Montenegro is a fantastic choice for a campervan or motorhome road trip— it’s packed with stunning landscapes, it is still a pretty affordable destination, and it offers a mix of beach lounging, nature experiences, and active holidays.
All in all, it’s a great destination for vanlife beginners. 🏖️🛶
This post focuses on practical Montenegro vanlife tips for this gorgeous Balkan country!
Pair this post with my detailed Montenegro road trip itinerary, where I share all the deets from our two-week Montenegro adventure with our van!
Don’t have time to read through this now? Save it to your Pinterest for later!
Table of Contents
ESSENTIAL MONTENEGRO VANLIFE TIPS
Alright, those are the must-know tips for campervan travel in Montenegro, along with frequently asked questions that we got about our Montenegro van trip.
THE BEST TIME FOR EXPLORING MONTENEGRO BY CAMPERVAN
So, when should you visit? For soaking up the sun on the beach and partying (if that’s your thing), the summer months are obviously the most popular.
But if you’re planning to explore the country by your campervan, I’d say June or September are the sweet spots. Montenegro is pretty mountainous, and snow can stick around in the highlands for a while, so keep that in mind if you’re visiting in spring.
We traveled through Montenegro at the end of April/beginning of May. While it was a lovely time to visit (fewer people and all), it was still too chilly for many outdoor sports— most of the hiking and mountain biking trails were still closed due to snow, and the sea was way colder than expected! 😅
If you’re planning to drive the famous P14 panoramic road (linking Žabljak and Plužine) or want to do some serious hiking, know the road and trails generally open at the end of May or early June.
So, while early May was beautiful, if you want to pack in some adventure and outdoor activities like Tara River Rafting or the Kotor Blue Cave boat tour, the summer months might be a better choice!
MONTENEGRO REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTERING THE COUNTRY WITH A CAMPERVAN / MOTORHOME
When entering Montenegro with your van, you’ll need to have these documents ready:
- Passport
- Driving license and vehicle registration documents
- Insurance documents
We had a huge “oh-sh*t” moment after we’d already hit the road DURING THE WEEKEND (when offices are closed) and realized we hadn’t checked if we needed a Green Card for Montenegro! 😆
First of all, if you’ve never heard of a Green Card (no, it’s not the same thing as the US Green Card 😉): this is an international certificate of third-party liability insurance providing proof that your car is minimally insured and doesn’t need separate insurance to enter the country.
Most European countries are part of the Green Card system, and multilateral agreements have been signed, which means your car’s registration plate is proof that your vehicle is insured. However, these agreements have not been signed with all the countries, and if your car is registered in one of the following countries, you’ll need to obtain the Green Card from your insurance provider and show it upon entering the country:
- Albania (AL)
- Azerbaijan (AZ)
- Belorussia (BY)
- Israel (IL)
- Iran (IR)
- Morocco (MA)
- Moldavia (MD)
- North Macedonia (MK)
- Russia (RUS)
- Tunis (TN)
- Turkey (TR)
- Ukraine (UA)
A NOTE: Even if you don’t need to have a Green Card with you while driving in Montenegro, we were told by many that having it makes communication easier in case of an accident since it contains all your vehicle and insurance info. So, if you don’t have your insurance policy saved somewhere easy to access (printed, email, Google Drive, etc.), it might still be a good idea to bring the Green Card along.
What about if your car is registered in a country that is not a part of the Green Card system?
No worries, you can obtain temporary car insurance for Montenegro at the border. To do this, you’ll need your ownership/registration papers and your current insurance.
You can read more info about entering Montenegro with foreign plates on this site.
BRINGING YOUR DOG TO MONTENEGRO
If you have a #vandog and you’re taking them on your Montenegro vanlife adventure, you’ll need to do a bit of extra paperwork in advance.
For fellow EU residents:
Aside from your pup’s EU passport, a microchip, and rabies vaccination proof, your dog will also need a rabies titer test that you need to show at the border when you return to the EU.
No one asked to check our dogs’ papers at the border, but I wouldn’t risk it! If you are checked and don’t have the titer test, your dog could be kept at the border for the duration of the quarantine!
Be sure to get the titer test done ahead of time, as your vet will need to send the blood sample to the official laboratory, and it takes at least a week to get the results.
The titer test is not cheap—around 100-120€ per dog—but it lasts a lifetime as long as you keep up with the rabies shots. And you’ll anyway need it also for entering several other countries (including Albania, for example), so it’s a no-brainer.
