Montenegro

Montenegro is one of the two constituent parts of the country of "Serbia and Montenegro."

Cities

Other destinations

Understand

Montenegro is a divided country (like much of the former Yugoslav republics). The division though between Serb and Montenegrin (both groups making up about 45% of the population) is quite small. Montenegro has an economy primarily based on tourism and wants free trade and to use the Euro, Serbia is still using the dinar and doesn't want such a liberal trade policy as the Serbs have their own industry and farmers to protect. Whether the states will remain in the Union of Serbia and Montenegro for the long term has yet to be resolved. Whatever is decided though it will almost certainly not result in any armed conflict.

The Serbs primarily inhabit the Northern inland part of the country, Montenegrins the coastal region and Podgorica. There is also a sizable population of Albanians in Ulcinj, Plav and Tuzi.

The culture in Montenegro is very open and direct. If you are coming from continental Europe, Japan or North America expect people to be a lot more 'friendly' and inquisitive then you might be used to. Enjoy the openness!

Objection : Montenegrian divide to Serbs and Montenegrins is not ethnic. It is political, or, say it, cultural. Both "Serbs" and "Montenegrins" in Montenegro ARE Montenegrins, but because Montenegrins are very similar to Serbs, some of them think that Montenegrins are just a species of Serbs (and want to live in a union with Serbia), and the others think that Montenegrins aren't Serbs (and want to live in independent country).

Talk

Along the coast almost everyone can speak English, at least at a basic level. Inland you will find this to not always be the case. If you're heading inland it may be wise to bring a Serbian/Croatian phrase-book.

Get in

The best and cheapest way to get to Montenegro is by train. Every evening an overnight train leaves from Subotica, the most northern city of the Vojdvodina arriving the next morning in the Montenegrin city of Bar, passing through Belgrade in the night and Podgorica early in the morning. The train, including a bed, costs 25 EUR and gives you an excellent view early in the morning of the 'Moraca Canyon an hour before arriving in Podgorica.

You can also arrive by bus from Sarajevo, Belgrade, Pristina or Pec to Podgorica at various prices, all of which though being under 25 EUR.

There is also an Airport that is served primarily from Belgrade. Ticket costs from Belgrade to Podgorica are around 50 EUR.

Traveling from Albania to Podgorica can be quite difficult as there is no direct bus. Getting a minibus to the border from Skadar should not be too difficult, but on the Montenegrin side you will have to hitchhike or pay somebody to take you to Tuzi from where you can catch a bus to Podgorica. Even though the distance is short expect the total travel time to take at least 4 hours.

Coming in from Western Europe it is easiest to fly into Dubrovnik Airport in Croatia, from there its a half hour drive to the Border. Car hire firms at the airport are happy to let you take cars into Montenegro.

Get around

The easiest way to get around is by bus. Bus services are relatively cheap (although slightly more expensive than prices in Central European countries for similar distances) and quite frequent.

Frequently at bus stations there will be minibuses (called a 'combi' in the local language) or taxis waiting outside the actual station trying to collect enough people for a long distance journey. If you have a long wait for a bus this may be a quicker (and usually slighly cheaper alternative).

Hitch hiking is also possible in Montenegro

See

Morača Canyon
Morača Monastery
Ostrog
The Coastal Cities
The Tara River Canyon
The Durmitor Mountain
Lake Skadar
Bjelasica Mountain and Biogradsko lake
Durmitor National Park (UNESCO world heritage site)
Kotor bay

Do

Sunbathing

:Montenegro has miles of excellent beaches. The majority of the beaches are composed of pebbles, but some excellent sand beaches can be found in the southern part of the coast around Ulcinj

Hiking

:Montenegro is entirely covered in mountains. You can practically pick any place on the map and expect there to be decent hiking there.

Skiing

:Although the infrastructure isn't great, skiing is possible in Montenegro

Eco-tourism

:Montenegro is pretty much ecologically untouched because of the total lack of industry in the country. That said it, is not untouched by litter produced by the people who live there. Anywhere you go, be assured there will be a lot of litter there as well (excepting the remote areas where normal people don't go). Fortunately this doesn't have as bad an ecological impact as dumping sulfur into the air, but for a tourist it is a major eyesore (and the fish no doubt don't like it either).

Eat

In Podgorica don't miss 'Voda u Krsu' (pr. Voda u Krshu) the best hamburger (balkan style) you'll ever eat. The restaurant is located near the main library in the city center. Ask anyone in Podgorica and they'll be able to give you directions.

Drink

Montenegrin wine is excellent. Vranac, produced just outside of Podgorica, is particularly tasty.

Additionally, Montenegrin's are fond of drinking raki, a very strong distilled alcohol made from grapes. They also enjoy drinking plum brandy (Slivovice).

Stay safe

Montenegro is a safe country but take the usual tourism precautions at all times.

Montenegrin's are a very outgoing people, this particularly applies to men when they see a woman they desire. The harassment will usually only be verbal but be aware that it happens a lot.

Get out

The opposite way of how you got in, bus, train or airplane.