The coast and the bay
How the sea coast and the Bay of Kotor are laid out, why the old towns are best seen early in the morning or toward evening, and what to do when the waterfront gets crowded in high season.
Montenegro without rushing: a guide for independent travelers
Chernogorya — Montenegro without rushing
Montenegro is small, yet within its borders you'll find a sea coast, the winding Bay of Kotor, the mountains of the north and the shores of Lake Skadar. That is exactly why travelers want to see all of it, and why so many come back from an independent trip worn out: mountain roads take longer than the map suggests, and the old towns only open up to those who explore them slowly and on foot. This guide is about traveling without rushing. We explain how the country is laid out, when to go, how to get around by bus or rental car, how to pay, where to find entry rules and how to behave in national parks, in the mountains and on the water. We sell nothing and don't recommend specific places to stay or eat: you'll find only general pointers that make it easy to plan the trip yourself.
Montenegro is easy to underestimate: on the map everything looks close, but on the road every hairpin bend asks you to slow down. Plan less and you'll see more.
Four themes of the guide
Mountains and parks
The mountainous north, Durmitor National Park, mountain trails and their markings, rules on fires and camping: everything worth knowing before you set out.
Roads and transport
Intercity buses, car rental, switchback roads and parking near the old towns, in general terms, without schedules or costs.
Money and documents
The euro as the official currency, a bank card plus a little cash, travel insurance and entry rules, which you should always check against official websites.
Guide navigation
- Sections
A map of topics: the country's regions, transport and roads, nature and safety, local customs.
- Guides
How to plan a week in Montenegro on your own, plus a catalogue of upcoming articles.
- Questions
Short answers: what to do before the trip, how to get around, how to stay safe in the mountains and near water.
- Collections
Collections by interest: the old towns of the bay, the mountains and canyons of the north, the lake and its birds.
- Reference
A traveler's glossary: geography, road terms and rules for behaving in nature.
- New
A feed of the guide's pages with dates and topic tags.
- Archive
Every page of the guide, by preparation date and topic.
Before you go: five steps
Check entry rules on official websites
Document requirements depend on your citizenship and change from time to time. Visit the official government websites of Montenegro and of your own country closer to your departure date, and don't rely on secondhand accounts in chats and forums.
Think about travel insurance
Find out whether insurance is required for entry in your particular case, and either way read what it covers: mountain hikes, swimming, driving a rental car. Policies differ, so read the policy itself, not just the summary.
Sketch out an unhurried route
Pick a few bases instead of moving every day, for example one by the sea and one in the mountains. Distances look modest on the map, but mountain roads are slow, so build some extra time into every day.
Money: the euro and a card
Montenegro's official currency is the euro, even though the country is not a member of the European Union. Bring a bank card and a small amount of cash for places where paying by card isn't an option.
Remember the number 112
The single emergency number in Montenegro is 112. Save it in your phone and write it down on paper, and keep the address of where you're staying handy so you can quickly explain where you are if you need help.
Frequently asked questions about this guide
Are you a travel agency?
No. Chernogorya is an independent guide for people traveling to Montenegro on their own. We are not a tour operator, a tour guide or an official tourism portal, we do not represent any government body, and we do not sell trips, either directly or through intermediaries.
Can I buy a tour or an excursion from you?
No. We don't sell or arrange anything: no trips, excursions, accommodation or tickets. The site doesn't name companies, hotels or carriers; it offers only general advice that makes it easier to plan your trip yourself.
Do I need a visa for Montenegro?
The answer depends on your citizenship, the purpose of your trip and other circumstances, and the rules change from time to time. That's why we deliberately don't summarize entry requirements: check them on the official government websites of Montenegro and your own country shortly before you travel.
What currency does Montenegro use?
The euro. It is the country's official currency, even though Montenegro is not a member of the European Union. We don't list what things cost, because that information goes out of date quickly. On the road, it helps to carry a card and a little cash.
About the project
Chernogorya is an independent reference project about traveling to Montenegro on your own. Before us, this domain hosted a different website and later unrelated spam pages. None of that earlier material is here: it was not preserved, and we do not reproduce it. The current guide has no connection to that website or to the spam pages.
The name comes from the domain. We don't sell trips, we don't name companies, hotels, restaurants or carriers, we don't write about politics and we don't summarize entry rules, since official websites exist for that. All examples on these pages are illustrative, and the few specific facts come from the sources listed at the bottom of each page.
Sources
- UNESCO World Heritage List (Kotor, Durmitor)
- Official government websites of Montenegro and your own country: entry rules (in general terms)
- Chernogorya editorial materials
Information is current as of the date this page was prepared. Entry rules, national park regulations, transport schedules and car rental terms change over time, so check official sources and the rules in force on the ground before you travel.