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Museums in Montenegro

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BY SARAH PAVLOVIC 

There's a large number of museums in Montenegro, all dotted around the country. So wherever you're staying or visiting, you'll find a museum with some fascinating historical artifacts specific to the area. 

The history of the different regions of the country are quite varied - the history of the Bay of Kotor is quite different from Ulcinj and both are different to the inland areas. In the coastal museums in Montenegro you'll find more examples of the seafaring culture that's always been a part of the area. To add to the interest, almost all of the museums are in historical buildings with an interesting history all of their own. 

Montenegro has such a vibrant history and each of the people who've conquered and settled on this land have left their mark. 

If you have time for just one of the museums in Montenegro, I would recommend visiting Our Lady of the Rocks - not only is it filled with interesting artifacts, it lies on its own island and has quite possibly the best view of any museum in the world!

Coastal Museums In Montenegro

Kotor

Maritime Museum

This is one of the most visited museums in Montenegro and houses a fine collection of artifacts from the Bay of Kotor. The collections are laid out over several levels of the former Grgurina Palace in Kotor old town.

Address: Trg Bekeljske Mornarice 391
Opening Hours: 15th Oct - 15th May: 9am - 5pm. 15th May - 1st July: 8am - 6pm. 1st July - 31st August: 8am - 1pm and 6pm - 11pm. 1st September - 15th October: 8am - 6pm.
Saturdays, Sunday and public holidays: 9am - 12pm (except July and August)
Price: 4 Euros for adults, 1 Euro for children and 1.5 Euros pp for groups of 15 or more. 

St Tryphon's Cathedral

The cathedral, in Kotor old town, houses a museum of important religious and cultural relics from Kotor. Originally on this site, there was a church built in 809 and the museum houses a number of artifacts from the original church.

Address: Stari Grad 336.
Opening Hours: 9am - 5pm. 
Price: 1.5 Euros for adults, no charge for children.

Perast Museum

The museum is housed in the former palace of Captain Visko Bujovic which was built in 1694 and is a symbol of the golden age of Perast after it was freed from Turkish rule. 

Address: Obala Marka Martinovica. 
Opening Hours: April - October: 9am - 7pm. October - April: 8am - 5pm.
Price: 2.5 Euros for adults, 1.5 Euros for children, 1.5 Euros pp for groups.

Our Lady Of The Rocks

This unique church and museum lies on an island all of its own and is one of the Bay of Kotor's most iconic attractions. It's also one of the most visited museums in Montenegro and houses valuable reglious and historical artifacts from the area dating back to prehistory.

Boat transport to the island is available from the shore in Perast, with various tours and by water taxi from Kotor. Find out more here.

Address: Our Lady of the Rocks Island, Perast. 
Opening Hours: 7am - 7pm
Price: 1 Euro per person

St Nikola's Church

Address: Trg Svetog Nikole, Perast. 
Opening Hours: 8am - 6pm
Price: 0.5 Euro per person

Herceg Novi

Museum and Art Gallery 'Josip Bepo Benkovic'

This museum houses an interesting collection of archaeological and historical artifacts from the whole Bay of Kotor area.

Address: Mirka Komnenovica 9. 
Opening Hours: 9am - 8pm in summer, closed on Mondays. 9am - 6pm in winter, closed on Sundays.
Price: 1.5 Euro for adults, no charge for children.

Savina Monastery

Just outside of Herceg Novi and perched on the hill, Savina Monastery has one of the best views. The 15th Century monastery has frescoes from that period and contains a number of important religious relics from around the region.

Address: Manastirska 21. 
Opening Hours: 6am - 8pm.
Price: No charge.

Tivat

Tivat Cultural Centre - Museum and Gallery

Tivat museum houses mainly artifacts from the second half of the 19th and early 20th Centuries, including tools and traditional costumes.

Address: Nikole Djurkovica 10. 
Opening Hours: Summer: 8am - 1pm and 7pm - 12am. Other months:  8am - 1pm and 4pm - 9pm. Saturdays: 9am - 12pm. Closed on Sundays.
Price: No charge.

Budva

Museum, Gallery and Library of Budva

This museum is one of the most important museums in Montenegro and was set up after a large earthquake in 1979 uncovered some valuable archaeological artifacts in the old town of Budva. The displays show artifacts from the various Illyrian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Slavic peoples who have settled in Budva.

Address: Petra I Petrovica 11, Budva Old Town. 
Opening Hours: Summer: 9am - 10pm, closed Mondays. Other months:  8am - 8pm. Saturdays and Sundays: 2pm - 10pm. 
Price: 2 Euros for adults, 1 Euro for children.

Bar

Bar Cultural Centre

Located in King Nikola's Residence on the seafront in Bar, this museum displays archaeological artifacts from Bar's ruined old town as well as costumes and furniture from the 1800's, when the Petrovic Njegos dynasty used it as a summer residence.

Bar's old town is definitely worth visiting. It lies about 5km from the main town and is in the process of being rebuilt after the earthquake of 1979 devastated it. There are some artifacts on display and you can walk around the town. The entrance is up a narrow, old street where you'll find souvenirs and traditional restaurants. You can read more about this here.

