Travel Tips for Montenegro: Everything You Need to Know [2024]

Montenegro is one of the best European countries to visit and one of our favorites. However, it’s still less developed and doesn’t have the same tourist infrastructure as countries like Spain, Italy, or France. That’s why we’ve put together some essential travel tips for Montenegro we wish we had known before visiting it for the first time. These tips will help you save both money and time. Keep reading to make the most of your trip!

Where is Montenegro?

Montenegro is a country located in Europe, specifically in the Balkan region. It borders Croatia to the northwest, Serbia to the east, Kosovo and Albania to the south, and Bosnia and Herzegovina to the west. Montenegro also boasts a stunning coastline along the Adriatic Sea, making it a popular destination for beach lovers. While situated in Europe, Montenegro is not part of the European Union or the Schengen Area, so make sure to check entry requirements before your trip.

How to get to Montenegro?

The best way to reach Montenegro is by flying into Podgorica Airport, which offers direct and affordable flights from many European cities. You can check flight prices and availability for your departure city here. Alternatively, you can drive to Montenegro from neighboring European countries, making it a convenient option for road trips.

Where to Stay in Montenegro: Top Locations for Your Trip

We chose Budva as our base in Montenegro for several compelling reasons. First, Budva is a charming coastal town offering a great selection of hotels, apartments, and restaurants, making it ideal for travelers. Its location is convenient, just a 1-hour drive from the airport and 30 minutes from Kotor. Budva also boasts beautiful beaches and a picturesque old town full of history and charm.

After spending two months in Budva, we’re convinced it’s the best place to stay in Montenegro. For our first month, we rented this highly recommended Airbnb apartment — the hosts picked us up from the airport and were always helpful, even coming to our rescue when we lost our keys late at night. For our second month, we found another apartment through a local friend we met during our stay.

If you’re planning your trip to Montenegro, Budva should definitely be on your radar!

What is the best time to travel to Montenegro?

The best times to visit Montenegro, based on our experience, are spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October). These seasons are perfect for avoiding large crowds and enjoying pleasant temperatures, typically ranging between 15°C and 25°C. We spent April and May in Montenegro, which was ideal for exploring the main attractions, but April was still too cold for beach activities.

If you choose to visit Montenegro outside the peak tourist season, keep in mind that many attractions and restaurants may be closed. For example, when we arrived in Budva in early April, the town felt almost deserted, with many beachfront restaurants only beginning to open by mid-April.

How many days do I need to visit Montenegro?

To fully explore and enjoy all the destinations mentioned in this article, we recommend you to plan at least 7 to 10 days for your trip to Montenegro. This allows you to visit each location, take your time to enjoy the attractions, and capture stunning photos. Plus, it provides flexibility for weather changes or spontaneous activities, ensuring a more relaxed and fulfilling experience.

Is Montenegro part of the Schengen Area?

A common question when planning a trip to Montenegro is whether it is part of the Schengen Area. The answer is no. Montenegro is not part of the Schengen Agreement, so if you plan to visit other European countries, make sure to check the visa requirements and entry policies for each country individually. Montenegro is neither in the Schengen Zone nor in the European Union. Check out our article on countries outside the Schengen Agreement for ideas on extending your stay in Europe.

What currency they use in Montenegro?

The official currency of Montenegro is the euro (EUR). Montenegro adopted the euro as its currency despite not being a member of the European Union. It’s worth noting that many places in Montenegro still do not accept card payments, so it’s advisable to carry some cash during your trip. To avoid bank fees when withdrawing cash from ATMs in Montenegro, we recommend using a card like Revolut, which offers lower fees and better exchange rates.

What language they speak in Montenegro?

In Montenegro, the official language is Montenegrin. However, due to its history as part of Yugoslavia, it’s common for people to also understand and speak Serbian, Croatian, and other neighboring languages. In tourist areas, English is widely spoken, so communication should not be an issue. However, in less touristy regions, you might encounter people who don’t speak English, so it’s always helpful to learn a few basic phrases in Montenegrin to enhance your experience.

Car Rentals in Montenegro

To explore Montenegro and visit the places we wanted, we decided to rent a car from Dancar in Budva. Throughout our stay, we always chose this company and we are happy to recommend it. Communication was easy as their staff spoke English, and we never had issues with payment or the deposit return. Once, we had a minor accident, but they helped us with the paperwork, communicated with the police, and the insurance covered the damages.

Internet in Montenegro

When we arrived at Montenegro’s airport, we bought 500GB SIM cards for 30 days for just 15 EUR. It was quite affordable, and we had internet access almost everywhere, except in the mountains, far from the cities. The Wi-Fi in our apartment worked well, and many restaurants in Budva also had good Wi-Fi, which was essential for us since we needed to work remotely during our stay. If you’re a digital nomad looking for your next destination, Montenegro is the perfect place to do so. If you’re staying for a shorter time or simply want internet access as soon as you land, we recommend using eSIM Airalo.

Travel Tips for Montenegro

We hope this article has answered all your questions about traveling to Montenegro. Now, all you need to do is plan your trip! To help with that, we’ve prepared a guide to the must-visit places in Montenegro. Safe travels!