Montenegro
The Bay of Kotor and the mountain lakes of Durmitor.
Introduction
To Montenegro with the family
Montenegro is small but impressive: In a few hours you will drive from the fjord-like bay of Kotor to the mountain lakes of the Durmitor. A nice extension of a trip along the Croatian coast. Attention: Montenegro does not belong to the EU, so take passports and the green card of your car insurance and check in advance at the official sources, which applies.
Overview
In brief
- Travel time
- 8–10 days (our estimate)
- Best time to travel
- jun, Sep (our estimate · Full table)
- Distance from London
- ± 2,250 km to Podgorica (approx., via route planner · plus the Channel crossing by Eurotunnel or ferry)
- Driving days
- 4 driving days (our estimate)
- Tolls and vignettes
- No vignette; toll at the Sozina tunnel (€ 2.50) (Details and source)
- Paying
- euro
- EU member
- no
Distances were calculated once with OpenStreetMap (OSRM) from London to the capital; your actual route may be longer or shorter. For London, the Channel crossing (Eurotunnel or ferry) is not included. Driving days assume at most about 750 km per day with children (our estimate).
Practical
Good to know
Money and payments
Montenegro uses the euro even though it is not an EU member. Card payment goes in cities and on the coast; in the mountains and on small campsites, cash is handy (our experience).
Language and handy words
A few words work wonders, even with the campsite neighbour's kids:
- Dobar dan: good day
- Hvala: thank you
- Molim: please
- Doviđenja: goodbye
Documents and border
At the EU's external border your passport or ID card is checked, and often your vehicle registration and insurance papers too. In summer, expect waiting time at the border (our estimate) and make sure the car's papers are in your name or that you have the owner's authorisation. Ask your car insurer whether your green card (international insurance card) is valid for this country.
Health and safety
This country is not an EU member, so the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is not valid here. Ask your health insurer before you leave what your cover is, and take out travel insurance with medical cover. Read the current travel advice of the Dutch government just before you leave; it also lists entry rules and emergency numbers.
Traffic rules that matter
In Montenegro, the per mille threshold is 0.3. You also drive during the day with low or daytime running lights. From 15 November to 1 April winter tyres are mandatory in winter weather, on some roads always. Mandatory in the car: warning triangle (two with caravan or trailer), warning vest, bandage box and spare lamps (not for xenon or LED). Children under 12 are not allowed to sit in front.
Source: ANWB
Best time to travel
June and September are ideal: warm enough by the sea and pleasant in the mountains. July and August are hot on the coast and full in Kotor (our assessment).
Always check the current rules (tolls, vignette, entry requirements) just before you leave.
On the road by car
Tolls and vignettes
| What | Price passenger car | Where to arrange it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tunnel Sozina | € 2.50 (ordinary car) | Toll gate at the tunnel | AMSCG (Montenegrin automobile club) price checked Oct 2026 |
| Smokovac–Mateševo motorway | current price: see source | Toll gate | AMSCG price checked Oct 2026 |
Buy vignettes only through the official channels: other sites often charge extra. A caravan or camper van may fall into a different class; check this with the source.
Destinations
Most beautiful places in Montenegro
Bay of Kotor
A deep bay with steep mountains all around, with the old town of Kotor and Perast. With the ferry Kamenari-Lepetane you cross the bay.
Tara Canyon
Deep river gorge with the famous Đurđevića-Tara bridge; popular for rafting (ask for the minimum age).
Coast near Budva and Ulcinj
Beaches on the Adriatic Sea; sandy beaches around Ulcinj.
Where are you going?
Regions explained
Bay of Kotor
A deep bay between steep mountains, with the walled old town of Kotor and villages like Perast. World Heritage. Nice, but in summer full of cruise ships (our experience).
Source: UNESCO: Kotor
More about where to stay by country · More about campsites in this country
Durmitor and the Tara Canyon
To the north is the Durmitor National Park, with the Black Lake (Crno jezero) near Žabljak and the deep Tara Gorge. Cool in summer and ideal for hiking and rafting.
Source: UNESCO: Durmitor
More about where to stay by country · More about campsites in this country
Lake Skadar
The largest lake in the Balkans, on the border with Albania, a national park full of birds. You can take a boat trip between water lilies.
Source: nparkovi.me
More about where to stay by country · More about campsites in this country
Coast from Budva to Ulcinj
Beaches and Old Towns. Around Budva it is full; Towards Ulcinj in the south you will find sandy beach and shallow water.
Source: montenegro.travel
More about where to stay by country · More about campsites in this country
On the road
Suggested route by car
A round of 8 to 10 days connecting mountains and coast; Mountain roads are narrow and winding, so expect lower speeds (our estimate). Check the travel times in your route planner.
- Days 1-3: Bay of Kotor: Perast and the old town, early in the day.
- Days 4-6: Žabljak and Durmitor: Black Lake and the Tara Bridge.
- Day 7: Lake Skadar with a boat trip.
- Days 8-10: south coast near Ulcinj for swimming.
Camping
Where do you camp?
Campsites near Žabljak
Around Žabljak are small campsites, often with a family, as a base for the Durmitor. At night it can be fresh, even in summer (our experience).
Source: montenegro.travel
More about wild camping and campsites by country · More about camping gear
Campsites on the bay and the coast
On the bay of Kotor and the coast are small campsites, usually simple. Come early in the main season.
Source: montenegro.travel
More about wild camping and campsites by country · More about camping gear
Rules in Durmitor
In the national park you camp only at designated places.
Source: nparkovi.me
More about wild camping and campsites by country · More about camping gear
Gear for this region → (tent, gas, mosquitoes, sleeping bag)
Outings
With kids
Black Lake
A round around the lake near Žabljak is an easy walk through the forest; In summer you can keep your feet in the water.
