Day Trips from Kotor: the Six Best Excursions

1. Lake Skadar — the standout nature day

Fifty minutes inland, the landscape changes completely: a river canyon, reed channels, water-lily fields and pelicans instead of cruise ships. Tours from Rijeka Crnojevića follow about 15 kilometres of the Crnojevića River before reaching the open lake, and every boat is private — your group only. In summer there is a swim stop in clean freshwater.

2. Lovćen and the Njegoš mausoleum

The mountain directly above Kotor, reached by the serpentine road. From the mausoleum at Jezerski Vrh you look over half the country, from the bay to the lake. Easy to combine with Cetinje.

3. Cetinje, the old royal capital

A small town of museums, palaces and embassies from Montenegro's independent kingdom. It sits on the road to Lake Skadar, so it slots into the same day.

4. Ostrog Monastery

Built into a cliff face high above the Zeta valley, roughly two hours from Kotor. Extraordinary, busy, and a long day — best if you are interested in the pilgrimage aspect.

5. Budva Old Town, 6. Perast and the bay

Budva is 25 minutes down the coast with a walled old town and the beaches beyond it. Perast, on the bay itself, is a 30-minute drive with boats out to Our Lady of the Rocks. Both are short, easy half-days.

• •Nature and wildlife: Lake Skadar.
• •Views and history: Lovćen plus Cetinje.
• •Bay and islets: Perast.
• •Beaches and old town: Budva.