Travel to Montenegro
Summer in Montenegro

June – August

Summer in Montenegro

Warm sea, festival nights and cool mountains — June to August

Month-by-month guide to Montenegro in summer: sea and air temperatures, crowds, festivals, rafting and hiking season, and how to cope with the heat.

At a glance

Sea temperature
23 → 25 → 26 °C
Coastal highs
28 → 31 → 31 °C
Podgorica highs
30 → 34 → 33 °C
Mountain highs
19 → 22 → 22 °C
Hotel arrivals (2025)
196k · 234k · 245k
Sunset in Kotor
20:16 → 20:27 → 20:06

From June to August the Adriatic warms from about 23 °C to 26 °C, the coast fills up and the festival season runs almost every night. June is the calmer, greener month; July and August bring the heat, the crowds and the big events — and the mountains of the north, 10 °C cooler, are the escape.

Summer is Montenegro's high season. The sea averages about 23 °C in June and 26 °C in August, the coast gets barely three to seven rainy days a month, and the country's hotels count more guests than at any other time: 244,904 arrivals in August 2025 alone. Budva takes almost 40% of them.

It is also festival season. Budva's Grad teatar fills the old town with theatre for most of July and August, KotorArt runs from mid-July, Perast rows out for Fašinada on 22 July, and Kotor's Bokeška noć lights up the bay in late August.

The catch is heat and traffic. Podgorica averages 34 °C in July, the coast road jams at weekends and Kotor's old town fills when cruise ships call. Swim early, rest at midday and head north: Žabljak rarely goes above 22 °C, the Tara is at its gentlest for rafting and the high trails of Durmitor and Prokletije are free of snow.

Month by month

How the season changes from one month to the next, with average temperatures on the coast and in the mountains.

June

Long days before the peak

Kotor
27° / 21°
Sea
23°
Žabljak
19° / 9°
Rainy days
6
Long days before the peak

The longest days of the year and a sea that reaches about 23 °C, with fewer people than in July and August. The Tara is still high and lively for rafting, the Durmitor Ring road over Sedlo is open, and the Škrka hut opens in mid-June — though snow can linger on the highest trails early in the month.

Best for
beach days without the crowds, high-water rafting, the first mountain hikes
Crowds
busy (hotel guests −20% vs August)

July

Heat and festival season

Kotor
31° / 24°
Sea
25°
Žabljak
22° / 12°
Rainy days
3
Heat and festival season

The hottest and driest month: about 31 °C on the coast, 34 °C in Podgorica and only two or three rainy days. KotorArt opens around Statehood Day (13 July), Perast holds Fašinada on 22 July and Budva's Grad teatar is in full swing. The maestral wind makes Velika plaža in Ulcinj a kitesurfing hub on summer afternoons.

Best for
festivals, sea and sun, kitesurfing in Ulcinj, escaping to the mountains
Crowds
very busy (hotel guests −4% vs August)

August

Peak season by the sea

Kotor
30° / 23°
Sea
26°
Žabljak
22° / 11°
Rainy days
7
Peak season by the sea

The sea is at its warmest, around 26 °C, and every beach, ferry and coast road is at its busiest. Bokeška noć fills Kotor's bay with lit-up boats in late August, and in 2026 Sea Dance returned to Bečići beach in Budva. Book everything ahead and keep an eye on fire warnings — dry August winds spread wildfires quickly.

Best for
the warmest sea, nightlife, Bokeška noć and late-summer festivals
Crowds
peak (244,904 hotel arrivals in August 2025, the most of any month)

Signature experiences

Beaches from Herceg Novi to Ulcinj

Beaches from Herceg Novi to Ulcinj

Montenegro's coast has pebble coves on the Budva Riviera, quieter coves on Luštica and the long sandy sweep of Velika plaža in Ulcinj. In 2026, 36 beaches flew the Blue Flag, and lifeguards must be posted every 50 m in July and August.

Rafting the Tara

Rafting the Tara

The Tara runs through a canyon up to 1,333 m deep, the deepest in Europe. July and August bring lower, calmer water — around 12–18 °C — that suits families; June is higher and more exciting. A zipline crosses the canyon by the Đurđevića Tara bridge.

