How to travel by car from Montenegro to Croatia

It is possible to travel by car from Montenegro to Croatia and back. However, it is usually not allowed to rent a car from one country to another. There are card companies that practice this, but most do not. Border guards do not care until your insurance is in order. However, if you got into an accident, the car was stolen or damaged, by your fault or not, and you did not get permission to cross the border, you may face serious problems.

Therefore, before you rent a car, check with the company for this issue. Just make sure that the rental agency allows you to travel to neighboring countries on your cars.

Also make sure that you have well thought out the route, otherwise you risk missing out on many attractions.

If you have a large sum of money, for example, 10 000 euros, it must be declared in order to be able to take it out of the country. But most likely not more than a thousand plus a credit card, so do not worry.

From Montenegro to Croatia in a rented car

In the morning, after breakfast in the city or hotel, go to Croatia. To drive from Sarajevo to Split, it takes from 4 to 4.5 hours. There are several routes that you can choose. For example, the E73 trail allows you to cross almost all the way to Croatia, passing by Mostar. The crossing of the border between Montenegro and Croatia by car usually takes no more than 5 minutes. In Croatia, you can go on the broadband route E65 up to Split.

Next to Split is the ancient castle Klis. It has a rich history and at various times was the site of numerous battles with Knights Templars, Ottomans and Mongols. From the Klis fortress, you can enjoy panoramic views of Split and the Dalmatian coast. There were also scenes for the “Games of Thrones”. To inspect everything, it will take at least an hour

Trogir is a coastal town only 35 minutes away by car. The whole Old Town is located on the island. You can go around the whole of Trogir in an hour or two if you move fast, and by evening return to Split, stroll through the streets of Diocletian’s palace and spend the night at the hotel.

Being in Croatia, it is worth to visit at least one island. From Split, you can cruise to one of the islands in the Adriatic Sea. For example, Hvar – famous for its nightlife and picturesque harbor. You can choose Marriage to take a walk on the Species Mountain, the highest point in the Adriatic Sea.

How to use the ferry in Croatia

From Split to the islands there is a ferry. These ferries run several times a day, and during the tourist season even more often. In addition, since you took a car rental, make sure that you chose a ferry that allows you to transfer cars. Plan your ferry reservation in a few days or weeks. If you arrive at the pier too late, you will not be able to get a seat, even if you have a ticket. In the summer months, you will have to queue up to 2 to 3 hours before you get on the ferry. You can put the car in line and go about their business, and then return to the car 30 minutes before departure.

You will get to know the wonderful city of Dubrovnik. It can become a highlight of this whole route. Do not miss a walk through the medieval walls, view from the cable car, walk through the old town and visit the Fort Lovrienac. In Dubrovnik, there are many fine restaurants. It’s easy to fall in love with this city.

From Dubrovnik to Montenegro by car

And now it’s time to say goodbye to Croatia. But do not worry, Montenegro is just as amazing as Croatia. From Dubrovnik, you can reach the Montenegrin border in 45 minutes. You will need a passport and a green card (for a rented car) to cross the border.

The nearest city after crossing the border is Herceg Novi. It’s worth spending at least an hour or two on this nice city. Take a walk in the old city, climb into the fortress of Kanli-Kula, to admire the beautiful view of the city and the bay of Kotor, and, if you want, visit the monastery of Savin.

From Herceg Novi, go clockwise around Kotor Bay. The day trip ends in Kotor. Take a seat at the hotel, and then spend the rest of the day exploring the sights. Kotor is a small medieval city. You can bypass it in an hour or less. The first thing to do is climb the city walls. This is a tense climb over uneven steps and cobbled trails, but a visit to Kotor would not be complete without this adventure.

If you arrived early enough, think about the Kotor Ladder. This is an increase of 6-8 miles, at the end of which you will have a breathtaking view of the Bay of Kotor. The tour ends with a walk along the city walls of Kotor, from which you can see picturesque suburbs, mountain landscapes and coastal towns.

From Kotor, go south from the city along the P22 highway and turn left onto P1 along a winding, climbing road that rises high into the mountains. From here you can enjoy stunning views of the Bay of Kotor.

Head towards Lovcen National Park. Mount Lovcen is one of the highest peaks in Montenegro, and you will never forget the view from here. Then you can go around in the direction of the National Park of Lake Skadar. It’s worth spending a day exploring the coast, also called the Budva Riviera, and visiting San Stefan, a medieval town built on a small island connected to the mainland by a sandy isthmus. Today it is an expensive resort, and the city is allowed to stop only by what it has booked in advance. Within walking distance is Milocer beach, an ideal place to relax. Then head north to Budva, another popular city known for its nightlife. This is a good place to have dinner and spend the night. From Budva, just 30 minutes is Kotor, so you can return to the starting point of the trip.