17 Montenegro Travel Tips You Must Know As a Solo Traveller

Montenegro is one of the most beautiful (and underrated!) countries in Europe, but there are a few Montenegro travel tips I really wish someone had told me before my first solo trip.

On paper, planning a trip here looks super simple. Right?

The country is small, everyone raves about Kotor as the perfect base, and a lot of the best places to visit in Montenegro are easily accessible on a huge variety of day trips.

But once I actually arrived, I realised there were things I overlooked.

Things like buses running to their own timetable (or none at all!), distances taking longer than expected, and some areas feeling less comfortable for me as a solo traveller.

So before you start booking your flights, tours, and that dreamy bay-view hotel, here are 17 Montenegro travel tips that will help you plan your trip with confidence – and avoid the most common mistakes!

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1. Montenegro Is Small – But It’s Not Quick to Travel Around

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One of the first things that caught me out when planning my trip to Montenegro was how small Montenegro looks on a map.

I mean, it’s tiny compared to most European countries, right? So it’s only fair to assume you’ll be able to travel between different places super quickly.

But in reality, that’s not always the case.

Most of Montenegro is mountainous, so many of the major roads you’ll be using to get around the country are full of sharp twists and turns.

The spectacular, mountainous Bay of Kotor!

They’re genuinely some of the most scenic drives I’ve ever done, but they’re also SLOW!

Plus, add in summer traffic along the Bay of Kotor and buses that don’t always run to time (or don’t even have a timetable!), and a journey that looks short can take ages.

Because of this, it is so important to add buffer time to your travel days.

Rushing from place to place will leave you stressed and exhausted, and that’s no fun at all!

Katie’s Top Tip: When figuring out your itinerary, always assume that a journey will take longer than Google Maps suggests, especially in summer.

2. Choose Your Base Wisely

Where you stay in Montenegro matters a LOT more than you might think when you’re a solo traveller.

When I first booked my trip, I actually picked a beautiful sea-view apartment in Dobrota (a small coastal area just outside Kotor), with its own garden and beautiful décor.

On paper, it looked like my dream.

I couldn’t believe how affordable it was. And it was only a 10-minute walk from the old town.

But then I did my usual, non-negotiable walk up and down Google Street View (one of my solo female travel safety essentials) and realised…

Dobrota is VERY quiet.

In many parts of the neighbourhood, there’s limited street lighting, very little foot traffic, and in some places even a lack of proper pavements along the road.

None of this means it’s unsafe (it isn’t!), but I realised that for me personally, I definitely wouldn’t feel comfortable walking back there alone after dinner or a late tour.

The view from my balcony in the heart of Kotor Old Town!

And for solo female travellers especially, feeling comfortable is SO important to how much you can let go and actually enjoy your trip.

That’s why one of my biggest Montenegro travel tips for solo travellers is to stay inside Kotor Old Town if it’s your first trip.

The streets are well-lit, there are always people around, the restaurants and cafés stay open late, and you can walk everywhere easily.

And honestly? Waking up inside the medieval walls was so magical, too!

Katie’s Top Tip: Prioritise central accommodation over cheaper stays outside town. Being able to walk comfortably back to your hotel after dinner is so worth it.

Live music just outside my rented apartment at night

3. Montenegro Is SO Much More Than a Day Trip

The majority of visitors to Montenegro stay for just a day, usually on a cruise stop or as a day trip from nearby Dubrovnik in Croatia.

And while that’s better than just skipping the country, it doesn’t do Montenegro justice.

Most day trips only visit Kotor and sometimes Perast, usually arriving in the late morning and leaving again in the mid-afternoon.

That means you’re seeing both places at their absolute busiest, when the cruise ships have docked, and the narrow streets are absolutely packed with tourists.

And if that’s your only experience of Montenegro, it’s natural that a lot of people leave thinking it’s pretty but overcrowded… and kinda overrated.

Beautiful Perast is so much more enjoyable when it's quiet! — Beautiful Perast is so much more enjoyable when it’s quiet!

But that wasn’t my experience at all.

