Durmitor National Park is the wild north of Montenegro: a high limestone massif with jagged peaks, glacial lakes, pine forests and the deepest canyon in Europe. Its base is Žabljak, a small mountain town at around 1,450 m, which makes it one of the highest towns in the Balkans. In summer it is a cool escape from the coast, and in winter it turns into a ski resort.
This guide covers the highlights of Durmitor National Park, from Black Lake to the Đurđevića Tara Bridge, and the off-road routes that reach the viewpoints, plateaus and quieter lakes most visitors never see.
Durmitor National Park at a glance
- National park since: 1952
- UNESCO World Heritage: since 1980
- Area: about 390 km²
- Highest peak: Bobotov kuk, 2,523 m
- Glacial lakes: 18, known as mountain eyes
- Tara Canyon: up to about 1,300 m deep
Black Lake and the mountain eyes
Locals call Durmitor's glacial lakes gorske oči, the mountain eyes. The largest and best known is Black Lake (Crno jezero), a short walk from the centre of Žabljak. A flat path of about 3.5 km circles the lake through pine forest, with the rounded peak of Međed rising above the water. You pay a national park entrance fee at the start of the path.
Black Lake is beautiful but busy in July and August. For quieter water, head to the smaller lakes on the plateau around Žabljak. The Fish Lake & Devil's Lake Quad Tour visits Riblje and Vražje jezero in about 1.5 hours, and the Three Lakes Quad Tour adds Zminičko jezero on a longer, roughly 3 hour loop.
The Đurđevića Tara Bridge
The Đurđevića Tara Bridge crosses the Tara Canyon about 20 km from Žabljak. Built between 1937 and 1940 to a design by the engineer Mijat Trojanović, it is 365 m long and its deck sits around 170 m above the river. When it opened it was the largest reinforced concrete road arch bridge in Europe.
During the Second World War, in 1942, the partisans blew up one of its arches to stop the Italian army from crossing. The engineer who helped them, Lazar Jauković, was later captured and shot, and a monument to him stands at the end of the bridge. The bridge was repaired and reopened in 1946. Today you can walk across it, fly over the canyon on a zipline, or start an off-road ride from here.
Two quad tours start near the bridge: the Tara River Quad Ride, 1 hour and 15 km along the river, and the Tara Canyon Off-Road Adventure, 2 to 3 hours and 36 km. If you prefer to sit back, the Tara Bridge Jeep Safari covers the area in about 3 hours with a driver.
Tara Canyon viewpoints
The Tara Canyon is around 80 km long and up to about 1,300 m deep, the deepest canyon in Europe. Most people see it from a rafting boat at the bottom, but the views from the rim are just as impressive. The most famous viewpoint is Ćurevac, high above the canyon near the village of Tepca, where the river looks like a thin green thread far below.
The Tara Canyon Viewpoint Tour from Žabljak takes about 1 hour and 22 km by quad. The Ćurevac & Tepca Jeep Safari reaches the viewpoint by 4x4 in about 3 hours, which suits families and anyone who does not want to drive.
The Durmitor Ring and the high plateaus
The Durmitor Ring is a scenic road of roughly 80 km that loops around the massif, crossing high passes and wide pastures under the peaks. It is one of the most beautiful drives in Montenegro, but it is narrow and closed by snow for much of the winter. The Ring around Durmitor Jeep Safari follows it in about 4 hours with a local driver.
Away from the paved roads, gravel tracks climb to viewpoints and summits around Žabljak:
- Momčilov Grad Panorama Tour: a short panoramic ride of about 1 hour 15 minutes and 23 km, ideal for a first time on a quad.
- Veliki Štuoc Summit Tour: about 2 hours and 36 km to a summit at 2,104 m, with views across the whole massif.
- Sinjajevina Plateau Expedition: a full day of 5 to 6 hours and 90 km across Sinjajevina, one of the largest mountain pastures in Europe, with a meal included.
Quad or jeep in Durmitor?
On a quad you drive yourself. The price is per quad, a driver with a car licence (category B) can take one passenger, and passengers can join from the age of 3. A guide, a helmet and fuel are included. A jeep safari is the relaxed option: a local driver does the driving, nobody needs a licence and the price is per jeep for the whole group, which makes it good value for families.
You can compare all quad and jeep routes on the Durmitor & Žabljak tours page, or see every 4x4 trip in Montenegro on the jeep safari page.
When to visit Durmitor National Park
July and August bring warm days and cool nights, and every road and trail is open. June and September are quieter and often the best months for outdoor activities. From December the area is usually snowy: Žabljak becomes a ski resort, the Durmitor Ring closes and off-road routes depend on the conditions. The weather in the mountains changes fast in any season, so pack layers and a rain jacket.
Žabljak is about 3 to 4 hours by car from the coast, so if you can, stay at least one night. Two or three nights give you time for Black Lake, the bridge, a viewpoint and one longer ride.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit Durmitor as a day trip from the coast?
It is possible, but it means 6 to 8 hours in the car. You will enjoy the park much more with at least one night in Žabljak.
Is Durmitor good for families?
Yes. Black Lake has an easy, flat path, and on our quad tours passengers can ride from the age of 3. Jeep safaris are an even easier option for small children.
Can you see the Tara Canyon without rafting?
Yes. The Đurđevića Tara Bridge and viewpoints such as Ćurevac show the canyon from above, and both are on our quad and jeep routes.