Hiking above the clouds

Hiking above the clouds

Summer is the only reliable season for the high peaks. Bobotov kuk (2,523 m), the highest in Durmitor, is best from June to October, and the Škrka hut is open from mid-June to the end of September. The cross-border Peaks of the Balkans trail through Prokletije is walked from June to September.

Festival nights

Festival nights

Budva's Grad teatar has staged theatre in the old town since 1987, KotorArt brings concerts to Kotor from mid-July, and Herceg Novi's film festival fills Kanli kula in late August. Bokeška noć, with its lit-up boats and fireworks, closes the season in Kotor.

By boat around the Bay of Kotor

By boat around the Bay of Kotor

Water taxis run from Perast to Our Lady of the Rocks, and boat trips go out to the Blue Cave on Luštica, reachable only from the sea. From Budva, small boats cross to Sveti Nikola island, roughly from June to September.

Summer on the katuns

Summer on the katuns

Katuns are the summer shepherd settlements of the high pastures. On Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije some families take in visitors for cheese-making, horse riding and a night in the mountains — a cool counterpoint to the coast.

Summer in Montenegro

From the sea at dawn to the peaks by afternoon

Summer in Montenegro

Three months when the Adriatic is at its warmest, the old towns turn into festival stages and the high mountains finally open up.

Where to go

Budva Riviera

Budva Riviera

Budva, central coast

The busiest stretch of the coast, from Mogren and Jaz to Bečići, Sveti Stefan and Petrovac. Grad teatar in the old town in July and August; in 2026, Sea Dance on Bečići beach at the end of August.

Bay of Kotor

Bay of Kotor

Kotor, Perast, Herceg Novi

Calm water for swimming, boat trips to Our Lady of the Rocks and the summer festivals of Kotor and Herceg Novi. Kotor's old town is busiest on cruise-ship days — go early or late.

Velika plaža and Ada Bojana

Velika plaža and Ada Bojana

Ulcinj, south coast

About 12–13 km of sand running to the Bojana river, with shallow water for children and afternoon maestral winds for kitesurfing. In 2026 it hosted EXIT to Montenegro in early July.

Durmitor and the Black Lake

Durmitor and the Black Lake

Žabljak, north

About 22 °C at midday when the coast is over 30 °C. The Black Lake, Bobotov kuk and the Durmitor Ring road over Sedlo. Park entry €5 a day; the lake's car park charges by the hour and a shuttle runs from town.

Tara River Canyon

Tara River Canyon

Đurđevića Tara and Šćepan Polje, north

Europe's deepest canyon, rafted from April to October — gentlest in July and August. The zipline by the Đurđevića Tara bridge flies 172 m above the river.

Biogradska gora National Park

Biogradska gora National Park

Kolašin, north

Shady primeval forest around a glacial lake at 1,094 m, a cool half-day from the heat. Entry €4; rowing boats on the lake; Kolašin averages 26–27 °C at midday in July and August.

Prokletije National Park

Prokletije National Park

Plav, Gusinje

The valleys of Grebaje and Ropojana below the highest peaks in the country, and the Peaks of the Balkans trail. Summer brings the katuns to life and Plav's Blueberry Days.

Where to stay

Where to stay this summer

Summer belongs to the coast — and to the mountains when the heat gets too much.

Getting there:18 transfer routes23 cars to book

Weather by month

Long-term averages for the Bay of Kotor, the southern coast and the Durmitor mountains.

Kotor

Bay of Kotor
  • JuneHigh 27°Low 21°
    Sea 23°Rainy days 6
  • JulyHigh 31°Low 24°
    Sea 25°Rainy days 3
  • AugustHigh 30°Low 23°
    Sea 26°Rainy days 7
Full climate guide for Kotor

Ulcinj

South coast
  • JuneHigh 27°Low 20°
    Sea 23°Rainy days 6
  • JulyHigh 31°Low 23°
    Sea 25°Rainy days 2
  • AugustHigh 31°Low 23°
    Sea 26°Rainy days 6
Full climate guide for Ulcinj

Averages based on 2021–2024 data (open-meteo). Sea temperatures are typical Adriatic values along the Montenegrin coast.

