Montenegro Girl x
My top 10 things to do with children in Montenegro
I have been travelling to Montenegro regularly with my daughter since she was 6 months old. Now she is 10 and my 13-year-old nephew is joining us for the first time on our next trip. So, I thought this would be a good time to draw up a list of my top 10 things to do with children in Montenegro. I believe holidays are for the whole family – I’m not really one for the “as long as the kids are happy, I’m happy” kind of approach – so you’ll find my top tips are good for you big kids too!
1. Children will love the pools at Ploče beach club
Relax, swim and generally unwide at Ploče beach club. It’s a quiet spot about 15 mins drive from the main Tivat to Budva road (near Radanovici). Take the turning off the main road towards Jaz beach, but stay on the road that takes you up the hill and around the coast. Ploče is clearly signed.
Meaning slabs, Ploče is made up of a series of paved terraces and small pebble beaches, with platforms to dive from and 3 swimming pools (1 main and 2 for kids).
It has a lovely restaurant where you can feast like a king very reasonably whilst taking in the breath-taking scenery down the Montenegrin coast. Entry is free but you can’t take your own picnic. Sunbeds and umbrellas can be hired (2 beds and an umbrella cost 10 euros for the day).
Just beware that it gets packed in the height of the summer. An older teenager might be thrilled with this, but go slightly off-season if you prefer something less busy.
2. Tuck into an enormous piece of cheesecake by Kotor Main Gate
With comfy chairs and tables spreading across its large terrace, Dojmi cafe by Kotor Main Gate is a great place to wile away the time watching the world (and boats) go by during the day and early evening.
Kids (big and small) will love the generously sized pieces of cheesecake. And parents can enjoy a coffee or beer in the sun watching the gaggle of children play around on the safe and spacious paved area.
It’s popular with locals and tourists alike. There are also 2 modern, roomy indoor seating areas should you get caught in any off-season showers.
Oh, and their other cakes are pretty good too.
3. Get a seaside buzz in Budva
If you are need of some buzz and activity go to Budva. It’s a sizeable seaside town with a pretty old town and marina. There’s a bit of everything here so it’s a good choice for both younger and older children.
Get some beach time at one of the 3 beaches. Greco beach (close to the marina) has shallower water and a few little slides and swings for toddlers on the sandy beach and a few children’s fairground rides. Older ones can have a go at parasailing, jet skis or even tandem paragliding.
Market type stalls line the path towards the old town, great for some souvenir shopping or getting the latest designer sunglasses. Try any number of take-out food options such as, a slice of pizza, pancakes and of course, ice cream … the giros (pitta kebabs) are surprisingly tasty.
You can wander through the labyrinth of narrow streets in the Old Town and finish up at the restaurant by the pebble Old Town beach where you can get a cocktail at one of the tables on the beach itself while your toddler tries out its tiny swing.
4. Chill on a boat trip on Skadar Lake
Go a little inland on the road to Pordgorica and you will come to the impressive and unspoilt Skadar Lake.
We picked up a little boat trip around the lake from Restoran Jezero (right by the road that crosses the lake). A local man took us out in his little motorboat so we had the boat to ourselves.
Trying different modes of transport are often a good choice for kids and this is a relaxing way to enjoy the beautiful isolation of Skadar Lake with some bird-spotting thrown in too. There’s a visitor centre attached to the hotel too for the keen ones.
Recommended particularly if you visit Montenegro in the peak of summer and fancy an activity away from the beach that children can cope with in the heat.
5. Jump into the clear water at Bijelila
Bijelila is a sleepy village in the most idyllic setting tucked away off the main road just after Bogišići on the Lustica peninsula. The sea is crystal clear and children gather to jump into the sea from the paved car parking area.
Bijelila is little more than a cluster of stone houses nestled by the sea but in the summer season (around late May onwards) Villa Kristina serves food and drink on its terrace. Their friendly little dog will also be a hit with animal loving kids.
Take the flipppers and lilo for the kids while you bask in the most astounding setting. It’s a little slice of heaven.
6. Take a James Bond speed boat ride to a submarine cave
Enjoy the thrill of a speed boat ride around Kotor Bay. You can do a shorter trip around the bay, but kids will particularly love the longer 3 hour trip.
The stops include the magical Blue Cave (with an optional dip in the crystal clear water) and an old ruined fort set on its own tiny island (Mamula Island), that was used as a concentration camp during World War 11.
But the piece de resistance is a visit to a hidden submarine tunnel, carved out into the hillside to hide submarines in World War II. It’s even been used in a Bond film.
You can book speed boat trips with a number of different people along the water’s edge right opposite Kotor Main Gate or alternatively walk past the port building and go through the playpark. We used Golden Wave with the fun and very informative, Alex. Highly recommended. Trips range from about 30 euros per adult with reductions for children. Shop around for the best price though. You may even be able to strike a deal off-season if they are quiet. You can also pick up tours in Tivat.
7. Relax in the shallow waters at Plavi Horizonti beach
Plavi Horizonti (meaning Blue Horizon) beach is on the Lustica peninsula, at the end of the road after Radovici. It is a curve of golden sand with clear shallow waters that are great for smaller children, in particular.
This is the beach for toddlers tottering around on the sand and all those bucket and spade activities. You can grab all manner of beach toys from the roadside shack in Radovici on the way.
You can rent 2 sunbeds and an umbrella for the day in the main summer season (around late May/early June onwards) for about 8 euros and there’s a pizza bar and café with a large terrace which serves decent food all through the day in the shade of the large trees.
The area is in transition as the old socialist hotel got demolished some years ago and now the area behind the beach is fenced off ready for construction (but nothing has happened so far). It isn’t affecting the beach itself though.
It is still popular with locals and has a special kind of relaxed family vibe that is reminiscent of East Europe in a bygone era. Charming.
8. Eat out like the Montenegrins and share your food
9. Watch the cruise ships set off from Kotor
The massive cruise ships that dock almost daily at Kotor are a spectacular sight in themselves as they tower over the pier. But try watching them set off!
Get an ice cream or a slice of take-out pizza and park yourselves on a bench to watch the fascinating process of how these enormous floating cities set off from tiny Kotor port. Anchors hauled, ropes being unsecured, stewards and port managers signalling. Great entertainment and it will cost you nothing. If you are really keen, you can even check out the Kotor cruise ships schedule beforehand for exact times.
10. Hang out in Kotor Old Town on a summer evening
The Montenegrin culture has an inclusive attitude to children – which I love. Both adults and children alike can enjoy the warm evenings well into the night – with no traffic in Kotor Old Town children can play and run around safely while their parents have a chat with a glass of wine.
Relax and take in the lovely atmosphere and relish in the thought that no one is going to scowl at your child for being up late! And if you’re up for a full-on carnival feel there are lots of summer festivals in Kotor too, including one specially for children in July.
Montenegro Girl x
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