Kotor wine tasting tour: Austro-Hungarian road and Skadar Lake

Twenty-five hairpin turns, one winery, and a view that opens like a fjord

A seven-hour tour from Kotor that climbs the 19th-century Austro-Hungarian road to Cetinje, passes through the mountain village of Njegusi, and descends to Skadar Lake National Park before ending at a family winery. You taste six wines, eight liqueurs and five brandies alongside Montenegrin snacks (pršuto, cheese, seasonal salads and homemade pastries) with a local English-speaking guide and private transportation included.

The experience

The road itself is the spine of this tour. Built by Austro-Hungary in the 1800s, it connects Kotor to Cetinje with 25 serpentines, each one a switchback that climbs through landscape that opens wider with every turn. Your guide drives the van, narrating the history woven into the curves and the views over Kotor Bay that expand as you gain altitude. The route passes through Njegusi, a village where the architecture and daily rhythms show how Montenegrins lived for centuries, then reaches Cetinje, the old royal capital, if time allows.

From the heights, the tour descends to Skadar Lake National Park and the viewpoint at Pavlova Strana, where the lake spreads below like a fjord studded with islands. The final stop is a small family winery in the village of Rvasji. There is no tasting limit: you work through six wines made by traditional methods, eight sweet liqueurs and five brandies, each one poured in a room where locals sit at the same table. A Montenegrin plate arrives with it: pršuto, cheese, seasonal salad, fried pastries and preserved cherries, all produced by the family or sourced from neighbors. The whole experience unfolds in what the operator calls a family atmosphere, the kind that happens when a guide knows the winemaker and the winemaker knows the stories behind the bottles.

The tour runs seven hours total and suits anyone with an interest in how wine, landscape and history fit together in one place. Pickup is included from your hotel in Kotor, Budva or Tivat. Groups of four or more travel by van. Smaller groups may use a different vehicle. The minimum age is 18.

What’s included

• Private transportation by van for groups of four or more.
• local English-speaking guide for the full seven hours.
• wine tasting of six wines, eight sweet liqueurs and five brandies.
• Montenegrin plate with pršuto, cheese, seasonal salad, fried pastries and preserved cherries.
• hotel pickup from Kotor, Budva or Tivat.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 to 75 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Montenegro Wonders

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English throughout, so anyone comfortable following a conversation in English will follow the history and stories as the tour unfolds. The seven-hour day includes significant driving and walking at a leisurely pace, suited to travelers interested in landscape and local food and wine rather than a fast-paced itinerary.

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Top questions

What is the Austro-Hungarian road and why does it have 25 serpentines?

The road was built in the 19th century to connect Kotor on the coast to Cetinje in the mountains, climbing steep terrain through 25 hairpin turns. Each switchback has its own history tied to the region's past, and the road itself is the centerpiece of the tour's route, offering expanding views of Kotor Bay as you ascend.

What wines and food do you taste at the winery?

The winery serves six wines made by traditional methods, eight sweet liqueurs and five brandies, paired with a Montenegrin plate of pršuto (cured ham), cheese, seasonal salad, fried pastries called priganice, and preserved cherries. All food is produced by the family or sourced locally, and there is no limit on how much wine you taste.

Does the tour stop at Skadar Lake National Park?

Yes. The tour reaches Skadar Lake National Park and stops at Pavlova Strana, a viewpoint where the lake spreads below like a fjord with islands dotting the water. This is one of the panoramic highlights before the tour descends to the winery.

What happens in the village of Njegusi?

Njegusi is a mountain village where the architecture and way of life show how Montenegrins lived through the centuries. The tour passes through it on the Austro-Hungarian road, giving you a sense of the landscape and settlement patterns of the region's past.

Is there a stop in Cetinje?

Cetinje, the old royal capital and cultural center of Montenegro, is included if time allows during the tour. The guide will determine whether the schedule permits a visit based on the day's pace.