Independent travel around Montenegro by public transport. Independent trips around Montenegro

In this article I will describe in detail how to organize my trip, what you should definitely see in Montenegro and what excursions to go on.

How to organize your own trip

Flights

I usually buy plane tickets 3-4 weeks before the trip.To begin with, I determine the dates of my trip, then immediately look at the cost of tickets for the dates I need on the website . It is more profitable to buy tickets with a departure Tuesday-Thursday, usually the highest cost is on Friday-Monday.

There are only two airports in all of Montenegro, in Tivat and Podgorica. I chose Tivat airport, as it is located on the coast and it is much faster and cheaper to get to any resort town from it. Fly from Moscow to 3 hours 20 minutes.

Accommodation

After the tickets are bought, I look for a hotel or apartment. During my first trip, I rented an apartment in Budva through an international serviceairbnb.com , A I also rented rooms in guest houses in Kotor and Tivat through the well-known. INduring the second trip I used Montenegrin service to rent an apartment in Budva .

1. (discount )

3. Airbnb .com

Insurance for tourists

I bought travel insurance twice through service . The first time the insurance was from Liberty Insurance, the second time from RESO Guarantee. ServiceCherehapaconvenient in that it compares the services and cost of insurance policies from 15 insurance companies . If you set your parameters, you can immediately see the cost of all insurances. I myself was lucky not to use medical insurance, and I wish you the same!

Visa

Visa to Montenegro for Russians, Belarusians and Ukrainiansnot required . In the summer months in Montenegro, citizens of the Russian Federation can rest without a visa for 90 days. The rest of the time you can stay in Montenegro without a visa for 30 days.

For a holiday in Montenegro, you only need a passport!!!

What language to communicate with Montenegrins

Many tourists are scared and stopped from traveling abroad by the fact that they do not know English or the language of the country they are going to. In the case of Montenegro, the occurrence of language difficulties is unlikely, especially if you relax in a resort town, since many Montenegrins live off tourists from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. I met Montenegrins who studied Russian in schools. As one Montenegrin told me: “We understand Russian well, but we can’t speak.”

Money

In Montenegro, the national currency is Euro . It is advisable to take euros in cash with you, as bank cards are not accepted everywhere. In large stores and restaurants, you can use a card (I used a Sberbank debit card), but in transport, small cafes, souvenir shops and in places remote from popular tourist places, you can only pay in cash. In addition, if you rent an apartment or a room from the owners, then you will have to pay with them in cash.

You can withdraw cash from the card at an ATM, but consider the conversion and commission. In my opinion, it is better to exchange rubles for euros in your own country, looking for a favorable rate, and go on vacation with cash.

How much money to take with you

Calculate your main expenses before your trip:

Hotel/apartment - if you book in advance, and not look for accommodation on the spot, then you will know the exact amount of payment. You may be asked to pay a deposit for one day of stay, if you book on the services, be sure to read the booking conditions.

Directions - you need to decide in advance how you will move around the country, how you will get to the hotel from the airport. For example, from Tivat Airport to Budva, a bus ride costs 3 euros, on an ordered taxi / transfer - from 25 euros, you can rent a car at the airport from 27 euros per day.

Registration - you must register at the tourist office during the first day if you live in an apartment or room. If you live in a hotel, then registration may be included in the price, or perhaps not, this must be clarified at the hotel. It is advisable to keep the hotel reservation sheet until returning to Russia. The cost of registration in Montenegro is 1 euro per adult per day.

Nutrition - if you rent an apartment with a kitchen or a room with a shared kitchen, you can buy groceries in the supermarket or market and cook on your own. If you want to forget about the kitchen during your vacation and try Montenegrin dishes in restaurants, then lunch will cost you 7-12 euros per person.

Eexcursions - the cost of excursions in Montenegro starts from 25 euros per adult and 12.5 euros per child.

