Montenegro is a small country on the Adriatic Sea, bordered by Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, and Albania. A dozen or so years ago, it was part of Yugoslavia. However, in 2006, it declared independence, and Podgorica became the country’s capital. For a long time, it was treated as a forgotten corner of the Adriatic Sea. Little was known about Montenegro, and few people travelled there for tourism. Currently, Montenegro offers beautiful views, proximity to wild nature, diverse landscapes, picturesque beaches, and a turquoise sea. Montenegro also has excellent and very hospitable inhabitants, as well as a constantly growing tourist base. On top of that, it has fantastic Balkan cuisine with a touch of Italian, Greek, and Turkish flavours.
On the one hand, Montenegro has a fascinating history. On the other hand, its history was very turbulent, and the political situation was unstable. Many wars and battles, and consequently rulers and owners, swept through its territory. It is not without reason that the region’s geopolitical situation, from the mid-nineteenth century onward, was called the “Balkan cauldron”. This situation stemmed from the conflicting political interests of the Balkan Peninsula’s states and the powers that intervened intensively in the affairs of individual regions. The region’s turbulence was also shaped by deep ethnic and religious divisions and overlapping territorial claims.
A brief history of the country
For several centuries, Montenegro was part of the Roman Empire. Then it became part of the vast territory ruled by the Byzantine Empire, based in Constantinople (today’s Istanbul). In the 6th century, the Slavs settled here; however, in the 12th century, the Serbs took control of the region. By the end of the 15th century, the Ottoman Turks conquered Montenegro and did not leave until 300 years later. Although the country moved closer to Russia in terms of financial dependence, Austria made political decisions. In 1851, the struggle for unification and independence began.
After further attacks and territorial claims by Turkey, in 1878, part of the lands of Greater Bulgaria was annexed to the Principality of Montenegro. During World War I, Austro-Hungarian and German troops occupied Montenegro. In 1918, it became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.
In 1929, Montenegro became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. However, during World War II, Italy and Germany again occupied it. After a 1949 vote, Montenegro became part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
After the collapse of Socialist Yugoslavia (1992) and Federal Yugoslavia (2003), and after breaking from Serbia (2006), Montenegro declared independence. In the same year, it was admitted to the United Nations (as the 192nd member) and, in 2007, to the Council of Europe (so far, the 47th member).
Montenegro today
Montenegro has been a candidate for EU membership since December 2010. Since 2017, it has also been a member of NATO.
The country’s turbulent history has shaped today’s Montenegro with influences from many nations. From architecture to art, culture, education, and cuisine, today’s Montenegro is a true pearl of the Balkans.
Montenegro – when is the best time to visit it?
This country lies in three climatic zones. The temperate continental climate occurs in the country’s northern and central parts. High mountains separate the southern part of Montenegro from the rest of the country. The country has four seasons, with hot summers (above 40 degrees) and cold winters (below zero). The high mountain areas have a mountain climate. In winter, these areas are often inaccessible because heavy snowfall covers the roads and severe frosts cause shortages of electricity and water.
The area on the Adriatic Sea has a subtropical climate; more precisely, it is the Mediterranean zone. The area has two seasons: a hot summer and a very mild winter. The average summer temperature exceeds 30℃, and in May and June it is 25℃. Although January is the coldest month of the year, when thermometers show 12 ℃, many people still find it the perfect time to relax in nature, away from tourist crowds.
Montenegro’s 150 km of Adriatic coast attracts crowds year-round. Tourists visiting Montenegro are often from the Balkans, Central Europe, Greece, and Turkey, but the largest ethnic group comes from neighbouring Croatia.
Montenegro – what you should know before your trip?
Currency
After the collapse of Yugoslavia, hyperinflation was overwhelming. Montenegro used the dinar at the time, but the government also introduced a second currency, the German mark. This measure helped rebuild the country’s economy and support trade with foreign strategic partners. When Germany entered the Eurozone in 2002, Montenegro adopted the Euro as its currency. Thus, in March 2002, the Euro became Montenegro’s sole currency and the official means of payment.
Montenegro useful tips
Travelling by car
Many tourists come to Montenegro with their own cars or rent one on-site. The general principles of road traffic are the same here as in other European countries. Also worth noting is that here (as in Italy), residents’ temperament and recklessness may cause shivers and dizziness. Therefore, one should move on local roads with limited trust and caution. However, this remark does not apply to professional drivers who drive buses and taxis. They are distinguished by their excellent driving skills in difficult mountain conditions, courtesy, focus on the road, and a high level of safety, so tourists can feel safe with them.
When you come to Montenegro with your car, you must have a driver’s license, civil liability insurance and a registration certificate. A green card is no longer required. In August 2021, the European Commission approved Montenegro’s participation in the Multilateral Agreement, which abolished the obligation.
Roads in Montenegro
The main roads on the Adriatic coast are in good condition. They are generally asphalted and illuminated, with one lane in each direction. The Adriatic Highway, which runs along the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, is part of three European routes: E65, E80, and E851. This route passes through four countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.
However, the farther from the coast we go, the more surprises the roads offer. You often find asphalt sections, gravel roads, steep climbs, and narrow passages where one driver has to give way and pull over because two cars cannot fit at once.
