Where is Montenegro? That is perhaps the most common question you’ll hear about this beautiful country. Perfectly nested in Southeastern Europe, it is worth mentioning Montenegro shares the Adriatic Sea with it’s more famous neighbor—Italy, among other countries.
If you cherish the love for the unknown and you’re in search of a certain “je ne sais quoi” feeling, keep reading! We hope this short guide helps ignite your curiosity and kindles your passion towards the country, so that you don’t hesitate with your decision on what your next destination needs to be.
Once here, the black mountain puzzle comprising of rivers, canyons, mountains and the sea will fall into place, and you will see all the splendidness of this country’s cities, and nature.
Where Exactly Is Montenegro?
Montenegro lies in the central Mediterranean, in Southern Europe. A hidden Balkan jewel, it is bordered by Serbia to the north, Kosovo and Albania to the southeast, and Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to the west. Across the sea you’ll run straight into a cute, boot-looking place called Italy. Whether you’re excited more by the calm blue waters of the Adriatic Sea, or the rugged mountain terrain offering numerous outdoor activities, Montenegro guarantees a rewarding travel experience.
The official currency in Montenegro is Euro (EUR), but don’t panic if that is not your local currency and you forget to change your money before you arrive as ATMs can be found everywhere, but there are also many places where you can use your credit card instead, such as restaurants, hotels, gas stations or supermarkets.
What Language Do They Speak in Montenegro?
The name “Montenegro” comes from the Serbian “Crna Gora”, which comes from the Venetian “Monte Negro”, meaning “black mountain”, referring to the dense forests. The official language is Montenegrin, but you’ll hear many people talking Serbian as well (which is very similar indeed!), as these two countries have been famously and historically connected throughout centuries.
How Can I Get to Montenegro?
You can reach Montenegro using various modes of transport, whether by land, sea, or air, including plane, boat, yacht, train, bicycle or car. The capital of Montenegro is Podgorica—a truly marvelous city and holder of one of the two airports, as there are only two international airports in the country: one in Podgorica (TGD), and the second one in Tivat (TIV).
Coming to Montenegro via Plane
If you’re flying to Montenegro, you can get a flight to Podgorica and then catch a bus or a train ride to the coast. The quickest route from Podgorica to the coastline is via the Sozina tunnel. If beaches are your ultimate destination, the wiser choice would be the second airport located in Tivat, which is ideal if you plan on vacationing somewhere nearby.
The air traffic in the country is excellently organized, and you can catch a flight from almost any country in Europe. Good thing too, is that considering the country’s position within Europe, you won’ be traveling for long—2 (to 3) hours tops!
If your choice of ride is a plane, the easiest option is to rent a car to get to the coast or to any place that you choose to spend your holiday for that matter, since there are many cities on the coast worth exploring.
If you don’t live in Europe, do not be discouraged by the distance; you can travel to practically any city that’s closest to you in Europe, and then hop on a plane to Montenegro. Although this may seem complicated, the troubles will be worth it, trust us.
Getting a Train to Montenegro
Railroads connect Montenegro with Serbia and Albania, but the most important route is Bar-Belgrade, with the majority of people take the night train that includes a sleeping cabin, to get there bright and early in the morning. For this ride, make sure to get your reservation on time. The train passes through the cities of Podgorica, Kolašin, Mojkovac, and Bijelo Polje. The route from Podgorica to Kolašin passes over the Mala Rijeka Bridge, the highest (and scariest!) railway bridge in Europe. Once you arrive in Bar, make sure to spend some time there if you can—it’s a lovely place adored by locals.
Planning on Taking a Bus?
If you’re a traveler, you already have a FlixBus app on your phone. This company offers 19 destinations across the country, so you can take your pick, or even multiple ones really easily. There are also many other companies you can choose from, depending on your location. Best connected routes include countries that Montenegro borders, which is somewhat expected, so if you’re coming from Serbia, Croatia or Albania for example, you won’t encounter any difficulties in finding a ride.
However you wish to arrive in Montenegro, there are many options to get around once you get there.
What Can I Do in Montenegro?
