Montenegro is one of the smallest Balkan countries, but it boasts impressive high mountains, beautiful lakes, and bays. The country was created in 2006 after the dissolution of the confederal state of Serbia and Montenegro.
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Montenegro isn’t yet a well-known holiday destination, so in my opinion, it’s a country that absolutely needs to be explored. A road trip seems like the most fun and the best way to explore the country. What does Montenegro have to offer? Well, a lot. It boasts Durmitor National Park in the north, the Bay of Kotor in the west, and don’t forget the stunning coastline in the south
During the winter months, I sat down to plan a road trip through uncharted Montenegro. It ultimately became a road trip with an old T3 camper van. I planned the route so it could be adjusted at any time. Therefore, I didn’t book any campsites, but I did make a list of campsites along the route.
In hindsight, that turned out to be the best idea of our Roadtrip.
Where is Montenegro located?
Where is Montenegro located?
The Republic of Montenegro is a country in the western Balkans, in Southeastern Europe. It lies on the Adriatic Sea to the west and borders Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia and Kosovo to the east, and Albania to the south. Until 1989, the country was part of the former Yugoslavia. In 2006, it became an independent republic. Montenegro is one of the smallest countries in Europe, even smaller than the Netherlands or Belgium.
How do you get to Montenegro?
How do you get to Montenegro?
With your own car and/or camper:
Traveling to Montenegro by car can be an adventure. Here are some practical tips and considerations for a road trip to Montenegro:
From the Netherlands , you can travel through Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia, for example. The distance from Utrecht to Herceg Novi on the Croatia/Montenegro border is over 1900 km. Quite a long drive, so plan at least three days for your trip. When you finally enter Montenegro, you’re in for a treat. The beautiful Bay of Koter is located on this side of the country.
Please note: Waiting times at the border crossing can be long.
By train
Montenegro has practically one railway line. This is, however, one of Europe’s most beautiful. The railway from the Serbian capital, Belgrade, to the Montenegrin port of Bar on the Adriatic Sea winds its way through mountains and gorges with impressive views. A beautiful nine-hour journey. But first, you have to get to Belgrade. A trip from the Netherlands to Montenegro takes about 48 to 60 hours. You first travel to Munich and then on to Belgrade. From Belgrade, you take the day or night train to Bar.
Another option is to travel to Bari by train and then take the ferry to Bar. You can then immediately pull out your bikini, as Bar is surrounded by beautiful beaches.
By plane:
Because Montenegro isn’t exactly next door, the fastest way to get there is by plane. Montenegro has two airports: one in Tivat and one in the capital, Podgorica. Most airlines offer flights with a transfer in Vienna, Belgrade, or Warsaw, and the average flight time from Amsterdam is about six hours. The choice of flights to Tivat is slightly smaller and also a bit more expensive. This airport is incredibly popular because you land practically toe-first in the Bay of Kotor, one of Montenegro’s most beautiful regions. We opted for flights to Podgorica because we rented a campervan in the capital.
Direct flights to Montenegro:
Unfortunately, there are currently no daily direct flights from the Netherlands to Montenegro. From Germany, Wizzair flies directly from Dortmund and Eurowings from Dusseldorf to Podgorica or Tivat several times a week. TUI Fly flies directly from Eindhoven and Brussels to Tivat twice a week . From Charleroi (Belgium), Ryanair flies directly to Podgorica.
We live in the Achterhoek region, so I usually search for flights from Düsseldorf or Weeze. These airports aren’t very large and are about an hour’s drive away. We ended up flying with Austrian Airlines from Düsseldorf to Podgorica, with a transfer in Vienna.
Rent a Camper
As mentioned, we rented a campervan for a road trip. I love camping, but I don’t want to sleep on an air mattress on the floor anymore. A campervan, on the other hand, is fantastic. You have everything at your fingertips and you’re ready to go. A car, a bed, and you can eat and drink whenever you feel like it. In Montenegro, you can easily rent a campervan through Airbnb, but there are other rental companies as well.
