Let’s discuss some practical information that may be useful for you during your stay in Montenegro as a tourist.
Visas
Montenegro is a candidate for entering the European Union. If you are a permanent resident of the European Union, the United States, or the United Kingdom (or have a valid visa of these countries), you can stay in Montenegro up to 30 days without any other special visas or documents.
Passport holders of other countries have either 30 days in Montenegro without a visa or 90 days over 180, so check the exact rules for your country.
Warning: there is a major update of the visa regime for many countries starting from November 1st, 2026 – so double-check the visa regime of your country.
Currency
Montenegro’s currency is euro. On the Adriatic coast, you can pay by card almost everywhere (except bakeries and some bus stations). But if you go to national parks like Durmitor or Prokletije, you’d better have some cash with you.
Rounding up or leaving 5–10% is normal and appreciated in restaurants but is not mandatory.
Entrance to National Parks
You pay to enter national parks (the exception is usually the days of national holidays like July 13). Here are the current prices:
Durmitor, Lake Skadar – 5,00 €
Biogradska Gora – 4,00 €
Lovćen, Prokletije – 3,00 €
You can buy an annual pass for entering all the national parks of Montenegro, valid for one calendar year, from January 1 to December 31. Its price is 13,50 €, so this can be a good deal if you plan to visit several national parks.
Besides national park entrances, these annual passes are available online on the official site Nacionalni parkovi Crne Gore. There is no need to print them. Just show your QR code at the entrance.
Tourist tax
During your stay in Montenegro as a tourist, you have to pay tourist tax, which is 1 euro per day for adults, 0.5 euro per day for teenagers 12-18 years old, and free of charge for children younger than 12 years old. If you stay in hotels, usually there is nothing to worry about. They will pay it automatically for you and print your confirmation. But if you need to pay it yourself for some reason, you should go to a Tourist Information point (they can be easily found in all cities and towns), tell them your name and address, and have this tax paid.
SIM cards and internet
There are three mobile operators in Montenegro: Telekom, Mtel, and One. It is convenient to buy a SIM card with a tourist prepaid option. For example, Telekom suggests tourist prepaid options for 7, 15, and 30 days. You can extend the tourist prepaid option if needed, and it includes phone calls, internet, and SMS. Alternatively, you can buy eSIM. Certainly, in hotels, cafes, and restaurants, you can use Wi-Fi almost everywhere.
If you plan to explore Montenegro’s national parks, especially the mountains, offline maps will be useful because there may be no stable Internet connection. A good example is Maps.me, these offline maps work well here.
Best time to visit Montenegro
When is the best time of the year to visit Montenegro? It is not easy to answer this question. Traditionally, July and August are considered to be the high season, perfect for beach rest or exploring mountains (Durmitor and Prokletije). During these months, the weather is predictable and stable. There is a minimal amount of rain, and the water is warm. And after all, it is a traditional vacation time! But on the other side, the Adriatic coast may be overcrowded, and the prices are definitely higher.
So it may make sense to prefer June and September for the beach rest, and April-June, September-October for all other activities. As for winter months, they are perfect for visiting Adriatic coast towns without crowds (perfect for visiting Kotor, Perast, Risan). Just take an umbrella and be ready for rain. And don’t forget about winter activities like skiing in Kolašin and Zabljak.
Is Montenegro safe?
Montenegro is a low-crime country, and the U.S. and most European governments rate it at their lowest travel-advisory level. Violent crime against visitors is rare, town centres like Kotor, Budva and Podgorica feel relaxed after dark, and solo and female travellers generally report feeling comfortable. The risks worth preparing for are practical ones: mountain roads, summer sun, fast-changing weather in the highlands, and the occasional overcharging taxi.
Here are the main emergency numbers in Montenegro, and I hope you won’t need them:
112 – single European emergency number (police, ambulance, fire; English usually spoken)
122 – police
123 – fire brigade
124 – ambulance
19807 – roadside assistance (Auto-Moto Association of Montenegro, AMSCG)