How to Get to Montenegro

Short answer: fly into Tivat if you can find a flight, because it's on the coast and minutes from both Kotor and Budva. Podgorica and Dubrovnik are the alternatives, each with a longer road at the end.

Tivat (TIV)

A small airport on the shore of the Bay of Kotor, with many summer flights from around Europe. It's a short taxi ride to Kotor through the Vrmac tunnel, and a little further to Budva. There's no dedicated airport bus. Intercity buses between Kotor, Tivat and Budva use the main road and Tivat bus station rather than the terminal, so most people take a taxi or a booked transfer.

Podgorica (TGD)

The capital's airport, inland, with year-round flights. Budva is roughly an hour away by car, Kotor a little longer. Transfers and taxis are the simple option. By public transport you'd go into Podgorica first and take a bus to the coast from the main bus station.

Dubrovnik (DBV), Croatia

Often cheaper and with more routes. The airport is south of Dubrovnik, already on the way to the border, and Kotor is a couple of hours away by car in normal conditions. Buses from Dubrovnik's main bus station at Gruž run to Herceg Novi and Kotor. The border crossing is the variable: in July and August, queues at midday can add hours. Travel early or late in the day if you can.

Entry rules

Montenegro is not in the EU or the Schengen Area, so the EU's Entry/Exit System and ETIAS don't apply at its borders. Many nationalities, including UK and EU citizens, can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180. You will meet the EU system if you cross from Croatia, though, so allow extra time at that border. Check the rules for your own passport before you travel.

Buses on the coast

Intercity buses link Herceg Novi, Kotor, Tivat, Budva, Sveti Stefan and Petrovac through the day, more often in summer. Kotor and Budva both have proper bus stations. Local buses around the bay stop in Perast and the villages along the shore. Timetables change by season, so check at the station.

By car

Renting a car gives you Lake Skadar, Lovćen and the quieter beaches. The trade-off is summer traffic on the coast road around Budva and full car parks in Kotor and Perast by mid-morning. If you're bringing a hire car across from Croatia, confirm with the rental company that cross-border travel is allowed.