39 Frequently Asked Questions About Montenegro. Answered!

Montenegro is a small country in Southeastern Europe, in the west-central Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea. Formerly one of the Yugoslav republics.

Montenegro means Black Mountain (the literal translation: Monte – Mountain; Negro – Black). In the local language, it is Crna Gora.

Actually, Montenegro – it’s not in Spanish. It’s in the Venetian language – one of the variations of the Italian language. From the 14th until the 18th century, most territories of Montenegro were ruled by the Venetian Republic. That’s where the «Spanish» name came from. But it still keeps confusing many people who assume that this country belongs to Southern or Latin America :)

Montenegro is in Europe. Or in Eurasia, to be 100% correct, if we speak about continents. Not in South America. p.s. Yes, this question is frequent. And it proves the fact from the answer to the previous question :)

Montenegro is located in Southeastern Europe, in the west-central of the Balkan Peninsula, on the Adriatic Sea. At the southern end of the Dinaric Alps. On the map, you can see that on the west/northwest Montenegro borders Croatia. In the northwest – Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. In the southeast – Kosovo. Albania is located to the south of Montenegro. Italy is opposite Montenegro.

The area of ​​Montenegro is 13,812 sq. km (5,333 sq. miles). It’s 5 times less than Florida or the Czech Republic.

Time in Montenegro is Central European, UTC +1.

The capital of Montenegro is Podgorica. Most government establishments are here. Another capital (cultural) of Montenegro is Cetinje.

No. Montenegro is not in the European Union. It officially applied to join the EU in 2008, and membership negotiations began in 2012. Montenegro is not a part of the Schengen Area either.

Yes. Montenegro joined NATO on 5 June 2017.

Montenegrin is the official language of the country. Languages in official use: Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Albanian. Few locals speak English well. At an elementary level, many people employed in tourism can explain themselves in English.

In Montenegro, you can get all the regular sea & beach activities in summer. Along with all the regular activities in the mountains. Also, you have multiple options for excursions and tours. In winter you can go to alpine skiing resorts. More about the kinds of tourism and what to do in Montenegro.

May is one of the best times of the year to visit Montenegro. Particularly its second part. Rains are already less frequent. And it’s already warm. There are few tourists. Comfortable time for excursions. The water is warm enough to swim closer to the end of May. Get more info about the best time to visit Montenegro. You can find more ideas of what to do in Montenegro in May in recommended itineraries for 1, 2 or 3 weeks.

The weather in Montenegro in May is pretty comfortable. The average air temperature on the coast is from 13°C at night to 21°C during the day. The average water temperature is 19°C. In the second half of May, temperatures are higher than average. The number of rainy days in May is 6. The first half of the month is rainier than the second. Basically, you can easily consider going to the Montenegro coast in the second half of May.

September is an excellent time to travel to Montenegro. The water is warm. The high season is finished – finding space on beaches and moving on the roads is easier. Low chance of rain until the third decade of the month. Pretty comfortable air temperature in the second half of September. Get more info about when to go to Montenegro. Check more tips on what to do in Montenegro in September in recommended itineraries for 7, 14 or 21 days.

In most cases, staying on the coast is better.

If you plan to move a lot along the coast and deep inland, the good choice would be to stay near Budva. 

If you plan to visit Dubrovnik in Croatia or some incredible places in Bosnia and Herzegovina, you may consider Herceg Novi in the northern part of the Montenegrin coast as a place to stay. At least for some time of your vacation.

If you plan to visit Shkoder or Tirana in Albania, you may consider Ulcinj in the southern part of the Montenegrin shore. At least for several days of your vacation.

If you plan to spend the most time in the mountains in the north of Montenegro, you can stay directly there – in Zabljak, Kolasin or other places. 

You’ll may also want to learn my guide about accommodation options in Montenegro.

National cuisine in Montenegro mainly includes meat in different variations, potatoes, vegetables and dairy products.

11 most popular dishes of national cuisine in Montenegro are:
– Pljeskavica
– Veshalitsa 
– Sacha meat
– Njegus steak
– Razhnici
– Cevapi
– Mesano Meso
– Corba
– Sarma
– Musaka
– Priganice

Yes, Montenegro is pretty good for families. The only thing to consider is beaches. Many beaches are pebble. And often it’s getting deep close to the entrance into the water.

Montenegro is a very safe country to visit. Both to travel alone and with families. Safer than many EU countries. The level of crime in Montenegro among locals is very low. And today it doesn’t attract many criminals from abroad. Although, as always, there are some specific local things to consider. After checking and implementing my top 15 safety tips in Montenegro, you can just relax and enjoy traveling around the country.

No, Montenegro is not a third-world country. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) definition, Montenegro is a developing country.

No, Montenegro is not a poor country. In 2019 poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) in Montenegro was reported at 22.6%. Which is pretty high. But it’s just official data.

