Montenegro & Croatia in 8 Nights: A Coastal Adventure Across the Adriatic

We landed in Dubrovnik in the early evening and made our way across the border to Perast, Montenegro, a peaceful waterfront village that feels like a postcard come to life. We checked into the elegant Heritage Grand Perast, a historic hotel right on the bay, and settled in for a slow start to the trip.

We spent the morning soaking up the sun and views from the hotel’s pool, then made our way to Kraken Wine Bar, a floating wine bar and hidden gem with excellent wines and an even better view—this quickly became one of our favorite moments of the trip.

In the afternoon, we took a boat trip to Our Lady of the Rocks and St. George, two tiny islets steeped in local legend. From there, we explored Kotor Old Town, with its winding alleys and centuries-old charm. We ended the day with dinner at Galion, perched over the water with views of Kotor Bay—a beautiful way to cap to the day.

This was my husband’s favorite adventure of the trip—and for good reason. We started with the Kotor cable car up to Lovćen National Park, followed by a ride on the alpine coaster (fast, fun, and set against incredible mountain views). At the top, we rented e-bikes and cruised through Lovćen, making our way to the incredible Njegoš Mausoleum. To quench our thirst after the 15-mile bike ride (with three miles straight uphill to reach the Mausoleum), we stopped for drinks at Monte 1350 and later lunch at Forza Kuk, which offered, hands down, the best views we saw all trip.

Back in Perast, we had a romantic dinner at Conte, seated just a few feet from the water as the sun set over the bay.

We started the morning with one last breakfast at Heritage Grand Perast, soaking in the incredible waterfront views—a peaceful sendoff before heading to Budva.

We made our way to Budva and checked into Hotel Majestic, a stylish stay near the beach and steps from Old Town. By midday, we were lounging at the Dukley Resort beach club, soaking up the luxury and ordering drinks in the sun.

In the evening, we drove to Sveti Stefan, strolled through the surrounding village, and enjoyed sunset drinks at Olive before dinner at Muse, perched above the coastline with panoramic views. I had the sea bass, and it was one of my favorite meals of the trip.

We kicked off the day with a three-hour kayaking tour along the coast, complete with snorkeling and paddling through caves—the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation. For lunch, we grabbed sandwiches from Goddo’s (a great local spot and super affordable).

In the afternoon, we explored Budva’s Old Town, climbed to the top of the Citadela, and wandered the charming streets before cocktails at Casper, a laid-back bar tucked in the heart of the old town with a killer drinks list. Dinner at Citadela offered more sweeping views and a lovely sunset to end the day.

A short drive took us to Tivat, where we checked into the stunning Regent Porto Montenegro. We spent most of the day lounging by the pool, which was huge, peaceful, and had postcard-worthy yacht views. Later, we wandered the marina’s high-end shops and restaurants before dinner at One, a sleek waterfront spot with great seafood and service.

We crossed back into Croatia and arrived in Dubrovnik in time for lunch. We grabbed lunch from Panini Bar Franco Romano—so good and well-priced that we returned the next day.

From there, we explored the Old Town, where we walked the city walls, explored Stradun, Ploče Gate, and Pile Gate, and stopped for ice cream at Aroma.

For dinner, we headed to Proto, one of the best meals of the trip. The sea bass and wine list were both standouts.

Our favorite day of the trip! We started with breakfast at Stradoon, then boarded a half-day boat tour to the Blue Cave, Green Cave, and Šunj Beach—a dreamy combination of swimming, relaxing, and exploring.

In the afternoon, we visited the Dubrovnik Wine Museum for a wine tasting on their quiet patio. The staff were knowledgeable, and we ended up buying bottles to bring home.

For our final dinner, we went to Ezza, which was one of our favorite dining experiences of the trip. The tuna tartare was perfect, and we both agreed the wagyu burger was the best we’ve ever had. We ended the night with one last scoop from Peppino’s.

We headed to the airport early the next morning, already missing the views, the wine, and the warm Adriatic air.