It is possible to travel by car from Montenegro to Croatia and back. However, it is usually not allowed to rent a car from one country to another. There are card companies that practice this, but most do not. Border guards do not care until your insurance is in order. However, if you got into an accident, the car was stolen or damaged, by your fault or not, and you did not get permission to cross the border, you may face serious problems.
Therefore, before you rent a car, check with the company for this issue. Just make sure that the rental agency allows you to travel to neighboring countries on your cars.
Also make sure that you have well thought out the route, otherwise you risk missing out on many attractions.
If you have a large sum of money, for example, 10 000 euros, it must be declared in order to be able to take it out of the country. But most likely not more than a thousand plus a credit card, so do not worry.
From Montenegro to Croatia in a rented car
In the morning, after breakfast in the city or hotel, go to Croatia. To drive from Sarajevo to Split, it takes from 4 to 4.5 hours. There are several routes that you can choose. For example, the E73 trail allows you to cross almost all the way to Croatia, passing by Mostar. The crossing of the border between Montenegro and Croatia by car usually takes no more than 5 minutes. In Croatia, you can go on the broadband route E65 up to Split.
Next to Split is the ancient castle Klis. It has a rich history and at various times was the site of numerous battles with Knights Templars, Ottomans and Mongols. From the Klis fortress, you can enjoy panoramic views of Split and the Dalmatian coast. There were also scenes for the “Games of Thrones”. To inspect everything, it will take at least an hour
Trogir is a coastal town only 35 minutes away by car. The whole Old Town is located on the island. You can go around the whole of Trogir in an hour or two if you move fast, and by evening return to Split, stroll through the streets of Diocletian’s palace and spend the night at the hotel.
Being in Croatia, it is worth to visit at least one island. From Split, you can cruise to one of the islands in the Adriatic Sea. For example, Hvar – famous for its nightlife and picturesque harbor. You can choose Marriage to take a walk on the Species Mountain, the highest point in the Adriatic Sea.
How to use the ferry in Croatia
From Split to the islands there is a ferry. These ferries run several times a day, and during the tourist season even more often. In addition, since you took a car rental, make sure that you chose a ferry that allows you to transfer cars. Plan your ferry reservation in a few days or weeks. If you arrive at the pier too late, you will not be able to get a seat, even if you have a ticket. In the summer months, you will have to queue up to 2 to 3 hours before you get on the ferry. You can put the car in line and go about their business, and then return to the car 30 minutes before departure.
You will get to know the wonderful city of Dubrovnik. It can become a highlight of this whole route. Do not miss a walk through the medieval walls, view from the cable car, walk through the old town and visit the Fort Lovrienac. In Dubrovnik, there are many fine restaurants. It’s easy to fall in love with this city.
From Dubrovnik to Montenegro by car
And now it’s time to say goodbye to Croatia. But do not worry, Montenegro is just as amazing as Croatia. From Dubrovnik, you can reach the Montenegrin border in 45 minutes. You will need a passport and a green card (for a rented car) to cross the border.
The nearest city after crossing the border is Herceg Novi. It’s worth spending at least an hour or two on this nice city. Take a walk in the old city, climb into the fortress of Kanli-Kula, to admire the beautiful view of the city and the bay of Kotor, and, if you want, visit the monastery of Savin.
From Herceg Novi, go clockwise around Kotor Bay. The day trip ends in Kotor. Take a seat at the hotel, and then spend the rest of the day exploring the sights. Kotor is a small medieval city. You can bypass it in an hour or less. The first thing to do is climb the city walls. This is a tense climb over uneven steps and cobbled trails, but a visit to Kotor would not be complete without this adventure.
If you arrived early enough, think about the Kotor Ladder. This is an increase of 6-8 miles, at the end of which you will have a breathtaking view of the Bay of Kotor. The tour ends with a walk along the city walls of Kotor, from which you can see picturesque suburbs, mountain landscapes and coastal towns.
From Kotor, go south from the city along the P22 highway and turn left onto P1 along a winding, climbing road that rises high into the mountains. From here you can enjoy stunning views of the Bay of Kotor.
Head towards Lovcen National Park. Mount Lovcen is one of the highest peaks in Montenegro, and you will never forget the view from here. Then you can go around in the direction of the National Park of Lake Skadar. It’s worth spending a day exploring the coast, also called the Budva Riviera, and visiting San Stefan, a medieval town built on a small island connected to the mainland by a sandy isthmus. Today it is an expensive resort, and the city is allowed to stop only by what it has booked in advance. Within walking distance is Milocer beach, an ideal place to relax. Then head north to Budva, another popular city known for its nightlife. This is a good place to have dinner and spend the night. From Budva, just 30 minutes is Kotor, so you can return to the starting point of the trip.
