How to travel to Montenegro on your own. Independent trip to Montenegro: vacation without a tour Where to go in Montenegro on your own
Almost every person who sees Montenegro in photographs dreams of visiting it.
I'll give you a step-by-step plan on how to organize your own trip.
Because I don’t see much point in overpaying for the tour. firms.
The language is similar, the people are friendly, and there are plenty of offers for accommodation, food and entertainment. Intermediaries may not be needed.
Where to start preparing?
Step 1: Deal with visa issues
Step 3: buy air tickets
It's absolutely not difficult. I already wrote. You can use the search form right on this page to find good, profitable deals. Just enter the cities of departure and arrival, dates and number of travelers.
Step 4: choose a vacation spot
The choice of city for your holiday depends solely on your preferences. Some people like noisy Budva, some like ancient Kotor, others like the spacious Bar. I advise you to read about it before your trip.
Step 5: Buy Insurance
No one will check its availability and no one will demand it, but I still advise you to purchase it. God forbid that you don’t need it, but if something happens, insurance will save you from unnecessary expenses and problems.
Moreover, insurance can be purchased online in just a few minutes and is not at all expensive.
Step 6: rent a place
I will not focus on the methods of renting holiday accommodation in Montenegro; they are described in detail.
From September to May-June, you don’t have to worry about this question before your trip and look for accommodation on the spot. In high season, I would still advise booking accommodation in advance, so as not to rent something terrible at exorbitant prices.
Step 7: fly to Montenegro
The flight will take about 3 hours from Moscow. From other cities - not much longer. Passport and customs control are quite loyal, there should not be any special problems.
Step 8: Get White Cardstock
If you have read the article about visas, the question “what is white cardboard” should not be asked) If not, here is the link again.
Step 9: Rent a car
I insist that this simply must be done. Even if you are completely delighted with the city where you are vacationing. Rent a car and see others. I guarantee you won’t regret it.
Montenegro is a small but beautiful country and is worth visiting different parts of it. It’s not worth spending money on bus excursions, but it’s definitely worth spending money on renting a car. How to rent a car - read.
Step 10: Enjoy your holiday
The most important point) If you have completed the previous 9, then this one will be completed automatically.
Have a nice holiday! Dobro došli u Crnu Goru!
No matter what tour operators promise you, Montenegro is not the best country for passive relaxation and satisfying food. This is not Türkiye, not Egypt, or even Bulgaria. The format of recreation here is completely different.
In a budget option (up to 100,000 rubles per tour), you will most likely stay in one of them (linen is changed once a week, there are no luxury rooms, but there are all amenities), and you will get food from restaurants or supermarkets.
But it’s also impossible to say that there is no good service in the country. Around 2017, we started booking good apartments on AirBnB and hotels on Booking.com. From 80 to 200 euros per day. And it turned out that the service there is no worse than in average 5* hotels. Good furniture, new plumbing, pleasant owners, ready to help with any problem.
Yes, vacationing in Montenegro is cheaper than in Europe. For example, in the neighboring one the prices are 2-4 times higher. But it’s no longer possible for everything to cost even less than at home.
If you believe tourists who are more experienced than us, then it is possible to come to an agreement even with the inhabitants of the Montenegrin mountains. And in resorts there are no problems at all
There will be no problems with the language
Almost all apartment owners, waiters in restaurants and shop assistants on the coast speak at least a little Russian. There are no problems with the language.
What to take with you to Montenegro?
By and large, everything is the same as in any other country. But it’s worth remembering that most include a visit. Although Montenegrins are quite lenient towards tourists, decent clothing will still be a good idea.
If you go on an excursion, then take a warm jacket for the girls, it’s quite cool.
How much money do you need to travel to Montenegro?
The difference with popular beach destinations is that all-inclusive holidays are not very common here. Hotels are cheaper, and you can spend the difference on food in one of the colorful local restaurants. That is, it will cost less, but you need to have more cash with you.
If you do not take into account the cost of tickets and accommodation, then a budget vacation option will cost 30-35 euros per day, a comfortable one 50-70 euros, and an elite one starts somewhere from 250 euros per day.
There is no need to take rubles or hryvnia to Montenegro
Some tourists unknowingly come to Montenegro with their local currency. Neither rubles nor hryvnias are accepted anywhere here. You won't be able to change them at the bank either. Some guides offer exchange, but their rate is not favorable.
What can you export from Montenegro?
The strictness of flight rules and restrictions on the maximum weight of baggage is compensated the optionality of their execution. For example, it is almost always possible to export much more wine than the regulations allow.
Montenegrins will prefer to “not notice” slight overload(our neighbor, for example, stuffed 2 times more things into her luggage than the limit, but it’s not a fact that you will be so lucky either). Check your airline's website for weight restrictions.
But don't forget that umbrellas, water bottles and more must be packed in luggage. They are unlikely to allow you to take them into the salon; most likely they will take them away and break them. It will be a great pity.
True, there are also disadvantages. Sometimes excursions to villas are more expensive. There are also almost no discounts for purchasing several excursions, as on the website. The guide himself usually hasn’t been on these excursions, so he can’t really tell anything about them. And you have to choose right away. I book for myself and my friends on the Internet.
Explore your city
What's the point of going somewhere far on a boat if many tourists haven't even really looked at their own. For example, you should definitely take a look at the Old Town and the pier for expensive yachts.
If you wish, you can climb the fortress wall and wander around it. The ticket costs 2.5 euros, but there are very beautiful views. Alternatively, for 3-4 euros you can go by boat to (Hawaii).
Independent holidays in Montenegro are many times better quality
Montenegro has its own specifics. There are good hotels in the country, but most of them are expensive. This is a 4-5* segment.
