If you have decided to spend some time in Montenegro, you will definitely want to visit art galleries and museums. There are a large number of museums throughout the country waiting for you to discover them, because they are a vital part of Montenegrin culture and history, and represent an opportunity for anyone who wants to learn more about our country with a turbulent past. Why not set aside some time while you are on vacation to explore the historical, artistic and cultural treasures of Montenegro? There are 45 museums in Montenegro. Some are better known, and others, which are less known, are also worth your visit. If you are intrigued by art, history and culture, Montenegro has an exhibition for you to make your vacation as meaningful as possible. Choosing a museum to visit can be quite a confusing experience, so we have made an interesting selection for you and provided information on how you can explore them. If you plan to spend the day in a fun way, get ready to visit one of the museums on our list. These are the museums you should definitely visit during your stay:

National Art Museum of Montenegro This impressive museum is exhibited on over 1000 square meters, in a building that is a cultural and historical monument of the greatest importance - the Government House building. The building was built in 1910 in the neo-Renaissance style and today is the administrative headquarters of the National Museum, which houses the permanent exhibits of the Museum of History and Art. The Art Museum consists of the Gallery of Contemporary Art "Miodrag Dado Đuric" and Atelier DADO; Ethnographic Museum and newly founded Archaeological Museum with Lapidarium. In this museum there are exhibits that represent works of inestimable value. From the initial number of contents of 240 works, from the fifties of the 20th century, which made up the first exhibition of the Gallery, the fund gradually increased, so that today it numbers over four thousand works. You will never forget the special atmosphere created in the neo-Renaissance architecture. The permanent exhibition of the Art Museum contains works from several collections. During the 1970s, the museum was called the Art Gallery and it houses about 3,000 exhibits, among which are the most important works of contemporary Yugoslav and Montenegrin fine art. The works represented include the period of the beginning of the development of modern art in Yugoslav premises from the end of the 19th and the middle of the 20th century, while the works representing the contemporary Montenegrin art scene belong to the period of the second half of the 20th century and the first decades of the 21st century. A special segment is represented by the beginnings of Montenegrin modernism, as well as key stages in the development of the contemporary domestic scene through the presentation of memorial rooms dedicated to some of the most important figures of Montenegrin art: Milo Milunovic, Petar Lubard, Branko Filipovic Fil and Miodrag Đuric Dad, whose works are presented with works from different phases. The art museum continues to support the contemporary Montenegrin scene and presents the works of several generations of artists active today, whose exhibitions change periodically. Part of the exhibition is also dedicated to a smaller part of the Collection of Icons, while the icon of the Virgin of Filermska is presented in the Blue Chapel. Address: Novice Cerovića, Cetinje 81250 Museum opening hours: Monday - Sunday: 09:00 - 17:00

King Nikola Museum The castle of King Nikola was home to many generations of the Petrović Njegoš dynasty. Built in 1867, the castle was originally intended as the home of Prince Danilo's widow, Darinka, and their daughter Olga. After the departure of Princess Darinka from Montenegro, the ruling Petrović-Njegoš family moved from Biljarda to this palace. Dovrac was later, only in 1926, turned into a museum. The Museum of King Nikola can be classified as the most attractive museum for tourists, and every year it is visited by a large number of guests. His collection contains material of great importance for Montenegrin political, military and cultural history, which continuously guides us through the process of establishing Montenegrin statehood, from the beginnings of the Middle Ages until 1918. The museum's permanent exhibition is a reconstruction of the interior of the royal palace and displays a wide variety of objects related to the Petrovic Njegoš dynasty. In the rich royal library, there is also the first book ever printed among the South Slavs - Oktoich Prvoglasnik, from the Cetinje printing house in 1493. Address: Dvorski Trg, Cetinje Museum opening hours: Monday - Sunday: 09:00 - 17:00

Historical Museum of Montenegro The Historical Museum of Montenegro provides a unique experience that combines history and education in an interesting way. This experience will transport you to the past as you visit various exhibitions that tell the story of life from the past, the period before the Austro-Hungarian occupation of Montenegro in 1916 and the exhibition space dedicated to the period from the First World War to 2007. The museum is located in the Government House building, and offers a fun and educational program for school-aged children as well as adults. The History Museum is a successful project that focuses on the historical period up to 2007, when it was completed with the adoption of the Constitution of an internationally recognized independent state. Plans for the concept of the thematic plan of the new permanent exhibition in the History Museum are being prepared. Address: Novice Cerovica, Cetinje 81250 Working hours of the museum Monday - Sunday: 09:00 - 17:00

