For most UK visitors, flying is by far the easiest way to reach Montenegro, with direct seasonal services to the coastal airport at Tivat and direct London flights to Podgorica.
But flying is not the only option. Montenegro can also be reached overland by train through Serbia or by car through continental Europe and Croatia.
The best route depends mainly on where in Montenegro you are staying.
If your holiday is centred on Kotor, the Bay of Kotor or Budva, Tivat Airport is normally the most convenient choice.
If you are travelling towards Podgorica, Lake Skadar, central Montenegro or the north, Podgorica Airport may make more sense.
Travelling to Montenegro at a Glance
| Route | Best for | Approximate journey |
|---|---|---|
| Direct flight to Tivat | Kotor, Bay of Kotor, Budva | Around 3 hours from the UK |
| Direct flight to Podgorica | Podgorica, Lake Skadar, touring | Around 3 hours |
| Fly to Dubrovnik | Alternative for Kotor/Bay | Flight + international road transfer |
| Train via Belgrade | Rail enthusiasts, slow travel | At least 2–3 days from London |
| Drive from the UK | Long road trips | Multi-day journey |
Our recommendation: for most first-time visitors staying around Kotor, start by checking flights to Tivat.
Direct Flights from the UK to Montenegro
Montenegro has two international airports:
Tivat Airport (TIV) on the coast
Podgorica Airport (TGD) near the capital
UK services are highly seasonal, especially to Tivat, so the exact route network changes from year to year.
For summer 2026 there is a particularly good selection of direct flights between the UK and Tivat.
UK to Tivat Flights
Current 2026 services include:
| UK airport | Airline | Montenegro airport |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | Jet2 | Tivat |
| Bristol | easyJet | Tivat |
| London Gatwick | easyJet | Tivat |
| London Heathrow | British Airways | Tivat |
| London Luton | easyJet | Tivat |
| London Stansted | Jet2 | Tivat |
| Manchester | easyJet / Jet2 | Tivat |
British Airways launched its new seasonal London Heathrow–Tivat service in May 2026, operating three times per week during the summer season.
easyJet currently operates Tivat routes including Gatwick, Luton, Bristol and Manchester, while Jet2 flies from Birmingham, Manchester and London Stansted.
Leeds Bradford to Montenegro from 2027
There is particularly good news for travellers from Yorkshire.
Jet2 has announced a new Leeds Bradford–Tivat route for summer 2027, operating weekly on Mondays from 10 May to 27 September 2027.
That will make direct travel to Montenegro considerably easier from Yorkshire and the north of England.
London to Montenegro
London currently has particularly good direct options.
London to Tivat
Direct services include:
London Heathrow – Tivat (British Airways)
London Gatwick – Tivat (easyJet)
London Luton – Tivat (easyJet)
London Stansted – Tivat (Jet2)
These are predominantly seasonal routes, generally concentrated between spring and autumn.
London to Podgorica
There are also direct flights from London to Montenegro’s capital.
Current services include:
London Stansted – Podgorica (Ryanair)
London Gatwick – Podgorica (Wizz Air UK)
Ryanair is currently selling direct Stansted–Podgorica flights, while Wizz Air UK operates direct Gatwick–Podgorica services.
This gives London travellers an unusually useful choice between Montenegro’s two airports.
Tivat or Podgorica Airport?
This is often more important than simply choosing the cheapest flight.
Choose Tivat Airport for:
- Kotor
- Dobrota
- Perast
- Tivat
- much of the Bay of Kotor
- Budva and the central coast
Tivat Airport is only around 8 km from Kotor, making it the obvious first choice for many Bay of Kotor holidays. Traffic can substantially increase transfer times during the summer, however, particularly on the coastal roads.
Choose Podgorica Airport for:
- Podgorica
- Lake Skadar
- central Montenegro
- journeys towards northern Montenegro
- itineraries where the Podgorica flight is substantially cheaper or more convenient
Podgorica also gives easy access to Montenegro’s rail network.
Our advice
Don’t assume that Tivat is automatically better simply because you are having a coastal holiday.
Compare:
flight price + flight time + airport transfer + your first accommodation
rather than the airfare alone.
Flying to Dubrovnik for Montenegro
Dubrovnik Airport in Croatia can also be a useful alternative, particularly if it offers a much better flight from your local UK airport.
It is reasonably close to Herceg Novi and the western Bay of Kotor. However, there is one major difference:
you must cross the Croatia–Montenegro international border.
Journey times can therefore vary substantially.
Summer road congestion can already be heavy, and current UK Government advice warns travellers to allow additional time at borders between Montenegro and the Schengen area while the EU Entry/Exit System is introduced.
So Dubrovnik can be an excellent option, but do not book a tight connection based purely on the driving distance shown by Google Maps.
Getting from Tivat Airport to Kotor
Tivat is the easiest airport for Kotor.
The airport is only a short distance from the town, but there is no direct airport railway and public transport from the terminal is relatively limited.
The usual options are:
- taxi;
- pre-booked transfer;
- hire car.
If your accommodation is inside Kotor Old Town, remember that vehicles cannot enter the pedestrian historic centre.
Ask your accommodation where the driver should drop you and how far you will need to carry luggage.
Getting from Podgorica Airport
Podgorica Airport is particularly useful for travellers touring Montenegro.
The airport itself has a railway halt nearby on the Bar–Podgorica railway, although many visitors will find a taxi, hire car or transfer simpler depending on their destination.
