Montenegro is known for its beautiful coastline and historic cities. A small country on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Best known for its sapphire beach-front port cities, Montenegro means “black mountain” in Italian. The black mountain here refers to Mount Rovčen, which looks unusually black.
The capital is Podgorica in the central part of the country, but travelers tend to prefer Budva and Kotor in the west, where the Adriatic beaches are located. The country is among the most developed of the Balkan countries, currently uses the euro and is preparing to join the European Union.
1. Montenegro Quick Facts
Language Montenegrin (Serbian)
Religion Orthodoxy
Currency EURO (€, EUR)
Visa Free 90 day visa for 60 nationalities, Shengen Area rules apply
Power Plugs 220 V 50 Hz (C Type)
Capital Podgorica
ATM
Most ATMs are available 24 hours a day and use the Cirrus, Plus, Maestro, Visa, and MasterCard systems. All ATMs dispense euros.
Use card
Most credit cards (Visa, MasterCard) are accepted, but there are restrictions on the use of American Express and Diners. Some small stores and small payments only accept cash, so you should always carry some cash.
APP
Google Maps
2. Packing for your trip
Air plain Ticket
Dollar Flight Club has made it easier and cheaper to buy flights to the Montenegro Airport.
SIM card
Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving you access to 200+ eSIMs (digital SIM cards) globally at affordable prices.
New member one-time use 15% discount coupon
10% discount coupon for multiple use by all members.
Pacsafe Pro safe 800 Luggage Lock
Good protection against snatchers or impulse thieves.
Universal Power Adapter
One of the most essential but most forgotten items in your travel gear? A power adapter!
Travel insurance
Prepare for risky situations Travel insurance can be a big help in the event of an emergency
GoPro HERO11
If you want to capture your own memories of your travels, GoPro is the way to go. It’s small, has great image quality, and is easy to carry around
3. Montenegro Transportation Information
Buses
Podgorica has 11 city bus routes and 16 intercity routes.
The buses are not very frequent and are increasingly used by tourists.
When traveling outside the city or to other countries, it is recommended to check the bus schedule on the web and reserve a bus.
https://getbybus.com/en/
https://www.busticket4.me/EN
Taxi
Basic fare: 1 EUR, 1 EUR per kilometer. 1 EUR extra for luggage + 10 EUR per hour of waiting time.
Prices are high compared to the cost of living, but competition from buses has brought prices down and there are more than 20 taxi companies operating.
You can contact the main taxi companies by phone below.
[taxi contact]
Alo Taxi: 19700
City Taxi: 19711
Red Line Taxi: 19714
In Taxi: 19755
Renting a car
We recommend driving around southern Europe and Montenegro.
There are hot spots along the way to keep you entertained.
Train
There are international trains from Podgorica to cities in other countries.
Timetables, fares, etc. change from time to time, so please check the Serbian Railways website below.
https://www.zcg-prevoz.me/
4. Safety
Montenegro, Local security is relatively safe, and a lot of attention is paid to protecting foreign tourists.
The crime rate is relatively low, so it is possible to walk downtown even at night. However, crimes such as robbery, theft, and pickpocketing occur frequently, so you need to be careful when traveling.
Useful phone numbers for tourists
Police: 122
Fire and emergency: 123
Emergency ambulance: 124
5. Climate
In Montenegro, the Adriatic coast has long, dry summers due to a maritime climate, while winters are short and mild, while the inner region has cold and snowy winters due to a continental climate.
The average temperature in summer is 28°C (82°F)-40°C (104℉) and the average temperature in winter is 9°C (48.2℉). In winter, temperatures in inland areas drop significantly below freezing.
6. price
The cost of living for locals is about half that of Western Europe. However, restaurants and cafes in tourist destinations targeting tourists are similar to or slightly more expensive than in Western Europe.
Markets
Water (1.5 litres): 0.75 €
Milk (1 gallon): 4.85 €
Eggs (regular) (12) : 2.68 €
McDonald’s Combo Meal: 6.00 €
7. Travel precautions
There is an entrance fee (1 EUR) to the bus terminal, so don’t be surprised when you get there.
The water is limey, so you should buy bottled water to drink.
It is a hot and dry climate, with summer temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius, so be sure to pack sunscreen and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
When driving in Montenegro, the roads are rough due to the mountainous terrain, and many roads are under construction, which can cause traffic jams and detours. Be careful when driving and stay safe.
8. Etiquette & Service Tip
Montenegro attaches great importance to the tourism industry, and the locals are friendly to foreigners.
In formal meetings, we greet each other with a handshake, and in personal meetings, we greet each other by touching our cheeks once or twice.
There is a tendency to value friendship and unity among family members, emphasize leisure activities, and provide generous food to guests.
If you are invited to a local’s home, it is a good idea to prepare a simple gift.
Tip
In restaurants, 10% of the meal price is charged, 1 euro per night in a hotel room, and 1 euro per piece of luggage when carrying luggage as a porter.
9. Holidays
The following are the Montenegro national public holidays for 2024:
1 Jan Mon New Year’s Day
2 Jan Tue New Year Holiday
6 Jan Sat Orthodox Christmas Eve
7 Jan Sun Orthodox Christmas Day
8 Jan Mon 2nd Day of Orthodox Christmas
1 May Wed Labour Day
2 May Thu Labour Day Holiday
3 May Fri Orthodox Good Friday
6 May Mon Orthodox Easter Monday
21 May Tue Independence Day
22 May Wed Independence Day Holiday
13 Jul Sat National Day
15 Jul Mon National Day Holiday
13 Nov Wed Njegos Day
14 Nov Thu Njegos Day Holiday
2025 National Public Holidays:
Wednesday, 1 January : New Year’s Day
Thursday, 2 January : New Year Holiday
Monday, 6 January : Orthodox Christmas Eve
Tuesday, 7 January : Orthodox Christmas Day
Wednesday, 8 January : 2nd Day of Orthodox Christmas
Friday, 18 April : Orthodox Good Friday
Monday, 21 April : Orthodox Easter Monday
Thursday, 1 May : Labour Day
Friday, 2 May : Labour Day Holiday
Wednesday, 21 May : Independence Day
Thursday, 22 May : Independence Day Holiday
Sunday, 13 July: National Day
Monday, 14 July: National Day Holiday
Tuesday, 15 July: National Day Holiday
Thursday, 13 November : Njegos Day
Friday, 14 November : Njegos Day Holiday