An analogue of 2-3* hotels, which are the most popular in Montenegro, are villas. Local residents are building a large house with 3-4 floors and several dozen rooms, which are then rented out.
The problem is that travel agents and tour operator websites cannot see what exactly your room looks like. Thrifty tourists are shown beautiful photos of the best apartments in the villa, and are accommodated in a tiny room where, apart from two beds and a wardrobe, nothing really fits. The plumbing is also usually not in the best condition.
Where to find the cheapest hotels in Montenegro?
We recommend using the Hotellok service. It also checks all the popular hotel booking sites and finds the lowest prices.
What if I want to rent an apartment in Montenegro?
In this case, it is better not to contact various unverified sites, but to immediately use AirBnB. They are currently running a promotion - they are giving a $20 discount on your first booking. A good reason to try!
Renting an apartment or room in Montenegro is cheaper than a hotelRegister today and you and I will receive a $32 gift from AirBnB! It's free and only takes 1 minute! WHAT DOES $32 FREE FROM AIRBNB MEAN?
AirBnB is currently running a promotion. If you register using our link (button at the top), the service will give you and me $32 each for your first booking. Absolutely free!
Even if you don't plan to book accommodation on AirBnB in the near future, register anyway to receive the bonus. What if it comes in handy later, but the promotion no longer exists? Travel yourself and help us! Thank you.
What about insurance?
We usually select insurance on the service. They know how to find cheap and reliable insurance.
What about excursions? Where is the best place to buy them?
How can I get from Tivat airport if we arrive on our own?
Shopping and souvenirs - shopping in Montenegro
Don't expect good shopping in Montenegro
80% of local souvenirs are Chinese and Turkish crafts. The only exception may be Italian brands, but for them you have to go to Bar or. In and a lot of fakes.
At the same time, I cannot say that in the same Bar the selection of branded items is better than in any major city in the CIS. And the prices are not always favorable. Alina and I don’t waste time on shopping in Montenegro.
For good things you have to go to Bar and Podgorica
Podgorica- the capital of country. It is not located on the coast, there are few tourists there. Bar- the only major port of Montenegro. These cities have at least some choice.
For example, you can buy things from Italy there - clothes, shoes, jewelry and cosmetics.
Do you love massive silver jewelry? To you in Albania
Take as many excursions as possible
If your vacation budget is extremely limited, but you want to see something without constantly eating cheap fast food, excursions can be an excellent option.
During the excursion to the canyons of the Tara and Moraca rivers, sit on the right
By dividing its cost among everyone, you will get almost the same amount as a group excursion on a large bus. But at the same time you will see the country in a comfortable car and with a personal guide.
The difference between group and individual excursions is the number of stops and the ability to independently choose their duration. Guides on individual excursions will be able to pay more attention to you, adapt to your preferences and tell you something really interesting and exciting.
MontenegroWe will answer your questions about vacation and its organization in
Two weeks in Montenegro on your own: a bike ride around the Bay of Kotor, a hike in the mountains near Gorna Lastva, walks in the Durmitor National Park, a beach holiday on the Adriatic
As you know, summertime is vacation time, and on our next vacation, my wife and I decided to go to Europe, to that part of it where we had not yet been - to the Balkan Peninsula. And the choice of country to visit fell on Montenegro. There were many advantages to traveling in this direction. Firstly, Montenegro is a relatively inexpensive country for holidays, which is important in a crisis. Secondly, you do not need a visa, which greatly simplifies the process of preparing for the trip. Thirdly, a calm situation in terms of terrorist threats and refugee problems. And fourthly, the Adriatic Sea, mountains, new places, food and people.
Despite the fact that our vacation dates were known for a long time - the second half of June, we bought plane tickets only two weeks before the trip. A direct round-trip flight with S7 airline cost us 15,500 rubles per person. Purchasing tickets has become a powerful incentive to intensify the search for information regarding vacation spots in Montenegro, national attractions, travel routes around the country, approximate costs of transport and food and other things related to staying in a given country.
We decided to structure our two-week trip as follows: spend a few days on the shores of the Bay of Kotor exploring local attractions, then move to Zabljak to visit the Durmitor National Park and, finally, settle on the shores of the Adriatic Sea and enjoy a beach holiday.
In accordance with this plan, I booked apartments through Booking.com to stay in three different places. In the end, it cost us 370 euros for all the accommodation (14 days/13 nights).
I installed the “OsmAnd” application with a map of Montenegro on my phone. This application does not require the Internet to work, it does not take up much memory space, and GPS is used to determine location. Later, during the trip, I used it constantly - to determine my own location, to track the route in transport and when traveling on foot, including along hiking routes in the mountains, to select the most convenient routes for travel, as well as to search for nearby attractions, shops, buses stops, railway stations, cafes, restaurants and other things. I had a lot of paper maps of the area with me, but I practically didn’t use them, since the most complete and detailed map was always in my pocket. I also installed the “Busticket4.me” application on my phone. There you can see the bus schedule and ticket prices. The application is quite convenient, but you don’t have to download it. All you have to do is go to the busticket4.me website from your phone, which in certain cases is even more convenient to use than the app.
We bought air tickets from S7 at the cheapest rate, according to which you can only take hand luggage with you without additional fees. This suited us quite well; we were used to traveling light. We filled two backpacks to capacity and hit the road.