For non-EU residents
If you’re traveling to Montenegro with your dog from outside the EU, you’ll need to obtain an Animal Health Certificate that shows your dog’s microchip and vaccinations. This certificate must be issued by an official State vet in your country. The vaccinations need to be valid during your trip, so if needed, get a booster shot before obtaining the certificate!
If your dog hasn’t been vaccinated against rabies before, make sure to do it at least 21 days before entering Montenegro.
DRIVING REGULATIONS IN MONTENEGRO
When driving in Montenegro, you’ll encounter only a few toll roads.
Tolls are generally affordable, usually a couple of euros, and you can pay with cash or card at most toll stations.
As for speed limits, here’s what to keep in mind: in towns, the limit is usually 50 km/h, on open rural roads it’s 80 km/h, and on the rare motorways, it’s 100-120 km/h. Keep an eye out for speed cameras, especially along the coast—we’ve spotted quite a few!
I probably don’t need to tell you that you need to have your van lights on, and seatbelts are obligatory (duh!). The legal alcohol limit is 0.2 per mile.
Fines for minor violations (like slight speeding) are relatively low in Montenegro, but they can grow exponentially depending on the seriousness of the offense. So, make sure to obey traffic rules to avoid any hefty fines that might catch you by surprise.
ROAD CONDITIONS AND DRIVING IN MONTENEGRO
Most of Montenegro’s main roads are pretty new, wide, and well-maintained, so you don’t need to worry about driving with a large rig. There aren’t any specific vehicle size or weight restrictions in general, but make sure to double-check before entering any narrow street by the coast so that you don’t get stuck.
However, things change a bit on some scenic roads or mountain passes—some can be a bit rougher, and you might encounter gravel roads here and there, especially in the hillier areas.
These roads, in particular, can be a bit nerve-wracking:
- The steep and narrow road from Kotor up to Lovćen with its famous hairpin bends (there are 25 of them!). Be ready to use your reverse-driving skills when necessary!
- The jaw-dropping P14 road through the mountains of Durmitor.
- The scenic but challenging P16 road along Skadar Lake, which offers jaw-dropping views but also has some seriously narrow, winding sections where two larger vehicles can barely pass each other. You will meet other vehicles often because there are villages down near the lake and that’s the only road leading to them – and the local drivers are fast and fearless! If you’re not an experienced driver, then P16 might be a bit too much for you – I was sweating by the end, and I wasn’t even driving. But I still think it was totally worth it!
As for the driving manners elsewhere, be prepared for a bit of creative driving. Locals can be a bit impatient on the road, with some occasional reckless overtaking or tailgating, especially on coastal roads. Just keep your cool and take it slow.
Summer brings lots of traffic on the coastal roads, so plan your driving times accordingly.
And don’t be surprised if you run into snow in the mountains outside of the peak season!
IS MONTENEGRO SAFE FOR CAMPERVAN TRAVEL?
Would you believe this is the question we got asked the most? And yes, we found Montenegro to be safer and way more van-friendly than Croatia, for example.
Of course, safety is a personal feeling, and bad luck can strike anywhere, but we found Montenegro more authentic and welcoming for van life. The only places where I’d be a bit cautious about theft would be Podgorica and Budva since bigger cities and tourist hubs tend to have more crime – but this is the advice to follow in any country you visit.
If you’re planning to wild camp, I’d recommend avoiding arriving at a location in the dark so you can check it out. Just trust your gut when choosing a spot, and you’ll be fine.
WILD CAMPING IN MONTENEGRO
More and more people are choosing wild camping, and we’re no exception. For us, it’s not really about saving money (I mean, the math kinda stopped mathing when we bought a new Sprinter 4×4 and converted it to a campervan 😂) but about finding those peaceful, remote spots. 🌲 No people, please, thank you 😀
Officially, wild camping isn’t allowed in Montenegro.
However, as with many things here, the rules are… flexible.
As long as you’re discreet and don’t park up in the middle of a tourist hub or right next to a campsite, wild camping is wildly tolerated.
In fact, vanlife in Montenegro reminded me of the one we experienced in Patagonia – wild beauty, plenty of spaces to spend the night, and van travel – friendly locals!
CAMPSITES IN MONTENEGRO
There are many campsites in Montenegro, most of them located along the coast.
You’ll also find a few inland, particularly near the national parks, and even one in Podgorica.
Not all are listed on official websites (like avtokampi.si, a site listing campsites in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Italy); Google is your best friend when searching for even more options.
We stayed in campsites twice during our two-week trip: once by the Bay of Kotor and once in Ulcinj (the southernmost point of Montenegro) by the beach.
