A handful of rooms in a stone palace, a captain's house or an old villa – for travellers who care more about the place than the pool.
A boutique hotel in Montenegro is usually a small house with ten to twenty rooms, often in a restored stone building in an old town or on the waterfront of the Bay of Kotor. Most are in Kotor and Perast, and Herceg Novi, Cetinje and Podgorica also have a good choice. Don't expect big rooms and a pool – expect the location, old architecture and a host who knows the area.
In Montenegro the name usually means a small hotel run by its owner or a family, in a building that is a reason to stay in itself: palaces in the old towns, captains' houses by the sea, old villas with a garden. No two rooms are the same, the walls are thick, and breakfast is served in a small room or on the terrace. In return you get a central location and a personal welcome.
Inside the walls of Kotor, an old town protected by UNESCO, rooms are in stone palaces that mostly date from the Venetian period, the 17th and 18th centuries. Squares, churches and the climb to the fortress are all on foot, but on summer nights the town is lively and loud. Perast, about twenty minutes' drive away, is calmer: a row of Baroque palaces of seafaring families right on the waterfront, looking out to the islands of Our Lady of the Rocks and St George. In the evening, once the day-trippers leave, it is almost silent.
Herceg Novi has a small old town of stairways, fortresses and gardens above the sea – good for a longer, slower stay. Cetinje, the old royal capital, has small hotels and guesthouses in quiet streets around the museums and former embassies, close to Lovćen, and prices are usually lower than on the coast. In Podgorica they are more urban design hotels, a handy base for Lake Skadar and the road north.
In the old towns you can't drive to the door: Kotor Old Town is a pedestrian zone, and many houses in Perast and Herceg Novi are reached by steps. Ask where the nearest car park is and whether someone can help with luggage. Stone buildings stay cool in summer, but check that the room has air conditioning and whether it faces the square or the quiet side.
HotelPodgorica
Price on request
Ask the host
HotelCetinje
from €50 / night
See dates
HotelBudva
Price on request
Ask the hostOffers come live from the Travel to Montenegro booking platform. Requests are confirmed by the host; nothing is charged online.
Small hotels in stone palaces, old-town houses and historic capitals.
Rooms in palaces inside the walls, steps from the squares and the climb to the fortress; lively on summer nights.
Airport transfer from €100
Baroque palaces of seafaring families on the waterfront, facing Our Lady of the Rocks; quiet in the evening.
Airport transfer from €100
A small old town of stairways, fortresses and gardens at the entrance to the bay.
Airport transfer from €140
1 stay to bookThe old royal capital – museums, former embassies and quiet streets, close to Lovćen.
Airport transfer from €40
1 stay to bookUrban design hotels – a handy base for Lake Skadar and the road north.
Airport transfer from €90Choose a town and your dates – you will see what local hosts have free, with prices.
Ten to twenty rooms, the owner on site, local breakfast and design that keeps the old walls. Rooms are smaller than in big hotels, the welcome is warmer.
Spring and autumn are best for the old towns: warm, fewer crowds and more free rooms. In summer book early; Cetinje and Podgorica are good all year.
Kotor Old Town is a pedestrian zone; parking is by the port and outside the walls. Ask the hotel where to leave the car and how far you'll walk.
Many houses in Perast and Herceg Novi are reached by steps. If you have a heavy case, ask whether someone can help on arrival.
Rooms above the squares and cafés of Kotor hear music until late. If you are a light sleeper, ask for a room on the quiet side.
Rooms in old buildings are smaller and all different – look at photos of the exact room you are booking.
Book the car or the airport transfer together with your stay – fixed prices, local companies.
Cars from local agencies – pick up in town or at the airport.
Private transfer with a fixed price per vehicle, driver waits at arrivals.
Guests looking for character and a personal welcome find this guide first. Show them your place on our booking platform.
List your propertyUsually a small hotel run by its owner or a family, in a historic or design-led building – fewer rooms, a personal welcome and a local breakfast.
The town and its walls are older, but most of the palaces that now hold hotel rooms date from the Venetian period, the 17th and 18th centuries.
Rarely inside the walls. Kotor Old Town is car-free; hotels will point you to a nearby public car park. Ask your host when booking.
Kotor if you want everything on foot and don't mind crowds; Perast if quiet and the view of the bay matter more, with a short drive into Kotor.
Yes – in Cetinje and Podgorica, and a few small hotels and guesthouses in the north. Prices there are usually lower than on the coast.
Yes – boutique hotels on our booking platform take requests directly; the host confirms and you pay at the hotel.
Katuns, cabins and farm stays
From Sveti Stefan to the marinas of Boka
Your own kitchen, a terrace and a host nearby
Pool, beach and everything in one place
Where to sleep on a budget
Camps in the mountains, by the river, and by the sea