The three-hour flight from Domodedovo to Tivat was very easy. The Montenegrin airport turned out to be very small - one runway and a small terminal building, to which you still had to walk from the plane. We went through customs control quickly and without problems. At the exit from the airport, a taxi was already waiting for us, which the owner of our first apartment took care of in advance. The car took us to Lepetani - a small town not far from Tivat. Behind the front door of our apartment, two spacious, well-furnished and tidy rooms were waiting for us, connected by a corridor with a small kitchen, a bathroom with a shower and two balconies. From one balcony there was a view of the mountains, and from the other - to the Bay of Kotor. On the table there was a bottle of homemade red wine, fresh bread from the bakery and two large plates: one with cheese and prosciutto, the other with chopped tomatoes. For us, such a treat came as a complete surprise, and we were very surprised and pleased by such hospitality.
Having rested a little and refreshed ourselves, we went to explore the surroundings. The main road runs along the bay; there are few cars on it. Ferries run across the bay from Lepetani to Kamenari and back 24 hours a day. There are four of them in total, and they run constantly. For pedestrians, the ferry crossing is free, for cyclists - 1 euro, for motorcycles, cars, trucks, buses the price is higher. We took a ferry ride to Kamenari, where we stopped at the IDEA minimarket. The range of products there is much larger than in the only small store in Lepetani. We bought food for a couple of days and took the ferry back.
The next morning, unexpectedly for ourselves, we had the idea to go around the Bay of Kotor on bicycles. From the owners of the apartment where we lived, we could rent a pair of “iron horses” for free. The bikes weren't in very good condition, but as they say, don't look a gift horse in the mouth. We drove counterclockwise: Lepetani-Kotor-Perast-Kamenari.
The easiest and most enjoyable part of the journey was from Lepetani to Kotor. A one-lane road with a minimum of traffic, on one side of which is the Bay of Kotor, on the other - neat stone houses with red tiled roofs.
At the approach to Kotor, the number of vehicles on the road has increased significantly and getting around by bicycle has become less convenient. There is a small bicycle parking area at the southern gate of the old town. There we left our iron horses for a while. Entrance to the old town is free, but to climb the fortress wall you need to pay 3 euros per person. We didn’t go up, deciding to just walk along the streets of the city. Kotor is a tourist place. The buildings of the old town are adapted for bakeries, souvenir shops, hotels and hostels. The city squares are lined with tables of cafes and restaurants. And there are very, very many tourists here. This probably prevents us from fully experiencing the antiquity of this place. Although in any case it is worth a visit.
I especially remember the beautiful view at the western gate - where a river flows along the fortress wall, originating in the mountains and flowing into the Bay of Kotor.
After walking around the city streets, we went into one of the bakeries, where we took two rolls: one with cheese, the other with meat. Both of us were very disappointed.
From Kotor we drove further towards Perast. Driving became more difficult, as my legs were already tired, the elevation changes became greater, and the single-lane road was replaced by a two-lane road with active traffic. Also, the sun rose higher, and, despite the presence of clouds in the sky, it became hot. We reached Perast already pretty tired. And we almost drove past him. Near Perast, the road goes uphill and goes around the top of the city. We, as it turned out, needed to drive off the main road down to the embankment, where entry for cars was closed by a barrier. In Perast we didn’t find anything particularly noteworthy for ourselves, except maybe a couple of churches. And a large number of tourists. Two small islands located in the bay near Perast attract attention.
On one you can see a church with a blue dome.
On the second - the crowns of cypress trees and the gray walls of the abbey.
We covered the final part of the route from Perast to Kamenari, already pretty tired. In Kamenari we took tickets for transporting bicycles at the ticket office and crossed the bay by ferry. The trip around the bay turned out to be quite difficult, but interesting. And beautiful, because the waters of the bay and the mountains accompanied us throughout the cycling marathon. The total length of the route, not counting elevation changes, was 42 kilometers. Tired but happy, we returned to the apartment, where we finally ate a full meal and fell down to rest.
The next day we climbed into the mountains. We were prompted to do this by a map of the area with hiking routes through the mountains, which I found in the apartment. Almost immediately we regretted that I had gone up the mountain in shorts and my wife in a skirt. It would be much more practical to wear pants and not be afraid of cuts from the grass and thorny plants growing along the path. The climb was quite steep and therefore difficult. The entire route is marked with red and white markers on the stones along the path. On the road, I was guided by such marks and by the map in OsmAnd. A cobweb with large spiders on it got in the way, blocking our path with enviable consistency. The web is hard to see in the shadows, so more than once I flew headlong into it, stopped abruptly and stepped back, after which I carefully removed the web so that it did not interfere with the passage. It’s good that I had a Panama hat on my head - it regularly saved my face from sticky trouble.
The dense foliage of bushes and trees protected us from the sun most of the way. But the final stage of the ascent took place under the scorching sun - the low-growing bushes near the mountain peak no longer provided any protection from the midday heat. But it was necessary to reach the final goal - to the top. And when we reached it, we realized that we had not come all this long and difficult way up in vain. From the height there was a stunningly beautiful view of Tivat and the Bay of Kotor located beyond it.
It turned out that we climbed the mountain that separated Tivat from Lepetani. During the ascent we could only see part of the bay between Lepetani and Kamenari.
And only when we reached the very top, we were able to see the entire panorama of the Bay of Kotor.
In addition to the beautiful views at the top of the mountain, we discovered a small church - the Church of St. Vitus, built in 1327.
We weren’t able to go into it, but we managed to look inside a little through the window.
At the top of the mountain there were a surprising number of insects - grasshoppers, midges, bees. They jumped, flew, buzzed, but it didn’t bother us at all.
After resting at the top, we set off on the way back. They decided to go down along another path, which was supposed to go out to the bay just east of Lepetani. It turned out that this trail runs along the ridge of the mountain, the top of which we climbed earlier. It seemed to us more comfortable than the first one, since it was straight and flat. In addition, it offered more beautiful views: in one direction - to the bay near Tivat,
in the other - to the mountains and the bay near Lepetani.
