Town centre
First-timersThe small centre, with restaurants and shops.
Žabljak town guide
Things To Do In Žabljak
A mountain town at almost 1,500 metres, the base for Durmitor National Park: glacial lakes, limestone peaks and the Tara canyon, the deepest in Europe.
3
Hostels in the city
9.6
Average, from 1,626 reviews
~1,450 m
Altitude of the town
~1,300 m
Depth of the Tara canyon
2,523 m
Bobotov Kuk
The other half of Montenegro
Žabljak sits on a high plateau in the north of Montenegro, at almost 1,500 metres, one of the highest towns in the Balkans. It is small, cold and quiet, and it is the gateway to Durmitor National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of limestone peaks, glacial lakes and black pine forest.
North of the park, the Tara river has cut the deepest canyon in Europe, about 1,300 metres at its deepest, and rafting it is the country's great adventure.
Žabljak is a completely different trip from the coast: hiking and rafting in summer, skiing in winter, and cool air when the coast is baking. Three days is right.
Where to stay
The town is small. Stay in the centre or near the road to Black Lake.
Black Lake
NatureThe glacial lake in the forest, 3 km from town.
Sedlo pass
HikingThe trailhead for Bobotov Kuk, on the ring road.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 3 top-rated hostels. Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Žabljak
Walk to Black Lake, Crno Jezero, about three kilometres from town, a glacial lake in pine forest under the peaks. The path around it takes about an hour.
Hike to Bobotov Kuk, at 2,523 metres the highest peak in Durmitor, a long day from the Sedlo pass. Easier walks lead to the Ice Cave and the Škrka lakes.
Drive the Durmitor ring road, a loop over the Sedlo pass through high pasture and canyon country, one of the best drives in the Balkans.
The Đurđevića Tara bridge, a five-arched concrete bridge high over the Tara canyon, has a zipline across. Rafting trips on the Tara run from May to October and are best in May and June, when the water is high.
Free things
Free things to do in Žabljak
The hiking is free beyond the national park entry fee, and it is the reason to come.
The view from the Đurđevića Tara bridge is free.
The ring road is free to drive.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Žabljak
Mountain food is hearty. Kačamak, a thick polenta with potatoes and cheese, and cicvara, a cornmeal and cream dish, are the local specialities. Lamb cooked under a sač, an iron lid covered in embers, is the feast.
Mountain cheese, kajmak, a clotted cream, and honey are sold by farmers.
Food is cheaper than on the coast: a full meal in a mountain konoba is €8 to €12.
Nightlife
Going out in Žabljak
Žabljak is quiet at night. A few bars and restaurants stay open in the evening, busier in summer and in the ski season.
Getting around
Getting around Žabljak
The town is small and walkable, and Black Lake is a walk away.
Buses run to Podgorica in about two and a half to three hours, and from the coast in longer. They are limited, especially outside summer.
A car is the best way to see Durmitor and the ring road. Rafting companies pick up from town.
In winter, the roads can be closed by snow; check before travelling.
Costs
What Žabljak costs
Žabljak is cheaper than the coast. A careful day is €30 to €45.
The costs that add up are rafting, which is the big extra, the national park fee and car hire.
The euro is the currency. Carry cash; cards are less widely accepted.
Safety
Staying safe in Žabljak
Žabljak is very safe.
The mountains are serious. The weather changes fast, snow lingers on the high peaks into summer, and nights are cold even in July. Carry layers, water and a map, and tell someone your route.
Raft only with licensed operators.
Emergency number is 112.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The seasons are the events: rafting in summer and skiing in winter.
May to October
Rafting season
Tara river
Best in May and June, when the water is high.
December to March
Ski season
Savin Kuk
Small, cheap slopes above town.
Hostels
Where to stay in Žabljak
The top-rated places to stay in Žabljak right now, live from Hostelworld.
When to go
June to September for hiking and rafting; December to March for skiing.
Jan
Ski season
Feb
Ski season
Mar
Snow
Apr
Thawing
May
Rafting season opens
Jun
Hiking and high water
Jul
Peak hiking
Aug
Busy
Sep
Excellent
Oct
Autumn colours
Nov
Snow returns
Dec
Ski season starts
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. Žabljak is cold: snow is possible from October to May.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Excludes rafting and car hire.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Žabljak travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Žabljak worth visiting?
Yes, for Durmitor National Park, the Tara canyon and mountains that are a complete contrast to the coast.
How deep is the Tara canyon?
About 1,300 metres at its deepest, the deepest canyon in Europe.
When can you raft the Tara?
From May to October. May and June, with high water, are the most exciting.
How do I get to Žabljak?
By bus from Podgorica, about two and a half to three hours. A car is easier.
How many days do you need?
Three: one for Black Lake, one for a hike or the ring road, and one for rafting.
Is it cold?
Yes. Nights are cold even in summer, and snow is possible from October to May.
When is the best time to visit?
June to September for hiking, December to March for skiing.
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