Not yet a member of the European Union, Montenegro is a country that remains relatively untouched by tourism, even though it has so much to offer! We’ve compiled a list of some essential and useful (hopefully) information about this country. We’ll talk about culture, practices, road networks, the environment, etc. The goal is to ensure that your trip goes as smoothly as possible. Hopefully, this will have you all set for the adventure.
It’s quite surprising, but Montenegro uses the euro without even being part of the Eurozone.
But how is that possible?
First of all, you should know that Montenegro is not yet a member of the European Union. Although it applied for membership in 2008, it only has candidate status (since 2010) as of now... There are still ongoing steps towards its official admission, which could happen in 2025.
Despite this, the country officially adopted the euro in 2006 when it gained independence from Serbia (after Yugoslavia was renamed the “State Union of Serbia and Montenegro” in 2003).
This decision was made independently due to the economic instability it faced during the various Yugoslav wars.
Montenegro, which had previously used the “Yugoslav Dinar,” first adopted the Deutsche Mark as its sole currency in 2001, and then gradually transitioned to the euro in early 2002, with it being officially adopted in 2006.
Despite this choice, since Montenegro is not an EU member, the country does not have the right to issue euros or mint coins with a national symbol. Therefore, the currency circulating in the country is issued by foreign countries.
When it comes to paying on-site, you can use either cash or a credit card. In the latter case, even though the country uses the euro, we recommend having a fee-free card to avoid extra withdrawal or payment fees.
We personally use the Visa Ultim card from BoursoBank and we highly recommend it. It’s free, and if you create an account using our referral code SILE2464 or through the link below, you can receive a bonus ranging from €80 to €220 (depending on the current offer and the conditions met).
In Montenegro, Montenegrin is the most widely spoken language, but Albanian, Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian are also used and recognized in the country’s Constitution as official languages.
As for English, the locals do not speak it fluently but have some basic knowledge, so it is still possible to communicate and make yourself understood.
Montenegro covers an area of 13,812 km², roughly the size of the Île-de-France region (which is 12,011 km²). It is the 10th smallest country in Europe, ranking between Kosovo (9th) and North Macedonia (11th).
Its small size makes it easy to explore the country and tour it in a short time if you have a limited vacation (like one week). However, you can also stay longer (two weeks) and take the time to immerse yourself and explore Montenegro’s landscapes.
Here, speed is not a priority! Likely due to its small size, Montenegro does not have highways. Major roads are limited to speeds between 70 km/h and 90 km/h (50 km/h in cities, of course).
If you plan to rent a car upon arrival to explore the country, we recommend booking through the website DiscoverCars. This platform compares hundreds of rental companies to offer you the best deals, meaning not only the best prices but also the best rental conditions (including unlimited mileage, partial coverage, and theft protection). The best part? No hidden fees, so the price you see at the beginning is exactly what you'll pay. No tricks!
In Montenegro, unlike many other countries we passed through during our tour of Europe, the police is quite present on the roadsides. Checks are frequent, so it’s better to respect the traffic rules and speed limits.
We actually got stopped right after leaving a village in Montenegro. We hadn’t noticed the signs and were driving at 70 km/h instead of 50 km/h. Oops! The police were nice and let us go without a fine. They kindly explained that here you can drive up to 10 km/h over the speed limit without getting a ticket. Good to know! We didn’t hesitate to take advantage of that 😅.
Montenegro is a very affordable country. As a tourist, you can enjoy yourself without draining your savings!
For example, you can find accommodations between €30 and €60 per night, depending on the level of comfort you’re looking for. You can have a hearty dinner at a restaurant for less than €15 per person, and sometimes lunch for under €5 per person. A pint of beer costs less than €2.
On a different note, the price of diesel was €1.56 per liter in September 2022. (Although I don’t support smoking at all) cigarettes were around €2.80 a pack during our visit. I almost hesitated to include this figure because I don’t want to promote smoking, but I find it’s quite telling!
Sure, Montenegro is affordable overall, but if you stop along the Adriatic coast, also known as the Montenegrin Riviera, you’ll quickly notice that prices here are nothing like the rest of the country.
Between the beautiful beaches, historic old towns, charming houses, and top-notch hotels and restaurants, the entire coast practices inflated and sometimes excessive prices (like in the fortified village of Sveti Stefan, which is a "hotel village" for the super-wealthy, and you can only enter if you have a restaurant reservation or are staying at a hotel. You can imagine the level of luxury there).
We can’t deny that the setting is lovely—it would be a lie. Spending a week on the Montenegrin Riviera is tempting, but your wallet needs to be able to keep up. For us, we initially planned to stay 3 or 4 days but ended up rushing through the coast in just 1 or 2 days to save some money.
Yes, even in the off-season, it’s rare to find free parking spaces (especially around the Montenegrin Riviera). You won’t find parking for less than €5 per hour… and we really looked. To tell you the truth, even supermarket parking lots charge for parking. It’s even worse if you’re in a van or camper because the rates are higher.
Additionally, we found that there are very few "designated" places to park overnight for free in Montenegro. It’s a shame because you have to drive for hours and find really remote spots to ensure you won’t bother anyone or be disturbed yourself. Otherwise, you need to pay for campsites to be at ease (but we admit that’s not our preferred way of traveling).
Yes, Montenegro’s capital is really not an interesting city—well, let’s say it’s just like any other. Even its name isn’t particularly exciting: Podgorica. We had never heard of it before visiting, unlike many other European capitals.
During our tour of Europe, we aimed to visit "all" the countries and capitals, so we had to check out Podgorica! However, while researching, I couldn’t find much to see in the city… I thought maybe it was just because not many people had visited Montenegro, but once we arrived, we quickly understood. It took us less than 2 hours to explore the city and get back on the road.
Now you know—Podgorica is not a must-see if you’re visiting Montenegro!
Montenegro offers beautiful beaches, charming villages, large forests, and even mountains. You’ll find all types of landscapes packed into a small area. Why choose between the sea and the mountains when you can have both?!
In more detail, Montenegro offers:
I think everyone will find something they love here.
That’s it—we’ve shared with you 10 key pieces of information about Montenegro. We hope you learned something new and that it will help you prepare for your trip and once you're there 😊.
If this article has inspired you to fly to Montenegro, you can book your tickets here:
Feel free to share your experiences and tips in the comments for other travelers.
In Montenegro, entry to the national parks isn’t free. The cost isn’t too high, ranging from €1 to €4 per person per day, depending on the park. However, if you plan to visit all 5 parks during your trip and stay several days, the fees can add up quickly. In that case, know that there’s an unlimited annual pass for €13.50 per person. We didn’t buy it, but I believe it’s possible to purchase it on-site at the booths found at park entrances.
For more information, here’s the official website of Montenegro’s national parks*.
* Link to the official website of Montenegro’s national parks: http://nparkovi.me/.
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