And we were officially(!) allowed to spend the night inside Prokletije National Park!
The quality of campsites varies widely—from barely passable to ones with all the amenities you need for a good camping experience.
Don’t expect 5-star luxury like you might find in northern Croatia, though. ☺ On the plus side, many places still let you choose your own spot, which gives off those old-school camping vibes.
Camping in Kotor: Autocamp Naluka (Lovely grassy pitches, well-maintained amenities, and the possibility to buy freshly baked bread every morning!)
Camping in Ulcinj: Safari Beach Camping
PARKING IN MONTENEGRO
Parking isn’t usually a problem in Montenegro, even if you’re traveling with a larger vehicle like a campervan or motorhome.
Sure, parking in the heart of coastal towns can be a bit of a challenge (during the high season), but we found plenty of parking available elsewhere.
In tourist areas, you can also use the parking spots designated for buses, so if all else fails, try there.
Parking fees are generally low (or free!), and you’ll either pay at a kiosk or parking meter.
*We also spent a night at a parking lot near the old town of Kotor (15 EUR / 24h during the low season). The views were WOW!
GETTING FRESH WATER FOR YOUR CAMPER
Getting fresh water for cooking or washing is easy in Montenegro —most gas stations and campsites have it.
However, I’d recommend bringing a hose to fill your water tank, as not all campsites have them.
Unless otherwise noted, you can drink tap water in Montenegro, which is good to know if you’re planning to stay off the grid for a while!
However, if you’re in doubt in any specific area, you can carry with you a water filter just in case.
DISPOSING OF GREY AND BLACK WATER
Now, this is where things get a little trickier.
Finding places to empty your wastewater or chemical toilet in Montenegro isn’t always the easiest thing on your “van chores to-do list”.
Many places don’t know what you’re asking for and might point you to a random corner to dump your wastewater (awkward, right?). Or, the campsite has a station for disposing of grey water, but not black water – we were told to empty the chemical toilet there too, but that felt weird, so we used the bathroom facilities instead.
We use only biodegradable products in our van (for washing the dishes, showering, etc.), but it still felt wrong when employees at gas stations told us to dump our wastewater on the side of the road next to a gas station. 😬
Once, we asked if we could empty our chemical toilet in the gas station bathroom. The staff were totally fine with it, but let’s just say there was a lot of laughter about the smell! 😂
My advice: plan ahead and stay in a campsite when you know you’ll need to empty your grey and black water tanks.
REFILLING / EXCHANGING PROPANE TANKS
Refilling or exchanging propane tanks can sometimes be a bit tricky (We once spent two days searching for a proper propane tank in Ireland that would fit our rented Indie Campervan!), so now we use a gas level sensor and usually travel with a spare tank.
Not all gas stations in Montenegro will have the option to exchange or refill your propane tank, but you’ll have more luck on bigger stations by the coast or in/around Podgorica (the capital). The Park4night app is also useful for finding gas stations that offer this service!
If you want to refill and you’re using specific European fittings, make sure you have the right adapters, as propane tanks can vary between countries.
INTERNET IN MONTENEGRO
Montenegro isn’t part of the EU, so data roaming can get extremely expensive (for EU travelers).
While most cafes and restaurants offer Wi-Fi, if you need to stay connected most* of the time, I recommend buying a local SIM card as soon as you arrive in the first town.
*I say most, because in mountains or national parks, you might have low or zero connectivity.
We went with One and got two SIM cards with 500GB of data each (valid for 15 days) for 15€ per card. Plenty of data to keep you connected!
There’s another solution I’ve been using lately on my trips: an eSIM. It saves me the hassle of hunting down local providers and is super easy to set up and top up. You can purchase it online before your trip, and it’s activated instantly when you arrive, which makes staying connected even more convenient.
MONEY IN MONTENEGRO
Guess which currency they use in Montenegro? Euros!
Yep, even though Montenegro isn’t in the EU, they use the euro as their official currency (kind of like how El Salvador uses the US dollar).
In most tourist areas, cities, and along the coast, credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are widely accepted in restaurants, shops, and gas stations.
However, smaller villages, local markets, and some more remote places might only accept cash.
ATMs are easy to find in towns and tourist hubs (look for NLB or Sparkasse), but if you’re heading into the mountains or planning to explore off-the-beaten-path areas, it’s a good idea to stock up on cash before you go.
Note: Some places may charge a small fee for card transactions, so it might be cheaper to pay with cash.