Unlit tunnels are carved into rock or stone along the road. When travelling through the mountains, it is easy to “break the suspension”, scratch the car’s side on protruding rocks, or drive onto a stone and puncture a tyre.
Local rental companies carefully inspect cars on return, often focusing on the chassis and bodywork scratches.
There are no tolls throughout the country, except for two cases:
Sozin tunnel
The tunnel is located north of the Sutomore resort. It is the longest tunnel in the country, measuring over 4100 m. The fee for a passenger car is EUR 2.5, and for a motorbike, it is EUR 1.5. Toll collection points are located at the exit from Podgorica. You pay in cash at the cashier’s booth. Worth knowing that in the tunnel, police with radar often stop in coves and hand out fines for speeding. The speed limit is between 60 and 80 km/h and depends on weather conditions. You can find more information about the tunnel on auto-travel.me.
Kamenari-Lepetane ferry
The Kamenari-Lepetane ferry is part of the Adriatic Highway on the E65 section in the Bay of Kotor. Crossing this section by ferry is a shortcut, reducing the time needed to travel around the Bay of Kotor by road. Ferries run around the clock and leave every 15 minutes. Summer and winter timetables apply, so check them before your trip.
Ferries in Montenegro depart continuously during the daytime (05:00 – 00:00). At night (00:00 – 05:00), during the tourist season (May to October), the ferries also run continuously, and the schedule for the rest of the year is as follows:
- From Kamenari (near Herceg Novi) – 00:00, 01:00, 02:00, 03:00, 04:00
- From Lepetane (near Tivat) – 00:30, 01:30, 02:30, 03:30, 04:30.
Transfer fee at the Bay of Kotor:
- Passengers – free
- scooter, motorcycle – €2
- car – €4.5
- car with a caravan, minivan (7 to 20 places) – €9
You can pay by card or in cash. The Montenegro Ferry website has more information about the ferry.
Montenegro’s roads are, above all, very picturesque, with breathtaking views. When travelling by car, focus on the trip’s natural beauty and slow down so you don’t miss any of the views.
Travelling the winding, steep P1 road from Cetinje to Kotor offers spectacular views and unforgettable impressions. This road is considered one of the most beautiful routes in Montenegro and in Europe.
Car rentals
Car rentals are available in almost every major tourist destination. Both international and small local rentals are available. An air-conditioned car is necessary in the summer because parking in the sun for several hours can become too hot to breathe.
Below are some links to the rental companies. I haven’t personally checked any of them, but it is worth reading other users’ opinions in the groups.
- Montenegro Car Hire – a Kotor-based online car rental booking service connecting travellers with local car rental suppliers across Montenegro.
- Sixt is an international network of rental companies. In Montenegro, they have offices in Budva, Herceg Novi, Kotor, Podgorica and Tivat.
- terraecar.com, a rental company operating throughout Montenegro.
- Adria Way Rent a Car– a local agency based in Budva.
Public transport – buses
Buses are the most popular means of transport in Montenegro. Both long-distance buses operated by international carriers and local Montenegrin lines run throughout the country. International bus carriers run between Montenegro and neighbouring countries (Croatia, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina). Large international transport corporations usually operate them. You can buy tickets online, although it is difficult to find free seats in the high season.
Regional buses are comfortable, and the network of connections covers all larger and smaller towns throughout the country. In larger towns, bus stations often have waiting rooms, toilets, and small eateries. At the bus station in Budva, there is, among other things, a cafe, a playground for children, and a mini-zoo, including turtles, peacocks, swans, and rabbits.
Information signs also lead to the city stations, so it’s fairly easy to find.
Note that railway stations do not sell advance tickets or offer seat reservations. You can buy tickets for a specific journey about 20 minutes before the bus’s scheduled departure. Minibuses are available for short journeys, and large, comfortable coaches are available for longer journeys.
The busticket4.me website provides addresses of individual bus stations across Montenegro and timetables for regional buses.
Approximate ticket prices:
- Budva-Kotor: a one-way ticket costs 4 euros and the travel time is approximately 35 minutes.
- Budva – Petrovac: one-way ticket 3.5 euros; travel time approx. 40 minutes.
Local buses in Montenegro also operate short routes.
Blue Line
The Blue Line serves the Boko-Kotor Bay route. On the way, the bus stops in cities such as Kotor, Dobrota, Lutu, Orahovac and most of the towns you pass along the way. The journey takes 1 hour, and the ticket costs 2.5 euros. During the week, buses run from 6:15 a.m. to 12:15 a.m., leaving every hour. Buses run every 2 hours on weekends and public holidays. Buses leave Kotor on even hours and, on odd hours, go in the opposite direction.
Mediterranean Express
The Mediterranean Express line runs along the Budva Riviera. However, buses departing from Budva either arrive at Sveti Stefan Island or continue to Petrovac.
The journey to Sveti Stefan takes 40 minutes, and the ticket costs 1.5 euros. Morning buses (between 6:00 and 8:00) leave Budva every half hour. Between 8.00 a.m. and 10.00 p.m., they leave every 10 minutes. From 22.00 to 00.00, they leave every 15 minutes, then every half hour again after midnight. Remember that the last bus from Budva leaves at 1.30 a.m., and from Sveti Stefan at 2.00 a.m.
