Montenegro is a small country, but incredibly rich in tradition, nature, and unique local products. Wherever you go, you can take home unforgettable memories and a special gift, souvenir, or local product that will remind you of Montenegro’s charm.
From the coastal towns to the mountain regions, every part of the country offers something specific that tourists love to take home as a keepsake or gift. Stay with us until the end of the text to find out what to buy in Montenegro that isn’t a classic souvenir, magnet, or usual item.
Unique things you can buy in all parts of Montenegro
Each region of Montenegro is known for a particular craft, product, or unique feature. What is common to every part of the country, and what you can buy wherever you are, includes:
Gusle – a symbol of Montenegrin tradition
Gusle is one of the most recognizable Montenegrin traditional instruments, dating back to the 7th century. They are often handmade from maple, decorated with motifs from folk history, and represent a potent cultural symbol.
You can gift them to lovers of tradition, collectors, and anyone who wants an authentic, unusual souvenir.
It is essential to know that gusles have been on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2018, and as a gift, they have priceless value.
Montenegrin prosciutto
Montenegrin dry-cured prosciutto, especially from Njeguši, is among the highest-quality in the region, and anyone visiting any part of Montenegro takes it home for themselves and loved ones.
It has a specific taste due to the combination of microclimate, smoke, and dry air. When you slice it, the scent of smoked meat fills the air around you, and your hands carry the aroma of this specialty long after you’ve tasted it.
Prosciutto is gifted to people who appreciate meat delicacies, and everyone who has tried Montenegrin prosciutto confirms that it can rival Italian and Spanish varieties.
Wines and rakija
Montenegro is known for wines made from the Vranac grape variety (Plantaže) and for homemade rakija from smaller family distilleries. Keep in mind that wines and rakija from Montenegrin regions differ significantly, as their taste is shaped by grapes grown from mountain altitudes to coastal climates.
The most sought-after products are:
- Vranac Pro Corde
- Vranac Reserve
- lozovača
- medovača
- orahovača
Honey and bee products
Especially valued are coastal honey, mountain honey from Durmitor, and olive honey from the Ulcinj and Bar area. Montenegrin honey has a strong, distinctive aroma and taste, and it is very healthy because the meadows are full of beneficial herbs with no factories or pollutants nearby.
What to buy in Podgorica?
As the capital city, Podgorica offers an extensive selection of modern and traditional souvenirs, local products, and handicrafts. Locals confirm that tourists and visitors love to take home prosciutto, sausage, cheese in olive oil, homemade pomegranate juice, religious items from the Cathedral, aged wines from the Plantaže shop and rakija, olive oil that comes from Bar and Ulcinj, replicas of national symbols, rare books about Montenegrin history and tradition, unique paintings by local artists, handmade jewelry, hand-carved wooden items, artisan ceramics, decorative items with city motifs and much more.
Podgorica offers many possibilities as the capital, and you can find numerous interesting items that will remind you of this beautiful city.
What to buy in Kotor, Budva, and Tivat? (Boka Kotorska)
This part of Montenegro is known for its blend of local tradition and maritime heritage. Boka is a paradise for purchasing high-quality souvenirs.
Wooden items and handmade decorations
Artisans from Boka make:
- ships in a bottle
- hand-carved figurines
- ship replicas
- decorations with motifs of Kotor and Perast
Maritime souvenirs
This is the ideal place to buy:
- compasses
- replicas of old maps
- anchors and decorative nautical figures
Olive oil from Luštica and Grbalj
The best products come from villages around Tivat — organic, unfiltered, full-flavored.
Sea salt and salt-based cosmetics
Local sea salt, especially hand-harvested, is an excellent and convenient gift.
Cheeses and delicacies from the Budva hinterland
Products from Paštrovići are highly valued:
- homemade cheese
- cured meats
- olive bread
What to buy in Bečići, Petrovac, and Sutomore?
These destinations are quieter and ideal for tourists who want to buy local products without crowds.
Homemade olive oil and soaps
Petrovac and Sutomore have many small producers of olive, lavender, and rosemary soaps.
Ceramics and handmade pottery
Along the coast, you can find galleries and workshops with handmade ceramics — unique pieces often inspired by the seaside.
What to buy in Bar and Ulcinj?
These are the two southernmost coastal towns, rich in olive groves and Eastern influences.
Olive oil from Stari Bar
One of the best oils in the Balkans. It is worth buying:
- extra virgin
- filtered and unfiltered
- oil from century-old olive trees
Ulcinj salt
Salt from the Ulcinj Saltworks is entirely natural, hand-harvested, and highly valued.
Turkish sweets and spices
Ulcinj has the most substantial oriental influence in Montenegro — buy:
- rahat lokum
- baklava
- spice blends
- coffee with different aromas
What to buy in the north of Montenegro? (Žabljak, Kolašin, Pljevlja, Mojkovac)
The mountain region of Montenegro offers products that are entirely different from those of the coast.
Honey and bee products from the mountains
The best honey in the country comes from Durmitor and Bjelasica — darker, stronger, and more aromatic.
Mountain cheeses and kajmak
Especially valued:
- Pljevlja cheese
- Durmitor kajmak
- homemade cheese in a skin sack
Homemade rakija
Mountain regions are known for:
- pear rakija
- apple rakija
- rakija made from blueberries or other forest fruits
Slatko, jam, or compote
Do not be surprised if, while driving, you see adults or children by the roadside holding jars of slatko made from wild strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries. In passing or in small settlements, you can buy sweet specialties made from forest fruits that smell magical and have an incredible color, made without preservatives and additives, in the most natural way possible.
Wooden handicrafts
The north produces the most:
- wooden spoons and bowls
- carvings
- icons and frames
- gusle or flutes made from maple wood
Wool socks, gloves, and woolen products
Women from the north hand-knit very warm wool socks, scarves, hats, vests, sweaters, and other clothing items made from natural wool, which are ideal gifts. All these wool products have specific patterns and designs, and each piece is extremely valuable because it is handmade by hardworking Montenegrin women.
Montenegro offers a vibrant selection of authentic products, from food and wine to souvenirs and handicrafts, as well as traditional items like gusle. If you want to take home something with value, story, and tradition, look for local shops, markets, small producers, and artisans.
Still, it is essential to know this: if there is any possibility, give your loved ones the gift of a road trip through Montenegro, because the views of Montenegro’s landscapes are worth more than any present.