Museums - if you want to visit the local museum and galleries, then the ticket price is from 1 to 3 euros.

beaches - you can sunbathe on the beaches in Montenegro for free with your own towel, but if you want to use a sunbed and an umbrella, you will have to pay 10-15 euros.

Souvenirs/gifts - it all depends on what you want to keep as a memory of Montenegro, for example, if you like to hang magnets on the fridge, then the cheapest magnet can be bought for 1-2 euros. Usually, the more popular the place, the higher the cost of souvenirs. In my opinion, the most expensive place to buy souvenirs is the Old Town of Kotor, it is better to buy souvenirs in Herceg Novi in souvenir pavilions on the waterfront. In Budva there is a shop "Everything for 1 euro". You expect that souvenirs will cost from 3 to 15 euros.

How to get from Tivat airport to Budva

Before my first trip to Montenegro, I was looking for information on how to get from the airport to Budva by bus. Everything turned out to be simple. You need to leave the airport building, walk about 50-70 meters to highway and wait for the bus.

Bus waiting areanear Tivat airport

Since there is no special stop near the airport, you need to raise your hand to make the bus stop. You have to pay for the fare to the conductor, who himself approaches the passengers. Take your suitcases with you on the bus, luggage is free.

Buses do not have numbers, there are signs that indicate the direction. If you are going to Budva, then Budva may be indicated(Budva)or Ulcinj (Ulcinj). If you go further than Budva, for example, to Becici / Rafailovici / Sveti Stefan / Petrovac / Sutomore / Bar / Ulcinj, then the Ulcinj sign will hang (Ulcinj). If it's necessaryto Kotor, then either Herceg Novi will be specified (Hercegnovi), or Igalo(Igalo)or Kotor(Kotor).

Bus timetables and fares can be found atbusticket4.me, only this site does not show the schedule from the airport to the city you need, so you need to specify the city of Tivat, and not Tivat Airport. Just add 2-3 minutes to the indicated time, about the bus ride from the bus station in Tivat to the airport.

Taxi

Near the airport there are always a lot of bomb drivers waiting for tourists. They offer their services and will take you anywhere. Only the fare they usually have is much higher than in a specialized taxi.

It is very convenient to order a taxi from home via the Internet. When you arrive in Montenegro, a taxi will be waiting for you near the airport. You can find out the fare and order a taxi at the international .

Rent a car

It is convenient to rent a car if you are traveling to Montenegro with your family or a large company and are not going to relax only on the beach. With a car, you will travel around Montenegro on your own, you will be able to visit beautiful beaches and sights far from the cities, you will not depend on the schedule of buses and excursion groups. You can see cars and rental prices on . Download the app before your tripMaps.meon the phone, this is the most detailed and convenient map for traveling around Montenegro.

Registration in Montenegro

Registration of tourists in Montenegro is required. It can be checked when leaving the country, for example, at the airport or at the border when traveling to another country. For lack of registration - a fine of 200 euros. Therefore, it is better to keep the registration receipt until you return to your homeland, and also take it with you if you go on an excursion to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia or Albania.

If you have booked your stay in a good hotel through, then you No need go to the post office and the tourist information center (Tourist info) to register, it is done by the hotel staff themselves. Some hotels/guesthouses/hostels may charge you an additional check-in fee of EUR 1 per day.

If you rent an apartment/apartment from the owners throughAirbnb or , then most likely you yourself will need to do the registration. Although when I was in touristom infocenter, I saw local hosts who themselves came with passports and registered their guests.

How to register yourself in Budva

Registration must be done within the first day of your stay in Montenegro!!!

Ishe did the registration in Budva. To do this, you need your passport, also ask the landlord to write down the address of the apartment / house and last name on a piece of paper. First, go to the post office to pay for registration, 1 adult - 1 euro per day, 1 child - 0.5 euro per day. At the post office, you give the passports of all those registered and tell the post office employee: “Registration.Quantity days”, she will tell you the amount of the payment. You will be given a pink sheet - a receipt for registration payment, with which you immediately go to the tourist information center.