Once on the path we met a snake. Moreover, I noticed her only when we were separated by a distance of two meters, and she rushed away from me down the mountainside. I am sure that the snake was non-venomous, but it was still quite scary at that moment.
We went down the mountain quite quickly. While the ascent took almost three hours, the descent took only about an hour.
The next day we crossed the bay by ferry and, after waiting about half an hour for the minibus, we went to Herceg Novi. On the minibus we first encountered the problem of smoking in Montenegro. The conductor was smoking right in the minibus, with the windows closed, and this, as we realized later, is considered to be in the order of things. In Montenegro, many smoke and smoke everywhere: on buses, in waiting rooms, in cafes, on the beach, etc. And, unfortunately, there is no escape from this.
Herceg Novi is a fairly large city popular with tourists. Two places are of interest here. The first is the old city. Here you can see huge fortress towers
ancient churches,
as well as a small collection of cannons and anchors.
The second notable place is the embankment.
Herceg Novi has a very long, wide and neat embankment. On one side of the embankment are the beaches of the Bay of Kotor, on the other there are houses, cafes, souvenir shops or park trees. Walking along such an embankment is a pleasure.
We ate ice cream in one of the cafes and went back. We had to wait about an hour for the minibus to Kamenari. The fare between Kamenari and Herceg Novi varies slightly depending on the carrier and averages 1.5 euros.
The next morning we had to leave our cozy apartment in Lepetani and head to Zabljak. We decided to take the bus to Zabljak in Herceg Novi, because when we were there we found out the exact schedule. With flights from Tivat and Kotor, everything was too foggy; we did not rely on the schedule available on the Internet. Two flights departed from Herceg Novi to Zabljak in the first half of the day: the first at 10:20 - a large bus with air conditioning, Wi-Fi and a toilet (fare - 12 euros); the second at 11:55 - as it turned out, a small minibus without additional amenities (fare - 10 euros). We initially planned to take the one at 10:20, but due to the long wait for the local bus from Kamenari to Herceg Novi, we were literally 5 minutes late. We had to wait for the second flight. In order not to sit at the bus stop and not breathe exhaust fumes, cigarette smoke and the smell from the toilet, we went a little down the mountain to a small park, where under the shade of trees the wait was not so tedious. At 11:40 our minibus arrived and we loaded up. We expected that there would be a lot of people, but from Herceg Novi to Zabljak, apart from the driver, we went alone. Later on the way, a woman with two children joined us, and in this company we drove to Niksic. In Niksic we were transferred to another bus, small but with air conditioning. The number of passengers increased by five more people, and we set off. We arrived in Zabljak at about 16:00, and the first thing we did was look for our new place of residence.
This time the apartment was on the first floor of a small wooden house. We had a couple of rooms, a bathroom and a kitchen at our disposal, as well as a small garden in front of the house. The atmosphere here was less comfortable than in Lepetani, despite the presence of modern household appliances and the large area of the apartments. It felt like we were in a remote village, and the owners’ attitude to the beauty and cleanliness of the interior of the house was not so scrupulous. Nevertheless, everything necessary for life was there, and this is the main thing. In Zabljak itself there is a fairly large supermarket, a bakery with delicious pastries, bicycle rental, as well as many restaurants and souvenir shops. The houses are mostly wooden, unlike in the south of Montenegro, where everything is made entirely of stone. The roofs are not red tiled, but metal. Everyone has piles of wood in their yards. In general, despite the fact that the sea is less than a hundred kilometers away, it feels like we are in the “north” of Montenegro.
The purpose of our visit to Zabljak was the Durmitor National Park, and the next morning we went there for the whole day. We took with us a supply of water and buns from a local bakery. Entrance to the national park costs 3 euros per person. The ticket office is located at the main entrance to the park near the road leading to Black Lake. We didn’t want to pay for the entrance and thought about turning, before reaching the ticket office, towards the high-mountainous village of Bosacha, but at the wrong time, a “ranger” standing near the ticket office in a green wide-brimmed hat called out to us and said that where we were going was also a national park , and, therefore, also have to pay. I had to pay 6 euros for two. And, since we had already paid, we changed the route and went straight to one of the main attractions of the park - Black Lake. This lake consists of two - large and small. The lake has the purest transparent water, in which I did not fail to swim. Around there is a coniferous forest with clean fresh air. Walking around Black Lake, we hoped to see waterfalls, but alas. Apparently it's not the season.
As we walked around Black Lake, a “green ranger” swam up to us and asked to see our tickets. After we proudly showed them to him, he walked towards a couple with a dog sitting on a bench. They did not have tickets, and they were forced to pay him 3 euros per person. Otherwise they would have to leave the park.
In the national park it is very nice to just walk and enjoy the surrounding nature. There are many hiking routes throughout Durmitor: to the mountains, to caves, to lakes, to glades. The routes are divided according to difficulty into simple, difficult and extreme.
We decided to build our own walking route as follows: Black Lake - Snake Lake - Krepul Polyana - Bosacha village - Lake Barno.
On the road from Black Lake to Zmeinoye, the forest changed from coniferous to mixed. Snake Lake itself is much smaller and shallower than Black Lake, and surrounded by green trees it looks green.
I found a more or less deep and convenient place to enter the water and took a swim.
After Snake Lake our road went up into the mountains, the going was not easy. We crawled to the Crepoul glade, where among the grass and flowers we were finally able to relax and unwind a little.
From the clearing I saw a large cave in the mountain, and I immediately wanted to climb there.
