A trip to Montenegro yourself: what you need to know

Although the difficulties associated with traveling to this part of Eastern Europe are few, here are some tips to help you organize your trip.

1. Spend more time on natural landscapes.

Montenegro is a land of mountains and valleys, which impresses with its landscapes on a man unprepared. But when you travel for a long time, the landscape starts to appear monotonous, whether it’s a picturesque mountain, a genuine trickle of a waterfall or a swift deep valley. Therefore, focus on the small details that determine the whole charm of the journey. These are moments that you will remember with trembling even after a few years. Unlike most European countries, Montenegro is a place where you do not need to pay special attention to cities, except for Kotor. It is a country of beautiful landscapes, lakes and winding rivers.

2. It is worth renting a car for at least a few days

You can travel around Montenegro by bus or train, but there are unforgettable places that can only be reached by car. Rent a car in Montenegro is inexpensive, and believe that you will not regret the money spent on it. There are amazing routes in the country that can not be missed. One of the most picturesque is the road connecting Pluzhine and Zabljak, but you can not get there without having your own wheels. Traveling by Montenegro by car even in 1-2 days will open you places where you simply will not get on public transport.

3. Beware of Local Drivers

High-speed overtaking on bends, driving in the middle, trucks rushing through narrow mountain passes, is a usual picture for the roads of Montenegro. Driving here is like racing with obstacles. Despite the religious amulets hanging from most of the rear-view mirrors, an unprepared tourist may have the impression that all cars are suicide bombers. It is not uncommon to see a truck pruning a miniature car on a mountain road, and the driver accelerates on the rise to outrun the cars ahead. If you are renting a car, then keep in mind that locals are more comfortable with traffic rules than in other parts of Europe.

4. Smoking is allowed everywhere

In most European countries, smoking is a fading trend. You have to leave a cozy cafe to smoke, despite the cold or rain, or go hundreds of meters to make sure that you are not within the permitted distance from a cafe, bus stop or school. However, in Montenegro a different approach. Bus drivers do not see anything wrong with smoking right during driving. The smoke-filled cafes with black ceilings and overcrowded ashtrays, which in Europe are associated with the past century, are still the norm in this part of the world.

5. You can put a tent almost anywhere

Along the rivers, on the mountain tops, near the lakes and in the fields – camping is allowed almost anywhere in the country. If you intend to turn off the beaten track and enjoy an independent holiday in Montenegro, pre-pack a tent in the trunk. Most places have freshwater springs, but be prepared for cold nights in the mountains.

6. Communication with local people is difficult

Even those words that seem deceptively simple, make you stumble over an indigestible combination of consonant sounds. And since Montenegrin dialects vary from north to south, do not be surprised if you do not understand. Do not expect that it will be possible to do English: in Montenegro, very few people who understand English. Unlike German, which, surprisingly, is much more common.

7. The train is cheaper and more comfortable than the bus

The railway line runs from Bar on the coast, through Virpazar on Lake Skadar, stretches to Podgorica and further to the border with Serbia and to Belgrade. You can cross half the country in one day and just for a couple of euros. In addition to the price, traveling by train is more comfortable, without a driver filling the cabin with tobacco smoke, loud phone conversations and attempts to overtake the cars ahead, which is inevitable for every bus trip.

8. In any restaurant menu, almost all dishes are meat

Meat medallions, lamb stew, sausages, smoked ham, roast lamb are the obligatory components of Montenegrin dishes. If you can not eat meat without greens, do not worry: your portion of meat will almost certainly be sprinkled with greens, and if you are lucky, there will be potatoes, and maybe even onions. But vegetarians will be uncomfortable, they will have to satisfy the hunger with salads and bread.

9. Organize walking tours

In Montenegro, there are excellent pedestrian areas with convenient trails, valleys and mountain peaks. Durmitor National Park is the main place for walking tours in the summer, although in winter snowfall makes most of the paths impassable. Excellent routes can be found around Kolasin and in the Lovcen national park.

10. Appreciate the diversity

Montenegro has everything, especially if

Montenegro has everything, especially if you prefer independent travel. Take a stroll in the quiet coastal villages, soaked in the Turkish atmosphere, or dance all night long in tourist resorts. Ride on the floating tops of Durmitor in summer and ride on snowy slopes in winter. Take a walk in the countryside, take a dip in the mountain lake and get an adrenaline rush, strolling along the walls of Kotor. An unforgettable trip awaits you!
Montenegroˌmäntəˈnegrō
Montenegro – определения
имя существительное
a mountainous, landlocked republic in the Balkans, formerly part of Yugoslavia; population 672,200 (est. 2009); capital, Podgorica. Joined with Serbia before the Turkish conquest of 1355, Montenegro became independent in 1851. In 1918, it became part of the federation of Yugoslavia. On the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1992, it formed a federation with Serbia, but voted in 2006 to become independent.