Check out Cooldrive Nomad here
This is Jerry, the T3 camper we rented.
Camping
If you’re planning a camping trip, you’ll find plenty of campsites along the south coast, and inland there are also plenty of options. Not all campsites are listed online. During your road trip, you’ll encounter plenty of signs along the way that say “Camp.” Just take a look; if it’s good, stay, if not, move on.
View campsites in Montenegro here
Can you camp wild in Montenegro?
Officially, wild camping is prohibited in Montenegro, but the locals don’t make a fuss. Always clean up after yourself, though. Wild camping isn’t permitted everywhere in the national parks, but you’ll find plenty of campsites . Sometimes you’ll stumble upon a gem along your route that you’d never heard of before.
My tip: Check your route on Google Maps and zoom in. Sometimes you’ll see a tent icon, and you’ll find surprisingly beautiful places to stay
Useful Facts Montenegro;
What language do you speak?
In Montenegro, Montenegrin is spoken , which is the official language. German and English are quite common. Sometimes, you just need to sign and gesture.
Can you pay with Euros?
In Montenegro, you can simply pay with euros. Debit cards aren’t accepted everywhere, so make sure you have enough cash on hand.
Do you need a visa?
You don’t need a visa. Montenegro is part of the EU, so a valid ID or passport is sufficient.
What is the climate like in Montenegro?
During the summer months, it can get very hot on the coast. Temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius are not uncommon. Inland, you’ll find the mountains, where it’s a few degrees cooler.
Internet/Mobile
Montenegro isn’t part of the EU, so it’s not included in your data plan. Check with your provider to see what the costs are so you don’t run into any surprises. An extra data card for your mobile is super handy. 100GB costs around €10.
Road network
The roads are narrow and certainly not always well-maintained. The beautiful Panorama Routes are challenging, and some driving experience is recommended.
The most beautiful highlights of Montenegro
– Durmitor National Park
– Bay of Kotor
– Biogradska Gora
– Skadar Lake
– Tara Canyon
– Mrtvica Canyon
f you want to visit all these highlights, you’ll need about 10 days. If you also want to do some activities and admire lesser-known, but certainly no less beautiful, locations, plan at least 14 days. That way, you’ll still have time to relax on the beach or simply do nothing for a day.
You’re on vacation, after all!
Road trip through Montenegro
We traveled through Montenegro in 14 days, and this was our route:
Day 1; Arrival in Podgorica, overnight stay at the landlord’s home
Day 2; Panorama Route Skadar Lake
Day 3: Panorama Route to Murici Beach
Day 4: Panorama Route to Ulcinj
Day 5; West Coast route to Budva
Day 6: Centinje, Lovćen National Park, Bay of Kotor
Day 7; Bay of Kotor
Day 8; Piva Canyon
Day 9: Sedlo Pass through Dormitor National Park, Vražje jezero
Day 10; Crne Jezero (Black Lake) Durmitor NP
Day 11: Tara Canyon
Day 12: Biogradska Gora National Park
Day 13: Mrtvica Canyon
Day 14: Ostrog Monastery
Day 15: Back to Podgorica Airport
As you can see, it’s “only” 650 kilometers. Normally, that’s not a lot for a 14-day road trip. But the travel time from one destination to the next is long in Montenegro.
The Panorama Routes are quite narrow, sometimes making it difficult to pass each other. This means your speed is minimal. This means a 30 km drive can easily take an hour. If you’re also planning a road trip through beautiful Montenegro, double the travel time indicated by Google Maps.
A road trip through Montenegro requires experienced drivers with nerves of steel. At times, you’ll feel like you’re on the show “The Most Dangerous Roads in the World.” Just drive relaxed and don’t let the Montenegrins’ explosive driving get to you.
Montenegro is a large National Park, incredibly beautiful!
Want to read more about Montenegro and our Road Trip? Who knows, maybe you’ll go next year!
Author: Anja Schreurs
Taken from her blog goejereis.nl
Rent a Camper in Montenegro 