Month: January 2013
How to travel by car from Montenegro to Croatia
How to get to Skadar Lake in Montenegro by car
If you can rent a car, a trip to the national park on Skadar Lake is the easiest way to get there, although traffic on Montenegrin roads can turn into an entertaining adventure. Here are the approximate distances and driving time from the most popular holiday destination to the entrance to the Virpazar National Park:
Virpazary – Podgorica – 29 km – 30-35 minutes
Virpazary – Budva – 42 km – 50-60 minutes
Virpazary – Kotor – 65 km – 1 hour and 15 minutes
Virpazari – Bar – 24 km – 30 minutes
Virpazary – Ulcinj – 50 km – 1 hour
You can park in a few minutes walk from the entrance.
Do you have a craving for adventure? Are you sure that you will cope with narrow, winding and steep roads without protective barriers? Are not you afraid of heights? If you answered “yes” to all three questions, you will like the trip around Lake Skadar. Starting from Podgorica, this tour has a length of 157 km, but you will need at least four hours to overcome the whole distance.
Across the border
From Virpazara, the road goes along the western coast of Lake Skadar to Murici, and then descends to Sukobin / Murikan, where you cross the Montenegrin-Alban border and head to Skadar. Public transportation is not available here, so you will need to rent a car. It’s worth it: on the way there is an incredible variety of landscapes, a breathtaking view of the lake against the snowy Alban Alps, solitary islands, picturesque churches, monasteries and mosques, small villages and, finally, Skadar itself with its colorful sights.
Climbing along the shore, a tiny island of Gremozura, which was once used as a prison, is now visible on the lake from a distance, and now it is inhabited only by cormorants and gulls.
Then you will pass the historical settlement of Godinje, a cluster of ancient stone houses with thick walls and arched entrances. The road narrows and becomes steeper, with magnificent views of the lake, small islets and the Albanian Alps on the opposite side.
The road along Lake Skadar
Continuing the trip, you will find several villages on the shore, populated by Albanians – Muslims and Catholics. In the village of Sestan there is a very beautiful old bell tower and a Catholic church, built in place of the destroyed. Follow the sign to Karanikichi, going down the left side of the road: this is a wonderful place!
The monastery Starchevo, founded in 1377, is located on the island Starcheva Gorica, near the banks of the Guravchi river. From the road there is a beautiful view of a small church in the shadow of tall cypress trees, surrounded by an old stone wall.
The farther to the south, the more wild and desolate images. Around some stones and bushes, sometimes there will be a lonely tree near the road. Donji Murici is among the huge olive groves. In this village there is a pebble beach with a tourist settlement and hotel, which is open only in the season – from May to September. Here you can hire a boat and see the island of Beska with its beautiful 14th-century monastery.
Into the country the landscape is changing again, more lands are cultivated. Chestnut forests, oaks and old cemeteries are a characteristic image of this area, where people still cultivate the land in a traditional way. The local climate is suitable for growing tobacco.
On the way to Skadar
The village of Kostanjica got its name due to two-level chestnut (“kesten”) forests. You will be amazed by the mystical atmosphere of this area, with centuries-old trees hanging over the road. Huge trees completely cover the sunlight.
Continuing the trip through the village of Ostros, you reach the Stegvos Pass, and then descend to Vladimir, where you leave on the main road leading to the border. Through the carefully cultivated fields of the territory, jump out to Skadar, passing a new bridge through Bunu or Boyana.
Skadar is really worth a visit, at least its historical center. The pedestrian street “Sheshi” or “Piaka” has been preserved in the traditional style: there are a lot of pubs, shops and street terraces. In a pizzeria with a shady garden, you can buy pizza for less than 5 euros, but the prices in the popular restaurant of Vila Bekteshi are not higher.
There is something to see in Skodar: the big mosque, the Catholic cathedral, the Mother Teresa monument, the Marubi museum and the Enver Hoxha museum, which recalls the times when the Communists ruled here. From Skoder it is easy to return through the Koplik valley, cross the border and return to Podgorica after a wonderful day.
A trip to Montenegro yourself: what you need to know
Although the difficulties associated with traveling to this part of Eastern Europe are few, here are some tips to help you organize your trip.
