1. Briefly About the Country
Capital: Podgorica
Population: 650 thousand people
Language: Montenegrin (Serbian dialect)
Religion: Eastern Orthodox Church, Catholicism, Islam
Currency: Euro
Visa: Not required for EU, US, Japanese citizens and others
Montenegro’s Slavic name is “Crna Gora”; in Western European languages the country is called Montenegro. Being slightly smaller than half the size of Belgium, Montenegro is a Southeastern European country with sea and beaches, mountains, lakes and hundreds of years of history. Montenegro is deservedly considered an ideal holiday destination. It is a small country sandwiched between the Adriatic coast, full of luxury resorts, and the steep Dinaric Alps. Montenegro is blessed with a rich history, culture and beautiful natural scenic spots. Visit the ancient cities and beaches and explore the national parks of southeastern Europe for fulfilling vacation. When you go to Montenegro, don’t forget to take your camera with you!
2. Airports
Montenegro has two international airports, located in Podgorica (TGD) and Tivat (TIV). In Montenegro, all flights are only charter flights. There are no domestic ones, since the distance between the two airports is only 80 kilometers. The choice of airport depends on your destination: If your stay is located on the Bar or Uljcinj Riviera or inside the country, then it is better to fly to Podgorica, and if you stay in the Bay of Kotor or the Budva Riviera, then the terminal located in Tivat is recommended. Another option could also be Dubrovnik Airport in the neighbouring Croatia. The airport in the capital of Montenegro – Podgorica – is located near the railway station, which is only 8 kilometers away, or 12 minutes by car. If you cannot book a plane ticket to the terminal located closer to your purpose of stay, do not be upset. The country is small, so you do not have to travel long distances. For all our tours, we will arrange your airport transfer.
3. Geography
Montenegro is located in southeastern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. In the west, Montenegro borders with Croatia, in the northeast – with Serbia, in the east – with Kosovo, in the northwest – with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in the southeast – with Albania. The Adriatic Sea adjoins Montenegro from the southwest. The total area of this Balkan country is 13,812 sq. km, including islands, and the total length of the state border is 571.6 km. Mountains in Montenegro are found mainly in the east of the country. The highest peaks are the Zla Kolata peak of the Prokletije mountains (2.536 m) and the Bobotov Kuk peak of the Durmitor mountains (2.522 m). The Adriatic coast of Montenegro is a narrow plain. The length of the Adriatic coast in Montenegro is 295 kilometers. Of these, 72 kilometers are beaches. The attention of tourists is always drawn to the Bay of Kotor. Montenegro includes 14 small islands in the Adriatic Sea, some of them are an excellent tourist destination (Perast Island, Sveti Stefan Island). There are a lot of rivers in Montenegro that are distinguished by their beauty. The major rivers are Tara, Lim, and Cheotina. The length of the longest of them, Tara, is 144 km. The deepest gorge in Montenegro is the Tara River Canyon (depth – 1.300 m.). In addition, Skadar Lake is located on the territory of Montenegro. The territory of Skadar Lake is shared with Albania.
4. Climate and Weather
In the coastal regions of Montenegro, the climate is Mediterranean with an average air temperature of + 10-12C° in winter and + 25-28C° in summer. In the north of the country, the climate is temperate continental with an average air temperature of -10C° to + 5C° in winter and + 19-25C° in summer.
5. Capital
The capital of Montenegro is Podgorica, which is now home to more than 160 thousand people. Historians believe that a Roman settlement once existed on the territory of modern Podgorica.
6. Official Language
In Montenegro, the official language is Montenegrin, which is a Serbian dialect. Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Albanian languages are officially used as regional languages in Montenegro.
7. Religion
More than 72% of the population of Montenegro are eastern Orthodox Christians. Another 19% of Montenegrins are Sunni Muslims, and 3% are Catholics.
8. State Structure
According to the 2007 Constitution, Montenegro is a parliamentary republic. The head of state is the President. The official residence of the Montenegrin President is in Cetinje. Legislative power belongs to a unicameral parliament – the Assembly (91 deputies).
9. Brief History
According to a legend, when God created the Earth, he had many mountains left, so he collected them all in one place – this is how Montenegro came about. Slavic tribes came to the territory of Montenegro in the 6th century. Before them, Illyrian tribes lived in Montenegro, which were conquered by the legionaries of Ancient Rome. The tribes of Montenegrins were at first, of course, pagans, but through assimilation they adopted Christianity from the Romans. Montenegrins claim that Montenegro was the only country in the Balkans that the Ottoman Empire could not conquer. Indeed, the troops of the Ottoman Empire often invaded Montenegro, but were never able to completely conquer it. Stefan Crnojević is considered to be the founder of the Montenegrin state. In the middle of the 15th century, Montenegro began to have a vassal relationship with Venice, which helped her in the fight against the Ottoman Empire. From 1515 to 1696, Montenegro was a theocratic state ruled by bishops. Then, until 1918, Montenegro was ruled by princes from the Petrović dynasty. In 1905, Prince Nicholas gave Montenegro the first Constitution. In 1910, the Montenegrin Parliament proclaimed Montenegro a constitutional monarchy headed by the king, which Nicholas became. In 1918, Montenegro voluntarily joined the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, and in November 1945 this country joined the socialist Yugoslavia. Montenegro became an independent state only in 2006, after leaving the Union with Serbia. The Constitution of Montenegro was adopted in 2007.