In reality, it doesn’t look like people in Montenegro are poor. There is a significant disbalance between people in different regions in Montenegro. The reason is simple. There are very few production facilities in the country. The primary income comes from tourism and tourism-associated business activities, like construction and real estate. So people in touristic regions have opportunities to earn much more. But people in the northern regions have much lower incomes and can be considered poor. But they are not actually poor. They can just afford less.

Montenegro is neither expensive nor inexpensive. Compared with neighbors in the Balkans, Montenegro is more expensive than Albania, Northern Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. But it’s significantly cheaper than Croatia and Slovenia. As always, you need to remember – the country will be as expensive as you will allow it to be.

If we compare my solo travel expenses in 2021 in Montenegro, Albania, Northern Macedonia and Croatia, it will look like this:

– Montenegro (May 19 – June 29) – $37,31 per day per person.
– Albania (June 29 – July 28) – $32,88.
– Northern Macedonia (July 28 – August 12) – $30,00.
– Croatia (September 2-14) – $57,13.

The dominant religion in Montenegro is Eastern Orthodox Christianity – 72,07%. The second popular religion in Montenegro is Islam (19,11%). The Muslim population is mainly represented by ethnic Albanians. It’s highly concentrated in the area of Ulcinj city, in the very South of Montenegro, near the Albanian border. Other noticeable religions in Montenegro are Roman Catholic (3,44%) and Protestant (0,44%).

In 2024 the following airlines have direct flights to Montenegro:

To Podgorica:
– Wizz Air from London/UK
– Ryanair from Manchester/UK
– Ryanair from Berlin/Germany
– Wizz Air from Dortmund/Germany
– Wizz Air from Memmingen/Germany
– Air Montenegro from Frankfurt/Germany
– Wizz Air from Vienna/Austria
– Austrian Airlines from Vienna/Austria
– Air Montenegro from Rome/Italy
– Wizz Air from Milan/Italy
– Wizz Air from Budapest/Hungary
– Wizz Air from Warsaw/Poland
– LOT from Warsaw/Poland
– Ryanair from Krakow/Poland
– Ryanair from Wroclaw/Poland
– Ryanair from Gdansk/Poland
– Wizz Air from Katowice/Poland
– Enter Air from Katowice/Poland
– Transavia France from Paris/France
– Air Montenegro from Paris/France
– Air Montenegro from Nantes/France
– Alpavia from Lille/France
– Ryanair from Brussels/Belgium
– Ryanair from Zagreb/Croatia
– Air Montenegro from Zurich/Switzerland
– Air Montenegro from Ljubljana/Slovenia
– Air Montenegro from Copenhagen/Denmark
– Turkish Airlines from Istanbul/Turkey
– Tailwind Airlines from Istanbul/Turkey
– Air Montenegro from Istanbul/Turkey
– Pegasus Airlines from Istanbul/Turkey
– Pegasus Airlines from Ankara/Turkey
– Pegasus Airlines from Izmir/Turkey
– Aegean Airlines from Athens/Greece
– Air Montenegro from Bratislava/Slovakia
– Air Astana from Almaty and Astana/Kazakhstan
– Air Montenegro from Belgrade/Serbia
– Air Serbia from Belgrade/Serbia

To Tivat:
– easyJet from London/UK
– easyJet from Manchester/UK
– JET2 from Manchester/UK
– JET2 from Бирмингем/Великобритания
– easyJet from Бристоль/Великобритания
– easyJet from Geneva/Switzerland
– Swiss Air from Zurich/Switzerland
– EasyJet Europe from Berlin/Germany
– Eurowings from Berlin/Germany
– Lufthansa from Munich/Germany
– Lufthansa from Frankfurt/Germany
– Eurowings from Düsseldorf/Germany
– Eurowings from Stuttgart/Germany
– Air Serbia from Rostock/Germany
– Transavia France from Paris/France
– Air Montenegro from Rennes/France
– Air Montenegro from Saint-Etienne/France
– Air Montenegro from Metz/France
– Norwegian Air Shuttle from Oslo/Norway
– SAS Scandinavian Airlines from Oslo/Norway
– SAS Scandinavian Airlines from Copenhagen/Denmark
– Norwegian Air from Copenhagen/Denmark
– SAS Scandinavian Airlines from Stockholm/Sweden
– Norwegian from Helsinki/Finland
– Avion Express from Vilnius/Lithuania
– Heston Airlines from Vilnius/Lithuania
– Air Baltic from Riga/Latvia
– Norwegian Air from Riga/Latvia
– Heston Airlines from Tallinn/Estonia
– LOT from Warsaw/Poland
– SkyUp from Rzeszow/Poland
– TUI Fly Belgium from Brussels/Belgium
– Austrian Airlines from Vienna/Austria
– Luxair from Luxembourg
– Air Montenegro from Prague/Czechia
– Air Montenegro from Brno/Czechia
– Air Montenegro from Ljubljana/Slovenia
– Air Montenegro from Istanbul/Turkey
– Turkish Airlines from Istanbul/Turkey
– Air Montenegro from Izmir/Turkey
– Air Montenegro from Belgrade/Serbia
– Air Serbia from Belgrade/Serbia
– Fly One from Chisinau/Moldova
– Fly One from Yerevan, Armenia
– EL-AL from Tel Aviv/Israel
– ISRAIR from Tel Aviv/Israel
– Arkia from Tel Aviv/Israel
– Azerbaijan Airlines from Baku/Azerbaijan
– Air Montenegro from Baku/Azerbaijan
– Fly Dubai from Dubai/UAE
– Jazeera from Kuwait City/Kuwait

