Durmitor & Žabljak by taxi

The two roads north

From Podgorica there are two ways to Žabljak. The western road goes through Nikšić and then climbs across the high plateau by Šavnik; it is open and wide at first and then a mountain road through empty country. The eastern road follows the Morača canyon north, one of the most dramatic stretches of road in the country, to Mojkovac, and then turns west up to Žabljak past the Tara canyon and its bridge. Both are long rides; the eastern one passes the bridge, the western one is more direct in summer. MonteGO drivers who do the north regularly choose by the season, the weather and the roadworks of the day.

From Podgorica Airport the ride is the same with a short stretch through the city's edge first. Guests arriving for a mountain week put the hotel or guesthouse name as the destination and make one offer for the whole transfer; skis, boards and large bags go in a larger vehicle, chosen when booking.

The Tara bridge, the Black Lake and the park

The Đurđevića Tara bridge spans the canyon on the road from Mojkovac and is the stop everyone makes: a walk across, the view down the gorge, the zipline for those who want it. The Black Lake is at the edge of Žabljak, a level walk or a very short ride from the town centre, with a path around it and the mountain above. Deeper into the park, the viewpoints on the road towards Plužine and the Sedlo pass are half-day drives that need a car and a driver who knows the roads; agree them as a round trip from Žabljak.

Durmitor as a day trip from Podgorica

It is a long day but a real one: leave early, take the Morača canyon road north with a stop at the Tara bridge, walk the Black Lake, eat in Žabljak, and return by the Nikšić road in the afternoon so you see both. Agree it as one round trip in the app, with the stops in the note, and the driver plans the loop. From the coast it is too far for comfort in a day; stay a night in Žabljak or make it two.

Winter: skiing, snow and the roads

Žabljak is a ski town from December to March, with the Savin Kuk lifts a short ride from the centre. The roads north are kept open but are mountain roads in winter: snow chains and winter tyres are required by law in the season, and the passes can close in heavy snow. A taxi with a local driver takes that entirely off your hands, which is a good part of the reason winter guests book the transfer rather than rent. Allow more time than in summer, and if the weather is closing in, the driver will say so and choose the road that is open.

Other ways to reach Durmitor

Honest comparison. Buses run from Podgorica to Žabljak a few times a day via Nikšić and are the cheapest option if the timetable fits; the station is a walk from the centre and they do not stop at the bridge. Renting a car is the common choice for a mountain week and makes sense if you plan to explore the park's roads; in winter it means driving mountain passes in snow. For the transfer itself, for a family with gear, or for a day trip with stops, a taxi agreed as one offer is the comfortable option and often, for a full car, the cheaper one.