Montenegro is astounding, from the deep blue waters of the Bay of Kotor to the sandy beaches of the Budva Riviera and the soaring mountains of the interior. The country’s most sumptuous resorts line the shores of the Bay of Kotor, a world unto its own, sheltered by rugged limestone slopes. These properties offer chic contemporary design, lavish accommodation and lush spas, along with private sailing tours around the bay – the best way to explore it is by boat.
But Montenegro is as much about luxury as it is about adventure. Lovers of wild landscapes can try hiking and cycling in the mountains (the country has five national parks), rafting down the Unesco-listed Tara River Canyon, and kayaking through water lilies on Lake Skadar (look out for pelicans).
You’ll dine well too, on fresh Adriatic fish and seafood along the coast, and rustic inland specialities, including pršut (similar to Italian prosciutto), Njeguši cheese (sheep’s cheese) and roast lamb, which pair perfectly with Montenegro’s full-bodied Vranac red wine.
How we review
All our reviewers are either resident destination experts or travel writers that specialise in hotels. Often they will have stayed at a hotel many times and so can see how it has changed for better or worse over the years. They know what makes a great hotel in that particular destination and will compare it contextually against local competition. When our reviewers first visit a hotel, they stay for at least one night, eat one meal in addition to breakfast and will experience all of the facilities on offer. Whichever category of room they stay in, they will see the entry-level rooms in order to assess them.
After their stay, our reviewers then give the hotel six scores out of 10, rating its location, style and character, service and facilities, rooms, food and drink, and value for money. The average of these scores then determines the overall score. Our experts then select reviews for curated lists like this – the best hotels in a particular destination for families, for instance – together with the Telegraph Hotels team.
At a glance: the best hotels in Montenegro
Best luxury hotel in Montenegro: Regent Porto Montenegro
Best budget hotel in Montenegro: Conte Hotel & Restaurant
Best hotel for fitness and wellbeing in Montenegro: SIRO Boka Place
Conte Hotel & Restaurant
Perast, Montenegro
9/10
Conte Hotel is made up of four 18th-century stone buildings on the seafront promenade in Perast, overlooking Kotor Bay. It is welcoming, blissfully restful and reasonably priced, with 37 rooms, suites and a villa, plus a stellar restaurant with a gorgeous waterside terrace.
Regent Porto Montenegro
Tivat, Montenegro
9/10
This slick waterside hotel overlooks the marina at Porto Montenegro. The property was designed to reflect the region’s centuries-old ties with Venice, and is an elegant, aristocratic and refined affair. Come here year-round for open-air gourmet dining, an indulgent spa, outdoor pools and impeccable service.
One&Only Portonovi
Bay of Kotor, Montenegro
9/10
This luxury hotel enjoys a prime spot overlooking the glistening Adriatic. It offers a Chenot Espace spa, gourmet dining, a beach with water sports, outdoor pools, tennis courts and a kids’ club. Experiences include sailing up Kotor Bay, wine tasting and sightseeing in medieval-walled Kotor town.
Mamula Island
Herceg-Novi, Montenegro
9/10
Guests arrive by speedboat at this luxurious 32-room hotel, which occupies a renovated 19th-century fortress on a tiny islet at the mouth of Kotor Bay on the glistening blue Adriatic Sea. Mamula Island is a world unto its own, centred on an internal courtyard with three pools and a bar-restaurant.
Double rooms from €500 (£435).
Palazzo Radomiri
Dobrota, Montenegro
8/10
A romantic boutique hotel in an 18th-century Baroque stone building, overlooking the Bay of Kotor. With 10 rooms and a leafy courtyard restaurant, it makes a blissful retreat for couples and honeymooners. Facilities include a stone quay for bathing, an outdoor pool, a small spa and yoga classes.
SIRO Boka Place
Bay of Kotor, Montenegro
8/10
In Kotor Bay in Montenegro, this contemporary immersive lifestyle hotel specialises in fitness. It has 96 slick rooms, extensive wellness facilities, a programme of adventures sports and a bar and restaurant dedicated to healthy eating. Despite being five star, prices here are notably accessible.
Lazure Hotel & Marina
Herceg-Novi, Montenegro
8/10
This five-star hotel in Kotor Bay occupies an 18th-century Venetian stone building overlooking the Lazure sailing marina. It is set around a gorgeous covered atrium hosting a café, and offers contemporary décor, three restaurants, a spa with an indoor pool and a beach backed by an outdoor pool.
Forza Mare
Dobrota, Montenegro
8/10
Quirky contemporary design, a fine-dining waterside restaurant and a spa make this boutique hotel one of Montenegro’s most glamorous retreats. It offers personalised service and views over the Bay of Kotor, and has just 10 rooms and is much-loved by jet-setters in search of a low-profile escape.
Hilton Podgorica Crna Gora
Podgorica, Montenegro
8/10
This property dates from 1953, when it was known as Hotel Crna Gora. It’s reasonably priced and located in Podgorica city centre, with plush rooms, a restaurant providing superb breakfasts and a lavish spa. The rooftop Sky Bar and ground-floor Gradska Kafana are popular with locals and visitors.
The Chedi Lustica Bay
Lustica Bay, Tivat, Montenegro
8/10
This five-star resort looks onto a superyacht marina on Montenegro’s Adriatic. It has 111 plush rooms, five restaurants and superb facilities including a spa, pools and a beach. The hotel can also arrange private one-day yacht charters and a host of sporting activities.
Forza Terra Boutique Hotel & Spa
Dobrota, Montenegro
8/10
This luxury boutique hotel in Dobrota, overlooking the Bay of Kotor, has 12 swanky rooms and suites, a sea-view restaurant serving gourmet eats and up-market wines, a small spa, a slick contemporary gym, an outdoor plunge-pool and a palm-shaded waterside terrace with sunbeds.
Hotel Splendid
Budva, Montenegro
8/10
This modern 341-room five-star resort hotel, in a sheltered bay with a long sandy public beach, is ideal for families. Its features include several spectacular outdoor pools with cascades and hot tubs, a vast spa with indoor pools, a kids’ club, a choice of bars and restaurants, and extensive conference facilities.
Heritage Grand Perast by Rixos
Perast, Montenegro
8/10
This stunning five-star hotel, partly set in an 18th-century castle, offers unrivalled views in a peaceful setting. Many of Montenegro’s finest attractions are nearby, but respite from the crowds is easy to find, with a picturesque pool, calming rooms and a relaxing spa.
Hotel Hemera
Podgorica, Montenegro
8/10
This 15-room boutique hotel in Podgorica city-centre occupies a renovated early 20th-century building with slick contemporary interiors. There’s a funky bar-restaurant serving creative Mediterranean cuisine and cocktails, with a sunny terrace at the front that’s popular with locals and a small wellness centre.
Hotel Budva
Budva, Montenegro
7/10
This welcoming mid-range hotel, on the seafront promenade close to Budva’s romantic medieval-walled Old Town, has 81 comfortable modern rooms with marble bathrooms, a lovely terrace restaurant and a small wellness centre with an outdoor pool.
Additional review by Deborah Cicurel