Historical Places or Up-Sleeve Aces?
There are many places worth visiting including gorgeous beaches, historic sites and amazing scenery. We suggest visiting Kotor and Budva first as their Old Towns offer almost a magical experience, and a sense of pride and history combined. Porto Montenegro, Durmitor, Biogradska Gora and Lovćen National Parks, Ostrog Monastery, the Tara River Canyon and the small island of Sveti Stefan are also some of the places that should be written into your itinerary.
If you’re an explorer but not quite an adrenaline junkie, there are many wonderful opportunities to explore: to enjoy looking at the coast from a different perspective, you will not want to miss a private boat tour that includes all Kotor Bay—the perfect location to admire the incandescent charm of Herceg Novi, Kotor and Tivat from afar.
As we mentioned before, Montenegro has the privilege of sharing the Adriatic Sea, so one of its noteworthy qualities are unquestionably—the beaches; if you take pleasure in nice vistas and warmer seas, make sure to visit Miločer, Bečići or Petrovac.
Brave Ones Venture into Adventure
Montenegro offers many activities for adventurers like zip-lining, kitesurfing, jet skiing, rafting, kayaking and paragliding, so if you like adrenaline-filled vacations, look no further than Montenegro, since this country offers something for everyone.
For 20 minutes, ziplining from the Djurdjevica Tara bridge will make you feel like you’re on top of the world: it’s the second biggest canyon in the world, but it’s still so big you’ll inevitably question all your life decisions once your ride has started. And did we mention it’s one of the fastest in the world, too?
Rafting in Montenegro is considered among the best and most renowned in the world, and no wonder, considering it’s through the world’s second largest gorge. You can choose between a day trip, two-day trip, a three-day one, or spend a whole weekend rafting, depending on how much time you want to spend on this activity.
Finally, if mountains are your thing, this country will do anything but disappoint you: Montenegro is the proud owner (or co-owner) of Durmitor, Orjen, Bjelasica, Sinjajevina, and Prokletije, among many, many others. Up there is wilderness on this continent like no other. No wonder they say: “If Montenegro could be flattened, it would be the biggest country in the world!”.
The Big Rave About the Cave
Certainly worth mentioning are the numerous cave tours, but most importantly, the Blue Cave and the Lipa Cave: just one look at them and your breath will momentarily and involuntarily be taken away.
Lipa cave is one of the first cave exploration experiences in Montenegro. It features a 2.5 km-long network of passages, and it’s one of the biggest attractions in Cetinje.
A tour you most definitely don’t want to miss is any tour involving the Blue Cave: there are many tours that take you to the Blue Cave but also some other amazing places, such as Hvar or the little island called Our Lady of the Rocks.
Is Montenegro Safe?
Montenegro is generally considered a safe country. Even though some people are still unsure as to whether they’re making a safe choice by traveling here, sometimes due to unjust interpretation of Montenegrins and their values in movies or television shows, Montenegro has become an increasingly popular holiday destination, thanks to its magnificent, awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping coastline. In regard to natural disasters, occasional wildfires (due to extreme dry periods or hot temperatures), and floods when there are heavy rains are somewhat expected but not worrisome, and the country works hard on keeping their citizens and tourists safe. Small earthquakes happen occasionally but rarely, and it’s important to note that the last big earthquake in Montenegro happened back in 1979, which is pretty reassuring when questioning overall safety.
Can I Drink Tap Water in Montenegro?
Tap water in Montenegro is safe to drink. However, water quality may differ across various locations within the country. In smaller towns and rural areas, the water quality can be less reliable, so it’s recommended to exercise caution and heed local advice.
In case you do not wish to buy bottled water while vacationing, you can choose boiling the water from the tap. However, we suggest asking if the water in the city is drinkable first, to avoid time wastage. Other options include bringing a bottle with a removable filter on your vacation, which will automatically clean your water and remove any traces of bacteria. However, if you’re frightened you’ll ruin your vacation (or your stomach, to be precise), and you do not wish to overcomplicate your holiday, there are always safe choices with several brands that take the water from local rivers or springs.