Early in the morning, Kotor feels SO different. The cruise crowds and day trippers haven’t arrived yet, so the old streets are empty apart from a few locals (both people and cats!)

I fell in love with Kotor between the hours of 8am and 10am!

But for the rest of the day? Yep, no thanks. I was off somewhere quieter, like the mountains of Lovćen National Park or the lakes of Durmitor National Park, or even nearby Budva.

The bottom line? Kotor is 100% more magical in the morning, so stay a little longer!

Katie’s Top Tip: Even one night in Kotor makes a huge difference to how you’ll experience it. Exploring the quaint old town streets with no one else around is well worth the early wakeup!

Exploring an empty Kotor Old Town in the early morning is one of my top Montenegro travel tips — Exploring an empty Kotor Old Town in the early morning

4. But You Can’t See Everything in One Trip

Montenegro might be small, but there are so many beautiful places to visit.

Within just a few hours, you can go from medieval old towns on the coast to dramatic national parks, sprawling lakes and even the deepest canyon in Europe!

Every single corner of Montenegro feels so unique and special in its own right.

But because of that, one of the most realistic Montenegro travel tips I can give is that you should accept that you probably won’t see everything in one visit.

The majestic Black Lake in rural Montenegro

I spent a full week in Montenegro on my first trip, and even with that amount of time, there were still a lot of beautiful places I didn’t get to.

I managed to explore Kotor, Perast, Budva, the Bay of Kotor and Durmitor and Lovcen National Parks, but places like Herceg Novi and Podgorica are still on my list for next time.

But the good news is that you can see the highlights in a week if you plan smart.

And you can see how I did exactly that in my 7-day Montenegro itinerary, which combines the very best of Montenegro’s stunning coast and countryside from Kotor!

Katie’s Top Tip: Instead of constant hotel-hopping, choose one base (Kotor is best) and then do day trips from there. It’s so much more relaxing!

5. Montenegro Is Safe – But You Still Need Street Smarts

Safety is one of the first questions solo travellers ask about Montenegro, and overall, I found it was a very safe country to visit.

Crime against tourists is relatively low, and during my time there, I always felt comfortable walking around Kotor Old Town – even at night.

The streets are lively well into the evenings, restaurants and bars open late, and there’s always a steady flow of foot traffic within the old walls.

However, like most popular European destinations, petty theft does unfortunately still happen in Kotor (especially during the busy summer months).

Pickpocketing is the most common issue, so stay aware of your belongings in busy areas.

I also noticed that once you leave the old town, the atmosphere changes.

For example, walking towards the supermarket and shopping centre felt a little more rundown and less lively. It wasn’t unsafe, but as a solo female, I felt more alert there.

And this is another reason I was so glad I chose accommodation within the old town walls!

Katie’s Top Tip: Carry a small crossbody bag and keep it zipped at your front when you’re out and about exploring. That way, you always have a hand on your valuables.

When cruise ships are docked in the bay it gets a lot busier!

6. Where You Fly Into Matters

One of the first decisions you’ll make when figuring out how to plan a trip to Montenegro is which airport to fly into.

Montenegro has two international airports: Tivat and Podgorica.

And while it might seem like a small detail when you’re booking, the two airports are actually hours apart, so it makes a huge difference to how easy your arrival day is.

If you’re planning to stay in Kotor (recommended), fly into Tivat Airport if you can.

It’s only about a 10-minute drive or taxi ride from Kotor Old Town, meaning you can be checked into your accommodation and out exploring incredibly quickly after landing.

I really appreciated that ease after my super early flight from the UK – I was TIRED!

Podgorica Airport, on the other hand, is about 2 hours from Kotor by car.

Flights there are often cheaper and more frequent (they were for me), but once you factor in the taxi or bus journey (and the added stress), the cost difference isn’t much different.

This is one of those Montenegro travel tips that doesn’t get talked about much, but it genuinely makes such a difference!

Katie’s Top Tip: If the price difference between Tivat and Podgorica is small, choose Tivat every time. Being able to reach Kotor in 10 minutes instead of 2 hours makes your arrival day so much easier!