10. Sights
Visit the Bay of Kotor, which is a fjord surrounded by high mountains. Do not miss the 12th-century Cathedral of St. Triphon in Kotor, a medieval town, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Go up the old fortress wall of Kotor and climb the stairs to reach San Giovanni Castle. The fortress overlooks the terracotta roofs and the view of the turquoise bay. See also our tour offers including hikes in the Bay of Kotor area. Head north along the bay to reach Perast. Visit the Our Lady of the Rocks and the Monastery of St. George on two scenic islets. See ancient mosaics in the town of Risan, founded in the 3rd century BC, and admire the luxury yachts in Tivat’s modern harbor, Porto Montenegro. Montenegro has 117 beaches that are 73 km long. Especially, the area around Budva is recommended. On your way to Mogren Beach, don’t miss the statue of the dancer in a graceful pose, a symbol of the city. Visit the scenic Sveti Stefan Island. Despite being a small country, Montenegro has as many as five national parks. In the inland, around Cetinje lies Lovcen National Park, where you can see the country’s unique flora and fauna. Also, don’t miss the Njegoš Mausoleum, the ruler and poet of Montenegro. We offer a tour which includes a hike in the Lovcen National Park and visit of Njegoš Mausoleum. Lake Skadar National Park also offers numerous beaches and beautiful views. Fans of bird watching will get their money’s worth, since Lake Skadar is one of the largest bird reserves in Europe. There are 270 bird species, among which are some of the last pelicans in Europe. The lake also contains habitats of seagulls and herons. You can also swim in the lake and hike in the hills or explore the caves. In the north you will find Durmitor National Park with the pretty little town Zabljak. Do not miss the beautiful Black Lake and its surrounding mountain area. Discover the river Tara, also known as the Tear of Europe, with its beautiful gorges and many rafting opportunities. Visit the beautiful Djurdjevica Bridge in the Tara valley and enjoy the pine-filled mountain scenery of Montenegro. See also our tour offers for the Durmitor area and the river gorges. Also in the north is the national park Biogradska Gora with its beautiful Biogradsko Lake. Not far from there is the town of Kolašin, which also provides many beatiful nature sights and hiking opportunities. In winter, Kolašin is a ski resort. See our tour offer for Kolašin and Biogradska Gora National Park. In the south, you can visit the city of Bar with its many beaches, as well the ancient town Old Bar from where you can see the coast and the valley of Bar. We highly recommend you our tour, which includes the sightseeing in Bar. Further south, visit the Ulcinjska Solana area, with its flamingos and pelicans. Furthermore, the old historical city of Ulcinj offers a beautiful old fortress town as well as the longest sand beach of Montenegro called Velika Plaža. Montenegro’s southeast has the beautiful area of Prokletije Mountains, which are shared with Albania and are popular for both hikers and climbers. See our tour offers for the trails in the border region and in Albania. If the time permits, we also highly recommend the neighbouring Croatia with a tourist magnet Dubrovnik – yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Croatia’s capital Zagreb, as well the famous Plitvice National Park.
11. Cuisine
There are three “styles” in Montenegrin cuisine – northern, continental and Mediterranean. Northern Montenegrin cuisine is somewhat similar to oriental cuisine. In turn, the Mediterranean Montenegrin cuisine is characterized by a wide use of seafood. As for the continental cuisine, fish is also widely used there, but from rivers and lakes (carp, trout, and eel). To our guests in Montenegro, we recommend trying the Brodette fish soup (it is made from three types of fish), Buzara (fish baked in wine and oil), Čorba (vegetable and meat soup), Pašticada (meat with garlic), Japraci (stuffed cabbage-like dish), Polenta (corn porridge), Kačamak Krtolovi (corn porridge with mashed potatoes), Prsuta (ham of pork), Prevreli Sir (cheese). The traditional Montenegrin soft drink is buttermilk, which resembles slightly salty yogurt. Excellent wine is produced in Montenegro. We recommend our guests to try red wine Vío Vranac and white wine Krstač.
12. Souvenirs / Shopping
We recommend our guests to buy Montenegrin tea, essential oils, olive oil, wine, cheese, handicrafts, ceramics, traditional women’s clothing, and, of course, various plates and cups depicting famous Montenegrin sights.
13. Visa
According to the Montenegro visa policy, citizens of 95 countries including EU, US and Japan can enjoy a 90-day stay in Montenegro without a visa.
14. Currency
Although Montenegro is not a member of the European Union, the official currency in this country is the Euro. Most hotels, restaurants and upmarket shops accept major credit cards (Diners Club, Visa and MasterCard, American Express and others). Nevertheless, cash is still preferred in Montenegro.
15. Customs Restrictions
You can import currency into Montenegro without restrictions, but the amount of 2.000 euros and more must be declared. Customs regulations in Montenegro are practically the same as in other EU countries (although Montenegro is not yet a member of EU).
16. Tips
Tipping in restaurants in Montenegro is 10% of the bill. Taxi drivers, as a rule, do not expect a tip, but they will be grateful if you leave a small amount for “tea”.
17. Medicine
No special vaccinations are needed to enter Montenegro, but medical insurance is required.
18. Security
Montenegro is a safe destination for foreign tourists. However, of course, you still need to adhere to reasonable security measures. There are sometimes unexploded mines on the border with Kosovo, but such places are not included in the tourist programs.
