King Nikola's Museum

Opening hours and tickets

Summer hours (to 15 November) are daily 09:00-16:00; the unit page gives 11 April and the institution's timetable 15 April as the start of the season. In winter the museum opens Monday to Friday 09:00-15:00. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing.

Tickets cost €8 for adults and €4 for pupils and students. The collective National Museum ticket (€20 adults, €10 pupils and students) covers this museum, all other units and the Njegoš Mausoleum. Children under 12 enter free. Guided tours are listed in Montenegrin, English, French and Chinese, and the museum page offers a 360° virtual tour.

What to see

The permanent exhibition is a reconstructed royal interior furnished with objects of the Petrović-Njegoš dynasty. The collection combines the holdings of the former Military and National museums with objects from the royal residences and covers the political, military and cultural history of Montenegro from the Middle Ages to 1918.

The royal library holds books from the Crnojević press, among them the Oktoih of the First Tone (Oktoih prvoglasnik), completed on 4 January 1494, the first Cyrillic book printed among the South Slavs.

History of the building

The palace was built in 1867, originally for Darinka, the widow of Prince Danilo, and her daughter Olga. After Darinka left Montenegro, the ruling family moved here from the Biljarda across the square. In 1926 the State Museum was founded in the building; it is now the Historical Museum unit of the National Museum.

Getting there

The museum is on Dvorski trg in the centre of Cetinje, on the same square as the Biljarda and the Ethnographic Museum, a short walk from the Cetinje Monastery. The museum publishes nothing on step-free access; its accessibility section is empty.

Nearby

• Njegoš Museum Biljarda with the Relief of Montenegro in its courtyard.
• Art Museum in the Government House, Novice Cerovića bb.
• Monument to Ivan Crnojević in the town centre.

Questions

Is King Nikola's Museum open in winter? Yes, Monday to Friday 09:00-15:00; it closes at weekends from 16 November.

Is there a combined ticket? The €20 collective ticket covers all National Museum units and the mausoleum on Lovćen.

Are tours available in English? Guided tours are listed in English, French, Chinese and Montenegrin.