7. Don’t Underestimate the Summer Crowds

Montenegro still gets described as a hidden gem in a lot of travel articles.

And sure, a lot of the country absolutely does feel that way. BUT Kotor and Budva especially still get extremely busy in summer.

Cruise ships arrive daily in Kotor during peak season, which means thousands of visitors arrive on the small, narrow streets of the old town all at once.

And Budva becomes one of the busiest beach and nightlife destinations in the whole of the Balkans during July and August.

So if you visit during these months expecting a hidden gem, you might be disappointed.

Relaxing with the cutest cats in Kotor early in the morning before the crowds arrive!

Even when I visited in late September, Kotor Old Town was still busy and full of visitors during the middle of the day.

But the thing is, the crowds are actually very predictable. And once I let you in on the secret to a quiet Kotor, it’s super easy to avoid them:

Early morning + shoulder season (preferably, but optional) = magical!

As I said earlier, early morning (before 10am) in Kotor is stunning. Before the cruise ships and day-trippers arrive, the stone streets are quiet except for a few locals.

This is the perfect time to explore the beautiful Kotor Old Town!

Then later in the day, when the crowds peak, it’s a great time to escape on a Bay of Kotor boat trip or head into the mountains to Lovćen or Durmitor National Park.

Katie’s Top Tip: Explore Kotor early in the morning, then plan day trips or boat tours for midday when the cruise crowds are at their busiest.

8. Cash Is King

One of the most practical things you should know before going to Montenegro is that cash is still important here.

Montenegro uses the euro, even though it isn’t part of the European Union.

But card payments aren’t accepted everywhere.

Many restaurants, supermarkets and hotels in tourist areas like Kotor or Budva do take cards, but smaller cafés, bakeries, taxis, and local buses require cash.

You’ll also need cash to pay the national park fees if you plan to visit Lovćen National Park or Durmitor National Park.

During my trip, I found it so much easier to pay for pretty much everything in cash, rather than constantly worrying whether somewhere would accept my card.

ATMs are easy to find in Kotor and Budva, but they’re hard to find in smaller villages. Plus, the fees can be INSANE, so I recommend bringing what you need with you.

Katie’s Top Tip: Always carry small euro notes and coins for taxis, bakeries, buses, and national park entry fees – plus a buffer, just in case.

9. Public Transport Exists, But…

Public transport in Montenegro works a little differently from elsewhere in Europe.

First, there is no train network. And instead, Montenegro’s transport system runs pretty much entirely on buses.

The good news is that the main routes are generally reliable and affordable.

For example, Kotor bus station is just a short walk outside the old town, and I found the buses between Kotor, Budva, and Dubrovnik to be straightforward and well organised.

Tickets can be bought at the station before departure or online for busier routes.

Budva is one of the easiest day trips by bus!

But once you start travelling to smaller towns, it becomes less predictable.

An example is the Blue Line bus to Perast, which is one of the most popular routes for tourists. Despite being such a common journey, the bus doesn’t actually operate on a clear timetable – you basically just wait at the stop and catch it when it comes!

For more remote areas, buses are unreliable or nonexistent. So I recommend booking guided tours to visit places like Lovćen National Park or Durmitor National Park.

When I was planning my trip to Montenegro, this is what I did. The tours were very well organised from Kotor, I didn’t have to worry about logistics, and I still got to see some incredible places!

Katie’s Top Tip: Use buses for major routes like Kotor to Budva, or Kotor to Dubrovnik, but book guided tours for everywhere else for ease.

Our Lady of the Rocks church opposite Perast

10. Renting a Car Gives Freedom – But Comes With Stress

Renting a car for a road trip in Montenegro sounds dreamy, right?

You get total freedom to explore at your own pace, stop at scenic viewpoints whenever you want, and visit places that are harder to reach by bus or even guided tour.

But in reality, driving in Montenegro is challenging!

Most roads in the country are mountainous, especially once you leave the coast, and local drivers are confident and fast.