There are two tourist information centers in Budva (Tourist info), one is located in the territory of the Old Town, but I could not find it, although I wandered through the narrow old streets for a long time. The second tourist information center is located at the intersection of the main street of Budva - Jadran highway ( Jadranski put) and Filip Kovacevic Streets ( Filipa Kovačevića). You give your passport, a sheet with the address of residence and a receipt to the employee of the center, she will give you a receipt confirming registration in Montenegro. You put the receipt in your passport and until you return home, let the receipt be with you.

Addresses of post offices in Budva:

1. Street crossingPopa Jola Zeca and Filipa Kovačevića (in the bus station building)

2. Mediteranska, 8 (opposite the shopping centerPlaza)

3. Trg Sunca, 3 (nearest post office to the tourist information center)

4. Mediteranska ulica br. 1 (about C old city)

Excursions in Montenegro

There are many beautiful and interesting places in Montenegro. I believe that you can go to some places on your own, but there are places where you can’t get there on your own, and the presence of an experienced guide who can tell interesting things about sights, interesting facts and outstanding Montenegrins gives more ideas about the country than any guidebooks.

You can get acquainted with all group and individual excursions in Montenegro on the services And . On these excursion booking services you can find interesting excursions with professional Russian guides who have been living in Montenegro for a long time and have received a guide license.

I went on several group tours. I offer my list of excursions that will help you get to know beautiful Montenegro as best as possible.

The main excursions in Chernogory in Russian

Book a hotel in Montenegro:Check the bus schedule:Busticket4.me

Rent a car:

An independent trip to Montenegro is a great idea!

Even if you have never gone on vacation without travel agencies, organizing an independent trip to Montenegro will not be difficult. This country is easy to get to. The local culture and the Slavic language are close and understandable to us. Finding a hotel or renting private accommodation is not a problem. And most importantly, a trip for up to 90 days does not require a visa.
Next - our step-by-step instructions on how to travel to Montenegro on your own.

Since there is a lot of information, some of it hidden in tabs. They open with a mouse click and look like this:

Just three steps

To organize a trip, you need to take three main steps: purchase tickets, book accommodation and buy an insurance policy.

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How to get to Montenegro on your own

If desired, Montenegro can be reached by sea

Montenegro can be reached by air, by land and, if desired, by sea. Let us dwell in detail on the simplest and most popular way - by plane. And briefly - on an interesting, but long journey - by train from neighboring Serbia or Moscow.

Flight to Montenegro

There are only two airports in Montenegro - in Tivat and the capital of the country Podgorica. Direct flights from Moscow are usually operated to Tivat. It is located in the center of the resort area. With transfers, you can get to Podgorica and Tivat from any city in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus. Another option is to fly to Belgrade, get to know the capital of Serbia, and from there - to Montenegro by train or bus. By the way, this route will be much cheaper.
If the question of saving is not worth it, the best way is to fly to Tivat. From Tivat airport to Budva - 30 minutes by bus, to Herceg Novi - 1 hour.

Tivat airport on the map

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Tivat airport is tiny, like Montenegro itself

You need insurance that will provide real help

Independent trips around Montenegro

Montenegro is a tiny country that can be traveled around in a few days. You can often walk from point A to point B on foot: the distances between settlements are so small. Once we had a great walk from Budva to Sveti Stefan and back. It only took half a day.

Transfer from the airport to the hotel

From Tivat airport the hotel can be reached by bus, taxi, online transfer or by renting a car that will be delivered directly to the airport (see chapter ).
If you are traveling without children, with little luggage and the flight did not tire you very much, it makes no sense to spend money on taxis and transfers. From the airport to Budva - half an hour by bus.

