I’ve spent a lot of time in Montenegro (visited in different seasons, stayed through fall and winter) and out of all those months, October stands out. It’s that rare time when you can still swim in the sea, see mountains on fire with autumn colors, and walk through quiet old towns that don’t feel like a theme park anymore.
If you are thinking of coming to Montenegro in October, my post will come in handy. It tells exactly what to expect — from weather and swimming conditions to places worth visiting. I also mention what actually still works when the season is winding down.
Planning a trip during another autumn month? Then here is a post about Montenegro in the fall with more tips and places to visit!
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Top Things to Do in Montenegro in October
Here’s what not to miss this month (because October is simply ideal for all the activities I mention below), whether you want to relax by the sea, explore the mountains, or try local wine and food:
🚗 Rent a car and go on a road trip. October is that month when traffic is minimal, foliage in the mountains is beautiful, and rental prices are 2–3x lower than in summer. I usually book with Localrent, but you can also compare with DiscoverCars to see all deals.
🏞 Head to the Durmitor or Kolasin areas during the second or third week to stay overnight and catch peak autumn colors. This is the best time for mountain drives, easy hikes, and cozy stays in cabins. Check places like Eco Village Nevidio near Durmitor in a scenic location or Green Heaven Cabin. They are often fully booked in summer but peaceful now.
🏡 Stay by the sea in hotels or guesthouses that are overpriced or overcrowded in high season. In October, everything slows down. For a luxurious stay at a decent price, look at Lazure Hotel & Marina in Herceg Novi, Porto Palace in Tivat, or Splendid Conference Resort in Budva (as well as other 5-star hotels), all reduce prices for stays starting from October.
🌆 Spend a day in Podgorica – yes, really. October is ideal for exploring the capital, since the heat finally backs off. In summer, it’s unbearable but now it’s the perfect city for walking, coffee culture, and green parks. You can read more in my one day in Podgorica itinerary to know how to spend time there.
🚤 Take a boat trip around the Bay of Kotor, all the way to the famous Blue Cave. October is perfect for this since the sea is still calm and you avoid the high-season crowds. This tour is great (or similar alternatives) since it includes a trip around the whole bay, Lady of the Rocks visit and swimming time in a Blue Cave. I also like Mamula lsland & Submarine tunnels tour since it is very interesting in terms of history and abandoned places.
🥾 Do an easy hike in the mountains – fall is the best time for it, however, mainly in the mountains closer to the coast due to the weather. I recommend you check out some of the short scenic trails I’ve shared in my best Montenegro hiking post. They are manageable, quiet, and in October will have many colors.
🌿 Go wine tasting or join an olive oil harvest – October is peak season for that. Wineries near Skadar Lake (I like Kalimut Winery and Marovic Estate where you can also stay on its premises) offer tastings with vineyard views, and some producers open their doors for olive oil tours in Bar and Ulcinj. But if you don’t feel like arranging everything by yourself, then choose one of the wine & spirits tours available at the moment. There is also a chance to go to the largest winery in Montenegro on a private tour.
🚤 Take a boat tour on Skadar Lake – birdlife is most active in autumn, so October is an excellent month. You can also visit island monasteries or combine the tour with wine tasting at a local winery. There is a pretty interesting tour to the lake that also includes a wine tour (we took it ourselves last year) if you want someone to organize it for you.
🌊 Visit Rijeka Crnojevića – one of the most photogenic towns in Montenegro, especially in autumn. Technically, it’s part of the Skadar Lake region but has an atmosphere of its own. There are quiet river bends, stone bridges, and viewpoints surrounded by golden hills. You can visit on your own with a car or on a tour that includes one stop in Cetinje.
Want more ideas for October? Keep reading, below I share more hidden gems in Montenegro, easy coastal walks, and quiet experiences to add to your list.
📍Also, don’t forget to grab my Kotor Bay map, which includes plenty of places to visit. I’m finishing up a map for the whole of Montenegro as well, so stay tuned if you’d like to wait a bit.👇
Why I Love Montenegro in October
I’ve visited Montenegro many times in the fall and even lived here through both autumn and winter and October is, without a doubt, my favorite month. It’s not just personal preference. I genuinely believe October is one of the best months to visit Montenegro (that’s why I decided to dedicate it the whole long article, ha).
Yes, this month sits a bit on the edge when it comes to the weather. The first half is usually warm, but the second half already brings cooler days. Although that’s exactly what makes October so interesting — the whole month is great, just for different purposes.
Mountains turn golden and red, and parks like Durmitor, Lovcen, and Biogradska Gora are at their peak for autumn colors, especially in the first two weeks of October (though in Biogradska Gora and Lovcen, you can often find colors until the end of the month).
But even if the weather turns rainy in the mountains, you can shift regions: stay south in the coast, spend time in Kotor Bay or Herceg Novi area, visit Skadar Lake paddleboarding or kayaking there, or go hiking in Lovcen National Park, where the foliage usually peaks in the second week of the month.