I can’t think of anything more terrifying than driving the narrow, winding roads I saw!

One example is the famous Kotor Serpentine Road, which climbs up the mountain towards Lovćen National Park – with a total of 16 tight hairpin turns!

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful drive, but I was SO glad to let a local expert tour guide take a turn behind the wheel for that one.

Bottom line? If you’re not 100% confident with mountain driving, renting a car can feel more stressful than it’s worth.

So, I planned my 7-day Montenegro itinerary around guided day trips from Kotor instead. And honestly, I didn’t feel like I missed out at all!

Katie’s Top Tip: If you’re not confident driving on mountain roads, skip the rental car and join guided tours instead. You’ll still see Montenegro’s most beautiful places without the stress!

11. Montenegro Isn’t as Cheap as People Claim

Montenegro often gets labelled as a cheap European destination, but in my experience, that’s not entirely true anymore.

It’s definitely more affordable than places like Italy, France, or Switzerland, but it’s absolutely not budget or cheap (especially in summer!)

The Bay of Kotor has become popular in recent years, and prices have risen because of that.

In particular, accommodation in and around Kotor is more expensive than you probably think (especially in July and August).

However, Montenegro still offers great value compared to many other European destinations, especially once you’re out of the main touristy areas.

Local bakeries, supermarkets, and smaller restaurants off the main tourist streets are a great way to get good food for a more reasonable price, for example!

Katie’s Top Tip: If you want better prices and fewer crowds, visit in May, June or September. You’ll still get beautiful weather, but accommodation, especially, is a lot more affordable.

12. English Is Widely Spoken – But Not Everywhere

One of the things that makes Montenegro an easy destination for visitors is that English is widely spoken in the main tourist areas.

In places like Kotor, Budva and Perast, you’ll rarely have issues communicating.

Restaurant menus are available in English, tour guides speak fluent English, and most hotels and even apartment hosts are well used to international visitors now.

But once you travel outside those popular coastal towns, it changes.

Tourism in Montenegro is still quite new compared to countries like Italy or Spain, especially in rural areas. And in these places, English may be more limited.

For solo travellers, this is one of the reasons I recommend joining guided day trips when visiting more remote places in the country.

Katie’s Top Tip: Download Google Translate and the offline language pack before your trip. You probably won’t need it often, but it’s so useful to have just in case.

The village of Rijeka Crnojevića in rural Montenegro

13. Montenegro Runs on Slower Time

One thing I noticed when I arrived in Montenegro is that the pace of life is slower.

And I loved that!

But if you’re used to visiting big European cities packed with museums, attractions, and endless things to do, Montenegro will feel very different.

There aren’t hundreds of attractions to rush between. But instead, the experience is more about getting out in nature and seeing stunning landscapes.

I loved spending the early morning in Kotor Old Town, enjoying a relaxed walk or sitting with the cats in a park. And then by the afternoon, swimming in the sea or even joining a relaxed, slow catamaran cruise around the Bay of Kotor.

Katie’s Top Tip: I highly recommend embracing slow travel on your trip!

Sailing around the Bay of Kotor is the best way to relax!

14. Sandy Beaches Are Rare

Before visiting Montenegro, I just assumed that this stretch of the Adriatic coast would be full of golden sandy beaches.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth!

In fact, most of Montenegro’s beaches are actually pebbly or rocky.

Or, in other places, you’ll find concrete platforms by the water with sun loungers, rather than natural sandy beaches. These are still great for swimming, but it’s a very different experience than you might expect.

BUT, if you are dreaming of a beach getaway, don’t write Montenegro off!

Budva is one place you can find the sandy beaches of your dreams, and my favourites are Mogren Beach and Greco Beach.

Katie’s Top Tip: Pack water shoes if you plan to swim around the Bay of Kotor. They make walking on pebbly beaches much more comfortable!

15. It’s Rainier Than You Might Expect

When most people picture Montenegro, they imagine endless sunshine.

And yes, the country does enjoy a lot of beautiful sunny days (especially in summer), but it can also be rainier than you might expect.