Bus is the cheapest transport in Montenegro

By bus
To take a bus, you need to go to the highway near the airport (a hundred meters) and walk a hundred meters along it to the left, towards Tivat. You will see bus stops there. If you need to go to Budva, Sveti Stefan, Bar, Ulcinj, wait for the bus at the bus stop without crossing the road. If you are going to Herceg Novi, Tivat, Perast - on the opposite side. Just in case, check with the driver if he is going to the resort you need.
And you can not look for stops. Stand next to the highway and, noticing the bus coming, vote 🙂 The driver will notice and stop.
Bus fare - from €2 .
The bus will take you to the bus station. From there you will have to get to the hotel by taxi or on foot. See the location of the hotel and the bus station on the map in advance.

Bus station in Budva on the map

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Entrance to the Budva bus station

By taxi
Taxi drivers are usually on duty near the airport, their prices, as is usually the case in such places, are not humane, overpriced. You can bargain - you will leave at an affordable price.

Transfer

Transfer is a convenient option

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How to leave independently from one city of Montenegro to another?

It is easy to get to any city by bus

The distances between settlements in Montenegro are small, so you can get around by taxi, by a rented car or bicycle, and sometimes just on foot. The most popular mode of transport is bus. The entire coast - from Herceg Novi to Ulcinj - will take 3.5 hours by bus and 9,5 Euro. Moving between other cities is cheaper and faster. The disadvantage of Montenegrin buses is that the schedule often changes and is not always observed.
Bus schedule and fare - on the website busticket4.me .

Car rental in Montenegro

The maximum mobility in an independent trip around Montenegro is provided by car rental. The roads are excellent. The country, however, is mountainous and the landscape is twisted. If this does not bother you, by renting a car, you can see the whole country.
Renting a car is easy via the Internet - on sites or.
Company feature Auto-travel in that it specializes in renting cars from local rental companies; you can book a specific car with her, and not just choose a car model. rentalcars is focused on popular brands and provides an opportunity to choose a car from the most famous rental companies.
As for prices, in the summer months, for those that for others, they start with 30-35 euros per day. Out of season, of course, cheaper. A rented car can be collected at Tivat and Podgorica airports or at any of the popular resorts.

Such a car is not rented 🙂

Language of Montenegro

In accordance with the Constitution of Montenegro, the official language in the country is Montenegrin. However, it almost does not differ from Serbian. However, it is not linguistic subtleties that are important to us, but how understandable the language is for us.
According to our experience of independent travel through the countries of the former Yugoslavia, it is possible to communicate with Montenegrins, Serbs, Croats, even without knowing their language. This is in the event that you want to ask something, you can clarify and ask again if you misunderstood. Many Montenegrin words are similar to Russian ones:
"dobar dan" - "good afternoon"
"bus" - "bus"
"zheleznichka stanitsa" - "railway station"
"out" - "exit".
Something can be confusing:
"right" - "straight"
or stumped:
"trg" - "area".
Therefore, we take with us to the Balkans a cheat sheet with words that can be useful in everyday life.

If you read the name of the street, then you already know how to read Montenegrin

Currency of Montenegro

Monetary unit of Montenegro - Euro although the country is not part of the Eurozone. This is very convenient: you do not have to change the currency twice, it is enough to bring EUREKA with you. The most profitable option for bank cards is a card in euros; there will be no conversion and commission on purchases.

When there are no small euros, you have to wait for change

Excursions in Montenegro

In fact, you can see any sights in Montenegro on your own. Somewhere it is enough to walk on foot, somewhere to take a bus or a rented car. But if you want comfort, to be brought, taken away and told, buy excursions on the spot or book via the Internet.

– here is the largest selection of excursions;

- here are the lowest prices;

You can go on your own where you can’t go with a tour

We have been dreaming about Montenegro for a very long time. And, not about rest in the middle of summer on the beaches of Budva, packed to capacity. Namely, about Montenegro: about old cities and temples, mountains and valleys, lakes and mountain rivers, forests and canyons, unexplored paths and winding serpentines of roads... I'm not talking about a tour, but about an independent trip to Montenegro, an adventurous 1000 km autotrip , travel across the country by car!

