Home to stunning Adriatic coastlines, scenic mountains and some of the prettiest towns in Europe, Montenegro is fast becoming a major tourist spot. Similar in many ways to bordering Croatia, this may be a slightly cheaper option but don’t be fooled – its still ideal for a quick getaway and dose of Southern European sunshine.
Please note that these are all my personal recommendations and are not sponsored in any way.
Getting There
The two largest airports in Montenegro are in the capital, Podgorica, and the coastal resort town of Tivat. Budget airlines tend to serve Podgorica over Tivat, with national carriers preferring the more convenient coastal location of Tivat.
In general, check out the likes of British Airways, Lufthansa or Iberia to Tivat – all operate flights on a seasonal basis. There are also some flights from London to Tivat with easyJet if budgets are tighter. For much cheaper flights, Podgorica is a better bet. It is served extensively by the likes of Wizz Air and Ryanair from across Europe.
From outside Europe, options are limited to connections to the Middle East or Central Asia. These include Tivat to Dubai with flydubai or Podgorica to Almaty with Air Astana.
Large numbers of people also cross into Montenegro by land from neighbouring Croatia, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo or Bosnia and Herzegovina. All are possible by (admittedly uncomfortable) bus. The crossing into Serbia can also be done by train from Belgrade to Bar or Podgorica, though this cannot be booked online.
At the time of writing, UK nationals do not require a visa to visit Montenegro for up to 90 days within a 180 day period as per the FCDO website. However, if you choose to stay in private accommodation, you will be required to register your presence within a day of arrival. The same is true for US citizens.
More details on registration can be found here.
Major Destinations
Major tourist destinations within Montenegro include:
- Kotor – a famous fortified city sitting within a stunning bay
- Budva – the party capital of the country
- Tivat – the place for high-end resorts and beach clubs
- Cetinje – the former capital and away from the crowded coast
- Durmitor National Park – the country’s pretty mountainous centre
Getting Around
Apart from the occasional train to Belgrade which stops at a few Montenegrin destinations on its way through, the best way to get around the country is by bus. This is quite easy to do, with multiple scheduled and bookable connections between most places every day, though few are comfortable. The best website to book tickets in advance is BusTicket4.me.
If you want to escape the crowds or go to places which are more remote, renting a car could also be an option, with a company such as Europcar. However, on the coast its extremely likely that a bus will serve wherever you’re trying to get to.
Once you’re at your destination, none of the major ride hailing apps operate in Montenegro. Instead, you’re best off with MonteGO. That said, most places like Kotor or Cetinje are relatively small and possibly faster to navigate on foot due to their narrow and often pedestrianised streets.
Montenegro is a tiny country so, even if internal flights were an option, they would be pointless. Take the bus instead.
Accommodation
In smaller coastal destinations such as Kotor, accommodation can be expensive and book up quickly during the peak summer period. As such, expect to pay a premium for places in better locations and book well in advance. Continuing with the example of Kotor, hostel dorm beds will go for at least £20 a night in the old town.
Hotels are no less expensive, at upwards of £100 a night for a central location. This means that Airbnb may be a good alternative option in some places, offering cheaper prices and better locations.
Away from the coast, expect to pay around half of the prices mentioned above.
Money
Montenegro has unofficially adopted the Euro as its currency, which is readily available across the world. It is worth bringing a good amount of cash with you if you can as well, as card payments are not yet widespread acorss the country.
Equally, ATMs often charge a fee for withdrawals, with only Erste Bank and Ziraat Bank (Mastercard only) not charging you to take money out.
It is worth noting that the country’s adoption of the Euro has driven up prices dramatically in recent years (they have as much as doubled year on year at times). This is quickly transforming Montenegro from a cheap country into one which is actually quite expensive.
Other Points
It is worthwhile mentioning Podgorica at this point, as you may have thought it was mistakenly omitted from the list of major destinations above. Rest assured, it wasn’t a mistake. The Montengrin capital offers very little for tourists other than serving as a transport hub. It is neither pretty nor home to any interesting attractions. For beauty, go to the coast; for culture, go to Cetinje.
When visiting the Bay of Kotor, one thing which you’ll inevitably want to do is get out onto the water to visit some of the islands and caves (including a former Soviet submarine base) which are scattered across the water. This is worth doing and can be booked at short notice at the kiosks set up by the numerous operators within this park.
Into The Elsewhere 