No. Uber, Bolt or any other similar taxi service in Montenegro is unavailable. There are only traditional local taxis, official and unofficial. You can call or write them in Viber to order a car. Sometimes WhatsApp or Telegram may be available.

Do they speak English? Operators usually do. Drivers – sometimes. How they’ll find you in some not obvious location? You’ll have to make an effort to explain it. How will you know the price before the ride? They may tell you the approximate cost. The final one you’ll get on arrival. Welcome to Montenegro :) My guide to transport in Montenegro may be really helpful for you. In this country not everything is straightforward.

You shouldn’t, but it would be a good idea to rent a car in Montenegro. It is possible to explore the country using public transport, taxi and other options. But with your own car you’ll be able to see much more beautiful places. And stay there as long as you want. In this sense public transport in Montenegro will be limiting you more than in more developed countries. 

One more benefit of car rental in Montenegro – it’s significantly cheaper than in most European countries. Because many small companies are involved in this business. But the downside – you need to check the company before renting a car. Also, you need to consider that some roads in the mountains are narrow and not very safe. You need to be an experienced driver to go there.

A visa is not required for citizens from most western countries to visit Montenegro. If you represent one of them, you can enter Montenegro for short-term stays of up to 90 days during every 180 days without a visa. You can check if obtaining a visa is required for you on the visit-montenegro.com portal.

American citizens are not required to obtain a visa to enter Montenegro. They may stay in Montenegro for up to 90 days. You can check the actual info on visit-montenegro.com portal.

To get to Montenegro from the USA, you need to fly first. Current flight options from the US to Montenegro:
– from New York – 13h (1 stop, expensive) or 31h (1 stop, 3 times cheaper);
– from Chicago – 13h 20 min. (1 stop, reasonable price);
– from Los Angeles – 16h (1 stop, pretty cheap);
– from Washington – 14,5h (2 stops, expensive) or 24h (2 stops, 2,5 times cheaper);
– from Toronto – 26h (2 stops, reasonable price).

You can also check flights from the US to neighboring Montenegro airports – Dubrovnik in Croatia or Tirana in Albania.

The distance between Dubrovnik in Croatia and Herceg Novi, the nearest city in Montenegro, is 50 km. It’s 1h ride by car or 1,5h by bus.

You can get by bus from Dubrovnik to Kotor and Budva in Montenegro. It will take around 2-2,5h to get to Kotor. And the ticket will cost approximately $20-25. To Budva it will take about 2,5-3,5h. The ticket’s price will be $20-27.

There is no direct bus from Dubrovnik airport to Montenegro. First, you’ll need to get from the airport to the Dubrovnik bus station. There you can take a bus to Montenegro. Or you can book a transfer, or take a taxi in the airport, and go directly to your location in Montenegro. Or to the nearest city in Montenegro – Herceg Novi. And further to your target destination by local bus.

Yes, you can. You’ll need a green card to cross the border. But rental companies may insist on you paying extra insurance and a cross-border fee.

There are two plug types in Montenegro – types C and F. Type C is the plug with two round pins. Type F is the plug that has two round pins with two earth clips on the side.

The best places to live in Montenegro (permanently) are limited by the cities on the coast and Podgorica. Towns on the shore are small. Podgorica is the only city in Montenegro in the usual sense of this word. So you need to decide what you want. If you ask me, I’ll issue my top 7 cities to live in Montenegro:
1. Herceg Novi
2. Budva
3. Podgorica
4. Kotor
5. Tivat
6. Bar
7. Petrovac

There are several ways to move to Montenegro on a permanent basis:
– set up a company;
– buy a property;
– marriage;
– studying.

The only two ways that are worth considering are the first two. I’ve described these immigration options in detail in my ultimate guide to Montenegro.

No. It’s not. Officially, Montenegro is an independent country.

No. Officially, Serbia and Montenegro are separate countries.

Serbia and Montenegro split in June 2006, when people in Montenegro on referendum voted for independence.