Our goal is not to relax the body, but to fall in love with Montenegro with all my heart, wiping car tires and our shoes on the rocks! And, looking ahead, I will say ... Oh yes and 1000 times more YES! It's worth it!!! Go?

In this introductory article, I will briefly cover everything you need to know about a solo trip to Montenegro. Our tips and actual life hacks from our own experience... About air tickets, rental housing, visas, insurance, food, sights, places, routes in Montenegro by car, what you need to know, where to go and what to see.

But first, let me remember a couple of quotes about Montenegro from Byron and ... Vysotsky:

“At the moment of the birth of our planet, the most beautiful of the meetings of land and sea took place in Montenegro ... When the pearls of nature were sown, a whole handful fell on this land!”
© Lord J. Byron

“One birth is not enough for me, I would grow from two roots ... It’s a pity that Montenegro did not become my second homeland.”
© Vladimir Vysotsky

Read in the article:

Bookmark the post and subscribe to the newsletter Each section will soon be supplemented with links to articles with more detailed and detailed information!

When is the best time to go to Montenegro on your own?

People go to the ski slopes in Montenegro in winter, everything is logical here Beach tours to Montenegro are usually bought from the end of May to the beginning of September, as advised on all travel portals. At this time, you will find in Montenegro a warm sea, hot sun, but there are most tourists in the summer, both on the beaches and at the sights Of course, you can also go on your own during this period, it’s great in Montenegro in the summer! But the prices for air tickets, accommodation and meals will be higher - in this case it is better to look for and book air tickets, accommodation and car rental in advance, several months in advance. Aviasales , Airbnb , Booking And Sat down and went will help you with this.

But if there is such an opportunity, we most of all recommend traveling on your own to Montenegro in the off-season - from mid-April to mid-May, and even better from mid-September to mid-October. It is in the golden autumn that Montenegro opens from its most beautiful side, but you can also swim in the sea for sure. There are few cars and tourist buses on the mountain serpentines. Attractions are almost empty. Prices for accommodation, car rental, restaurant menus and souvenirs are falling. Yes, and air tickets during this period there is a chance to buy much cheaper.

Flights to Montenegro

That is exactly what happened to us. We went to Montenegro from October 18 to October 25, having successfully found flights from the Pobeda airline for only 15,800 rubles round-trip for two through Aviasales. Tickets for the summer are usually 2-2.5 times more expensive ((

Visas to Montenegro

A visa to Montenegro for Russians is still not needed - neither Schengen, nor any other And this is a huge plus compared to neighboring Croatia and other European countries. They even canceled the address registration (the so-called "white cardboard"). You just get a stamp in your passport at the airport upon arrival. Unless, of course, you fly by plane.

How to travel to Montenegro on your own?

On a plane or driving? Considering that a car is simply necessary to travel around Montenegro itself, you can go to Montenegro by your own car. Then you won't have to rent a car... But we do not recommend this for a number of reasons. It can't be cheaper! The road is long - at least through 6 countries and so far it is better to bypass Ukraine. You will need a "Schengen" and a lot of money will be spent on gasoline, a green card, vignettes, overnight stays in hotels and food along the way. In addition, the road will take a lot of time, and there will simply be no strength left to enjoy the serpentines of Montenegro and on the way back.

In our opinion, it is better to find cheap flights on Aviasales, and in Montenegro rent a car on Sat down and went(You can do this quite inexpensively and realistically even without collateral).

Rental housing in Montenegro

Montenegro has a lot of hotels and even more apartments for rent. Both can be booked with our discount from the Traveler's Diary blog: -1"000 on Booking or -2"100 rubles on Airbnb. Prices in the off-season are noticeably lower, and the choice is much larger. But it is better to book in advance anyway, ideally a few months in advance. Then it is quite realistic to find decent apartments with a kitchen for 10-20 euros per day, and for 30-50 euros there will be generally wonderful, sometimes even designer authentic options!

