(Edited post from earlier today): We are an active couple in our 60s, and we will be traveling in Bosnia and Herzegovina by bus and train, specifically between Mostar and Sarajevo. After that, we will rent a car in Dubrovnik for eight days to explore Montenegro. We plan to avoid some of the more challenging mountain roads, as we have had our fill of switchbacks and narrow lanes in the years we have been traveling and exploring. We are seeking opinions on how many nights to stay in the Montenegrin towns we are considering. We were thinking of spending four nights in Herceg Novi, four nights in Kotor (or Dobrota), and two nights in either Bar or Budva. Are these towns spaced out enough for us to enjoy day trips from each location without overlapping activities?

We are ending our vacation with a relaxing four nights in Cavtat, Croatia. Any suggestions for changes in our itinerary or time allotments would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

It really depends on what you are planning on seeing and doing, but I will be honest, it seems as if you have allotted *too* much time in some of these towns. I did not spend any time in Herzeg Novi beyond a pass through and personally felt three nights in Kotor was plenty, for my tastes - with day trips. Kotor itself, does not have a lot "to do" as it really is very small, same with Budva.

But again, I am not you, and perhaps you have enough to keep you occupied for this length of time.

Have you looked into parking logistics in some of these places you are traveling to? It can be a bit of a headache, especially if you are traveling in high season. Keep in mind the Bay of Kotor is a two lane highway (one each direction) and traffic can be busy during high season.

Super helpful feedback! I will rethink the time I have allotted in each place. Suggestions for another place to hang our hats?

How much time are you allowing for Sarajevo and Mostar?

6 nights. We won't be venturing much outside of those two spots.

FWIW, I think 4 nights is a reasonable time for Sarajevo and 2 nights for Mostar ... so that part seems good to me!

The only time I spent in Montenegro was a day trip, so I'm not in a position to advise you about that part of your trip. You might look for posts from rialtogrl ... I think she knows Montenegro better than most.

Thank you. This is helpful! Appreciate your input.

Honestly, you can consider basing in a couple of spots and do day trips. Most of these places are fairly close together, but what gets you is the traffic between them. Again, depends on what you want to see and do. Absent of that, it is hard to give advice.

It depends 100% on the time of year you are traveling. What month(s)?

For sure, four nights in Herzeg Novi is too much. Unless you are super lazy (which I am.)

**Additional Information* We will be in Montenegro at the beginning of October. We are traveling with another couple and plan to rent an apartment through a rental platform such as Airbnb or Vrbo. By staying longer in each location, we aim to avoid accumulating cleaning and service fees charged by the sites. Therefore, renting in one or two locations is perfectly acceptable, allowing us to enjoy daily adventures from them. If you have recommendations for specific apartments outside of these rental sites, we would be open to exploring those options as well. Regarding our activities, we intend to experience typical tourist attractions: visiting historical sites, enjoying local restaurants, and taking in the scenery. We might also consider a boat excursion. While we aren’t particularly beach people, we would appreciate a day or two spent relaxing by a pool. Not every day has to be packed with activities. Additionally, we might venture to a mountain location once, within a few hours of our home base. Our itinerary and accommodation plans are flexible, so any suggestions or recommendations for changes would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your input so far!

October might or might not be beach weather... but the season will be dying down, which is good. I still think four nights in Herzeg Novi is too much, honestly it could be seen on your way back to Dubrovnik, unless there are some specific reasons you want to be there. You could spend four nights around Kotor, then go to Cetinje for two nights so you could see Lovćen national park and go to the museums in Cetinje. Then four nights in Bar so you could visit Lake Skadar from there. If you want to go to Ostrog Monastery, you could add just one night there so you don't have to drive back and forth. Durmitor is beautiful but in early October perhaps things would be shutting down.

If you want to do an early morning boat tour on Lake Skadar (the best time to see the birds) you could also consider staying in Virpazar for a couple of nights. Budva can be visited on the way to Cetinje or Bar from Kotor, you don't need to stay there.

Your suggestions sound just about perfect! I think we will definitely consider the recommendations. Thank you!