For Kotor and the coast, the road journey is considerably longer than from Tivat, so compare the overall travel time before choosing a Podgorica flight solely because it is cheaper.
London to Montenegro by Train
It is possible to travel from London to Montenegro by train, but there is no direct service and this is a journey for people who enjoy rail travel rather than anyone trying to reach Montenegro quickly.
The most practical rail route runs broadly:
London – continental Europe – Budapest – Serbia – Belgrade – Montenegro
The reopening of the Budapest–Belgrade rail corridor has made the journey easier again.
Current rail guidance suggests that London to Belgrade can be completed in roughly two days and one night using the faster combination of European daytime and sleeper services.
From Belgrade, Montenegro has direct trains to Podgorica and Bar.
Belgrade to Podgorica by Train
Montenegro’s railway currently lists:
day service: around 10 hours from Belgrade to Podgorica
overnight service: around 9 hours 50 minutes
The same trains continue to the Adriatic port of Bar, taking about 11 hours from Belgrade.
The Belgrade–Bar railway is famous for its mountain scenery, particularly as it descends through Montenegro. There is also a seasonal daytime service as well as the overnight train.
Is it worth travelling from London to Montenegro by train?
For speed: no.
For somebody who enjoys slow travel and wants the journey to be part of the holiday: absolutely worth considering.
Allow at least several days rather than trying to create an excessively tight chain of connections.
Travelling to Montenegro by Car from the UK
Driving from Britain is another realistic option, particularly if Montenegro forms part of a longer European road trip.
There are several possible routes through continental Europe, but most eventually approach Montenegro through Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina or Serbia.
For a coast-focused trip, travelling south through Croatia before crossing into Montenegro is the most obvious route.
Do not underestimate the journey. It is better regarded as a multi-day European road trip rather than simply transport to your holiday.
Driving documents
UK drivers taking their own vehicle should carry:
- a valid driving licence;
- V5C registration document;
- insurance documentation;
- any documentation required for the countries crossed en route.
GOV.UK currently lists Montenegro under the 1968 International Driving Permit system, so check the latest IDP requirements before departure.
Current UK guidance says you do not need a Green Card for Montenegro, although you must still have valid vehicle insurance.
If your journey passes through other non-EU countries, check their requirements separately.
Driving into Montenegro from Croatia
The Croatia–Montenegro road border can become very busy during the summer.
UK Government advice specifically warns that congestion is common on Montenegro’s coastal roads and at border crossings, and that journey times can be substantially longer than normal during the tourist season.
If you are driving from Dubrovnik or further north:
- avoid planning around a very tight arrival time;
- allow significantly more time in July and August;
- check current road and border conditions before setting out.
The introduction of the EU’s Entry/Exit System can also increase processing time when crossing between Montenegro and neighbouring Schengen Croatia.
Flying or Driving?
For most visitors coming from Britain specifically for a Montenegro holiday, flying is considerably easier.
Driving begins to make more sense when:
- Montenegro is one stop on a longer European trip;
- you want your own car for several weeks;
- you are combining Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro or Albania;
- the journey itself is part of the holiday.
If you intend to hire a car after flying, Tivat and Podgorica both have car-rental facilities.
Which Route Would We Choose?
Kotor or Bay of Kotor holiday
Fly to Tivat.
This is easily the most convenient option when a suitable direct flight exists.
Budva holiday
Tivat is usually the first airport we would check, but compare Podgorica as well.
Lake Skadar or central Montenegro
Podgorica is generally the more logical airport.
Durmitor and northern Montenegro
Either airport can work depending on the wider itinerary, although Podgorica is often more convenient for travelling inland.
London traveller
Compare both Tivat and Podgorica, because London has direct services to both.
Yorkshire traveller in 2027
The new Leeds Bradford–Tivat service is likely to be the obvious first option for a coastal holiday.
Passport Requirements for UK Visitors
British citizens can currently visit Montenegro without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
For entry, a British passport must:
- have been issued less than 10 years before arrival; and
- expire at least three months after the intended departure date.
Montenegro is not part of the Schengen area, so time spent in Montenegro does not count towards the separate Schengen 90-day allowance.
Always check current UK Government advice before travelling.
Check Flights Before You Book Accommodation
Montenegro’s UK flight network is improving, but many services remain seasonal.
For that reason, we recommend checking:
which airport your preferred UK departure point serves
before committing to a specific accommodation area.
A cheap hotel in Perast can become much less attractive if the only convenient flight lands at Podgorica late at night.
Likewise, a Tivat flight can make Kotor remarkably straightforward.
Our Where to Stay in Montenegro guide can help you decide which base makes most sense once you know how you are arriving.
[Internal link: Where to Stay in Montenegro]
Useful Official Travel Links
Airports of Montenegro
For current Tivat and Podgorica flight schedules.
GOV.UK Montenegro Travel Advice
For passports, visas, driving and current travel issues.
Railway Transport of Montenegro
For Podgorica, Bar and Belgrade rail timetables.
Airline websites
Always check the airline’s current schedule before booking, particularly for seasonal UK routes.
Continue Planning Your Trip
Choosing where to stay?
Where to Stay in Montenegro
Visiting Kotor?
Kotor Travel Guide
Need broader practical information?
Plan Your Trip
Looking for experiences?
Things to Do in Montenegro
Last checked: September 2026.