We booked through Airbnb apartments in Becici near Budva for 3 nights, apartments in Risan near the Bay of Kotor between Kotor and Herceg Novi for 3 nights, and between them a day near Zabljak to spend the night during a two-day trip to the sights and beauties in the north of Montenegro.

Food in Montenegro

Traveling around Montenegro on your own and living in apartments with a kitchen, there are absolutely no problems with food. Food prices in stores are among the lowest in Europe. Montenegro has many inexpensive bakeries, cafes and restaurants. You can have a snack in a cappuccino cafe with pancakes or pizza for 10 euros for two. It is quite possible to have a great lunch or dinner in a restaurant, keeping within the bill from 15 to 30 euros for two.

Car rental in Montenegro

Renting a car and the nuances of an autotrip in Montenegro, as well as car routes around the country, are the topics of separate interesting and very useful articles.

But if in a few words, then:

Sights and routes in Montenegro + map and photo

This, perhaps, is also a separate large topic for several articles.

In short, most of the sights and most beautiful places in Montenegro are concentrated near Budva, Kotor and around the Bay of Kotor + Cetinje, Lovcen National Park, Ostrog, Moraca River Canyon. And, of course, the north of Montenegro in the area of the Durmitor National Park: the canyon of the Tara River, the Dzhurdzhevich Bridge, the Black Lake, Piva Lake, unearthly landscapes in the area of the Sedlo Pass along the most difficult beautiful serpentine between Zabljak and Pluzhine...

We will definitely tell and show everything

Communication and Internet in Montenegro

We used a Drimsim tourist SIM card in Montenegro, for more details see Drimsim review. Calls in Montenegro are expensive, but the Internet is only 0.015 euros per 1 MB! No monthly fee, tariff options, "packages" of services and expiration dates. And if there is the Internet, then there are messages with calls through instant messengers, and communication in social networks. Yes, and don't forget to get a gift of 5 euros through our link

Insurance in Montenegro

A basic insurance policy for a week in Montenegro will cost about 400 rubles (only 5 euros!) per person. But we recommend adding accident insurance and trekking to it (because mountain trails lead to the most interesting). If you are planning cycling trips or going to Montenegro in your own car, these options can also be added on your own.

We have already described some of them above, the rest will be in the article "Montenegro: tips and life hacks"...

We will tell you how to save on travel, accommodation and food, see more interesting things for less money, and even how to get to one of the most expensive and interesting sights - the old fortress of Kotor - absolutely legally and completely free of charge.

So, to recap... Just four steps to one of the best adventures of your life: air tickets , accommodation , Rent a Car, . And read all the information about the country with us, subscribe to the newsletter and ask any questions in the comments

Traveling to Montenegro on your own is easy. And now I will try to prove it to you. Firstly, Russians do not need a visa to enter this country. Secondly, this is a rather busy air route, which is served by many Russian airlines. Thirdly, this is a friendly Slavic country, if not with a culture and way of life close to us, then certainly with understandable ones. Fourthly, this country is relatively inexpensive. I hope I convinced you that you should definitely go to Montenegro on your own. Now I will tell you how to do it!

1. Why does everyone like Montenegro?

The answer is very simple. Because she's really amazing! Sunny, hospitable, delicious, beautiful. Montenegro is a very successful combination of incredible natural beauty, an abundance of cultural and historical attractions and the sea! In general, whatever your heart desires: beaches, mountains, ancient cities, museums, add to this the excellent cuisine and hospitality of the Montenegrin people and you will understand what Montenegro can be loved for.

2. What is the best way to get to it?

As I said above, a fairly large number of airlines fly in this direction, namely: Aeroflot, S7 Airlines, Red Wings, Ural Airlines, SarAvia and Montenergro Montenegrin. These are only those airlines that fly non-stop. In summer, flights are operated daily several times a day. To two international airports: in Tivat and Podgorica. Tourists most often fly to Tivat, as it is closer to all the popular Montenegrin resorts. There are much fewer flights to Podgorica, but still, keep in mind that it’s not too far to go from Podgorica to the sea, perhaps this option will turn out to be more convenient or, for example, cheaper. Traditionally, I recommend looking for cheap ones using the Aviasales service, which I myself always use.

