EXPLORE MONTENEGRO
Your Comprehensive Destination Guide
At a Glance
Total area: 5,333 square miles
Capital: Podgorica (186,000 inhabitants)—an administrative and Economic center
Capital: Cetinje, historical and cultural center
Religion: Various religions, including Orthodox, Muslim, and Catholic.
Population: 616,177 thousand (2023)
Languages: English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
Money: Euro (Montenegro adopted the euro as its official currency in 2002.)
Banking Hours: M-F 08:00–20:00 and Sat 08:00 AM–15:00
Telephone/Communication: Country code: +382
Travel Requirements
Montenegro is neither in the Schengen Zone nor a member of the EU. US visitors staying for less than ninety days do not need a visa.
Tourists must register with the local office even if traveling within Montenegro. In most cases, hotels handle this for guests. Check with your host if you are staying at an Airbnb or similar accommodations.
Climate: Montenegro has a Mediterranean climate along the coast, with considerable rainfall from September to April. As one moves inland, the climate gradually shifts to a more continental one, with harsher winters brought on by the country’s higher elevation. In Montenegro, precipitation is abundant, particularly along the coast and in the hilly and mountainous areas that face the sea. It doesn’t rain very often, but when it does, it pours a lot. Rainfall may be heavy throughout the lengthy rainy season, which lasts from September to April.
Transportation Options
Main Airport:
The Podgorica Airport is located in the heart of the country. It’s a 30-minute drive to the coast and an hour to the nearest mountain resorts.
If you are planning to land directly at the coast, the Tivat Airport, near Boka Bay, is the most convenient route.
Dubrovnik Airport in Croatia, which is 15 minutes away from the Croatia-Montenegro border, could be your optimal choice, especially if you want to explore both countries’ coastlines.
Bus:
Montenegro’s bus system is a good way to get around the country, connecting cities and neighboring countries. However, buses may not reach every destination. You can travel to Montenegro and Dubrovnik by bus from Kotor’s bus terminal.
The Blue Line Bus, Kotor’s public transportation system, operates on its own schedule. It’s inexpensive. However, your arrival is a huge IF. Give yourself plenty of time.
Cruise Terminal: Cruise ships unload from Kotor’s harbor.
Driving: See our Balkan Road Trip
Travel Safety Tips
In general, Kotor is safe. Violent crimes are uncommon. Pickpocketing may be a problem in tourist locations, so be careful with your possessions. Because there is a higher chance of robbery, use caution while taking cash from ATMs, and be cautious when entering your PIN. Use an ATM inside a bank if you can.
There are protests and some political tension, but you’re not likely to witness this in Kotor. Steering is always advised.
Health Safety
Besides the current COVID-19 outbreak in Montenegro, there are other illnesses such as anthrax, hantavirus, hepatitis C, leptospirosis, and sexually transmitted infections. Tick-borne encephalitis is a danger in fields, woods, and other rural areas.
- Limited access to quality healthcare: Physicians and hospitals often demand prompt payment in cash.
- Medical evacuation: In the event of a major sickness or accident, medical evacuation may be necessary, but it might be costly.
Fun Facts!
Tara Canyon is the deepest canyon in Europe, while the Bay of Kotor is the world’s southernmost fjord.
One of the biggest Orthodox sanctuaries in the world is Ostrog Monastery. Those of various religions attend it.
Bar is home to the oldest tree in Europe, an olive tree that is more than 2,000 years old. Her tree is around 10 meters in diameter. The majority of Bar’s 100,000 olive trees are millennia old.
The unique phoenix plant of Montenegro is the exquisite Ramonda Serbica, a constitutionally protected blooming plant that grows on the slopes of Rumija. It may resurrect after drying out with the first rains.
Bogićevica (Prokletije), a 1,952-meter peak, is the only home of the black salamander (Salamandra atra) in Montenegro.
On September 20, 1991, the Declaration was adopted in Žabljak, making Montenegro the world’s first ecological state.
ATTRACTIONS and ACTIVITIES
Bay of Kotor
A 17-mile-long fjord that is home to Kotor, Tivat, and Herceg Novi. It is a beautiful place to cycle, kayak, or take a boat cruise around the bay.
Budva Stari Grad (Old Town)
One of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic Coast dates back to the 7th century. Greeks founded it initially, and it later developed into a significant Roman and Byzantine hub. The fortress walls, built by the Venetians in the 15th century, are still a dominant feature.
Durmitor National Park
A national park includes a plateau of 2,000-meter-high peaks and deep gorges. It takes around four to five hours to trek to the top of Bobotov Kuk, the park's highest mountain. Tara Canyon is a 1,300-meter-deep canyon located in the park.
Kotor Stari Grad (Old Town)
The Old Town of Kotor is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Montenegro. The asymmetric structure of the square and narrow streets, combined with many valuable examples of medieval architecture, has contributed to Kotor being placed in UNESCO's cultural inheritance list.
