How to get to Montenegro on your own and have a good rest?

Travel to foreign resorts usually takes place with the help of professional tour operators. But experienced tourists, unlike beginners, no longer need such support. Therefore, it is useful to know how to come without help to the same Montenegro, and what to do on the spot after arrival.

Heading to Montenegro is no less pleasant than to Turkey, Greece or other recognized resort. Its landscapes look similar to the vastness of Switzerland, because it is also a mountainous country. But before you arrive there on your own and enjoy the natural, cultural delights, it is important to decide at what time it is better to hit the road. To begin with, climatic conditions in different parts of the Balkan country can vary greatly:

• in the coastal strip, the weather develops according to the Mediterranean type;
• in the mountains, of course, there was a mountainous climate;
• the northern part of the country has a moderate continental climate.

It is always a little colder in the middle of Montenegro than by the sea. Nevertheless, it is believed that the conditions in the country are generally conducive to recreation at any time of the year. The peak season naturally occurs during the summer months. Then the beaches are overflowing with foreign tourists who also swim. From June to August, Montenegro can please:

• beach connoisseurs;
• fans of excursions;
• fishermen;
• passionate about rafting, yachting and other water sports.

In September, the weather is still relatively good. But from September 15, approximately, it begins to deteriorate. And in October, the velvet season ends completely. Until the end of March, rest on the beach will be impossible.Partly compensation can be a visit to ski resorts and excursions. From late autumn to mid-spring, the number of people using excursion programs is small, and their prices are decreasing.

Montenegro stands out for its rare concentration of ancient monuments, even for a European country "with history". Quite a few of them have earned increased protection from the government and UNESCO.

But even when choosing beach activities, it is not indifferent to which summer month travelers set off on the road. So, in June, the air warms up to +21 degrees Celsius during the day. Bathing allows you to cheer up and improve tone. The advantage is that the sun does not exhaust people, and you can lie on the beaches for a long time. But for trips with children, July or August is much better suited.

The air temperature confidently reaches +26.30 degrees Celsius. You can stay calmly in the water for hours at a time. However, prolonged sun exposure without protective compounds can harm the skin.

Regardless of the time of departure and the method of travel, it is helpful to know what documents are required. A visa to Montenegro is not required if the total time of stay in the country is declared for a maximum of 30 days in a row. At the same time, the longest period of the presence of Russians within six months cannot exceed 180 days. If tourists fit into this framework, they only need to show a foreign passport. It must be valid for at least 90 days from the date when the departure back is planned.

Going to Montenegro for 31 days in a row or more or 91 days or more within six months, it is advisable to make a visa in advance. The application must be submitted at least one month before arrival in the country. To apply for visas, you will have to provide:

• a copy of a foreign passport;
• personal application;
• a questionnaire;
• hotel reservation (or a lease agreement for an apartment / private house / villa / apartment);
• duplicate airline tickets;
• certificate from the place of work (option - a bank statement confirming the presence of at least 20 euros on the account for each scheduled day);
• a couple of color photographs.

The visa fee for adults is 62 euros. For 1 child, they pay 32 euros (according to Montenegrin law, children are considered citizens up to 14 years old). If you are going to stay not in a hotel, but in private accommodation, you will have to register with the divisions of the national tourism organization. The period during which registration usually has to be made is 1 day. But those who come to Budva may not register if they live there for no more than 72 hours.

Important: the same lists are drawn up in the police departments, more precisely, in their departments for working with foreigners. You can safely go there too. In hotels, sanatoriums, boarding houses and other organized places of leisure, the registration is carried out by the managers.

In order not to constantly look for where to turn, you need to use resources Compare. ru or Cherehapa. These sites will compare prices for offers from all major insurance companies at once. Therefore, the choice of the appropriate option is simplified to a minimum.

To travel by car you need to have:

• driver's license;
• confirmation of vehicle registration;
• insurance for a green card format car;
• hotel reservations or confirmation of other places of check-in;
• passports with a Schengen visa (without it, you cannot travel through the countries included in this agreement);
• a pre-planned route (of which the migration authorities should be aware).

Travel fees to Montenegro are relatively low. The first thing to consider is the cost of renting a home. The maximum rate is typical for large resort areas. So, in Ulcinj it is impossible to rent hotel rooms for less than 16 euros. A trip to Zabljak is a little more profitable: they pay at least 14 euros per day there.

For an independent visit to Montenegro, it is quite possible to use the apartments. There are kitchens where it is easy to prepare your own food. It will be possible to find an apartment in Budva at a price of 30 euros per day. The most expensive apartment offers are on the island of Sveti Stefan. You can spend one day there for at least 500 euros; while on the isthmus connecting the island with the continent, housing rates start at 40 euros.

An important role in saving money is played by the right choice of catering establishments. The most popular cafes and restaurants naturally raise prices for their services. So, in an inexpensive cafe you will have to pay 5 euros for lunch, and you can have dinner for two together there for about 40 euros. You can buy 0.5 liters of beer in bars for 2.2 euros, a portion of cappuccino costs at least 1.7 euros. Payment for products (on average across markets and stores in the country) will be:

• grapes - 1.5;
• figs - 2;
• oranges 0.7;
• potatoes 0.6;
• tomatoes 0.6;
• milk 0.8;
• bread 0.6;
• chicken fillet 5.8 euros.

