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What to visit in Montenegro by car
Most of Montenegrin attractions you will be able to see independently by car. To do this, it is enough to rent a car for a few days – and go! With its coastline along the Adriatic Sea with a length of 294 km, Montenegro guarantees you dizzying landscapes and fascinating routes, no matter where you go. In this review we will tell you that you can visit Montenegro by car in five days to see the most interesting places in the country.
One of the ways to get into the country is across the border with Albania, through Skoda, which is only 20 minutes drive from the border. Another 45 minutes drive along one of the scenic routes you get to the Bar, where you can relax. Bar – a great place on the southern coast of Montenegro, where you can see the old city.
Another 40 minutes to the coast along the E80 you will reach San Stefano. This is the highlight of the coastal road, which is part of the Budva Riviera. San Stefano is an upscale resort where there are a lot of celebrities, so if you do not have a lot of money, stay here just to take photos. Unless of course you can not afford to pay 2000 euros per night at the hotel.
Another 15 minutes drive you get to the “Queen of the Mediterranean Sea” – Budva. This city is the main tourist center in Montenegro. Budva is well known for its Riviera, where there are at least 18 beaches. Here is an interesting old city, nightlife and rich bazaars. In Budva, there are so many interesting things that you have to spend here a day or two.
Kotor will be the next step after Budva. It is only 30 minutes drive. Kotor is a beautiful city on the shore of the bay surrounded by mountains. The outlines of his fortress are especially prominent in the night sky. In Kotor you can stay for a few days to visit the nearest villages.
From Kotor, you can go to Niegusi, a small town known for its cheese and prosciutto. Perhaps the most pleasant part of this route is that there is the best road to Montenegro Serpentine with its 25 winding bends.
From Njegusi in 30 minutes drive there is the National Park Lovchen, where you can climb to the top of Lovcen Mountain by car to the Mausoleum. The mausoleum is like a ladder to the sky, from where you can enjoy the view of the mountains to the horizon.
After looking at the mountain peaks, stop for coffee in the old capital of Cetinje. From here 30 minutes to arrive in the small town of Chernoevich’s River. From the main road leading to it, there is a spectacular view of a meandering river. This is a great place for photography. And in the city you can go boating and eat fresh fish in restaurants.
From the River Chernoevich to Kotor – another one and a half hours, but if you visit there, you will not regret having spent the day.
After Kotor, the best stop is Perast with its Venetian architecture, which makes it the most stunning city in the bay. The next stop is Herceg Novi, 44 minutes from Perast. Herceg Novi is the last city in front of the border with Croatia. From here to the famous Dubrovnik, only one hour by car.
That’s right, in just five days by car you will have time to travel all over Montenegro and see the top top attractions.
What you need to know before you go to Montenegro by car
A car trip through Montenegro is not the easiest, but interesting way to get to know the country. A fat plus is the cheapness of gasoline: the cost is about 1.07 euros per liter. If you are going to go to Croatia or Albania, it is more profitable to refuel on the spot.
How can I get to Montenegro?
The road to Montenegro by car is accessible by land, as it borders on Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo and Albania. You can also get from Italy by ferry.
Do people in Montenegro know how to drive?
In Montenegro, good drivers, but not the most patient and reluctant to give way. They do not respect zebra crossing, so it’s better to adjust to local drivers, because otherwise you risk getting an impact from behind by an impatient driver.
What are the roads in Montenegro?
Most of the highways and country roads are well repaired and easy to ride on. However, the coastal road is one-lane, which makes it difficult to overtake. In some tunnels in the south there is no lighting.
How is speed regulated in Montenegro?
Police are strict when it comes to speed limits, and issues fines. They do not have speed cameras, but they use radar. If you exceed the established speed limit by 50 km / h, you will be given a huge fine, and local residents may be stripped of their rights for this.
Turn on dipped beam. Yes, the presence of dipped headlights day and night is mandatory at any time of the year. If you do not, the police can stop you.
What are the names of roads in Montenegro?
No way. In Montenegro, the streets have no names. Only the most important highways are numbered. Secondary roads and villages have no names, so it’s difficult to navigate with a navigator.
How to travel by car in Montenegro?
Traffic is the main problem in the Bay of Kotor. The roads in this area are single-lane, and when cruise ships arrive, the streets are filled with crowds of tourists, and movement by car turns into a nightmare. Sometimes the traffic can be so bad that the short route that should take you to the city takes at least an hour. Try not to drive by car in Kotor, when cruise ships cruise here, or leave long before their arrival.
Traffic regulations in Montenegro
Self-drive by car is the ideal way to discover the country. But the traffic police is everywhere, so in addition to speed limits and an international driving license, you will have to arm yourself with information about the rules of traffic rules in Montenegro.
The main advice for drivers: plan time with a margin. You do not anticipate in advance that it can detain you in an unfamiliar area. For example, you can hardly drive faster than 60 km / h along the roads of Kotor Bay. The road surface tends to get worse in rural areas, especially in winter and in bad weather. Sadly, the Podgorica-Belgrade highway, passing through the Moraca Canyon, has become famous in this respect, which often becomes dangerous due to poor conditions and heavy traffic.