COST OF A CAMPERVAN TRIP IN MONTENEGRO
Montenegro’s campsites are generally affordable, with restaurant prices along the coast being comparable to many European destinations and fuel costs staying fairly standard.
While the days of super-cheap travel in the Balkans may be behind us, Montenegro still offers great value for vanlife travelers, especially compared to pricier spots in Western Europe.
Here’s a breakdown of our expenses for our two-week road trip for two people (and we ate in local restaurants often, because – Balkan food!🤤) :
- Fuel*: 398€
- Tolls*: 74€
- Internet: 30€
- Campsites: 112€
- Coffee/Beer: 23€
- Groceries: 164€
- Restaurants: 161€
- Parking: 6€
- Activities: 80€
- National Park Fees: 62€
- Miscellaneous (like rakija, olive oil, park maps): 66€
*These also include expenses for fuel and tolls from and back to Slovenia!
Looking for activity ideas to include in your Montenegro van trip? These are my recommendations for outdoorsy / adventurous things to try in Montenegro:
- Rafting Adventure on the Tara River
- Canyoning in Nevidio in Durmitor National Park
- Kotor Bay Paragliding
- Coasteering Excursion in Herceg Novi
- Blue Cave Boat Tour in Kotor Bay
- E-bike tour in Durmitor National Park
- Mountain e-bike tour in Kolašin
OTHER MONTENEGRO VANLIFE TIPS
SHOWERS
If your van doesn’t come with a shower (or you just want a proper scrub), worry not! Most campsites and some gas stations have hot water showers, though quality can vary (think “rustic charm” 😅). Or, go full van-life pro and grab a portable solar shower for those off-grid adventures.
LAUNDRY
If you’re doing laundry on the road, your best bet is either larger campsites or laundry facilities in bigger towns like Podgorica, Kotor, or Budva. We only needed to wash our laundry once (we did it at a campsite in Ulcinj), and in between, we hand-washed a few things.
FUEL AVAILABILITY
You’ll find plenty of gas stations along Montenegro’s main roads and in cities. But if you’re heading into more remote areas or national parks, fuel stops can get a bit more rare. Top off your tank before any longer mountain drives.
EMERGENCY CONTACTS
For actual emergencies, these are the go-to numbers:
- 112 – Your all-in-one emergency number (works for police, fire, and medical help in Montenegro).
- 122 – Police
- 123 – Fire department
- 124 – Ambulance
For roadside assistance, call these numbers:
- 19807 – 24-hour help if your van decides to take a break.
- 1340 – Another reliable roadside assistance option.
COMMON MONTENEGRIN WORDS & EXPRESSIONS FOR VAN TRAVELERS
- Zdravo (ZDRAH-voh) – Hello
- Do viđenja (DOH vee-DJEN-yah) – Goodbye
- Dobar dan (DOH-bar dahn) – Good day
- Laku noć (LAH-koo no-ch) – Good night
- Molim (MOH-leem) – Please
- Hvala (HVAH-lah) – Thank you
- Pomoć! (POH-moh-ch) – Help!
- Izvinite (EEZ-vee-nee-teh) – Excuse me / Sorry
- Da (Dah) – Yes
- Ne (Neh) – No
- Kamp (Kahmp) – Campsite
- Struja (STROO-yah) – Electricity
- Bankomat (BAHN-koh-maht) – ATM
- Benzinska pumpa (BEN-zeen-skah POOM-pah) – Gas station
- Imate li propan? (EE-mah-teh lee proh-PAHN) – Do you have propane?
- Da li ovde ima tuševa? (Dah lee OHV-deh EE-mah TOO-sheh-vah) – Are there showers here?
- Gde mogu da napunim vodu? (G-deh MOH-goo dah NAH-poo-neem VOH-doo) – Where can I fill up water?
- Gde mogu da ispraznim vodu? (G-deh MOH-goo dah ees-PRAHZ-neem VOH-doo) – Where can I empty water? (For grey water)
- Gde mogu da operem veš? (G-deh MOH-goo dah OH-peh-rem vesh) – Where can I wash clothes?
- Koliko košta? (KOH-lee-koh KOH-sh-tah) – How much does it cost?
- Gde je… (G-DEH yeh…) – Where is…
- Gde je WC? (G-DEH yeh veh-tseh) – Where is the bathroom?
- Račun, molim (RAH-choon, MOH-leem) – The bill, please
- Voda (VOH-dah) – Water
- Pivo (PEE-voh) – Beer
- Hrana (HRAH-nah) – Food
Think I missed anything? Want to ask anything else? Drop me a comment below! 😊
