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Best price guarantee. Check all offers and come back! Tours crafted with expertise by top notch staff.
Best price guarantee. Check all offers and come back! Tours crafted with expertise by top notch staff.
Yes, yes and YES! Montenegro is welcoming travelers from all around the world, and it proudly enjoys a reputation for being safe and friendly.
Montenegro is a small country with population of 600.000, so local communities are very connected (“everybody knows everybody”), so you will feel much safer than in big cities.
This is very important for solo travelers, especially women, to know that in Montenegro they do not have to think about walking at night alone, as locals are very respectful and protective towards women.
The easiest way to get here is surely by air from many European destinations. Montenegro has two commercial airports, one in the capital Podgorica, and one at the coastline, in Tivat. In summertime season number of flights and destinations increase, so you may find better connections from April until September. Usually, flights to Serbia, Russia, England and Germany are running all year around.
When it comes to overland transport, Montenegro is easy reachable from its neighboring countries. From Croatia, there are regular busses along the coast from Dubrovnik (that also has very connected airport and it is near Montenegrin border).
From Serbia, there are several daily bus departures from Belgrade (capital of Serbia) via Podgorica, and a train ride (including a night ride) connecting Belgrade with Bar in Montenegro.
Bosnia and Hercegovina also has good connection to Podgorica from Trebinje and Sarajevo, and Albania morning departures from Tirana and Shkodra with “Old Town Travel” bus line.
For all the bus schedules, we suggest using www.busticket4.me website.
Perhaps the most romantic way to reach this country of mountains is by a ferry from Italy. Between April and September, Montenegro Lines (www.montenegrolines.net) runs few times a week from Bari to Bar.
Optimal time to visit Montenegro would be from April until October.
Hottest summer months are July and August, and that is the time when you should expect serious crowds on the roads and beaches.
However, June and September are much more comfortable with the temperature, there are less tourists, so prices of accommodation drop.
Montenegrin coast is pleasant place to visit all year around, just have in mind that winters can be rainy, and temperatures can vary from 15 to 4 degrees in Celsius. Despite that, many days can be sunny and being by the sea in Montenegro can be a great escape for Christmas holidays, especially if you are a party person, like the locals.
Montenegrin climate changes as soon as you go inland and up with the altitude, so at the mountains winters are harsher, and snow covers many places. This opens new opportunity to enjoy winter resorts with skiing and snowboarding in four different ski centers that Montenegro has.
Springtime is magical in this country, all the nature awakes, and everything flourishes. Not an ideal time to swim, unless you take cold Adriatic sea as a challenge. Also count that rain can sometimes change your sightseeing plans.
Montenegro uses euro (€) as national currency, even though it is not a member of EU. Banks are open Monday to Friday (09-17h), Saturday until noon, and ATMs are easy to find in city centers.
Most shops are open Monday to Saturday from 09 until 20 hours, supermarkets are open from 07 in the morning and work until 22h, while in peak of season some of them are open even until midnight. Bars, coffee shops and restaurants are working every day from 07 until midnight or 01 am, night clubs until 05 am.
Internet is widespread across bars and restaurants, and every hotel, hostel or private accommodation has good connection, so you need not to worry if you do not by local SIM card. In case you want to have mobile internet all the time, you can by a SIM card in every city center, in small newspaper shops, post office, or directly with mobile operator.
Official language is called Montenegrin, which is very similar (if not the same) with Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian, the only difference is in dialect and accent.
Many of the locals speak English, especially the ones working in tourism, but communication can be challenging if you get to rural areas and mountain villages.
Driving in Montenegro is on the right side of the road.
Renting cars is quite affordable (approx. from 40-50 euro per day), it is very common for travelers to rent cars to be able to navigate around. You should have international driving licence.
Some roads are more challenging, so to some places is better to hire someone to take you (like 25 serpentines Old Road, or road to Ostrog Monastery).
Montenegrins are very confident drivers, so be aware of possible fast cars on the road taking over.
Taxi is mostly reliable and inexpensive - in every town there are few companies that operate, and usually they are easy to recognize (with many ads sticked on the cars), but do watch out for the ones at the airport (only taxi sign, maybe one ad sticker, or no ads at all), some of them are self-employed and they will hit you with a price.
Do not overlook Montenegro for its size. It is super diverse, and it is quite difficult to select only few places – the most honest would be to say YOU SHOULD SEE EVERYTHING, but that would not ease up your holiday itinerary, so let’s pick “the most important ones”.
KOTOR
Not only the fact that Kotor is, when it comes to Montenegro, the leading photo of all book covers, tourist guides and world media campaign, but its true charm is felt in the first moment you step into the Old Town and get easily bewitched by the guarding rocks above. Narrow streets, stone palaces and vivid atmosphere is only a fragment of the beauty this place radiates.
PERAST AND OUR LADY OF ROCKS
The architectural brother of Kotor, Perast, is only 12 kilometers away down the bay and it’s not to be missed! It offers a window into the Venetian times, and being UNESCO protected, you can be certain not much has been changed ever since. Besides these picturesque streets, Perast’s main attraction is artificial island Our Lady of Rocks and it is very easy to get there with 5€ taxi boat.
