What to do in Montenegro in December 2026

According to our climate data, Kotor and Tivat in December average 14 °C by day and 8 °C at night, Budva and Bar 13 and 8 °C, and Herceg Novi and Ulcinj 13 and 7 °C. It rains 13–15 days in the month. Podgorica has 12 °C by day and 5 °C at night, and Cetinje and Nikšić 9 °C by day, with 3 and 1 °C respectively at night.

In the north it's winter: Žabljak has 2 °C by day and −4 °C at night and about 16 days with precipitation, while Kolašin has 6 and −2 °C. Snow in December is not guaranteed, nor is the start of skiing.

No, except for winter swimmers. The sea in December is around 15 °C, beaches and beach bars are closed, and there are no lifeguards. Seaside promenades, such as Pine waterfront in Tivat or the Pet Danica promenade in Herceg Novi, are pleasant on a dry day.

• Kotor–Lovćen cable car does not operate in winter.
• Njegoš Mausoleum on Lovćen is closed to visitors from 16 November to 14 April, and Lipa Cave operates from April to the end of November.
• Museums in Cetinje are open on weekdays from 9 am to 3 pm in winter.
• Ski resorts in Kolašin and Žabljak open in December only if there is snow, as they have no artificial snowmaking. In December 2025, Kolašin 1600 officially opened the season without snow.
• On the coast, city hotels, cafés and restaurants in the old towns are open, but seasonal hotels and beach bars are closed.
• Roads: from 15 November to 1 April, winter equipment is mandatory when winter conditions apply, with at least 4 mm of tyre tread. The road over Sedlo on Durmitor closes in winter due to snow.
• Flights: the winter flight schedule applies from 25 October 2026 and has fewer direct routes than in summer.

From mid-December, cities set up festive stalls with food, mulled wine and souvenirs. In Podgorica it's the Podgorica Market on Independence Square, with concerts; in Tuzi the Winter Bazaar on Skanderbeg Square; and Tivat has a festive programme from 12 December to 13 January. Kotor has the winter programme Kotor Winter Fest, and Cetinje the New Year's Story in the Royal Capital in front of King Nikola's Palace. For most markets, dates for 2026/27 have not yet been announced, so check them on the event page.

From 30 December to 2 January, cities hold open-air concerts. By 2 November, programmes had been announced by Tivat, where Ceca Ražnatović performs on Pine waterfront on New Year's Eve, Herceg Novi, with Saša Matić and Dženan Lončarević on Nikola Đurković Square, and Kotor, where Zdravko Čolić sings on the Square of Arms. Budva has announced a three-day programme on the Square of Painters, with performers yet to be announced.

Kolašin opens the ski season every winter with a three-day programme on Borci Square and at Kolašin 1600: last season it was from 12 to 14 December. If the snow is late, the north is still beautiful for walks and mountain lodges, but the slopes may not operate until January. Kolašin is reached from Podgorica by motorway or train in about an hour and twenty minutes.

In December, Podgorica has the DEUS culture season, the December Art Scene, with around twenty programmes during the month, and concerts at the Music Centre of Montenegro and the KIC Budo Tomović. In Nikšić, the 21st Guitar Fest ends on 15 December. On the coast, the Boka Marathon takes place on 12 and 13 December, from Tivat to Kotor along the sea.

Winter is the season of wintering birds on Lake Skadar, and Dalmatian pelicans begin nesting in early December; keep your distance from the nesting islands. In Njeguši it's prosciutto season: under protected-origin rules, meat for Njeguši prosciutto is only cured from 15 November to 15 February.

Catholic Christmas is on 25 December, and for Catholic believers 24, 25 and 26 December are non-working days. Orthodox Christmas is on 7 January, and the Orthodox New Year is celebrated on the night of 13 to 14 January.

All events are from our events calendar. Where the organiser has not yet confirmed the date, it says so in the description, and check the programme on the event page before setting off.

The first half of December is quiet along the entire coast, and accommodation in the cities is easy to find. From mid-month demand rises in cities with New Year's programmes and in Kolašin, so book accommodation for the nights from 30 December to 2 January as early as possible. In the south of the coast and in mountain towns some properties do not operate in winter, so check before booking whether the property is open in December.