And yes, you can still swim in October — maybe not every single day, but chances are high, especially in the first half of the month. Even by the end of October, Adriatic Sea is often warmer than lakes in Northern Europe. So if you are used to cooler waters, coming from Scandinavia, you’ll find the sea quite comfortable.
In short: visiting Montenegro in October can give you both a beach holiday and an active sightseeing trip at a much lower cost. Come in September, and you’ll spend almost three times more. Come in November, and your options will be much more limited because of the weather and official end of the season in the country.
Pros & Cons of Visiting During This Month – My Personal Take
October in Montenegro is a bit of a transition month. The summer season is over, but winter hasn’t started yet, so the whole country slows down. For me, this is what makes it such an interesting time to visit, but it also comes with its own quirks.
Pros of Visiting Montenegro in October
- No crowds anywhere
Montenegro is tiny, and in July and August it feels like everyone is here — beaches packed, Kotor’s old town overflowing, and endless traffic jams along the coast. In October, it’s the opposite. You can wander through historic streets, photograph stunning views, and enjoy famous spots without bumping into hundreds of other tourists. - Prices drop everywhere
Accommodation, car rentals, boat trips, guided tours — everything becomes much cheaper compared to summer. For example, Zeta Hotel in Budva (one of my favorite hotels in that area) in September costs between €150-200 per night while in October, the price falls to around €90 per night.
Even some beaches that charge €100+ for entry in July, like Milocer near Sveti Stefan, are completely free in October. You can sunbathe there or swim without paying a cent. - Perfect combo of beach + sightseeing
- The first half of October is ideal if you want to combine swimming and exploring. It’s not too hot for hikes or city walks, but the Adriatic is still warm enough for long swims. By the end of October, the sea gets cool and most people won’t feel comfortable swimming (it’s also quite stormy, which is why it is not that safe), but the weather is still good enough for sightseeing, hiking above the coast, wine tours, and autumn festivals instead.
- Fresh fruit season
October is when Montenegro is overflowing with figs, pomegranates, persimmons, grapes, mandarins, and kiwis. Prices are low, and you’ll see fruit stands everywhere. It’s the best time to load up on fresh (real) produce before winter. - Autumn festivals & wine harvests
October is also when Montenegro celebrates the olive harvest in Bar and various wine festivals around Skadar Lake. If you enjoy local food, wine, and cultural events, this is a great month to visit.
Cons of Visiting Montenegro in October
- Weather is unpredictable
October can surprise you. In some years in the past, we could swim comfortably even in early November; although in other years, it was already chilly by the first week of October. In the mountains, roughly a third of the days are cloudy or rainy, and sudden winds can make the coast feel colder than expected. - Mountain activities are more limited
If you plan to hike in Durmitor or Prokletije, know that the end of October (I’d say the last week or so) is already a bad time because paths become muddy, there is frequent fog and wind. Temperatures at night sometimes drop below zero at this time. Driving in the north can also be tricky after heavy rains because of winding mountain roads. - Tourism industry slows down
By mid-October, some seasonal restaurants, bars, and beach clubs start closing. Many organized tours run on reduced schedules, especially in smaller coastal towns. It’s not a problem if you like exploring independently, but if you prefer joining group excursions, options will be fewer. - Shorter daylight hours
By the end of October, the sun sets earlier, which means less time for long drives or hikes. It’s not a dealbreaker but worth keeping in mind when planning day trips.
Yet, for me, the pros far outweigh the cons. You get quiet towns, golden mountains, more or less warm sea (at least in the first half), and cheaper prices, all without the craziness of high season.
What is Montenegro Like in October?
October in Montenegro feels calmer and slower than any other time from spring to fall. Summer rush is gone, leaving quiet cobbled streets in Kotor and empty promenades along Budva’s beaches. There will be no traffic jams anymore, no packed beaches, and only one cruise ship every couple of days (whereas in summer, there are 2-3 every day).
In the mornings, you might wake up to the smell of wet pine trees after a short night rain, then spend the afternoon swimming under a warm autumn sun.
Inland, mountains transform into shades of gold and red, and small villages get wrapped in mist on colder mornings. All cafes are still open, ferries still run, and there’s life along the coast, but without the chaos of high season.
The last week of October (give or take, depending on the weather) is usually when some cafes start closing for the winter season. But many others remain open, so it’s not completely dead.
First Things to Know Before Planning an October Trip to Montenegro
Is Montenegro hot in October?
No, it’s never actually hot in October. The summer heat is gone and while the first week still feels warm for a few hours during the day, temperatures are already subsiding.
On average, it’s around +23-25 C during the day by the coast early in the month and gradually drops each week, reaching roughly +18–20 C by the end. It varies by year, but overall October is mild and comfortable. You won’t feel hot.
Can you swim in October along the Montenegrin coast?