Herzegnov Native Museum Mirko Komnenović's house was turned into the National Museum of Herceg Novi in 1953. It is a beautiful structure designed in the late Baroque style, and was built in the late 18th century. The pseudo-baroque expansion and added parts changed the original appearance of the museum, making it grandiose. Names engraved with bayonets of Russian soldiers, from 1807 during the war with Napoleon, decorate the authentic doors on the ground floor of the museum. Later, this object acquired the official title of regional museum of Herceg-Novi. Partial restoration of the museum took place in 1979, 1994, 1996 and 2001. In front of this regional museum, there is a beautiful Mediterranean and subtropical botanical garden with more than a hundred selected plants that decorate the 1000 m2 park. Many very exotic and extravagant unique plants found their place here in this beautiful garden. Numerous species of palms, agave, cactus, aloe and many other plants grow here in very unusual shapes and colors. During the blooming season, a variety of flowers ennoble this fairy-tale space. Here we can also see different varieties of creepers, as well as Pitosporums, coastal conifers, Mimosa trees, Camellias, Magnolias and aromatic and medicinal Mediterranean plants. Mirko Komnenović was an active participant in the Balkan War who worked with the intelligence service against the Austro-Hungarians. During the First World War he was a prisoner on the island of Mamula. After the liberation, he was elected as the ambassador of Boka Kotorska in the National Parliament of the Monarchy of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in 1923 and 1925. He was also the president of the municipality of Herceg-Novi in ​​1930. He became Minister of Social Policy and National Health in 1935 and was awarded a large number of medals. These are some of the many: White eagle with sword, St. Sava order of the first and third degree, Russian medal: St. Vladimir of the 4th degree, St. Stanislav of the fifth degree, St. Anne of the second degree, the French Legion of Honor, and the Cross of the Czechoslovak Officer of the Revolution. One of the impressive facts from his life that truly shows the greatness of this man was his desire to donate his entire salary to a local home for children who have no parents regardless of their nationality or ethnicity. This museum contains a historical, archaeological, ethnographic and artistic collection of icons. The city museum is of a complex type, and contains several collections: Archaeological collection (Department of Prehistory, Department of Ancient Archeology with Underwater Archeology and Department of Early Middle Ages with Lapidarium) Historical collection Art collection (Collection of contemporary art and collection of icons) Ethnological collection (urban and rural) Address: Mirko Komnenovića no. 9 Museum opening hours for visitors: On working days 09:00-15:00 Saturdays and holidays 09:00-13:00

Kotor Cat Museum I believe that one of the big reasons for some people to visit Montenegro is the spontaneous presence of cats. In Montenegro, cats walk freely on sidewalks, streets and parks. Maybe this attitude towards cats is unusual for many people outside the borders of Montenegro, but there are also those who find this concept of coexistence with cats without inhibitions extremely interesting and as such enough to be one of the main reasons to come to Montenegro. Cats are everywhere. They are especially looked after in Kotor, and a museum dedicated to them has been opened in that city. The idea for the museum came from a donation from Countess Francesca di Montreale Mantica that consisted of a rich collection of cat paintings collected over a long period of time. This material, gathered in the collections of the International Center for the Adoption of Cats "Badoer" in Venice, has become particularly numerous and interesting, and in the last 10 years it has been additionally enriched with valuable works provided by donations. The goal of the museum is nobler and more universal than the exhibition space itself. In fact, the idea is to raise the level of awareness of as many people as possible about cats, but also about other animals and nature, because whoever loves cats cannot not love animals and nature. We are sure that this is the right way for people to turn more towards the protection of the natural environment, which is increasingly being usurped by humans. Address: Our Lady of Anđela Square Stari Grad 371 85330 Kotor Working hours: from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., in the winter period the doors of the museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Center of Contemporary Art of Montenegro The four beautiful exhibition spaces of the Contemporary Art Center of Montenegro are: the ground floor of the Petrovica Castle in Kruševac, the Perjanički House, the "Club" gallery and the "Center" gallery. Here you will have the opportunity to admire the significant international works of art by contemporary regional, European and world artists. As a national institution of culture, founded in 1995 in Podgorica, it aims to bring contemporary art closer to the public through exhibition activities. The Center of Contemporary Art consists of a fund of over 1000 exhibits and regular exhibitions that are organized, so we are sure that everyone will find something interesting to see. Feather home, Address: Kruševac bb, Podgorica Working hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m Saturday 10 am - 2 pm