Montenegro

Traveling in Montenegro

A winding Adriatic coastline dotted with medieval honey-colored villages and glistening seaside ports in the south, toothpaste-blue lakes and rugged mountain views in the north. Traveling in Montenegro will have you scrambling to pick up your jaw off the ground!

The tiny country of Montenegro lies on the outskirts of Europe. It defies the age-old perception that size matters! With no less than four World Heritage sites and five national parks, Montenegro contains enormous multitudes within its boundaries.

We spent two weeks exploring the country from top to bottom and could have easily spent another two. We explored the jaw-dropping Bay of Kotor with Herceg Novi, Perast and – of course- Kotor, went kayaking on Lake Skadar, river rafting on the Tara Canyon, and hiking in the Durmitor National Park.

Montenegro is a great destination for travelers looking to veer off the beaten path. It is budget-friendly, locals are gregarious and aside from the Bay of Kotor, it has remained blissfully untouched by the hands of over-tourism.

Getting around Montenegro

The Bay of Kotor is serviced by the well-oiled BlueLine bus service connecting Tivat to Herceg Novi. Tickets can be purchased on the bus, or online on the website.

Once away from the Bay of Kotor, it becomes increasingly hard to rely on public transportation. Many of the most beautiful places lie in remote areas, oftentimes inside one of the National Parks. Renting a car will give you more flexibility and allow you to enjoy some of the most scenic routes in all of Europe.

Driving in Montenegro is not for the faint-hearted, with narrow roads winding up and down the mountains, frequented by large tour busses and bicycles alike. Drivers will need a healthy dose of courage and a keen sense of spacial orientation to maneuver the car past the aforementioned busses.

Tips for traveling in Montenegro

Here are a few additional useful tips to keep in mind when planning a trip to Montenegro:

• Is tap water in Montenegro drinkable? Yes
• Do they speak English in Montenegro? In the Bay of Kotor yes, further inland English is less spoken
• SimCard: Purchase a pre-paid TURIST sim card at any local kiosk. 500 GB for 15 days costs €10, while the same amount of data for 30 days costs €15. Bring your passport with you when purchasing the card.
• Vegetarian Food in Montenegro: You will find a lot of soups and salads on the menu throughout the country. Both are vegetarian-friendly.