1. Spend more time on natural landscapes.
Montenegro is a land of mountains and valleys, which impresses with its landscapes on a man unprepared. But when you travel for a long time, the landscape starts to appear monotonous, whether it’s a picturesque mountain, a genuine trickle of a waterfall or a swift deep valley. Therefore, focus on the small details that determine the whole charm of the journey. These are moments that you will remember with trembling even after a few years. Unlike most European countries, Montenegro is a place where you do not need to pay special attention to cities, except for Kotor. It is a country of beautiful landscapes, lakes and winding rivers.
2. It is worth renting a car for at least a few days
You can travel around Montenegro by bus or train, but there are unforgettable places that can only be reached by car. Rent a car in Montenegro is inexpensive, and believe that you will not regret the money spent on it. There are amazing routes in the country that can not be missed. One of the most picturesque is the road connecting Pluzhine and Zabljak, but you can not get there without having your own wheels. Traveling by Montenegro by car even in 1-2 days will open you places where you simply will not get on public transport.
3. Beware of Local Drivers
High-speed overtaking on bends, driving in the middle, trucks rushing through narrow mountain passes, is a usual picture for the roads of Montenegro. Driving here is like racing with obstacles. Despite the religious amulets hanging from most of the rear-view mirrors, an unprepared tourist may have the impression that all cars are suicide bombers. It is not uncommon to see a truck pruning a miniature car on a mountain road, and the driver accelerates on the rise to outrun the cars ahead. If you are renting a car, then keep in mind that locals are more comfortable with traffic rules than in other parts of Europe.
4. Smoking is allowed everywhere
In most European countries, smoking is a fading trend. You have to leave a cozy cafe to smoke, despite the cold or rain, or go hundreds of meters to make sure that you are not within the permitted distance from a cafe, bus stop or school. However, in Montenegro a different approach. Bus drivers do not see anything wrong with smoking right during driving. The smoke-filled cafes with black ceilings and overcrowded ashtrays, which in Europe are associated with the past century, are still the norm in this part of the world.
5. You can put a tent almost anywhere
Along the rivers, on the mountain tops, near the lakes and in the fields – camping is allowed almost anywhere in the country. If you intend to turn off the beaten track and enjoy an independent holiday in Montenegro, pre-pack a tent in the trunk. Most places have freshwater springs, but be prepared for cold nights in the mountains.
6. Communication with local people is difficult
Even those words that seem deceptively simple, make you stumble over an indigestible combination of consonant sounds. And since Montenegrin dialects vary from north to south, do not be surprised if you do not understand. Do not expect that it will be possible to do English: in Montenegro, very few people who understand English. Unlike German, which, surprisingly, is much more common.
7. The train is cheaper and more comfortable than the bus
The railway line runs from Bar on the coast, through Virpazar on Lake Skadar, stretches to Podgorica and further to the border with Serbia and to Belgrade. You can cross half the country in one day and just for a couple of euros. In addition to the price, traveling by train is more comfortable, without a driver filling the cabin with tobacco smoke, loud phone conversations and attempts to overtake the cars ahead, which is inevitable for every bus trip.
8. In any restaurant menu, almost all dishes are meat
Meat medallions, lamb stew, sausages, smoked ham, roast lamb are the obligatory components of Montenegrin dishes. If you can not eat meat without greens, do not worry: your portion of meat will almost certainly be sprinkled with greens, and if you are lucky, there will be potatoes, and maybe even onions. But vegetarians will be uncomfortable, they will have to satisfy the hunger with salads and bread.
9. Organize walking tours
In Montenegro, there are excellent pedestrian areas with convenient trails, valleys and mountain peaks. Durmitor National Park is the main place for walking tours in the summer, although in winter snowfall makes most of the paths impassable. Excellent routes can be found around Kolasin and in the Lovcen national park.
10. Appreciate the diversity
Montenegro has everything, especially if you prefer independent travel. Take a stroll in the quiet coastal villages, soaked in the Turkish atmosphere, or dance all night long in tourist resorts. Ride on the floating tops of Durmitor in summer and ride on snowy slopes in winter. Take a walk in the countryside, take a dip in the mountain lake and get an adrenaline rush, strolling along the walls of Kotor. An unforgettable trip awaits you!
Montenegro IS mountainous, landlocked republic in the Balkans, formerly part of Yugoslavia;population 672,200 (est. 2009);capital, Podgorica. Joined with Serbia before the Turkish conquest of 1355, Montenegro became independent in 1851. In 1918, it became part of the federation of Yugoslavia. On the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1992, it formed a federation with Serbia, but voted in 2006 to become independent.