Winter in Montenegro, from the rainy coast to Durmitor's snow

Winter is the season people least associate with Montenegro, and that’s precisely what appeals to me. The coast empties, you can wander Kotor’s old town without queues, and up north there’s proper snow a few hours from the sea. Do bear in mind, though, that on the coast winter is wetter rather than colder.

The coast in winter

Herceg Novi averages 9.6°C in December, 8.2°C in January and 8.7°C in February, according to the Institute of Hydrometeorology’s 1961-1990 normals. Frost is rare, a day or two a month, and in 2024 there was no snow at all. What there is, is rain, more than 230 mm in December and January, with 14 or 15 wet days a month and only around 100 hours of sun. The Tivat airport climatography gives the bay a January average of 7.6°C for 2013 to 2022.

Snow in the north

A few hours inland, everything changes. Žabljak, below Durmitor, averages -4.5°C in January with around 29 frosty days that month, and Kolašin -2.1°C. In 2024 Kolašin had 71 days with at least 1 cm of snow on the ground, peaking at 30 cm in January, and Pljevlja 43 days, reaching 33 cm in December. The National Tourism Organisation suggests January to March for the snow and says its resorts usually keep snow on the ground for some 120 days.

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Skiing in Montenegro

The resorts are Kolašin 1600, 12 km from town, with a six-seat gondola and runs up to 2,035 m; Kolašin 1450, 9 km from town with 17 km of pistes, linked to its neighbour; and Savin Kuk, 6 km from Žabljak. There’s more in skiing in Montenegro. Dates for the 2026-27 season and lift-pass prices hadn’t been published on 11 October 2026, so I won’t quote them. The tourist board also lists snowmobiling, Nordic skiing, igloo building and off-piste routes.

Winter festivals

Winter has a calendar of its own. New Year’s Eve is celebrated outdoors in Tivat from 30 December to 2 January and in Herceg Novi from the 31st to the 2nd. Orthodox Christmas, on 6 and 7 January, is also on the National Tourism Organisation’s list of holidays. In 2025-26 the Kotor Winter Fest lasted from 29 November until 31 January, and February brings Kotor’s carnival (6 to 15 February in 2026) and Herceg Novi’s Mimosa Festival.

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

Getting around in winter

Gov.uk notes that roads are in fair condition but rural ones get worse in winter, that the Morača canyon road can be dangerous in bad weather, and that winter and spring bring a risk of flooding from heavy rain and snowmelt. Remember too that you drive on the right, unlike at home. If you’re driving north, check conditions before you set off and don’t rely on summer journey times.

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