The path turned out to be easy, the cave was not high. First, it was necessary to climb over a rubble of stones, and then walk along a narrow path between the bushes. The cave turned out to be shallow - no more than ten meters deep. After taking a few photos,
I went down, and we went back - past Snake Lake to the high-mountain village of Bosacha. In the village, wide, beautiful meadows with many wildflowers and several standard, unremarkable houses awaited us.
Our next destination disappointed us somewhat - Lake Barno turned out to be a small swampy reservoir and did not sparkle with special beauty.
We returned home around seven in the evening, and the next day we planned to climb one of the mountains of Durmitor, for example, Savin Kuk. But these plans were not destined to come true. The next morning we had neither the strength nor the desire. So we just wandered around the park without purchasing entrance tickets. We came from the campsite south of Black Lake,
we reached Mioch Polyana,
They went to the Black Lake and then returned to Zabljak in a roundabout way.
They were afraid of the “green rangers”, but they were not met on the way. As I understand it, they hang out mainly near Black Lake and the main road to it, i.e. where the vast majority of tourists visiting Durmitor pass.
The next morning we had to go from Zabljak to Dobra Voda. There is no ticket office at the bus stop, and there is no schedule posted, so I had to rely on data from the website busticket4.me. The route was built as follows: from Zabljak by bus to Podgorica, from there by train to Bar, and then to Dobra Voda by local bus or minibus. The site did not deceive us, and the bus to Podgorica arrived on time. There were a lot of people in the cabin, but we managed to take two free seats.
We arrived in Podgorica late, and there were only five minutes left before the scheduled train. Without much hope that we would make it in time, we hurried to the railway. railway station. Here we saw many people sitting on suitcases waiting for the train. We took two tickets to the Bar from the box office for 2 euros each, and began to wait. It was unbearably hot on the platform, so we settled in the waiting room. The most annoying thing, besides the need to wait, was that there was always someone smoking in the hall. After an hour of waiting, i.e. At about 12:30, the train arrived. According to the schedule there were trains at 11:30, 12:50, 15:20 and beyond. Our train stood at the platform until 13:10, after which it departed. In general, not at all according to schedule. Whether this is a normal situation for the railways of Montenegro or not is unclear, but the wait was very tiring. The train to Bar was old, without air conditioning, but with new seats.
Despite the open windows, it was hot in the carriage all the way. From the trip I remember a long tunnel through the mountain, as well as Lake Skadar.
Arriving in Bar, we walked to a small bus stop and began to wait for the bus to Dobra Voda. A taxi driver approached us and offered to take us to the apartment for 8 euros. We refused. After about fifteen minutes of waiting, the taxi driver decided to try his luck with us again; during the conversation, the cost of the trip gradually dropped to 5 euros, and we decided to go. (A bus ticket costs 2 euros, i.e. for two people a trip on public transport would cost us 4.)
Dobraya Voda is a small resort town about ten kilometers from Bar. Our apart-hotel was located on the first line by the sea. The apartments themselves are small - one room, a bathroom and a balcony with a kitchenette. From the balcony, looking in one direction, one could see the tops of the mountains behind the houses, in the other - a small piece of the Adriatic Sea, and it was into this piece of sea that the sun went at sunset.
The beach in Dobra Voda is pebbly, the pebbles are quite large, and walking on them barefoot is very uncomfortable. Most of the beach is occupied by paid sun beds with umbrellas. All those who do not want to pay for a sunbed have to huddle in small free areas.
The water at the end of June was quite cool, but very clean and transparent. When entering the sea it quickly becomes deep. Many tourists come on vacation with children, and the entire edge of the sea near the beach turns into a paddling pool with corresponding squeaks and squeals. You can jump into the water from a small pier at the eastern edge of the beach or from a large rock jutting three meters above sea level at the western edge of the beach. The first is easier and simpler, the second is more extreme. There are no supermarkets in Dobra Voda, but there are a sufficient number of small shops and fruit stands. The fruits in the shops are more expensive than in stores, but they taste better. Prices in the shops: cherries - 3.5-4 euros per kilogram, peaches - 2-3 euros, nectarines - 2.5 euros, strawberries - 3.5 euros, plums - 2 euros.
Once from Dobra Voda we made a foray to Stary Bar. We took a minibus for 1 euro per person to the turn to the Old Town and walked the remaining kilometer of the way. On the approaches to the Old Town there are many souvenir shops and cafes. Entrance costs 2 euros, but when we entered there was no cashier at the entrance, and we climbed the city wall for free. It turned out that we started the route around the Old Town from the end, but the difference is small. Old Bar is completely different from Kotor Old Town. It is quiet here and there are no crowds of tourists. On the territory there are both intact and partially or completely destroyed buildings, dating back to the 5th century AD. Here you can wander around the streets to your heart’s content and touch real antiquity.
From the fortress wall there are beautiful views: of the mountains, of the old arched bridge, of the river flowing far below.
In the city itself you can go to the fortress tower, church, hammam, and armory.
You can't help but notice the tall clock tower or the huge millstones of the bakery.
It took us a little over two hours to explore the Old Bar. We decided to leave the same way we entered - along the stairs from the fortress wall. When we left, a large excursion group of tourists came to meet us in the Old Town, and the cashier definitely had no time for us.
We didn’t have to wait long at the bus stop - soon a yellow bus with the number “A1” arrived, which took us to the Bar bus stop for 50 cents per person.
