About Montenegro
People often get confused by locating a Montenegro on a global map. Montenegro has become more popular among motorcycle travellers and explorers in recent years. In most situations, people visit Montenegro on a Balkan Motorcycle Tour. Usually starting from Slovenia or Croatia, motorcyclists travel to Albania, crossing countries such as Bosnia, Croatia and Montenegro.
That’s right, we are talking about the Balkan region, where Montenegro is a tiny country with just over 600,000 people. Montenegro is bordering with other countries such as Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia and Albania. Montenegro also has access to the Adriatic Sea. Montenegro is currently a trending destination for Motorcyclists and car enthusiasts thanks to developing road infrastructure and the untouched beauty of nature. In recent years, we have seen an increasing number of motorcyclists visiting Montenegro.
How to get to Montenegro
You can fly to Montenegro using one of the three airports. One is located in the city of Tivat – the most popular destination for travellers, and another is Podgorica- Montenegro’s current capital. For instance, our motorcycle rental office is just a 5-minute drive from Tivat International Airport. You can also get to Montenegro using Dubrovnik Airport, from where you can take a taxi to enter Montenegro.
You can also enter Montenegro by motorcycle (or a car) using one of the borders with countries nearby. The most popular route to enter Montenegro is the Adriatic Highway.
The following countries have direct flights to/from Montenegro – visit this page for more info.
What to see in Montenegro
Most people travel to Montenegro to see the famous Old Town Kotor and Kotor Fjord, known as Kotor Bay. Earlier, people also visited the most iconic island of Sveti Stefan, which is currently out of operation. But that’s not it. In recent years, Montenegro is focusing on developing tourism, and more locations are arising. For those who prefer luxury holidays, visit Porto Montenegro, Porto Novi (and One & Only Resort), or Lustica Bay. All are located in the coastal area of Montenegro and provide high-end experiences for their guests.
Those seeking active vacation and prefer to spend time travelling and exploring might explore the country from south to north on a bike. In this case, you can visit the famous Kotor Serpentine or Skadar Lake or even ride to the Durmitor National Park and switch off from the routine. Here are plenty of places to explore, thanks to the compactness of Montenegro – where you can cross the country in just under 4 hours.
How long to stay in Montenegro
To explore Montenegro properly, let’s plan at least a week for your holiday in Montenegro. That will allow you to see the country quickly and experience its coastal and mountain culture and living. However, if you are limited, you can also see Montenegro in about 2-3 days by visiting its prominent landmarks and riding the most scenic roads. To find out the best time to visit Montenegro – read our article.
Money and ways to pay
Montenegro is not a part of the European Union, but the official currency of the country is the Euro. The country has a robust payment infrastructure, so there is no need to carry a large amount of cash. You can make payments almost everywhere with a card. All gas stations accept cash, and hotels in tourist areas accept cards. However, when traveling far north of the country, you may encounter some issues paying by card. In such cases, it’s advisable to keep some cash on hand for paying at restaurants and hotels.
Visas
Montenegro is a country where most nationalities can enter without a visa. Citizens of the European Union, UK, USA, Canada, ex-USSR countries, and the Middle East are among those who can enter visa-free. However, the length of stay allowed may vary depending on the passport you hold. We highly recommend that you double-check if you need a visa and how long you can stay in Montenegro before you plan your trip.
Please note that if you plan to stay in Montenegro for more than 24 hours, you must register with a tourist organization. Normally, hotels take care of this registration, but if you are camping or staying in a private bed and breakfast, please double-check with your host if they have already registered you or if you need to take care of it yourself.
Accommodation
Tourism plays a crucial role in the country’s economy, as it is the main source of revenue. Therefore, finding suitable accommodation, be it a hotel or apartment, is not a problem. There are well-developed services such as Booking.com or Airbnb.com that make it easy for you to book your next stay via their websites.
What to ride in Montenegro
We already talked about this in one of our articles before. In general, Montenegro has a very well-developed road infrastructure, allowing you to ride touring motorcycles and adventure bikes. It also has a TET road, which requires adventure/enduro-type motorcycles if you want to discover its wild nature and stay in one of the mountain camps.
Quality of the roads
Montenegro has some of the most beautiful and scenic roads for motorcycle enthusiasts to explore. In recent years, many new roads have been built in the country. However, the quality of pavement could be better and presents a challenge for motorcycle riders. The pavement quality issues are caused by two factors – poor asphalt production technology and the age of the car fleet in the country. Cheaper materials used in asphalt production lead to a loss of grip quality over time, as the surface becomes polished by car tires.
Additionally, the average age of cars in Montenegro is 12-15 years, which means that they tend to have oil leaks that create a thin layer of oily surface over time. When it rains, these two elements combine to create a highly slippery road surface that even ultra-soft tires cannot handle. This is particularly a problem on coastal roads, which have more traffic than mountain regions. To ensure better safety performance on the road, we use road-focused tires on our motorcycles.
Stray animals and wildlife
Montenegro is home to a diverse range of wildlife. As a result, it is expected to encounter animals while driving on the roads. To ensure the safety of both yourself and the animals, it is essential to maintain a moderate speed and adhere to the speed limits. You never know when an animal may appear on the road, so taking precautions can help prevent dangerous situations.
Speed limits
The speed limits in the country range from 50 to 80 km/h, with some highways permitting speeds of up to 100 km/h. It is highly advisable to abide by these regulations for your own safety, as the fines for traffic violations in Montenegro are steep and you may even face imprisonment.
Police and emergency contacts
In case of an accident or any dangerous situation, you should call the police. They are responsible for general safety and traffic control. Here are the numbers you should use in any situation:
Police: 122
Emergency (general): 112
Roadside assistance: 19807
Gas stations
When traveling around Montenegro, you won’t have any difficulty finding a gas station in the southern coastal area, as the region is well-developed, and you shouldn’t worry about running out of gas. However, if you plan to visit the Northern part of Montenegro, it is advised to be more cautious with the gas supply. We recommend filling up the tank whenever you have 70km range left, as gas stations are available every 50-60km on main roads, but secondary and back roads may have a distance of up to 100km without any gas station. It’s important to ensure that you always have at least a third of the tank filled.
Parkings
You can park a motorcycle almost anywhere as long as it does not obstruct pedestrian traffic or other drivers in Montenegro. However, please refrain from parking on private property, cultural centers, or walkways.
Motorcycle tours and rental in Montenegro
We provide motorcycle experiences in Montenegro. You may want a private (or private group) tour or rental; we will happily offer you the latest touring and adventure motorcycles. We are located in Porto Montenegro, near Tivat airport. You can find out about motorcycle we offer following this page.