10 Tips for Your Montenegro Road Trip
From hidden gas stations to the most beautiful viewpoints along the coast — everything we wish someone had told us before our first drive through Montenegro.
Montenegro is 13,800 km² — about the size of Connecticut, or roughly a fifth of Tasmania. You can drive from the Adriatic coast to a 2,000-metre summit in under two hours, cross into three different countries before lunch, and finish the day swimming in a glacial lake. The catch is that the roads weren't built for tourists; they were built for goats.
Here are the ten things we tell every customer the moment they pick up their keys at our Tivat or Podgorica counter.
Bring an International Driving Permit
EU and UK licences are fine on their own. North American, Australian, Asian and most other licences should be paired with an IDP — it's not strictly enforced at pick-up but the police can fine you €70 at a roadside check.
Fuel up before the mountain roads
Petrol stations cluster along the coast and the E80. Above 1,000 m elevation — Durmitor, Lovćen, the Tara Canyon — they become rare. Fill up in Žabljak or Pluzine before heading into Durmitor.
Respect the serpentine roads
The Kotor–Cetinje road has 25 hairpin turns in 8 km. The road to Sveti Stefan is narrow and shared with tour buses. Take it slow, hug the inside of blind corners, and use the horn before tight bends — locals do.
Best viewpoints worth the detour
Lovćen's Štirovnik summit, the Vidikovac restaurant above Kotor, the Pavlova Strana hairpin on the Skadar road, and Sveti Jovan above Budva for sunset over the old town.
Old town parking is restricted
You cannot drive into Kotor, Budva or Perast old towns. Use the paid car parks just outside the walls — €1–3 per hour, €15–25 per day in peak season. Free street parking exists 10 minutes' walk away.
Watch for the Sozina Tunnel toll
The 4.2 km Sozina Tunnel cuts the Podgorica–Bar drive by 30 minutes. €3.50 per car each way — keep small notes ready or use the contactless lane.
Cross the Bay of Kotor by ferry
The Kamenari–Lepetane ferry saves an hour over driving around the bay. €5 per car including driver, runs every 15 minutes 24/7, no booking needed. Just pay the attendant on the ramp.
Border crossings: pick your moment
Debeli Brijeg (Croatia) backs up to 90 minutes in July–August. Cross before 9am or after 8pm. The Albanian border at Sukobin and Bosnian crossings at Šćepan Polje rarely have queues.
Save these phone numbers
Police 122. Ambulance 124. AMS roadside assistance 19807 (works anywhere in Montenegro, English support). MontenegroDrive 24/7 line: +382 20 123 456.
The under-rated stops
The Old Royal Capital Cetinje (museums, 30 min from Kotor). The Ostrog monastery carved into a cliff face (1 hour from Podgorica). Lake Skadar's Rijeka Crnojevića viewpoint at dusk. Add at least one to your itinerary.
If you only remember one thing: in Montenegro the road IS the destination. Build extra time into every leg.
Before you set off
- check_circleDownload offline maps for the whole country — mobile coverage drops in canyons.
- check_circlePhotograph the car at pick-up (all four corners + the dashboard) so any pre-existing scratches are documented.
- check_circleNote your booking reference and our 24/7 line in your phone.
- check_circleKeep €30 in coins for tolls, parking and ferry fares.
Drive safe — and send us a photo from your favourite viewpoint.
Ready to drive it yourself?
Get a car at any of our 9 pick-up locations across Montenegro.