Taking this opportunity, we decided to go to the local Valo Hiper supermarket, where we bought groceries for the rest of our stay in Dobra Voda. Having returned with the purchases to the bus stop near the railway. station, began to wait for the bus. According to the schedule from the website, three buses were supposed to leave from Dobraya Voda to Bar during our wait, but they didn’t show up. Then we thought that maybe the buses we needed didn’t call at this stop, and decided to return to the stop opposite the supermarket. While we were walking, a minibus and a bus passed us, heading in the direction we needed. Tired and angry with ourselves and the buses, we eventually left in a taxi that stopped next to us. They offered to take us for 5 euros, and without thinking twice we agreed.
The remaining days in Dobra Voda we swam and sunbathed on the beach, spending the hot middle of the day in the apartment. There were also plans to go to Budva, but we did not have enough desire to implement these plans.
Based on the bus schedule from Busticket4.me, on the morning of the final day we left from Dobra Voda to Bar. In Bar we bought a ticket to Tivat at the box office for 11 euros per person. Our bus after Tivat went to Kotor, and we first got to the main station of Tivat, turned around there and, driving a little in the opposite direction, stopped at the airport. At the airport we quickly went through check-in, customs and sat in the waiting room. The duty free at Tivat airport is very small, and in principle it did not interest us. The plane took off on schedule and 3 hours later we were already in Moscow.
The whole trip ended up costing us 650 euros for two, not counting the flight. I think it's very inexpensive. We saw a new country with its attractions, relaxed, shopped and sunbathed. All trip goals achieved! We liked the country. There is a lot from Europe here - in architecture, currency, food, and at the same time they understand you when you speak Russian, which is very convenient. I think that Montenegro is an excellent choice for an inexpensive vacation in the summer season. Our vacation was a success and perhaps someday we will return here with pleasure.
Thank you for reading the report to the end. If you liked it, please say so in a comment or click the “Like” button. I will be very grateful! INVESTMENTS 
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During a long-awaited vacation, to a heavenly piece of Earth - Montenegro, often they arrive by plane to the airport (there is another one in Podgorica), less often they arrive by bus or even by train.
Today you will learn: how to most profitably organize and plan your vacation in Montenegro, where and how to economically choose a hotel and tickets.
What is the situation with a visa in Montenegro?
Montenegro is an independent country in Europe, which Excluded into the European Union. For many countries, including Russia, entry into the territory of this Balkan country is permissible without visas, per lines no more than 90 days(increased on May 12, 2016, previously it was 30 days). If you are planning from Montenegro travel to EU countries, you will need a special permit, which is issued on the spot.
The list of visa-free countries includes Russia and Ukraine. Stay time Ukrainian citizens in Montenegro it was 90 days before.
If you plan to travel to Montenegro for more than 90 days, be sure to you will need a visa. It is also worth considering that to view countries that are included in Schengen, you will need to open Schengen visa.
Do you need travel insurance in Montenegro?
Insurance in Montenegro is more needed for your own peace of mind, but nevertheless highly recommended definitely formalize it. At the border (in other words at the airport) you have it they won't ask, but if you are traveling with a child, it may come in handy. Yes, even for adult tourists not prevent, because if something happens, you can seek medical help and not think about where to get money for unplanned expenses.
Choose the right one just for you You can get insurance directly on our website by following the link. will help with difficult choices and provide a list of the most optimal services in terms of price and quality.
Package tours to Montenegro in 2016. Price issue.
First let's explain What or is a package tour and for whom it is considered most suitable.
This tour is ideal option: for inexperienced tourists, for vacationers with children and simply for those who want to comfortably and fully enjoy their vacation without worrying too much about the availability of food and other amenities of civilization nearby.
Included in the package tour price mostly included: flight, transfer to the hotel, accommodation and meals, as well as insurance. Maybe the presence of some excursions and even a guide (popular for European countries).
The cost of a package tour ordered online may be significantly cheaper than a similar travel agency service. We recommend that everyone who is interested in this information take a closer look at the service. This is a very convenient site where in just a minute the most suitable and inexpensive tours will be selected for you. The main highlight such a selection is number of different options, among which there will definitely be exactly what you were looking for.
How much will air tickets to Montenegro cost?
The best option for purchasing tickets from Moscow directly to. We recommend it to all tourists look carefully departure dates, because often there may be lower prices for neighboring days (up to 30%).
For our readers we have prepared convenient search system air tickets using the Aviasales service. You just need to indicate: departure/arrival city, planned month and number of tourists. The system will select and issue all possible ticket options. All that remains is to compare their prices depending on the day of the week.
Choosing an inexpensive hotel in Montenegro
Personally, we use booking.com to select all kinds of hotels and hotels, and then check the price on Hotellook. This is very convenient and accessible, and most importantly - in the shortest possible time you will be provided with information about the most profitable booking options.
Thanks to the service, every tourist can choose the housing he is interested in quickly assessing the advantages of the location, the assessment of other vacationers, and the number of stars.
A nice addition is the presence of real photographs and a detailed description of all services provided. In just half an hour you can choose a room that will overlook the azure sea.
Renting villas in Montenegro, their prices
More enjoyable You may find yourself staying in a villa, in a cozy small house in one of the resorts in Montenegro. Depending on the type of room you rent, they may offer a kitchen where you can cook what you love.
Both times that we were in Montenegro, rented a villa. It's quite convenient, although it took about 15-20 minutes to get there. But this also had its advantage, because it is very beautiful and diverse and we were able to see more than other tourists.
To help independent tourists, there is a good service for renting AirBnB. We ourselves use it quite often, so we advise and to you, dear readers.
Search for comfortable accommodation in Montenegro on AirBnBRegister today and you and I will receive a $32 gift from AirBnB! It's free and only takes 1 minute! WHAT DOES $32 FREE FROM AIRBNB MEAN?
AirBnB is currently running a promotion. If you register using our link (button at the top), the service will give you and me $32 each for your first booking. Absolutely free!
