Durmitor & Tara Canyon: A Driving Guide to Europe's Deepest Canyon

In the north of Montenegro, where the mountains rise above 2,000 meters, sits Durmitor National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage site — and the Tara River Canyon, the second-deepest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon, reaching depths of up to 1,300 meters in places.

How to get there

From Podgorica, the road to Žabljak — the highest town in the Balkans, at roughly 1,450 meters — runs through Kolašin and takes about two and a half to three hours, depending on stops along the way. The road is winding and climbs through several climate zones, so take it unhurried.

The Đurđevića Tara Bridge

Built in 1940, the bridge spanning the Tara Canyon is one of the most photographed points on the road to Žabljak. It stands 172 meters above the river and offers one of the best canyon views right from the road — there's parking and a couple of viewpoints just beside it.

Black Lake

At the heart of Durmitor National Park sits Black Lake (Crno jezero), an easy short drive and walk from central Žabljak. The trail around the lake is flat and suitable for all ages, ringed by dense pine forest with views of the surrounding peaks.

Rafting and active days

The Tara Canyon is also known for rafting, with a season that typically runs from April through October. If rafting is on your plan, check the launch point in advance — it sits deeper in the canyon and the access road is narrow.

Where to stay and eat around Žabljak

Žabljak itself is small but well set up for visitors, with guesthouses, restaurants, and a fuel station in town — useful since, as noted, stations get sparse once you're deep in the park or canyon area. Many visitors use Žabljak as a base for a night or two rather than a single afternoon stop, which also means you don't have to rush the descent back on the same day you climbed up.

Beyond the bridge: the zip-line and canyon viewpoints

Next to the Đurđevića Tara Bridge, a zip-line crosses part of the canyon for those who want a different perspective on the depth of the gorge — worth checking current operating days if you want to add it to your stop at the bridge. A little further along the road toward Žabljak, additional pull-offs offer canyon views without the crowds that gather right at the bridge itself.

Hiking around Durmitor

Beyond the flat loop around Black Lake, Durmitor National Park has a range of marked hiking trails of varying difficulty, from short walks to full-day routes into the surrounding peaks. If you're planning anything beyond the lake loop, stop at the national park information point in Žabljak first — trail conditions and access can change with the season.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most common one is treating this as a quick half-day trip from the coast — the distance and the winding road mean it rarely works well as a rushed there-and-back. Another is underestimating temperature swings: even in summer, evenings at this altitude are notably cooler than the coast, so pack accordingly. And if you're combining the bridge, Black Lake, and any hiking in a single day, start early — the light and the road both reward a morning departure.

Getting there comfortably

The climb from Kolašin toward Žabljak gains a lot of elevation over a relatively short distance, with plenty of curves along the way. A vehicle with confident traction — AWD in particular — makes that climb, and the eventual descent, noticeably less tiring, especially if you hit rain or an early- or late-season cold snap on the way.

Driving tips

• Fuel up before leaving Kolašin — stations are sparser in the north
• Outside the main season (November–April) roads can carry snow and ice; check the forecast
• Mobile signal is unreliable deep in the canyon
• An AWD car makes the climbs and any damp stretches considerably easier

Set aside a full day for this drive if you want both Black Lake and the bridge, with time to spare for viewpoints along the way.