The bus to Petrovac follows a route similar to the one to Sveti Stefan. However, the Sveti Stefan bus stop is on the main road, not in the town. The whole way to Petrovac takes 1 hour, and the ticket costs 3 euros. Buses from Budva leave every hour between 8:10 a.m. and 11:10 p.m. Buses from Petrovac run between 9:10 a.m. and 10:10 a.m.
These buses do not depart from bus stations but from bus stops in the city centre. You can buy travel tickets from vendors at the bus stop or directly from the driver. Timetables are usually printed at bus stops.
Public transport – trains
Montenegro has two main railway routes. The first one runs from Bar to Bijelo Polje (continuing to Belgrade), and the second runs from Podgorica to Nikšić.
Trains from Bar to Podgorica leave almost every hour, and a ticket for the entire route costs 2.4 euros. The train passes, among other places, along Skadar Lake. Many people take this route for the beautiful views and natural scenery.
Trains from Podgorica to Nikšić run only five times a day. The journey takes one hour, and tickets cost 2.8 euros.
You can buy train tickets at railway stations or, if needed, directly from the conductor. The Railway Transport of Montenegro website has the current timetable, journey times, and prices.
Taxis
Taxis in Montenegro are not expensive. As a rule, the entry fee starts from 1 Euro, and each kilometre equals approx. 0.4 / 0.5 Euro. On long intercity routes, a one-way trip costs about twice as much. 1 euro per kilometer. For example, a one-way taxi from Budva to Kotor will cost around 35 euros. In most cases, taxis have taximeters. However, before a long journey, make sure to agree on the price with the driver. Taxi stands are easy to spot. There are many, and in tourist resorts, they are located at almost every major intersection.
You can also order a taxi in advance. I used RED Taxi Montenegro, which is considered very reliable and one of the best in the country. You can order a taxi on their website by filling out the online form. Later, the taxi company will contact you with a price confirmation and the pick-up location. Before the trip, customers also receive information about the driver and the vehicle’s registration number. The website also has a price list. Drivers are paid only in cash for the journey.
Below are some recommended carriers, their region of operation and contact numbers
Red Taxi (Budva, Podgorica, Tivat and Kotor)
- Podgorica +382 069 034 892; +382 067 319 714, Viber +382 068 0 19714
- Kotor Viber / WhatsApp +382 67 248 588; +382 67 019 719
- Tivat Viber / WhatsApp +382 67 254 800; +382 67 019 729
Djir Taxi (Tivat and Kotor)
- Kotor: Viber +382 67 019 737
- Tivat: Viber +382 67 019 777
Happy Taxi (Budva)
- Budva: Viber +382 68 590 222; +382 69 019 515
Bike
Recently, Nextbike entered Montenegro, offering bike rentals in 25 countries. So far, Nextbike has launched rentals only in Budva. Each Nextbike app user can rent a bike there. A 30-minute journey costs 1 Euro, and the daily fee is 9 Euros.
Useful applications
When ordering a taxi or other services in Montenegro, it is helpful to have popular, widely used apps installed. One of them is VIBER. It lets you call or chat for free. You don’t need a SIM card; all you need is a Wi-Fi connection.
Some also use WhatsApp, but young drivers mostly use this app.
Google Translate can help you when the driver does not speak English. In the app, choose Croatian or Serbian to tell the driver exactly where you want to go. Unfortunately, the app doesn’t support Montenegrin.
Airports
Montenegro has two airports: Podgorica and Tivat. There is now a direct flight from Poland to Podgorica, as LOT has been flying there since 2021. You can also fly directly to Montenegro from many other European cities. Anyway, the travel time from Warsaw is less than 2 hours. The bus transfer from Podgorica to the coastal towns (Budva, Petrovac) takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.
Many tourists also fly to Dubrovnik Airport (Croatia), which is 40 km from the border with Montenegro. The journey from Dubrovnik to Budva takes approximately 2.5-3 hours.
You can also get to Montenegro by boat from Italy: Bari and Ancona.
Language
In Montenegro, the official language is Montenegrin, a South Slavic language derived from Serbo-Croatian. Because of its strong similarities with Polish, Poles can understand it well. Montenegro has two alphabets: Latin and Cyrillic. However, the Latin alphabet is used for street names on signposts. It can also be used for city names or on restaurant menus, so there is no problem reading it. Anyway, descriptions in the Cyrillic alphabet don’t mean it’s Russian, although knowing Russian helps you read them correctly.
You can also communicate in English, German, or Russian at tourist resorts, hotels, and restaurants.
What else is worth checking before your trip?
Before going to Montenegro, visit the Government of Montenegro website for the latest information on security in the country and required documents, visas, or permits.
If you need a visa or health declaration to enter Montenegro, I recommend visiting ivisa.com/montenegro*, where you can get help filing and processing the necessary documents.
Montenegro, my other posts
I encourage you as well to read my other posts about Montenegro
*Links to the offer from iVisa are affiliate