Author: Merve Ceylan
When searching for my next cycling destination, I saw that Montenegro has epic scenic routes. So, I packed my bicycle and came here to explore. Here’s your guide to cycling in Montenegro from a beginner cyclist adventurer — yeah, that’s me! 🙂
Discover 5 Scenic Routes Around Kotor/Montenegro and Get Lost in Natural Beauty
There are amazing routes around Kotor, Tivat, and Herceg Novi. If you cycle within a 50 km radius, you can explore a lot of breathtaking scenery. I stayed in Kotor which is a pretty good location in terms of route variety and proximity to tourist attractions. click on the titles to view the Strava map of the routes.
The road has incredible scenery; you see more and more of the city with each turn, totaling 26 turns in all. Around 40 kms, 950 elevation gain, the percentage of climb is 4 to 6% almost all the way up. Road quality is good but it’s narrow so you should be aware of cars passing, especially around corners.
Around 75 km, with a 250-meter elevation gain, mostly flat. You’ll cross from Lepetani to Kamerani by ferry, which is really fun and free. You can reach the destination by mostly following the coastal road, which has speed limits in certain parts, but the road quality is good.
Around 65 km, with a 1300-meter elevation gain, featuring climbs of up to 15%. The road quality is mixed; some parts are pretty torn and stony. In the bay, the roads are narrow, so be careful, especially when descending. You’ll come across lots of churches and pretty small villages; go and explore!
Kotor to Unter Fortress (through Risan)
The road climbing to Unter Fortress offers changing scenes of narrow roads covered by trees, making it feel like riding in the jungle at times. The view becomes increasingly incredible as you climb higher. However, the road quality in the climbing section is pretty bad and narrow, and you’re likely to encounter wild goats.
If you’re cycling here, you’ll always ride by the bay at some point during your rides, which is amazing. The bay looks different at various times of the day and in different weather conditions. I suggest making a full tour at least once to explore all around the bay.
Roads: My Perspectives on Safety, Terrain, Routes, and More
Cycling around the bay can be a bit challenging when it gets really crowded because the roads are quite narrow. I would say most of the cars respect the rider, but I’d have lied if I said I didn’t encounter any dangerous moves, which can happen almost everywhere, actually.
Even within two weeks, I can see it’s getting significantly crowded. That’s why it can be a good idea to come earlier in March and be prepared for colder weather with winter jackets, arm and leg sleeves, wind stoppers, shoe caps, and so on. Keep in mind that the routes are generally less busy on Sunday and also earlier in the day.
You can easily find spots to refill your water, buy snacks, or sip a coffee in a cafe overlooking the Adriatic Sea. There is also a café between Kotor and Dobrota, formerly known as ‘Triathlon Cafe’. It has been rebranded as ‘Multisport Shop & Cafe’, which will reopen in the middle of April. It can be nice to visit to meet like-minded people and also shop for essential biking gear when needed.
Markets are closed on Sunday, but you can mark gas stations to meet your needs during the ride. I always prefer leaving home prepared, with lots of snacks and two full bottles of water.
If you don’t plan your route beforehand and ride as you wish, which I enjoy most, you may encounter tunnels. There are a few tunnels that are even scary to go through with a car. Some of them are pretty short, but some are very long. I don’t personally recommend cycling into tunnels. Luckily, you can follow different routes and still arrive at the same destinations.
In terms of dogs, maybe some of you, like me, are terrified when dogs run after a bike. There are street dogs, but it’s rare around the places I mentioned. I haven’t had any scary moments of being chased or anything like that.
Cycling Community Around Kotor
You will see cyclists and bikepackers around. It’s a popular route that bikepackers follow coming through other Balkan countries.
I wouldn’t say there are many formal groups you can join, as I often see people riding together in small groups. Luckily, there are Strava groups where you can always post to ask about creating or joining group rides.
I joined social rides by the Triathlon Cafe Club, and the group was so welcoming. We rode around the bay, sat in a cafe, and chatted. I learned a lot about the area, the best roads, and places. Now, the group organizes weekly social rides. I suggest you check their Strava page (Triathlon Cafe Club) for upcoming events.
In my experience, the Strava community is really supportive. Before I arrived, I reached out to a couple of locals to learn about the area, the best locations for scenic routes, and, most importantly, safer rides. You can always learn the most about a place from local riders. I typically send a message on Strava explaining my situation and kindly ask for their opinions and help. It works really well for me.
I also recommend following the pages of sports clubs so you can hear about races; some of them can be free to join.
March in Kotor: Ideal for Cycling
Weather is one of the most important factors because, in my opinion, cooler rides are more pleasant. That’s why I chose the shoulder season to avoid hot weather and the crowdedness of a touristy place, which Kotor will definitely experience in a couple of months.
As a start, I stayed in Kotor for the last 2 weeks of March. In my opinion, the weather was perfect, which means not too hot during the day but a bit chilly in the morning and at night.
On a sunny day, you can go for a ride almost anytime between 9 am and 6 pm without needing a winter kit. Just a wind stopper and maybe arm warmers (if you’re climbing up to 1000 meters) should be enough. Although some may feel a little chilly, in this case, you won’t likely have a problem if you go between 11 am and 4 pm.
Of course, the weather changes from day to day and is actually unpredictable. Some days and nights were heavy rain and wind that’s heavy enough to blow pillows onto the balcony and move furniture around, oops!
Bike Rental and Service Around Kotor
There may be more than one place where you can rent a bike or get bike service. You can rent bikes from Triathlon Cafe (contact them via Instagram).
For bike servicing, you can reach out to both Triathlon Cafe and Bike Star Ride, which offers bike services very close to Kotor. The owner is an UCI-certified bike mechanic and a very pleasant person. If you need assistance, I recommend contacting him through the company’s social media channels.
I think this is all I need to say for now. I’ll keep exploring other cities in Montenegro and continue sharing. If you have any questions, I’ll be in the comments.
Thanks to all Montenegrin people who helped me choose the best destination, and to those who wrote about their adventures, which inspired me to do the same for others.
As a digital nomad and beginner cycling adventurer, Merve explore destinations by bike and love sharing her experiences. You can follow her on Instagram and Medium to stay updated on her future adventures and connect.
Join the discussion