Montenegro is a country that can be traveled around by car in 2-3 days. The relatively small area of almost 14 thousand square kilometers houses the sea, mountains, waterfalls, canyons and other natural and cultural attractions that will take your breath away. Read about how best to move around this country and what to look at first of all in this article.
How to travel around Montenegro
The most popular ways to get around Montenegro are by public transport or by car. There is also a railway in the country, but due to the mountainous terrain, it is rather poorly developed: now there is only one branch on the Belgrade - Bar route.
Popular tourist spots can be easily reached by bus. True, sometimes you will need to do transplants. For example, to get from Budva to the Durmitor National Park, you first need to get to Podgorica, and then take a bus to the city of Zabljak. The cost of such a one-way trip per person will be 12 euros. All public transport tickets can be purchased online, but must be printed before boarding.
One of the unobvious disadvantages of getting around on the bus is that it stops only at designated points. But this is Montenegro, and you will want to get out of the transport to see the stretching views almost every step.
Therefore, if you want to move around the country without reference to routes and public transport schedules, then the best option is to rent a car. In addition, by car you can visit not so touristy, but therefore no less exciting places, which cannot be reached by public transport.
There are many rental services in Montenegro, so there is plenty to choose from. Among the companies with an optimal price-quality ratio, one can single out the local rental service “Set and go” (Sitngo). Renting, for example, Toyota Yaris for a day costs from 30 euros. While the international service Avis - 76 euros. By default, the cost of renting a car “Get in and go” includes a child car seat, delivery to the hotel and a meeting at the airport - you do not need to pay extra for this. In a car rented with a company, you can travel to neighboring countries and travel without any mileage restrictions.
By the way, roads in Montenegro are free. An exception is the passage through the Sozin tunnel. Therefore, if you are not planning a beach vacation, but want to visit neighboring cities, national parks and canyons, then traveling by car will usually be cheaper than by buses.
What to do in Montenegro
Having decided on the method of promotion, you can go to get to know Montenegro better. Below is a checklist of what is worth doing in this country.
Dine at the oyster farm
There are several dozen farms in Montenegro where oysters are grown in baskets made of metal mesh. Basically, they are located in the vicinity of Kotor, Perast, Dobrota and in the Bay of Kotor.
For example, delicious freshly caught oysters and mussels are served in a cafe on the Milos farm. Thatched roof, hammock, wooden furnishings, and the farm hosts who personally serve you the dish create a very authentic atmosphere. The menu is small: oysters, mussels, three types of fish and homemade wine. A bonus to a delicious dinner will be a view of the bay and the opportunity to ride a boat for free.
See the Old Bar
It is part of the ancient city of Bar, which was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1878. Now no one lives here, but there is a historical museum on the territory. So you can not only walk along the ruins and ancient buildings (and there are 240 of them in the city!), But also listen to the history of the city, which begins from the 6th century.
Of the impressive sights - the only aqueduct in Montenegro. A narrow stone bridge 3 km long supplied the city with water from a mountain spring until it was destroyed by an earthquake.
Omerbasic Mosque is a building that reminds of the fact that Montenegro was part of the Ottoman Empire. It was built in the 17th century by a local resident and named after him. Fortunately, the mosque with the minaret is almost completely preserved, and you can see it in its original form. Nearby is the tomb of the famous Islamic preacher Dervish Hasan. So this place attracts not only tourists, but also pilgrims from all over the Balkan Peninsula.
Entrance to the Old Bar is 2 euros for an adult and 1 euros for a child.
Try a splash in konoba
Pleskavitsa is a large flat grilled pork and ground beef cutlet. Be sure to try it in konoba, a small restaurant of national cuisine. As a rule, it is not designed for a large flow of visitors, but this is one of the advantages of such an establishment: the feeling that you are visiting old friends.
For example, in Konoba Spilja, which is located not far from the Old Bar, the owner Lubomir can show his family album at dinner, tell his story and how he built the establishment in which you are sitting with his own hands.
Often, konoba dishes are prepared from home-grown products. Therefore, in addition to dinner, you can buy your own oil and, of course, wine there.
It should be noted that the portions in national restaurants are huge. If you are not very hungry, you can safely order one dish for two.
Relax on the shores of the Black Lake
Black Lake is located at an altitude of 1416 meters above sea level and consists of two bodies of water that merge after the snow melts. Surrounded by mountains on one side and spruce forest on the other, the lake is considered one of the most beautiful in the country.
The lake is very clean: the bottom is visible to a depth of 10 meters.
In the forest located on the coast, depending on the season, there are a lot of blueberries, strawberries and mushrooms. Getting to your destination is easy: the lake is located just 3.5 km from the town of Zabljak.
Entrance to the park - 3 euros
Taste Montenegrin wines
The art of winemaking has been developing on the territory of Montenegro since the 12th century BC. Then, at the time of the Illyrians, the inhabitants cultivated grapes on the shores of Lake Skadar. Now the largest vineyard in Europe, Cemovsko Field, is located there, with an area of 2310 hectares.
Wine tasting is also possible in small family vineyards. For example, at Vinarija Kopitovic. This is the winery of the Kopitovich family, which settled in the village of Donji Brcheli in the 15th century. The owners make wine according to family traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation for several centuries.
The most popular grape varieties in Montenegro are Vranac (red wine is made from it) and Krstach (white).
Fall under the spray of Niagara Falls
This is how the locals jokingly called him. Its height, of course, is not 53 meters, like the American namesake, but 10. But outwardly they are very similar: next to the main wide waterfall there are a dozen more small ones.
Niagara is located near Podgorica and is located on the Cievna River. The amazing thing is that it was not created by nature, but by man. Once upon a time, local residents built a dam on the river, as a result of which this waterfall appeared.
The best time to visit Niagara is in the spring, when the snow melts and floods. Then the waterfall will be especially wide and active.
Take a walk along the Piva River
Most locals call this place the most beautiful in the country. Nature is untouched here: majestic mountains, dense forests and a river sandwiched by the walls of a canyon that stretches for 34 kilometers. By the way, “beer” translates as “/>
Recommendations for choosing a car
If you decide to explore Montenegro by car, we have prepared several recommendations for you to help you make the right choice.
Dimensions and capacity of the machine
Montenegro is a country with winding serpentines and small parking lots. Therefore, to make it easier to drive the bus on a mountain road at an altitude of 2000 meters and look for a parking place, it is better to choose a compact car.
If you are traveling together, Toyota Aygo or Toyota Yaris will do.
Companies of up to 5 people should consider the Toyota Auris or Hyundai Elantra, and the new Toyota PROACE VERSO is suitable for groups of up to 8 people.
Budget
On the website of the Sitngo rental service, you can find options from 30 to 90 euros per day. It all depends on your budget, vehicle requirements and habits. A great option for a small budget is the Suzuki Ignis (small crossover, excellently equipped). If you want more emotions from driving around the country and beautiful photos, pay attention to the BMW 320D convertible.
Trunk size
If you are traveling to Montenegro with a large company and plan to change your place of lodging every day, make sure that all your belongings fit in the trunk. The new Toyota PROACE VERSO is a great option with a capacity of up to 8 people and a large trunk.
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Montenegro is a country that is ideal for car travel. This is facilitated by its small area, the scattering of stunning attractions throughout the country, free roads and, in most cases, parking. Grab your car and go on a car trip through Montenegro, which will surely become one of the most memorable in your life.