The mountains that surround the bay create a unique microclimate, which means the weather can change quickly and be unpredictable.

Even during the summer, it’s not unusual to experience rain showers.

And outside of peak summer, rain becomes more common.

Autumn and spring are still amazing times to visit (and I actually love them for the smaller crowds they bring!), but you should expect occasional rainy days.

The good news is that Montenegro is still beautiful in moody weather.

In fact, the clouds rolling over the mountains surrounding the Bay of Kotor make the whole area look even more dramatic!

Katie’s Top Tip: Always pack a light waterproof jacket, even in summer. It takes up almost no space in your bag and is so helpful if you get caught in a shower.

I was so lucky with the weather in September, but we did get some hazier days!

16. You Have to Get Out on the Water

If you only do one thing in Montenegro, make it a boat trip around the Bay of Kotor.

It was genuinely the highlight of my entire trip!

The steep mountains rise around you, tiny villages are dotted along the shore, and Kotor and Perast look even more beautiful from the water.

On the boat trip I took, we spent the entire day cruising around the bay on a catamaran.

There was time to relax on deck, sunbathe, and enjoy the scenery while sipping a welcome glass of champagne (which honestly was the perfect way to start the day!)

But the best part is the places you visit along the way. On my tour, we:

Stopped at Our Lady of the Rocks, the tiny island church just outside Perast
Cruised into former submarine tunnels, hidden in the cliffs
Sailed around the fortress island of Mamula
Swam in the bright blue waters of the Blue Cave
And stopped in glamorous Porto Montenegro, where superyachts line the marina

You can read about my full experience sailing around the Bay of Kotor here!

Katie’s Top Tip: Book a full-day boat tour rather than a short one by speedboat. The extra time on the water lets you visit more locations and have plenty of time to relax on the boat!

17. You Have To Visit the National Parks

It’s so easy to think Montenegro is just medieval old towns and beautiful coastal views.

And yes, Kotor, Budva and Perast are stunning!

But one of the biggest surprises (and highlights!) of my trip was heading inland to see Montenegro’s wild, mountainous and underrated countryside.

Montenegro is home to glacial lakes, rugged mountains, and some incredible viewpoints.

Plus, did you know it is also home to the Tara River Canyon? Which is the largest canyon in Europe and the second largest in the world after the Grand Canyon!

And all of these landscapes can be found just a few hours (or less) from Kotor!

That’s why one of the most important Montenegro travel tips is: don’t spend your entire trip on the coast.

If you’re staying in Kotor, Lovćen National Park is the closest and easiest to visit.

The views from the top of Mount Lovćen stretch across the entire Bay of Kotor and are some of the most beautiful in the country. And it’s also home to the Njegoš Mausoleum, with yet more spectacular countryside views!

Incredible views from the Lovćen Mausoleum

But if you have time, I also highly recommend visiting Durmitor National Park.

It’s further away and a longer day trip. But its pine forests, epic canyon and crystal-clear Black Lake completely stole my heart! The scenery feels a world away from the coast!

Katie’s Top Tip: If you’re planning your trip to Montenegro, ideally try to visit both national parks. They’re completely different landscapes, and both show a side of Montenegro many travellers never see!

Final Thoughts: Montenegro is Amazing for Solo Travellers

If you’ve read this far, you already know a bit of what makes Montenegro so special!

This tiny Balkan country packs so much beauty into its small space, from medieval old towns and sparkling blue waters to dramatic mountains and the deepest canyon in Europe.

And while there are definitely a few things every solo traveller should know before going to Montenegro, once you know the top tips, it’s an amazing place to visit!

From my own experience travelling in Montenegro solo, I found the people welcoming, the scenery some of the most breathtaking in Europe, and the country surprisingly easy to navigate.

Plus, stay somewhere central like Kotor Old Town, plan around guided day trips for ease, and allow yourself enough time to slow down and relax into the pace of life.

These Montenegro travel tips are all things I wish I’d known before my first visit, and hopefully they’ll help you feel confident, prepared, and excited for your own trip to Montenegro!