Durmitor National Park is a hiker’s paradise in northern Montenegro. While so many people just focus on the coastal regions of Montenegro, it can be lovely spending a few days in the mountains as you hike across trails and take a break in nature.
There are plenty of trails to keep you busy for days, but this guide will focus on how to spend two days in Durmitor National Park without a car.
Do You Need a Car at Durmitor National Park?
Before we get into this itinerary, I think the first thing we should talk about is how to get around the park. Do you need a car at Durmitor National Park? No. Don’t get me wrong, there are some big benefits to having a car, but it’s not a requirement.
I traveled around Durmitor National Park without a car and was able to get some great views and have a very good experience. That said, I did a lot of walking and hiking during my time here and I realize that’s not everyone’s preference. I do think it’s possible to travel without a car, but you need to be prepared for a lot of walking (or to spend money on taxis).
While I was very happy with my visit, I think a car would give you more freedom and allow you to see more of Durmitor National Park. There were so many areas of the park that I couldn’t get to because I didn’t have a car.
So, while I don’t regret traveling by foot, I would rent a car if I were to ever return to this part of Montenegro.
Ultimately, I think it comes down to what you want to get out of your trip. If you’re happy with hiking and not getting to every single view and want to save some money, you can explore on foot. If you are traveling with a small group or really want to see as much of the park as you can, rent a car.
Two Days in Durmitor National Park Without a Car
This itinerary is based on my own trip to Durmitor National Park. I did not have a car for the trip, so I had to walk everywhere I went. Luckily there’s some great views within walking distance of the town of Zabljak (though they will be long walks).
If you are renting a car for your visit to Durmitor National Park, your two day itinerary will probably look different. You’ll be able to drive some of the scenic roads and reach more places than those traveling without a car.
Day 1 – The Three Lakes Hike
For your first day at Durmitor National Park, spend it hiking many of the crisscrossing trails throughout the park. There’s no shortage of trails to choose from, but I’d recommend focusing your main sights on the “Three Lakes Hike” which will take you to Nearby Barno Lake (but you won’t actually stop), Zminje Jezero, and the Black Lake.
This trail is nice and is about 15 kilometers (according to the national park) and mostly winds through forests as you make your way to the three lakes. Of the three lakes, the Black Lake was my favorite. It’s the most iconic lake in the park and was definitely the area where I saw the most people.
So, what I exactly do I recommend? Hike the trails. Your big goal is to hike to these three lakes, but beyond that, there’s so many different intersecting trails that it’s easy to add more or less to your hike depending on how you’re feeling. If you just do the the “Three Lakes Hike” as described by the national park, it should take you between three and four hours to complete.
I hiked a little bit longer. I hiked to Zminje Jezero but then jumped on the trail toward the Ice Caves. I didn’t hike all the way to the caves, but rather hiked just long enough to get out of the forest and to some great mountain views. I stopped here for lunch before retracing my steps and walking along the Black Lake before heading to town.
I didn’t hike the whole loop around the lake at this point and did it on my third day at the park, but since you’ll be hiking passed the Black Lake anyway, it’s easy to add a loop around the lake. In total, this was about 12 miles (19 kilometers).
Day 2 – Curevac Viewpoint
For your second day, I recommend trying to get a view of the Tara River Canyon. Unfortunately, it’s a bit far from the town of Zabljak, but if you’re willing to walk, it’s absolutely still possible to visit.
From the center of Zabljak, it’s a 90 minute walk to the trailhead. Yes you read that right. 90 minutes one way to get to the trail. I know that sounds like a lot (and it is since you’ll have to walk back the way you came), but aside from a bit of a hill to start the walk, it’s mostly flat and a pretty easy walk. You’ll be walking along the roads though so keep an eye out for cars.
I hiked in the morning so there weren’t many cars on the road, but you’ll still want to keep an eye out.
Once you reach the trailhead, it’s another 30 minutes of hiking until you finally reach the Curevac viewpoint. That means it’s about two hours from Zabljak to reach this view and while it is a long walk, I do think it’s worth it. The view of the Tara River Canyon is incredible. It’s a great place to stop and eat a snack and recharge before you start your walk back to town.
I mostly followed the same route took to Curevac, but I also used AllTrails. In the app I was able to follow some trails through the forest and get off main road, at least for a little bit. While it added additional time and distance to my walk, I finished my day at the Black Lake. You don’t have to though and could easily just spend any extra time relaxing in town.
My watch logged 13.5 miles (20 kilometers) which included hiked to the Curevac viewpoint and visiting the Black Lake.
More Things to Do at Durmitor National Park
There are more hikes at Durmitor National Park than just what I’ve included on this list, so if you haven’t had your fill of hiking yet, you should absolutely look into more hiking trails. As you’ll find out as you research and hike, there are crisscrossing trails all over the park to take you virtually anywhere you want to go.
Beyond hiking, there’s a few more things you should look at doing. If you have your own vehicle, I’d recommend driving through the park. I didn’t have a car, so I was limited to where I could visit on foot and there were just so many areas of the park that I couldn’t get to. There’s a big loop road that gets you to what looks like some incredible scenery so that’d be my first recommendation.
For other options, you can look into rafting on the Tara River, zip lining across the Tara River Canyon, or renting a bike (or e-Bike) to see other areas of the park.
How to Get to Durmitor National Park Without a Car
If you don’t have a car, you’ll still need to get yourself to Durmitor National Park. The easiest way to do this is by bus. There are several buses per day that depart from Podgorica, Montenegro’s capital, bound for the town of Zabljak. The bus takes about two and a half hours.
You can purchase your ticket online at busticket4.me, but note that you often need to have a printed ticket in Montenegro. Some bus stations will allow you to print the ticket there (Podgorica), but otherwise you may be stuck trying to find a printer in town (Zabljak).
When I made the journey, I got to the bus station in Podgorica and was told that for the bus to Zabljak, I didn’t need to have a printed ticket.
In Zabljak, I purchased a ticket online and had to figure out where to print it in town (the T-Com store in the center will print for just ten cents per page). However, I could have just paid the driver directly and saved the headache.
Entrance Fees for Durmitor National Park
Entrance to Durmitor National Park costs 5 euros per person. If you’ll be visiting across several days, or will be visiting other national parks within Montenegro, you can pick up an annual pass for 13.50 euros.
I purchased my annual pass at the Durmitor National Park Visitor Center. If you plan to do this as well, make sure you have your passport. I was able to get by with a photo of my passport on my phone, but it would have been so much easier if I had had my passport with me.
Final Thoughts
Two days at Durmitor National Park gives you just enough time to see many of the highlights. Even without a car, you can get to some amazing viewpoints and that’s always a huge plus.