3. Where to stay?

If we talk about the host city, then, in principle, this is a matter of taste. If you want to see the most beautiful Montenegrin landscapes, then you should probably choose among the cities of the Bay of Kotor (Kotor, Perast, Risan, Herceg Novi), if you want a noisy youth holiday with cafes and discos, stop your look at Budva, and if, on the contrary, you dream of a quiet and unhurried vacation rhythm, consider small coastal villages that are part of the Budva Riviera: Becici, Rafailovici, Sveti Stefan, Przno.

And if we talk about accommodation, then, in my opinion, apartments are ideal for staying in Montenegro. There are a lot of them and for every taste and budget, they are convenient with the presence of everything you need. They say that in the resorts of Montenegro, you can find free apartments on the spot, but personally I don’t like to take risks and prefer to resolve such issues in advance. I am looking, like everyone else, on the Internet on specialized Montenegrin sites or in ordinary ones.

4. Do I need a visa?

No =) Russians have the right to stay in the territory for 30 days without a visa. The only document that needs to be issued is the so-called white cardboard, which is both the registration of a tourist in the country and the tax that he must pay. You can issue a white cardboard within three days after arriving in the country at the tourist center.

5. How much will my trip cost?

And a little about how much a trip to Montenegro costs. Of course, you can determine your budget only by yourself, and it will depend on your requirements and preferences. But so that you do not think that traveling is always expensive, I will give below the approximate prices for air tickets, accommodation and some other goods and services.

- air tickets - from 12,000 rubles
Moscow-Tivat-Moscow, economy class.
– apartments in Budva - from 1,000 rubles / night
– apartments in Kotor - from 1,500 rubles / night
– tourist tax (“white cardboard”) – about 1 euro per person per day
– car rental – from 30 euros per day
– a bottle of local wine – from 2.5 euros
— state of “polak” — free =)

April 26, 2017 7:22 pm Negushi, Cetinje, Virpazar, Kotor - Montenegro September 2016

In addition to the fact that it was my first visit to Montenegro, I also had my first air flight in my life. Everything used to be like a train. Or vehicles. But it looks like it's time to take off. It's time to. Anticipating and expecting the flight, excitement and curiosity, as in everything new, in my soul at first fought for primacy, then united together.

Our trip was planned. Through a tour operator, we booked accommodation without meals (apartment with 2 bedrooms and a living room for 4 people) and air travel back and forth (for 4 people). It turned out 110 thousand. Our journey took place from September 17 to 25, that is, 9 days, 8 nights. There were 7 full days, not counting the road, for rest. Place of residence - Budva.

Airports, flights, transfer

We got to Domodedovo airport by Aeroexpress from Paveletsky railway station. Registration, inspection and passport control took about 45 minutes without any problems. The plane was at 15.40, the time, by the way, is quite convenient, you don’t need to get up at home at dawn and it’s still light upon arrival at the place. While waiting for the flight, we went to have lunch at the Coffeemania cafe.

For turkey cutlets with buckwheat and tea with cheesecakes for two, they paid 1800 rubles, which is not very cheap, but quite tasty, and there are not many lunch options at the airport. For me, the journey has already begun! The landing was on time. Company aircraft AzurAir took off safely and gained altitude. For me, the sensations were new and interesting. After the distribution of lollipops, drinks were soon offered, followed by tea sandwiches. The plane itself was far from the newest with a cramped cabin. But we flew perfectly and thanks to the wonderful pilots for this. Exactly 3 hours and 5 minutes later, the plane landed safely in Podgorica.

As soon as you got off the ladder, the cleanest air immediately filled your lungs, tired from Moscow exhaust gases. Looking back at the plane, one could see a beautiful mountain landscape.