Address: Setaliste Kralja Nikole. 
Opening Hours: 9am - 2pm and 6pm - 8pm. 
Price: 1 Euro for adults, 0.5 Euro for children.

Ulcinj

Ulcinj Cultural Centre

This museum is actually a group of three buildings including a mosque and Balsica Tower, which now serves as an art gallery. The collections in the museum include a wide range of artifacts from all the various groups who've settled in Ulcinj, from prehistory through Greek, Roman and Turkish rule.

Address: Ulcinj Old Town. 
Opening Hours: Summer: 7am - 12pm and 3pm - 8pm. Other months: 7am - 2pm.
Price: 1 Euro per person.

Inland Museums In Montenegro

Cetinje

The National Museum of Montenegro, Cetinje

The National Museum of Montenegro is actually a complex of five museums which house the historical, ethnographic, fine arts, Njegos and King Nikola collections. The buildings are located in central Cetinje, with the exception of Njegos' house of birth, which is in the village of Njegusi towards Lovcen National Park. 

We visited the historical museum and King Nikola's Palace. For 2 Euros per person you get a guided tour in each with a friendly guide. These are must-sees when you go to Cetinje.

Address: Novice Cerovica 7, Cetinje. 
Opening Hours: 9am - 5pm.
Price: Joint ticket 10 Euros

Podgorica

Museum of Podgorica

The Museum of Podgorica has archaeological artifacts from around the area of Podgorica, in particular from the period between the 3rd and 6th Centuries. In the displays you'll also find cultural artifacts from the three main religions in the area - Orthodox, Catholic and Muslim.

Address: Marka Miljanova 4. 
Opening Hours: Tuesdays - Fridays: 12pm - 8pm. Saturday and Sundays: 9am - 2pm. Closed Mondays.
Price: 1 Euro for adults, 0.5 Euro for children.

Centre of Modern Arts

The Centre of Modern Arts has a permanent display of over 1,000 artworks from around the world as well as works from local artists. The works date from the 7th Century BC up to the 20th Century. 

Address: Dvor Petrovica (Petrovic Palace), Krusevac bb.
Opening Hours: 9am - 2pm and 4pm - 9pm. Saturdays 3pm - 9pm. Closed Sundays.
Price: No charge.

Niksic

Niksic Cultural Centre

This museum is in the former palace of King Nikola and features some especially interesting archaeological artifacts from a prehistoric site called Crvena Stijena, which lies on the border between Montenegro and Herzegovina. In this collection you'll see tools, pottery and bones of extinct animal species.

Address: Trg Saka Petrovica bb.
Opening Hours: 9am - 1pm and 5pm - 8pm. Sundays 9am - 12pm. 
Price: 1 Euro for adults, 0.5 Euro for children and 0.25 Euro for preschoolers.

Other Museums In Montenegro

Danilovgrad Cultural Centre

Danilovgrad's museum is located in the former summer residence of Prince Nikola Petrovic and was built between 1873 and 1893. The museum houses archaeological and cultural collections including Illyrian weapons from the 3rd Century BC and a reconstruction of a Roman basilica.

Address: Vaka Djurovica bb.
Opening Hours: 8am - 3pm. 
Price: No charge.

Piva Monastery

This monastery is 9km from Pluzine and is on the route to Scepan Polje, where the rafting tours start. So it's an easy place to visit on the way back from any rafting trip. The monastery is a beautiful example of an Orthodox church and the walls are covered with frescoes from the 16th Century. Interestingly, the monastery was moved and rebuilt in the 1970's - a project which took 12 years!

Address: Pluzine.
Opening Hours: 24 hours. 
Price: No charge.

Pljevlja Museum

Pljevlja's museum has artifacts from the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Copper and Bronze Ages. There are some very valuable items, like gold jewellery, from a nearby settlement called Medena Stijena which date back to the 1st and 2nd Centuries.

Address: Trg 13. Jul bb.
Opening Hours: 11am - 2pm and 6pm - 8pm. 
Price: No charge.

Bijelo Polje Museum

This museum has a permanent display of the history of the Bijelo Polje area. There are artifacts from the Neolithic period as well as displays showing traditional house contents from the 20th Century. 

Address: Radnicka bb.
Opening Hours: 8am - 4pm. 
Price: 1 Euro for adults and 0.5 Euro for children.

Museum of Polimlje - Berane

This museum houses artifacts from the north-east area of Montenegro including drawings in amber, a chain main tunic supposed to have come from crusaders and Roman tombstones.

Address: Milosa Malisica 3.
Opening Hours: 9am - 4pm. Summer: closed on Mondays; winter: closed on Sundays.
Price: 1 Euro for adults and 0.2 Euro for children.

Kolasin Cultural Centre

This museum is located in an old WWII prison and has a permanent display showcasing the history of Kolasin including every day life during WWII and then the socialist revolution.

Address: Trg Boraca 1.
Opening Hours: 8am - 3pm, closed on Sundays.
Price: 1 Euro for adults and 0.5 Euro for children.

Even if you're planning a beach holiday in the sun, you won't have to go far to visit the museums in Montenegro. In fact, most of them are right in the centre of the town. 

This country has a long and turbulent history and has been ruled by Romans, Turks and the Austro-Hungarians. There's no better place to get a feel for the history of the country than in one of the museums.

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