Planning a Montenegro holiday is relatively straightforward, but there are a few decisions worth making early — particularly which airport to use, whether to hire a car, where to base yourself and how much of the country to try to see in one trip.
For visitors travelling from the UK, Montenegro is especially attractive because you can combine historic coastal towns, beaches, lakes and mountain scenery within a relatively small country.
Distances can be deceptive, however. Mountain roads and heavy summer traffic mean journeys often take longer than the map suggests.
This guide covers the essentials for planning your trip, with links to our more detailed Montenegro travel guides.
Montenegro Travel Essentials
| Currency | Euro (€) |
| Main airports | Tivat (TIV) and Podgorica (TGD) |
| Drive on | Right |
| UK visa requirement | No visa for tourist visits up to 90 days in any 180 days |
| Schengen? | No |
| Passport | Must meet Montenegro’s current validity requirements |
| Visitor registration | Required within 24 hours |
| Best-known coastal base | Kotor / Bay of Kotor |
| Car essential? | No for every holiday; useful for touring |
| Official language | Montenegrin |
Getting to Montenegro from the UK
Montenegro has two international airports: Tivat Airport on the coast and Podgorica Airport near the capital.
Tivat Airport
Tivat is usually the most convenient airport if you are staying around:
- Kotor
- Dobrota
- Perast
- Tivat
- Herceg Novi
- the wider Bay of Kotor
- Budva and parts of the central coast
Tivat is only a few kilometres from Kotor, although traffic around the bay can considerably increase journey times during the busy summer period.
Direct flights from the UK are largely seasonal, and routes change from year to year, so check the current airport and airline schedules for your travel dates.
Podgorica Airport
Podgorica can be more convenient for:
- Montenegro’s capital
- Lake Skadar
- central Montenegro
- journeys towards the north
- travellers whose preferred UK airport has a better connection to Podgorica
It can also be worth comparing fares to both airports rather than automatically choosing Tivat.
Which Montenegro airport should you choose?
If your holiday is mainly around Kotor and the Bay of Kotor, start by checking Tivat.
For a touring holiday involving Lake Skadar, central Montenegro or the north, compare both airports according to your itinerary and flight options.
A dedicated Tivat or Podgorica Airport? guide is planned as the site develops.
Passport and Entry Requirements for British Visitors
British citizens travelling on a full British passport can currently visit Montenegro without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Your passport must:
- have been issued less than 10 years before the date you enter Montenegro; and
- have an expiry date at least three months after the date you intend to leave.
One useful point for British travellers is that Montenegro is not part of the Schengen area. Time spent in Montenegro does not therefore count towards your 90-day Schengen visa-free allowance, and time spent elsewhere in Schengen does not count towards Montenegro’s separate 90-day limit.
Entry rules can change, so always check the latest UK Government travel advice before travelling.
Registering Your Stay in Montenegro
All visitors must register with the local tourism office or police within 24 hours of arriving in Montenegro.
If you are staying in a hotel or many registered holiday properties, the accommodation provider will normally handle this for you.
If you are staying in private accommodation, check explicitly that you have been registered rather than simply assuming it has happened.
This is a legal requirement and failure to register can result in penalties.
Do You Need to Hire a Car?
Not necessarily.
If you base yourself in Kotor, Budva or Tivat and are happy using buses, taxis, boat trips and organised excursions, it is entirely possible to have a worthwhile Montenegro holiday without driving.
A car becomes considerably more useful if you want to explore:
- Durmitor National Park
- Biogradska Gora
- Lake Skadar independently
- remote beaches
- small villages
- scenic mountain roads
- several regions during the same trip
Montenegro drives on the right-hand side.
Road quality on principal routes is generally reasonable, but mountain roads can be narrow and winding and journey times should not be estimated purely from distance. Montenegro’s official tourism information identifies road travel as one of the principal ways to explore the country.
Getting Around Without a Car
Intercity buses are the main form of public transport for many journeys between Montenegro’s towns and coastal resorts.
Rail travel is much more limited geographically. Montenegro’s rail network is most useful for routes involving Podgorica and Bar, including the celebrated rail route towards Belgrade in Serbia.
Around Kotor and the Bay of Kotor, boat excursions and taxis can also make a car unnecessary for many visitors.
If travelling without a car, the exact location of your accommodation matters considerably more. Staying within walking distance of restaurants, sights and transport connections can make the holiday much easier.
Money in Montenegro
Montenegro uses the euro (€) even though it is not an EU or eurozone member.
Cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, petrol stations and shops, and ATMs are available in towns and cities. Montenegro’s official tourism organisation nevertheless recommends recognising that cash remains useful, particularly away from larger tourist areas.
We would therefore carry some euros rather than relying completely on cards.
Healthcare and Travel Insurance
Montenegro recognises the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) under the reciprocal healthcare arrangements between the UK and Montenegro.
There is, however, an important procedural difference from using a GHIC in many EU countries.
To receive eligible emergency treatment in Montenegrin state healthcare without being charged, you may need to obtain a certificate from the local branch of Montenegro’s Health Insurance Fund while receiving treatment.
A GHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance.
Your insurance should cover your planned activities — particularly if you intend to hike, raft, ski or take part in other outdoor pursuits.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Montenegro?
The best time depends on what you want to do.
May and June
Excellent months for sightseeing, walking and exploring the coast before the busiest part of summer. June can also provide good beach weather.
July and August
The main summer season brings hot weather, busy beaches and the greatest concentration of visitors.
Kotor, Budva, Tivat and the main coastal roads can become particularly busy.
September
One of the months we particularly like for a mixed Montenegro holiday: the coast remains attractive while visitor numbers generally begin to ease.
October
Can be excellent for sightseeing and walking, although seasonal tourism services increasingly begin to reduce as autumn progresses.
Winter
The coast becomes substantially quieter, while the mountain regions around places such as Žabljak and Kolašin have a winter tourism season.
For most first-time British visitors planning a mixture of sightseeing and outdoor activities, we would start by considering May, June or September.
How Long Should You Spend in Montenegro?
3–4 nights
Stay in one region. Kotor and the Bay of Kotor are our first suggestion for sightseeing-oriented visitors.
Around 7 nights
Consider two contrasting bases rather than trying to cover the whole country.
For example:
Bay of Kotor + coast or Bay of Kotor + Durmitor
10 days or more
A multi-centre trip becomes increasingly attractive, allowing you to combine the coast, Lake Skadar and mountains.
Don’t underestimate driving times simply because Montenegro looks small.
Where Should You Stay?
For first-time visitors interested mainly in scenery and sightseeing, our starting choices are Kotor and nearby Dobrota.
For beaches and nightlife, look towards Budva and the Budva Riviera.
For a quieter historic stay, consider Perast.
For mountains and hiking, Žabljak is the principal base for exploring Durmitor.
Our detailed accommodation guide compares the main locations according to the type of holiday you want rather than simply providing a list of hotels.
Before You Travel
Shortly before departure, we recommend checking:
- your passport validity;
- current Montenegro entry requirements;
- the latest FCDO travel advice;
- airline schedules;
- travel insurance;
- accommodation registration arrangements;
- road or border conditions if driving;
- opening dates for any seasonal attractions you particularly want to visit.
The UK Government currently also advises allowing extra time for airport and road travel during busy periods.
Continue Planning Your Montenegro Holiday
- Choosing your base? Where to Stay in Montenegro
- Looking for experiences? Things to Do in Montenegro
- Deciding where to go? Destinations in Montenegro
Last checked: August 2026.