Even if you don't plan to book accommodation on AirBnB in the near future, register anyway to receive the bonus. What if it comes in handy later, but the promotion no longer exists? Travel yourself and help us! Thank you.
What else might be needed when planning an independent holiday in Montenegro?
One of the primary tasks facing every future tourist is choosing a vacation spot, that is, a city or resort. To guide you in this difficult choice, we recommend reading our articles.
I started planning trips without travel agencies a long time ago, and I return to holiday packages only in certain cases: for economic reasons and in order to save time. And go to Montenegro on your own and the Balkan countries close to it (Serbia, Albania), we decided for several reasons.
First: having a small child. A holiday by the sea in an apartment, when you can eat home-cooked food, live outside your schedule and have a lot of freedom, is a very convenient option. There are no crowds of tourists in the apartment, and it turns out that no one will bother you, and the crying of a child will not spoil the rest of others.
Second: the nature of Montenegro. The Bay of Kotor is considered the only European fjord, if you disown Norway. It has very clean salt water with amazing clarity. Industry is not developed at all in Montenegro. It is an agricultural country, living mainly from tourism, agriculture and fishing. Fresh mountain air, figs and cypresses, olives, amazing flowers, green mountain slopes with houses scattered across them... Beautiful and mesmerizing.
The third reason: the close mentality of the local residents. Slavic peoples live in Serbia and Montenegro. Orthodoxy is popular among them, their culture is quite close to ours, and they have similar languages (even the alphabet is Cyrillic). And in general, the attitude towards Russians there is very pleasant.
In the summer, many of our compatriots vacation in Montenegro. Some buy or build real estate there and live as rentiers. On the beaches you can always find Russian-speaking interlocutors, friends and helpers. For Russians, the country is visa-free for 30 days.
Our route consisted of two main points and several local departures. First point: a day and a half in Belgrade, which we planned for sightseeing. Second: the village of Lepetane near the ferry crossing across the Bay of Kotor, where we lived for 19 days. It is located five kilometers from the city of Tivat. Ibid: one of two Montenegrin airports.
The vacation turned out to be long deliberately. With a small child, it is better to leave enough time for acclimatization, otherwise the trip will be harmful to health.
Tickets to Montenegro and flights
Arrive to Montenegro on your own possible in several ways. First: buy a ticket for a charter flight, of which there are quite a few from St. Petersburg and Moscow. Disadvantages of flights: variable departure time, high price, poor service, problems with redemption. A ticket for such a flight could only be purchased through a contract with a travel agency as a service, for cash, in an office on the other side of the city. We didn't do that. However, it is easier to fly non-stop.
Second option: flight from Moscow to Tivat with a transfer in Belgrade. Aerofolt and the Serbian airline Jat have regular flights to Belgrade. In fact, they are combined and performed at the same time on a common aircraft. The only difference is the price and bonus points, if this is important to someone. There are several flights a day from Belgrade to Tivat from Jat and Montenegro Airlines. Both companies have excellent service and new, clean planes. True, Montenegro Airlines flies small propeller planes. We've never seen anything like this before. Interesting! Everyone has a loyal and attentive attitude towards children - this is encouraging.
Of the four airports (Pulkovo, Sheremetyevo, Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade, Tivat Airport), the first and third were the most convenient. Both airports have excellent mother and baby rooms. In both cases they are located in the boarding area, behind check-in counters and border control. In order to get there, you need to show your child to a doctor at the airport first aid station. At Sheremetyevo they didn’t let us in: you can’t enter the first-aid post with a stroller, and security is forbidden to fasten it in the waiting room.
Belgrade
Upon arrival in Serbia, money can be exchanged right at the airport, in a special machine. It’s better to keep cash with you: cards are not accepted everywhere! The prices are quite low: more pleasant than in Russia and Montenegro. You can get around Belgrade on foot, by bus or in a rented car. The city has very inexpensive and convenient taxis, but we did not use them. In Belgrade, we stayed at a hotel on Slavija Square: there is a direct bus from the airport to it. A spacious room with a bath instead of a shower cost 20 euros. There are many hotels in the city, and you can easily find a good overnight stay not in a hostel and in the city center at the right price.
Walking along a short street, you can see the famous Church of St. Sava: one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world. The famous destroyed UN buildings can be reached on foot, and from them you can directly reach the city center and the Kalemegdan Fortress. The whole journey took about thirty minutes. The city pleased with its Balkan wear, similarity with Russia and comfort. Belgrade has very kind and friendly people, narrow streets, warm air and unforgettable bakeries. There are political posters about Kosovo on every corner, and there are many beautiful drawings on the walls. Many people understand Russian, and everywhere you can negotiate in English without any problems. There are not very many tourists, and therefore the attitude towards visitors is friendly and hospitable.
Traditional Serbian food: a variety of breads and pljeskavica - a cutlet that is wrapped in flatbread with vegetables. Here they are sold on every corner. Italian cuisine is popular throughout the Balkans. But it’s worth saying that there are still no special traditions, and in terms of color it is not as interesting as in Italy.
Belgrade itself will be remembered for its Orthodox churches, a fortress overlooking the Danube, historical buildings, Soviet and pro-Soviet architecture and atmosphere. It’s difficult to recommend going to Serbia separately for an excursion program, but it’s definitely worth stopping by the capital along the way. Science fans will love the Nikola Tesla Museum - the only one in the world with his personal belongings and other interesting exhibits.
The currency of Montenegro is the euro, and it is better to buy them at home. We used two bank cards and cash. Payment terminals are available everywhere, except for transport, taxis and markets.