Festivals and events

Upcoming dates this season.

See all events
LiTeritorija

Jun 2 – 4

LiTeritorija

Plateau in front of Gimnazija 'Slobodan Škerović' & KIC Budo Tomović, Podgorica

Telekom Montenegro Business Run

Jun 3

Telekom Montenegro Business Run

Šipčanik wine cellar / Plantaže vineyard, Podgorica

International Children's Carnival

Jun 5

International Children's Carnival

Trg Belavista → park Boka, Herceg Novi

Žućenica Fest

Jun 12

Žućenica Fest

Pine waterfront, Tivat

Days of Humor and Satire "Vuko Bezarević"

Jun 15 – 19

Days of Humor and Satire "Vuko Bezarević"

Center for Culture, Pljevlja

International Klapa Festival Perast

Jun 18 – 20

International Klapa Festival Perast

Pjaca Svetog Nikole, Perast

Summer in Montenegro
Summer in Montenegro
Summer in Montenegro
Summer in Montenegro
Summer in Montenegro
Our Lady of the Rocks, the islet off Perast, was built by hand. Every 22 July at sunset the people of Perast still tie t

Did you know?

Our Lady of the Rocks, the islet off Perast, was built by hand. Every 22 July at sunset the people of Perast still tie their boats together, sail out and throw stones around it — a procession called Fašinada.

Good to know

Book ahead

July and August are the busiest months of the year: hotels counted 244,904 arrivals in August 2025, against 195,642 in June. Book rooms, rental cars and popular boat trips weeks ahead, especially for weekends and festival dates.

Beating the heat

Podgorica averages 34 °C in July and heatwaves can pass 40 °C. Swim and sightsee early, rest at midday, drink plenty and head for the mountains: Žabljak and Kolašin stay around 22–27 °C.

Wildfire safety

Lighting fires outdoors is banned in the fire season, and Bar bans open fires from 1 June to 30 September. In August 2025 wildfires closed the road between Bar and Budva. Don't barbecue outdoors or throw cigarettes, and call 112 if you see smoke.

Ferry, traffic and parking

The Kamenari–Lepetane ferry runs day and night, every 15–20 minutes in summer (€5 per car); queues build on peak weekends. The Kotor serpentine road has one-way restrictions from late May to mid-October, and the Riva car park by Kotor's old town costs €4.80 an hour in summer.

Beaches and sunbeds

Half of every public beach must stay free of sunbeds, so you can always spread a towel. Sunbed prices are set by each concessionaire; on popular Budva beaches a set cost €40–50 a day in 2025. Lifeguards are on duty every 50 m in July and August.

Registration and tourist tax

Every stay must be registered within 24 hours — hotels do it for you, but in private rooms check that your host does. The tourist tax is about €1 per person per night; children under 12 pay nothing.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

About 23 °C in June, 25 °C in July and 26 °C in August on average, with daily highs close to 28 °C in late summer. The sea stays warm into September.
The coast is at its busiest: August 2025 had the most hotel arrivals of the year, and Budva alone took 93,314. For quieter beaches go in June, stay on Luštica or in Ulcinj, or split the trip with the mountains.
The coast averages 30–31 °C at midday in July and August, Podgorica 33–34 °C. Heatwaves can pass 40 °C inland; the national record is 44.8 °C, measured in Podgorica on 24 August 2007.
The season runs from April to October. May and June bring high, fast water; July and August are lower and calmer, so better for families and first-timers. Some operators take children from 8 years old in summer.
Yes, though snow can linger on the highest trails in early June. The Durmitor Ring road over Sedlo usually opens in late May or early June, the Škrka hut opens in mid-June, and July to September are the most reliable months for Bobotov kuk.
Visit early in the morning or in the evening, and check the day's cruise calls: in the 2026 season three or more ships were in port together on 78 days between May and September.
Grad teatar in Budva (July–August), KotorArt (mid-July to mid-August), Fašinada in Perast (22 July), the Kotor Summer Carnival (early August), Bokeška noć in Kotor and the Herceg Novi Film Festival (late August). See the events calendar for this year's dates.

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