In the first half of the month, swimming is usually great (but this is not something set in stone since weather can change without warning and if a cold front comes in, the sea may turn cooler and rougher earlier than expected).
By the end of October, it depends on the year, but if you’re used to colder lakes or Nordic waters, you’ll likely still find the Adriatic comfortable.
Are beaches still open in October?
Yes, beaches remain open (I talk about those that are maintained by the government, not the wild ones, which are open year-round).
In many places, sunbeds become free or much cheaper. However, some beach clubs and bars start closing after mid-month.
Does it rain a lot in October?
It really depends on where you are. In the mountains, October often brings more rain, but it’s unpredictable. Some years it’s wetter in the beginning, other times it rains more later.
Along the coast, though, there’s usually not much rain at all, even in the second half of the month. And when it does rain by the sea, showers are typically short and quickly followed by sunshine. But rain is more common in the second half of the month.
Weather in October in Montenegro
One main thing that you need to know about the October weather in Montenegro is that it is never the same as the previous year. It is always changing.
I remember years when October felt like summer (although it is a more rare thing), but in other years, the weather brought cooler days with wind and rain right from the first week.
Overall, you can expect on the coast (in Budva, Tivat, Kotor, and Bar) daytime temperatures around +22–24 degrees C, but they can fluctuate from +20 C to +28 C depending on the day. Nights are 7–9 degrees cooler.
The sea temperature in October can go from +19 C to +24 C, depending on currents or proximity to river mouths. Water in the Bay of Kotor is always warmer while open-sea beaches are cooler. I’d say expect around +20 C throughout the first 2-3 weeks of the month.
In the north and mountainous areas, it’s already somewhat cold. Around Zabljak, daytime temperatures are between +11–15 degrees C, with nights dropping to +2–8 C. I remember a few years ago we went to Zabljak on Oct. 25th and had already the first snow there with the temperature dropping below 0 at night.
Kolasin area is much warmer, so you can still go on a light hike there or visit other mountains nearby to admire nature. I wouldn’t attempt hikes on high elevations and long distances if there is a chance of rain.
NOTE: October is the last month when you can drive to northern Montenegro without winter tires (and without chains in some parts). Therefore, take this opportunity and go on a road trip around the country (especially considering that prices for car hire fall a few times).
You can use one of my Montenegro road trip itineraries I’ve shared in this guide and for car hire, check my posts about what to know before driving in Montenegro and renting a car in one of the cities.
Is Kotor Worth Visiting in October?
Yes, and October can actually be a great time to come. As I mentioned above, cruise ships still stop here almost every day, so the old town does get busy for a few hours when passengers pour in. But it’s not the non-stop summer chaos anymore.
Once the ships leave in the early evening, Kotor starts feeling calmer and more authentic again, with quieter corners and space to enjoy the streets without bumping into groups.
The good news is that prices are already lower than in peak season and the number of things to do in Kotor is still high.
The weather in early October is still comfortable — warm enough to sit outside, but not too hot for climbing the fortress. Shops, bakeries, and restaurants remain open.
So basically Kotor in October is that perfect month when it is possible to see this town in the most authentic way. In November, many businesses already close (as well as churches and tours from here), so it will look somewhat deserted.
Also, If you decide to stay overnight in Kotor, accommodation options become immediately cheaper than in September. It’s a good chance to enjoy one of the prettiest towns in the Bay of Kotor without paying extra.
What Else to Do in Montenegro in October?
Honestly, you can do pretty much everything you’d do in summer (including these things to start a trip with), just without the crowds and unbearable heat.
In my experience, October is also a perfect time to walk around old towns, but not just Kotor or Herceg Novi. Bar and Ulcinj, which are among the hottest cities in Montenegro, are so comfortable for strolling around the old towns in the fall.
All the monasteries and historical landmarks are still open too and this is a fantastic time to visit them. You can explore Perast, Stoliv, Godinje, or just do a road trip along the coast, stopping wherever you feel like.
In October we also love going on food outings to restaurants with views of the fjords or the sea. Around Kotor Bay I like Verige 65 with its bay view, and in Budva – Vista Vidikovac (though there are plenty of atmospheric spots, I’ll soon write a post with my favorites along the coast), and of course, oyster farms… It’s just so pleasant to sit by the water while sipping homemade wine and eating oysters or freshly caught fish.
Basically, all the same sights and experiences are still available but this time, it actually feels enjoyable.
Here are more posts I have about places in Montenegro that you can easily visit in October as well:
- Bijela Town – hidden along the Kotor Bay main road
- Tivat – best things to do on any visit + my travel tips
- Food in Montenegro – must-try traditional dishes in autumn in the mountainous regions
- Herceg Novi Restaurants & Cafes – you can visit them in October or any time during autumn
More Travel Inspiration for Fall Travel in Europe
- Best Places to Travel in Europe in November – among all destinations I visited
- Tallinn in the fall – how to cope with the weather & cozy things to do
- Georgia (Country) During Fall – my favorite things to do & regions to visit
