Montenegro
Montenegro is a small country in the Balkans, with a population of about 600,000 people. The country boasts a stunning landscape, encompassing mountains, beaches, and rivers. It earned its place as one of the world’s newest nations by establishing itself in 2006. Many old towns and cities have been around since Roman times. The country is tiny yet mighty! I’ve been to Montenegro twice and loved both visits! It’s also an easy country to add on if you’re visiting Albania or Croatia as it borders both.
The official language of Montenegro is Serbian and it uses the Cyrillic alphabet. Most people also speak English, as well as Italian or German.
The Ultimate Montenegro Itineray
This Montenegro Itinerary will take you from the capital of Podgorica to the dramatic mountains of Durmitor and then to the Bay of Kotor, with must-visit stops along the way. Eight days is enough to see everything, but I’ve added some options for you to extend your trip as well! You can do Montenegro as a road trip destination or bus around.
Montenegro Highlights
Kotor
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kotor’s old town is quaint. The town was originally built in the 7th century BC. Over time, it has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country.
Montenegro Activities
Getting to Montenegro
Fly
You can fly into the small airport near Kotor (Tivat) or into Podgorica Airport.
Private and Group Transfers
I used Transfers Montenegro to book a private transfer service from Dubrovnik to Kotor (€130). I liked their sites because they had really great (and recent) reviews on Trip Advisor and they had a price list online. Their service was so good that I also used them to get to Dubrovnik airport from Kotor (€110) because MH Travel (below) canceled the ride I had booked. Communication was fast on email and WhatsApp. The driver was early and waiting for me with a sign with my name. This service is cash only. I used this company when I visited Montenegro again in 2023 and experienced the same fast service via WhatsApp. From Durmitor National Park to Kotor we paid €230 and from Kotor to Tirana Albania we paid €270.
If you need to get back to Dubrovnik from Kotor, check out MH Travel. They have a transfer service for only €35 from Kotor to Dubrovnik Airport. However, it won’t run unless there are 4 people. You can reserve online and they will cancel the hold on your card if they don’t get enough people; this happened to me and they communicated well via email.
Border Control
Between Dubrovnik, Croatia, and Kotor
I read some bad (recent) reviews from the week before I wanted to travel in 2022 when I was looking up a bus transfer. Some buses don’t leave Dubrovnik on time, stopped for no reason, and had long waits at border control… As the most economical option, this is worth it if you have enough time in Kotor to spend a potential day of travel. As I only had 3 days, I didn’t want to waste time on a bus. I used GetByBus to see available tickets and this is where there were recent reviews. MH Travel suggested using this site as well.
For other reasons, I had traffic when we passed the border into Montenegro and so I was delayed about an hour into Kotor. There was a rainstorm the night before, which caused debris to go onto the road. Police had to hold traffic while the debris was moved.
Between Tirana, Albania and Kotor/Podgorica
There was some traffic between the Albania and Montenegro border but we were through in about 30 minutes the two times we crossed in September 2023.
Cruises
Cruise ships frequently stop at Kotor. If you want to avoid the cruise crowds check out this site to see if there are any cruises docking when you want to visit. You may want to adjust your travel dates… Or, if you’re into cruises, you can book one that stops here.
When to visit Montenegro
Most people who visit Montenegro come during June and July. The summer heat can get intense with temperatures between 26-38° C. The best time to visit would be May before the large tourist groups arrive or in September. October could also be a good option but there is a higher chance of rain. However, during my second visit to Montenegro, I failed to listen to my own advice and visited at the end of July. It was super hot in the cities and by Kotor but Durmitor National Park was pleasant, being one of the coolest places in Europe during the summer months.
Money in Montenegro
Cards are accepted but you’ll likely be charged a little more for souvenirs. The bank rates are (in my opinion) high when you take out cash. The ATMs (even bank ATMs, not just general ones) charge a 10% fee on top of your own bank’s fee. Budget enough to take out cash for your transfers, boat rides, lodging, some food (though most places accept cards), and souvenirs.
Although it is not in the European Union, Montenegro uses the Euro.