March in Montenegro, winter on its way out

March is neither winter nor spring in Montenegro. The coast warms up, the north starts letting go of its snow and there are still long rainy spells. To me it’s a rewarding month if you’ve come to walk or see towns, and a poor choice if you’re after a beach.

March weather

Herceg Novi’s 1961-1990 average is 10.6°C, with highs of 15.1°C and lows of 7.0°C. Around 199 mm of rain falls over 13 days, but sunshine climbs to about 160 hours, nearly half as much again as in February. Bar and Podgorica are in the same range, with highs of about 15°C. Inside the bay, at Tivat airport, March averaged 11.1°C between 2013 and 2022. March 2024 ran warmer than average, at 13.1°C in Herceg Novi, but it was very wet, with 19 days of rain.

The last of the snow

In the north, March is the final month of real winter. Žabljak averages -1.0°C with around 27 frosty days, and Kolašin 2.2°C. Even so, the snow is retreating; in March 2024 Kolašin and Pljevlja had just one day each of lying snow. The National Tourism Organisation gives January to March as the snow season, so if you’re planning some end-of-season skiing, check conditions first.

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Flowers and festivals

The National Tourism Organisation places Kotor’s camellia arrangement exhibition in March, one of those small traditions that make travelling out of season worthwhile. In Herceg Novi, the Mimosa Festival covers February and March, so early in the month there are still events to catch. I cover how it begins in Montenegro weather in February.

Birds and walks

March is good for quiet nature. For birds, the Tivat tourist board points to the Solila salt flats between February and late April, when migrants come back, and in spring the National Tourism Organisation suggests early-morning birdwatching on Lake Skadar, at Solila, on Ada Bojana or along Velika plaža. For walking, I’d head up Vrmac, the ridge between Tivat and Kotor, with paths, springs and views over both bays. Its high point, Sveti Ilija, reaches 785 m according to the Tivat tourist board, and the ridge is dotted with old forts left by successive rulers. In the cool March air the climb is a pleasure; in August the same slopes are a trial.

If you are short on time, see the best tours in Kotor and pick one that fits your day.

What’s open

March still runs on winter hours. Kotor’s municipal museums open the Perast Museum and the Risan mosaics Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 16:00, and only switch to long summer hours, 8:00 to 20:00, on 15 April. Lipa cave near Cetinje opened its 2026 season on 1 April, so it isn’t visitable in March.

Is it worth going?

If you’ve come to walk, watch birds or explore Kotor and Perast without queues, yes. If you want a swim, not yet. April brings rafting and longer sunny days; see Montenegro weather in April.

To sleep close to everything, search places to stay in Kotor on Booking.com and filter by area before price.