Features of traffic rules in Montenegro:
Movement right-sided. As in the rest of continental Europe, people drive on the right side of the road and overtake on the left. Keep to the right side, except when you need to overtake someone, and turn on the indicators for any deviations from the lane and when moving away from the curb.
The minimum age allowed for drivers of Montenegro is 18 years.
Seat belts are mandatory for drivers and all passengers in the front and rear seats.
The permissible limit of alcohol in the blood is 0.05%. Drinking while intoxicated is a serious offense and can lead to imprisonment. The police can write a fine on the spot, but they do not have the right to charge a fee.
The use of dipped headlights is mandatory while driving – at any time of the year and day.
It is forbidden to use a mobile phone while driving, even with a hands-free device.
Children under 12 years, as well as passengers in a state of intoxication are not allowed to sit in the front seat. Children under the age of 5 years must ride on children’s car seats.
The speed limit for cars: in built-up areas – 50 km / h, outside the built-up areas – 80 km / h, on motorways – 100 km / h, on the highway – 130 km / h.
Speed limit for cars with trailers: in built-up areas – 50 km / h, outside the built-up areas – 80 km / h, on other roads – 90 km / h.
It is not permitted to overtake a school bus during a stop when the children sit down or disembark.
At the intersection, the cars on the right have the priority right of way.
If you become a participant in an accident that results in someone injuring you or suffered material damage, you must report to the police.
Traffic regulations in Montenegro provide that you must have a warning triangle in the car, a reflective vest, first-aid kit, a set of spare lamps (not required for xenon and neon lamps), and from November 15 to April 1 – winter tires. In addition to winter tires, it is necessary to have anti-skid chains for the car.
Local auto insurance is mandatory.
And more facts that will be useful if you are going to rent a car:
To rent a car in Montenegro, the driver must be at least 21 years old.
In Montenegro there are no toll roads. The only toll road in Montenegro is the Sozin tunnel between Lake Skadar and the sea. The fare is 3.50 euro per car.
In the built-up area to skip the car, the driver should be able to make a signal
If you were stopped by police on the road, you should have a set of documents in your hands: a driving license (for international citizens – an international driving license), a car registration document and an insurance policy.
In Montenegro there is a pan-European auto insurance “Green Card”. Local insurance is required only for long stays.
In Montenegro, most roads are two-way
The police number is 122.
The road to Ostrog in Montenegro: by car from Kotor Bay
On the roads of Montenegro, you can write a whole book. They are steeper and more curved than you imagine, but as long as you do not turn into alleys from main roads, there is no particular reason for concern. The main roads are quite new and renovated. However, if you leave the main roads, the situation changes radically. The absence of tunnels in the mountainous terrain means that the roads are serpentine curves that are complex and sometimes dangerous for driving. Regardless of whether you drive on small mountain roads or on large motorways, do not exceed the speed indicated on the signs, as you risk meeting with police officers who will not stand on ceremony.
This small tip was written by a traveler from Europe, who together with her husband experienced all the difficulties of Montenegrin roads. We give a literal story about her trip to the car from Kotor to Ostroh, and to believe or not – you decide.
“Memo: try to use the main roads and do not turn into side streets and lanes.
And that’s why:
We planned to visit the Ostrog Orthodox monastery on the day of the Holy Trinity, to take part in the liturgy, which usually starts at 9-10 am. Staying in Kotor, we decided that getting there on time will not be difficult. But God has his own plans. At that moment, we did not imagine what a trip awaits us ahead.
Soon after we left the city, GPS offered a “better” route than the one we saved (along the main road). Usually his options justify themselves, so we agreed. But probably on that day the navigator decided to play tricks on us. Because as soon as we turned, misfortunes began.
We found that a new road to Ostroh
… suddenly starts to rise abruptly upwards
… it can be called asphalted only half. No, it still shows traces of asphalt, which poured the street in times of its laying, but call it an asphalt covering would be loudly said.
… it is so narrow that only one car can go through it (and thats not always so!), So forget about the return and hope that no one will go to meet (as a rule, the road is a two-way traffic)
… on the one hand a wall of falling rocks, on the other … nothing but the remains of the wall. Road barriers, artificial or natural? No, they did not.
… turns more often than any carousel, and the turns are so steep that you have to beep each time to warn other cars that might be around the corner.
In such conditions, you must move no faster than 10 kilometers per hour, completely concentrate on driving, and you will not be up to the scenic landscapes outside the window. Each meter further along the road became more and more complicated, the conditions worsened, and the turns became more frequent.
Our signals came in handy, because the other car really approached us from the front. Luckily, he heard the signal and lost speed, because he was not too slow (it was a local and he knew that the terrain allows you to do 20 km / h). With folding side mirrors and feeling like rope walkers, we eventually managed to part ways. It was an unpleasant experience, which I would not like to repeat. But, at least, we learned one thing: never rely on the GPS-navigator and always ask the road from the locals, otherwise you risk getting lost and getting tired of your nerves.
After a while we returned to the main road and took a breath. It took a short break. A few kilometers before the Ostrog monastery itself, the road started to rise again, but it became much better. There were even emergency barriers! They would never have thought that they could be so valuable a thing.
This was our most extreme driving experience in Montenegro, but not the only one. When I recall the conditions in which I had to travel by car in Montenegro, I have great respect for the driver (my husband) for being safe “
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.