What is the biggest mistake in planning Montenegro?
The biggest mistake is treating Montenegro as a tiny add-on. It is compact, but coast, bay, lakes and mountains all pull the route in different directions, so fewer bases usually beat a more impressive-looking map.
Answer
Montenegro looks easy to absorb because the distances are small. That is the trap. Kotor Bay wants slow mornings and evening light. Budva and the coast want beach time. Durmitor wants mountain weather and road patience. Lake Skadar and Lovćen want a day that is actually designed around them. A route that tries to touch everything can end up feeling strangely thin. The better Montenegro trip is edited: choose the bay, choose your contrast, and leave enough space for the roads to do what roads do.