Travel tips
According to the Constitution (was adopted on October 22, 2007), Montenegro is a democratic, social and ecological state. Governance is divided into legislative, executive and judicial. State form is the parliamentary republic. The head of the state is the president, who is elected for a five-year term. The legislative body is the parliament, the executive body is the government. Administratively, Montenegro is divided into 25 communities (districts).
The modern flag of Montenegro was adopted in 2004. It is a rectangular panel of red color in gold sheathing with an aspect ratio of 1: 2, in the center of which is the coat of arms of Montenegro. The modern coat of arms of Montenegro was adopted on July 12, 2004. It is presented in the form of a double-headed golden eagle with a lion on its chest.
The modern anthem of Montenegro was adopted in 2004. The popular national song “Oj svijetla majska zoro!” was chosen as the anthem.
Interesting facts about Montenegro:
Country area: 13 812 sq.km.
Population: 620 029 (1.01.2011).
Time zone: GMT + 1 (MSK – 2 hours).
The highest peaks: Zla Kolata (height 2534 m), Maya Kolata (2528 m), Maya Rosit (2525 m) in the Prokletiye mountains; Bobotov Kuk (2522 m) in the Durmitor mountains.
The longest rivers: Tara (141 km), Lim (123 km).
The largest lakes: Skadar lake (369,7 sq.km), Sassko lake (3,64 sq.km).
The largest bay: The Bay of Kotor (87,3 sq.km).
The deepest canyon: Tara River Canyon (maximum depth 1 200 m).
National parks: Durmitor (39 000 ha), Lovcen (6 400 ha), Biogradska gora (5 400 ha), Skadar lake (40 000 ha), Prokletye (16 630 ha).
World natural and cultural heritage (under the protection of UNESCO): the national park Durmitor with the canyon of the Tara River and the ancient city of Kotor.
The average temperature in Montenegro is about 17 degrees in the coastal and central zone and about 8 degrees in the north.
The country’s climate is influenced by the contrasts of its relief. If the Mediterranean climate prevails on the coast, then at a distance of several kilometers in the mountains, the continental one already dominates. The Dinaric Alps with the massifs of Orien (maximum height 1,895 m), Lovcen (1,794 m) and Rumia (1,593 m) protects the coastal areas from the influence of the continental climate.
In total, Montenegro has four climatic types with a variety of microclimatic varieties. These types basically coincide with the geomorphological areas – coastal, plateau, plain and high mountains. The diversity of the climate in such a small country allows you to combine seemingly completely incompatible types of recreation. For example, in May, when many people already open the swimming season, you can drive from the coast in 3-4 hours by car to the snow-covered slopes and go skiing.
The swimming season lasts from early May to mid-October. The average water temperature in summer is +25° C. The sea is surprisingly clean, the transparency of sea water is 30-55 meters deep. Salinity of water is 28 in the Bay of Kotor and 38% in the open sea. From west to east, the beaches smoothly transition from rocky to pebbly-sandy.
The monetary unit of Montenegro is the euro. Banks are open from 8:00 to 16:00, on Saturdays – from 8:00 to 13:00, Sunday is a day off. In the center of Podgorica, as well as in the resort areas of Montenegro, many currency exchange offices are open on weekends. In some shops and hotels in Montenegro, payment by Visa and Diners Club credit cards is possible.
Most shops are open from 7:00 to 22:00 from Monday to Friday, Sunday is closed.
Open markets are open from 6:00 to 15:00 Monday to Friday, closed on Sunday.
Kiosks and bakeries are open every day and seven days a week.
Almost all beaches in Montenegro are considered state property. According to the laws of Montenegro, no more than 50% of the beach can be filled with sunbeds. The rest is free for those who like to sunbathe on their towel or mat for free.
This means that on any beach you can choose or rent sunbeds and umbrellas, the cost varies from 6 to 20 euros per set, or you can stay for free.
The exceptions are individual beaches, such as Milocer Beach, where the rental of beach equipment is required and its cost is 50-100 euros. Also in the Bay of Kotor there are private beaches at private villas and apartments.
You can travel between the cities of Montenegro by bus. From the main bus stations of Budva, Tivat, Herceg Novi and other major coastal cities, you can get to any other city on the Montenegrin coast. There are also regular bus routes from the beaches of Jaz and Ploce to Petrovac.
Taxi fare: start 1 euro + 1 euro per km. A taxi in the city will cost about 3-5 euros. Estimated price between cities: Becici-Budva 6-7 euros, Sveti Stefan – Budva 10-15 euros. To avoid inflated taxi prices, always use official city taxi services. Their cars usually have a short phone number where you can order a car and a clearly marked price list in the car itself.
The traveler may, without notifying the customs authority, physically bring into Montenegro or take out of Montenegro cash in euros and/or other currencies for a total amount of up to 10,000 euros. A traveler with cash in the total amount of 10,000 euros or more must report this to the competent customs authority when entering/leaving Montenegro. The export of objects and things of historical and artistic value without special permission is prohibited.
A traveler entering Montenegro may carry with him a reasonable amount of medicines he needs for personal use or for a pet he is carrying for a maximum of 6 months.
The importation of pets is permitted if they are accompanied by a veterinary passport and an appropriate veterinary certificate for the non-commercial movement of pets issued by the official veterinarian of the exporting country.
Permitted amount of import of alcohol and cigars:
- 1 liter of alcohol and alcoholic beverages with an actual alcohol concentration of more than 22%;
- 2 liters of alcohol or alcoholic beverages with an actual alcohol concentration of not more than 22%;
- 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of smoking tobacco;
- 4 liters of wine;
- 2 liters of beer.
Ambulance – 124
Police – 122
Fire Department – 123
Road Assistance – 1340
Eurohelp – 1281
Clinical Center of Montenegro – 020 412 412
Hospital in Kotor – 032 325 602