (Turkey) instead.
GoPro 8Adapters — Montenegro uses the type C/E/F plug, which is also found in most European countries. If you don’t have a plug adapter, I highly recommend this set:
SPRING & SUMMER
Sunny summer in Ulcinj
Warm sunshine, lazy beach days, and long days make Montenegro a perfect summer destination.
If you’re heading this way during the warmer months, here’s exactly what you’ll need to pack for summer in Montenegro.
Hat – First and foremost, don’t forget to protect your head! :)
Montenegro’s sunlight can quickly overheat you (even in the shade), so be sure to pack a lightweight hat to shield you and your hair.
Dresses — A beautiful country like Montenegro deserves an equally stunning traveler (you!) as the center of attention. Enjoy spring or summer in a breezy, cute, and colorful dress.
For warm summer days, I recommend choosing lightweight fabrics and lighter colors, which tend to absorb less of the sun’s rays.
Off The Shoulder High Low Dress | Bohemian Strapless Dress | Summer Sundress | Women’s Shift Dress with Pockets
Light jacket — A must for chilly evenings, a light jacket will instantly take you from day to night.
Bathing suit – Montenegro has more than 100 beaches that stretch across 300 km (186 mi) of coastline, which means that there’s something for everyone.
Don’t forget to pack a swimsuit (or two!) so that you can enjoy the Montenegrin riviera to the fullest.
Cover up – although Montenegro is fairly easy going when it comes to dress code, it’s still respectful to cover up when walking back from the beach to your hotel or accommodation.
Here are some of my favorite swimsuits and cover ups:
Checkered yellow bikini | Plus size lemon swimsuit | Floral beach cover-up | Light pink cover-up
—
ETC.
Wet Bag — Planning to do day trips to beaches or lagoons? I recommend packing a foldable wet bag to store your swimsuit on the way back to your hotel.
Microfiber Towel – Great for drying off after a day at the beach, a strenuous hike, or whenever! I usually opt for a small towel because it’s packable yet still very effective.
Laundry strips — No washing machine? No problem! Pop these laundry detergent strips in your luggage and easily hand-wash your clothes, swimming suits, and more.
Flip flops / water shoes — See the ‘SHOES’ section above for summer shoes. I recommend packing two pairs: a comfortable pair of shoes to explore, and a second pair of flip flops or sandals to go to the beach.
FALL & WINTER
The temperature drops down to 10 C (50F) along the coast of Montenegro in the winter months, while up north the country turns into a winter wonderland. Don’t be caught off guard by the rain or snow with these essentials!
Hat – Who thought hats were only for the summer? Keep your head warm in the mountains (or shaded from the rain near the coast) with a chic beanie or wide brim hat.
Layers and thermal clothing — Layers will be your best friends when traveling to Montenegro in the winter. :)
If it looks like the temperatures will dip during your stay, put on a thermal layer as your base, a regular shirt on top, and a coat to top it off.
Boots / warm shoes — The Montenegrin coast often sees its highest rainfall at the beginning of winter, and therefore, it’s a good idea to choose waterproof shoes. I recommend durable boots for ladies and ankle boots for men.
Women’s Melissa Button Back-Zip Boot | Men’s Blaine Orsen Ankle Boot | Women’s Lexie Wedge Boots | ECCO Kyle Hydromax Mid Boot TRAVEL TIP: Planning to hit up the slopes? No need to pack your own gear — there are plenty of shops and hotels (such as Bianca Resort & Spa in Kolašin) that offer daily and weekly ski and snowboard rentals.
This is such a good list. Thanks!
Thank you so much! :)