Source: nparkovi.me
Boat to Our Lady of the Rocks
From Perast you take a small boat to a little island with a church in the bay.
Source: montenegro.travel
Rafting on the Tara
There are quieter rafting tours that are possible with children; Ask the provider for minimum age and life jackets.
Source: montenegro.travel
Outings
Fun activities with kids
Water parks, karting, trampolines, bowling, zoos and outings for a rainy day: concrete addresses, chosen with children of about 7 and 9 in mind. We only mention places with their own website, which we checked on 14 October 2026. Opening times and prices change: always check the website.
Our favourites
Aquapark Budva
The largest water park in Montenegro with many children's slides and sea views. Note: The website showed an error in our audit.
Karting Centar Podgorica
Outdoor cart track on the main road to Cetinje, since 2026 with its own children's karts (LR6 with EasyDrive steering). Good short stop on the way from the coast to the interior. After rain, drive only when the train is dry.
Aquarium Boka
The only public aquarium in Montenegro, from the Institute of Marine Biology, with 18 basins on the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Kotor Bay and tropical seas. Small and manageable: good to combine with a day in Kotor.
Lipa Cave
A cave with a little train to the entrance and guided tours.
Tickets/tour via Viator → Ad · affiliate link
Kotor cable car
A cable car from Kotor to the Lovćen mountains with views over the bay.
Tickets/tour via Viator → Ad · affiliate link
Durmitor National Park
Mountains with the Black Sea, managed by the National Parks of Montenegro.
Tickets/tour via Viator → Ad · affiliate link
Local cuisine
Food to taste
A few dishes you can try with the whole family:
Show all dishes (4)
Njeguški pršut
Dried ham from the village of Njeguši, often served with cheese and bread as a starter.
Kačamak
A hearty cornmeal porridge with cheese and kajmak (creamy dairy), from the mountains.
Fish from Lake Skadar
Around the lake you eat carp or other freshwater fish, often grilled.
Burek
Puff pastry with cheese or meat, the quick Balkan breakfast.
Look further
Discover more
Campsites by name, day trips, events and things you had better avoid, each with a source.
Show all tips (4)
Featured campsites
At ACSI Eurocampings are Camp Virpazar (on Lake Skutari), Camping Maslina (Buljarica) and Camp Oliva (Utjeha) on the coast. The places are usually small and simpler than in Western Europe; Wild camping is not allowed.
Source: ACSI Eurocampings: Montenegro
Bay of Kotor
The old town of Kotor with its Venetian walls lies deep in a fjord-like bay and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Go early or late in the day: When cruise ships are there, it is very crowded during the day (our experience).
Source: UNESCO: Kotor
National parks
Durmitor, Lake Skutari, Biogradska Gora, Lovćen and Prokletije are supervised by the National Park Administration. There you will find rules, entrance and activities such as boat tours on Lake Skutari.
Source: nparkovi.me
Avoid: driving in the dark
ACSI strongly advises against driving in the dark: Many roads are unlit and mountain roads narrow and winding. Plan your stages so that you are at the campsite before sunset.
Source: ACSI Eurocampings: Montenegro
Camping & on the road
Rules worth knowing
Toll, no vignette
Montenegro does not have a vignette. You pay a toll in the Sozina tunnel (Bar–Podgorica street, €2.50 for a normal car) and on the Smokovac–Mateševo motorway. Source: AMSCG (Montenegrin automobile club) and monteput.me
More about wild camping and campsites by country · More about camping for beginners
Camping in Durmitor
In the Durmitor National Park you are only allowed to camp on the designated tent sites of the park, for a fee. Fire only at designated fireplaces. Source: nparkovi.me (National Parks of Montenegro)
More about wild camping and campsites by country · More about camping for beginners
Sources
Where does this information come from?
- AMSCG (Montenegrin automobile club) and monteput.me
- nparkovi.me (National Parks of Montenegro)
- UNESCO: Kotor
- UNESCO: Durmitor
- nparkovi.me
- montenegro.travel
- ANWB (traffic rules)
- ACSI Eurocampings: Montenegro
Checked on 14 October 2026. "Our estimate" is personal advice, not official information.
Affiliate disclaimer: Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you book or buy through one, we may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Our experiences and tips remain independent.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a vignette in Montenegro?
No vignettes; Toll at the Sozina tunnel (€ 2,50). Prices, points of sale and the official source are in the block 'Toll and Vignette' on this page. To tolls and vignettes
Can you wild camp in Montenegro?
Not allowed; choose a campsite. (source: ACSI Eurocampings)
What is the best time to travel to Montenegro?
June and September are ideal: warm enough by the sea and pleasant in the mountains. July and August are hot on the coast and full in Kotor (our assessment).
How far is Montenegro from London?
From London to Podgorica it is about 2,250 km (calculated with OpenStreetMap; check your route planner). The Channel crossing is not included: with the Eurotunnel (LeShuttle) it takes 35 minutes according to the operator; a Dover–Calais ferry is the alternative. With children, expect about 4 driving days (our estimate).
What must you carry in the car in Montenegro?
Mandatory in the car: warning triangle (two with caravan or trailer), high-visibility vest, bandage box and spare lamps (not for xenon or LED). Source: ANWB. All traffic rules are on our page Traffic rules & equipment. To traffic rules · ANWB
Which travel documents do I need for Montenegro?
At the EU's external border your passport or ID card is checked, and often your vehicle registration and insurance papers too. In summer, expect waiting time at the border (our estimate) and make sure the car's papers are in your name or that you have the owner's authorisation. Ask your car insurer whether your green card (international insurance card) is valid for this country. Read the current travel advice just before you leave.