LOVĆEN MOUNTAIN AND NATIONAL PARK
Trip to this glorious mountain is guarantying the best bird eye’s views of Boka Bay and elevating to the areas abundant in rocky peaks. On top of Lovćen you will find the highest mausoleum in the world, where the greatest ruler of Montenegro rests in peace.
LAKE SKADAR, RIJEKA CRNOJEVIĆA
This largest lake in the Balkans, shared between Montenegro and Albania, is ideal for relaxing boat ride, swimming and bird watching. Escaping busy coast to this wildlife will bring you an insight to the real life of Montenegrins, often gathered around tasty domestic food and homemade wine.
TARA CANYON, TARA BRIDGE, RAFTING
First sight of Tara should be definitely from famous piece of art – Tara River Bridge (Đurđevića Tara Bridge), and second from the canyon itself, experiencing the river fully with going for rafting! “The Tear of Europe” is the longest river in Montenegro (144km), creates the deepest canyon in Europe (1300m), and it is completely drinkable! The beauty of this region is impeccable and will make you forget coastline and beaches.
DURMITOR MOUNTAIN AND NATIONAL PARK
Huge limestone massif that spans over 39,000 acres, shaped by glaciers, is real hiking heaven in summertime! Numerous lakes (known as “mountin eyes”) and hiking trails are to be explored, and don’t forget to conquest the highest peak of the country Bobotov Kuk at 2,523 meters. In wintertime, the main settlement at Durmitor, Žabljak town, turns into a ski resort, with the sloops nearby at Savin Kuk peak.
OSTROG MONASTERY
The most sacred place in Montenegro is surely Serbian Christian Orthodox Monastery of Ostrog. Visit to this place is not only reserved for strong believers, but for people across the world, from different religion and nation, connecting them with its undeniable energy.
This 17th century monastery is located on a mountain cliff 900m above sea level, and the road up is winding and very narrow, so it is not recommended to drive on your own. Many people take the way up by foot, some even with no shoes at all. It is spectacular to witness all those people praying and being somehow part of this important pilgrimage.
BUDVA OLD TOWN, BEACHES AND ST. STEFAN
Budva is considered to be the center of tourism in Montenegro, not only with rich cultural and historical heritage, but having some of the best beaches, hotels and nightlife at the coastline.
The Old Town is small Mediterranean jewel, crossed with narrow streets and bars and souvenir shops.
Pebbled beaches may not be your first choice, but as you enter crystal clear water, you’ll forget the rocks, especially if your visit to the beach gets bewitched by a sunset.
Island of Saint Stefan, the most common picture of Montenegro, now stands as the most expensive luxury resort in the country mainly for its exclusivity, while the town firstly emerged on the rock in the 15th century as a fisherman’s village.
NEVIDIO CANYON
To experience wildest places of Montenegro where sunlight doesn’t break thorough, it is mandatory to go through the canyons, but among many to explore, one is the most spectacular - the magnificent “Nevidio” (Unseen) canyon. With well-trained instructors and guides you have no worries passing this narrow mountain crack naturally carved by the river Komarnica but do expect multiple adrenalines rush every time you need to jump into freezing water.
PROKLETIJE
“The Alps of the Balkans” uncover neglected and wild side of Montenegro - needle-like peaks and snow that stays on some parts even on the hottest summers – will unquestionably leave you breathless. If you want to embrace dramatic scenery of this National Park, always join a group for hiking, or hire a local guide, as the mountain can be very hostile for foreigners to explore on their own. Do not skip Grbaja Valley, Gusinje town, and Plav Lake.
CETINJE
Old Royal Capital now stands a symbol of Montenegrin history, culture and arts. Original architecture from the past times is being preserved so the town seems to be frozen in time and numerous museums here will provide detail insight into Montenegrin vast legacy. Located in between the coast and the new capital Podgorica, it is easily accessible and quite different from Kotor, Boka Bay and Budva.
ULCINJ AND ADA BOJANA
The southernmost town of Ulcinj is located at the border with Albania, so the impact of different culture is immediately noticed, starting with signs on the road in different language, to architecture, and lifestyle in general. Ulcinj is a different world also due to long sandy beaches - quite different than the ones you’ll see in Budva.
This kitesurfing paradise will stay in your memory mainly for the mind-blowing sunsets and horse riding along the beach.
Ada Bojana has long reputation being a nudist beach, but if you are not that type, make sure to visit it anyway and go kayaking along the river or just treat yourself with some freshly caught fish in one of the restaurants on the water.
PORTO MONTENEGRO TIVAT
Formal navy base now is turned into luxury marina town with more than 450 berths for mega yachts, high-rate hotels, international restaurants, designers’ shops and exclusive sea view apartments. However, Porto Montenegro is not reserved only for wealthy people, as locals like to take a walk around, have a nice meal in the evening, or come for their morning routine.