Accommodation
If you are going to Montenegro on your own If you plan to go in the summer, then it’s better to start thinking about housing in November or December. It is best to rent an apartment here. Their price is approximately 30 euros per day and above. A studio room with a kitchenette is enough for two or three people, but you can rent a whole house for a group. The entire coastline is located on steep mountain slopes, so it is better to look for housing that is as close to the sea as possible. The entire long path to the apartment will go almost vertically upward.
When renting accommodation on standard booking sites, you rarely have the option to cancel your reservation. Most interesting options end by January, and cancellation will cost the full cost of the stay, so you shouldn’t rely on last-minute deals. They are unlikely to. On the other hand, it is very reliable for both parties, so there is no need to be afraid. In addition to apartments, there are hotels: mostly in large resorts, but their prices are much higher - at the same level as good European ones. Many people rent a car and spend the night in campsites with a tent - there are also many of them along the entire coast. The campsites are equipped with a shower, toilet and kitchen, the price per person is from 12 to 20 euros. This option is not for everyone and is not suitable for traveling with a child, but the weather in Montenegro is excellent, and this is often a good and economical option.
Transport
You can travel around the country by local buses, car or taxi. There is only one railway: from Belgrade to Podgorica and further, to the city of Bari, and there are few trains along it. From Tivat there are frequent low-cost flights to Skopje, Ohrid and Belgrade.
Transport in the Balkans is specific. Buses and routes in all countries are convenient, but there is no way to find out the schedule in advance and buy tickets. In the summer, not all cities make it easy to book accommodation, so traditional European city travel without a car is quite risky. Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina do not require a visa. You can cross the Croatian border with a valid Schengen visa.
You can easily get around the Bay of Kotor by bus. They run every 20-40 minutes on three routes: Tivat-Kotor, Kotor-Kamenari, Kamenari-Herceg Novi. The fare is fixed, from 0.8 to 1.25 euros. Bus schedules can be found at the terminal stations. You can rent bicycles - this is an ideal vacation for people who love an active and healthy lifestyle. There is very beautiful nature, an interesting landscape and, most importantly for a cyclist, a healthy climate.
Cities
In the west of the country, the most important cities to visit are Dubrovnik, Herceg Novi, Tivat, Kotor and Budva. Not far from Dubrovnik, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, lies Mostar: an interesting small city with a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Resort towns are interesting for their southern architecture: bright houses with bright red tiles, long winding pedestrian streets along the highway, the sea coast and very beautiful nature.
Herceg Novi is remembered for the only museum in the area, a botanical garden and a fortress wall.
Kotor: a city with an interesting old center with a pedestrian fortress stretching far into the mountains. Orange trees, a lot of tourists and souvenir shops, and the atmosphere is a bit reminiscent of the Baltics.
Tivat: a classic tourist coastal town. There are many restaurants and shops, there is an indoor market with vegetables and fruits, meat, seafood and fish. Here it is best to buy rakia, a local alcoholic drink (strong fruit moonshine), and prosciutto, Serbian smoked meat. You can find a wide variety of children's toys, diapers, clothes and shoes, household and travel goods.
You can eat a lot and cheaply in the center: for example, in the City Hall restaurant you can safely take one portion for two. On the nearby streets there are still many interesting open cafes and bakeries for every taste. You can safely swim and leave things on the city beach: the crime rate in the country is very low. Not far from the coast, at the end of the main street, there are many branded free taxis with meters. You can get to Lepetane for 3.8-4 euros (without a meter - 6 euros). The Lepetane-Kamenari ferry is free for pedestrians.
Expensive shops and gourmet restaurants can be found in the port area. I can recommend the Mitsu sushi bar: it cannot be compared with domestic ones - expensive, but beautiful and tasty. The Italian restaurant One is also good: it has an excellent selection of red and white wines (Italian, French and local) and serves the famous risotto with black cuttlefish.
Beach holidays are popular along the entire Adriatic coast. The further you are from major cities, the lower the prices and the quieter the situation. City beaches and playgrounds are very common. Each village has several rural shops, often fishermen selling fresh fish from their cars. The stores have fairly monotonous, simple products and prices are about one and a half times higher than in Russia, but everything is tasty and of excellent quality. The largest selection is on the Voli network. Local and Serbian wine is inexpensive and all of excellent quality. Be careful: the owner of the apartment sold me “homemade eggs” that she bought in a nearby store.
It is better to go to Montenegro by the sea from July to September. The water warms up by the twentieth of June. You can see nature and coastal cities from May to November: the rest of the time, many hotels, apartments and museums are closed, and transport is rare. The Bay of Kotor has pebble beaches, and the depth increases very sharply. For a child, it is best to take a swimming ring or other means. There is interesting snorkeling in the sea: there are sea breams, catfish, large schools of anchovies, crabs, and many other fish. In Herceg Novi and Budva there are diving centers with equipment rental.
In Tivat we managed to take an excursion to Albania to the cities of Shkoder, Kruja and Tirana. For an adult 35 euros, for a child - 20 euros with a car seat. The unexplored country of bunkers, about which there are many prejudices, will appeal to those interested in the Balkans, Soviet history and travel. The difficult history and difficult path of development of the country are reflected in the architecture, current economy and relations with other states. See bunkers and the modern capital with skyscrapers, ancient fortresses and mosques, eat real oriental cuisine with lamb - and all this, contrary to prejudice, is almost safe and very healthy. The main thing is to carefully watch your pockets and things, because in the historical centers of each city there are many poor people and gypsies. Excursions are conducted by a company from the central square of Tivat: Magnolia. Their email address: [email protected], you can write to manager Maria - she knows Russian.
Zhanna Kiprushina,
Saint Petersburg