The air temperature was +22. A feeling of joy settled in my soul and was in no hurry to leave.

The airport in Podgorica is quite small. Another plane landed at the same time as us, and three passport control officers were barely able to cope with the new arrivals.

We moved around the country almost all the time by car. A rented Volkswagen Passat with a navigator for 4 days cost us 210 euros (Gulliver company).

And just a few words, looking ahead, about the way back. Travel time by bus from Budva to Tivat (from where we flew to Moscow) was 20-30 minutes. Tivat airport is also very small. With a huge bunch of people and correspondingly large queues. But also everything was clear on time, without delays. Company aircraft UtAir, also not quite new, took off on schedule, exactly at 15.50. by local time. For some reason, they decided to save on candy, but drinks, and then sandwiches with tea, were as expected :) On this flight, approaching the airport at dusk, hundreds of lights and lights were visible from the porthole from the ground, as if welcoming us and creating a bright light show. We flew and back wonderful, thank you very much for this pilots.

Our Apartments

This is Jovan apartament 4* in Budva. I didn't expect anything special from them, but it could have been better. I wrote a separate review about it with a photo.

Country trips

Well, finally, about the actual journey.

Kotor

This is the first city we went to. Let's go on our own, even before renting a car. We bought bus tickets at the bus station in Budva. A one-way ticket for one adult costs 3.5 euros. We spent about 50 minutes on the way.

Tried to climb fortress of St. John(entrance for one costs 3 euros), but we only climbed to a small height of the first observation deck, took a photo (the views are very beautiful!)

and began to descend. The weather was very cloudy that day. And indeed, after 15 minutes, a heavy downpour began. They were saved only under the canopies of a local cafe, their umbrellas would hardly have helped out. But the element soon lost its strength and the sky brightened a little. We happily went for a walk around the old town. It must be said that Old city here is great!

Walking on it, you get real pleasure. The biggest attraction is the Catholic Cathedral of St. Tryphon (entry 2.5 euros).

We also visited the church of St. Luke and the church of St. Nicholas (free admission). I can’t say that the cathedrals made an indelible impression on me in terms of their interior decoration, but still I don’t regret that I looked.

In Kotor, it is interesting to just take a walk, enjoy the city (which is taken under the protection of UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site), it is very beautiful.

The city center is quite noisy, there are many foreigners (mostly German was heard). Souvenirs were bought in the Old Town (handmade magnets), which has a lot of shops. So, despite the inclement weather, the trip was wonderful!

Skadar lake

This is a national park. The journey from Budva to Virpazar (a small town on the shores of Lake Skadar) took 30-40 minutes by car through a mountain tunnel (the journey costs 2.5 euros). As soon as we parked the car and got out, a local man of 40-45 years old immediately ran up to us with a wide smile and gypsy habits. Having introduced himself and shaking hands with everyone, he began unobtrusively, but, at the same time, persistently offering his services. It turned out that he was the owner of the Pelican family hotel. The family also runs a restaurant and offers tours. We didn’t have time to come to our senses, as he, treating us with donuts, persuaded us to take a boat trip (duration 2 hours, cost 40 euros for two + 4 euros for one for entering the park). The boat accommodated 15 people and was full. In the end, we enjoyed the trip!

If you think about it, there are not many options for exploring the park, and walking on the water is far from the worst option. The views are very beautiful!

And the local guy who drove the boat made stops and talked about everything around, including about an unusual plant - a water chestnut that lives in this lake.

We returned back to Budva by a long road along a mountain serpentine, enjoying absolutely beautiful views and landscapes,

with a stop in the city Ulcinj. There we had a late lunch or an early dinner in one of the local cafes and a short walk. The city did not attract attention with anything special, it is rather dirty, although, of course, one should stay there longer in order to get a better idea of it.

Cetinje

The city is located at the foot of Lovcen Mountain and is considered the cultural and historical capital of Montenegro.