How to get to the Montenegrin coast

Airports

The coast is served by two airports in Montenegro, and many guests also fly into Dubrovnik.

• Tivat (TIV) is closest to the Bay of Kotor and Budva: about 15 minutes to Kotor and about 30 minutes to Budva by car. Local buses run in summer, but a taxi or transfer is easiest.
• Podgorica (TGD) is best for Bar, Ulcinj and Petrovac. There is no direct bus from the airport to the coast, so take a taxi to the bus station or book a transfer. Budva is about an hour and a quarter away.
• Dubrovnik (DBV) is in Croatia: about 40 minutes to Herceg Novi, about an hour and a half to Kotor and about 2 hours to Budva, not counting the wait at the border.

The border

• EU citizens can enter with a national ID card, everyone else with a passport. Check the rules for your country before you travel.
• Since 2026 the Croatian side of the Karasovići – Debeli Brijeg crossing uses the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES): non-EU travellers have fingerprints and a photo taken on their first crossing, so it takes longer.
• In summer the wait around midday can be 1 to 3 hours. The best times to cross are before 7:30 or after 16:00.

By car

• Cars with EU, UK or Swiss plates do not need a green card. For other countries, check with your insurer.
• If you rent a car in Croatia, make sure the contract covers Montenegro. Some companies charge a cross-border fee.
• From Podgorica to Bar and Budva the fastest route is through the Sozina tunnel, which is a toll road.

Kamenari – Lepetane ferry

The ferry across the Verige strait shortens the trip between Herceg Novi and Tivat, Kotor and Budva.

• The crossing takes about 5 minutes. During the day it runs every 20 minutes, and it also runs at night, less often.
• A car costs €5; pedestrians and cyclists ride free. Bring some small cash just in case.
• In summer the queue can be longer than an hour. The road around the bay through Risan and Perast is about 30 km longer, but it is one of the most beautiful drives in the country.

Registration and tourist tax

• Every foreign guest must be registered within 24 hours of arrival. In private accommodation the host usually does this, but ask when you check in.
• The tourist tax on the coast is up to about €1 per person per night. Children under 12 are exempt and those aged 12 to 18 pay half.

Parking and old towns

• The old towns of Kotor and Budva are pedestrian zones. Parking around them is paid and fills up quickly in summer, so arrive early or leave the car and take a taxi.
• In Kotor, when a cruise ship is in port, the old town gets very crowded. Early morning or early evening is better.