When eating in a budget cafe 3 times a day per day, you need to plan an expense of at least 21 euros. In mid-range restaurants, the rate rises to at least 35 euros. Considering the experience of serious travelers, it is beneficial to eat at establishments that offer set menus. It implies simple (acceptable to all) and at the same time satisfying food. These are the dishes that Montenegrins themselves most often prefer.

In local fast food establishments, the cost of meals is relatively low. So, you will have to pay 1.5 euros for a portion of Pleskavitsa pizza. The fee for a crepe with cream will be 1 euro, and for a sandwich containing cheese and meat - double the amount.

The cost of renting a car will have to be added to the cost of gasoline. Its liter at Montenegrin gas stations costs about 1.4 euros. For comparison: you can order a taxi for euros, and for each kilometer its passengers pay 45 euro cents. Using public transport, 50 euro cents are paid for a ticket.

Renting a detached one-room apartment in the center of a city, you will have to pay at least 240 euros per month. In the outskirts of cities, the same objects are rented out for 190-200 euros. If we proceed from the use of budget hotels, minimal spending on transport and visiting economy-class cafes, travelers will need from 45 euros per day. But it is useful to take into account that this is only the minimum amount, and it is displayed as a guideline.

Almost everyone needs extra entertainment or unique delicacies; therefore, for a comfortable trip, it is worth adding at least 20-25 euros to the indicated daily figure.

Going to travel around Montenegro on its own for the first time, you should definitely go to Budva. All other resorts of the country can be left "for later", but Budva, indeed, requires primary attention. There are many canyons and other beauties around the city that deserve the brush of a painter. The most elegant of all is the Budva Riviera - the gap between Budva itself and the town of Petrovac.

The second place where you should definitely look is Bucha castlelocated in the middle of Tivat. When visiting this city, a tour of the castle is suitable both as a beginning and as a culmination. The old fortress houses a cultural center that organizes a variety of events. The appearance of the castle was developed in accordance with the principles of the architecture of the classical Middle Ages. But it has separate parts that were completed or redone later.

Returning to Budva, it is worth pointing out that the old part of this city is definitely suitable for tourists. TYou will find brilliant examples of buildings from the Venetian period. In old churches and temples, rich compositions are everywhere. After passing through the stone-covered streets of the city, it is very pleasant to relax in a cafe where delicious and aromatic coffee is prepared.

And from Budva it is worth leaving for the southwestern part of the country, to Mount Lovcen, which has become one of the main symbols of Montenegro. A national park of the same name is located near the mountain. Rest in this place can be combined with acquaintance with vegetation and fauna, including rare species, with an inspection of beautiful caves.

If tourists have chosen the Tivat area, they should look at island of St. Mark. True, the tourist complex built there has been abandoned since the beginning of the Yugoslav war. But connoisseurs of outdoor activities often come to the island.

Of the individual attractions of Montenegro, mentioned in any travel guide, deserves special attention Prison. It is very much appreciated by pilgrims - after all, this monastery, although not the oldest in the country, is extremely famous in certain circles. The monastery also has caves in which the clergy took refuge in ancient times. The upper part of the complex is built right inside the rocks and is raised about 1 km above sea level.

The easiest way to get to Montenegro from Russia without a ticket is by plane. Seats on liners departing from Moscow cost from 10,000 rubles. Departure from St. Petersburg is more expensive, the ticket costs at least 17,000. Going on the road from other regional centers of our country, you will have to pay at least 20 thousand rubles for a trip by air. Therefore, tours are more profitable.

Alternative option - travel by train... In the recent past, this option was very popular. The point is to change the route: now trains do not go through Kiev. From Moscow they go to Minsk, then to Warsaw, Bratislava, Budapest. Therefore, you will have to spend about 70 hours in the carriage, in addition, passengers pay a hefty amount.

Important: regardless of the type of transport, for a short (up to 30 days) trip, you can do without a visa. If tourists leave from Moscow, then they should go through countries such as:

• Belarus;
• Poland;
• Slovakia;
• Hungary;
• Serbia.

Of course, you can think of more intricate routes. However, this will only significantly lengthen the travel time and greatly tire, in addition, the costs will rise. It takes three days to get from Moscow to Montenegro by car along the described route. To do this, you will have to make two intermediate stops for the night. Usually they are made in Lublin, as soon as the border control passes, and in Budapest.

You can make your trip more comfortable by stopping again in Minsk. Depending on the characteristics of the car, on the road situation and on the personal characteristics of driving, gasoline will have to spend from 300 to 330 euros one way.

Traveling to Montenegro, as you can easily see, is quite easy. Highways in this country are still available without paying a fare.You will have to pay only at the entrance to the Sozin tunnel (for cars, the rate is 2 euros 50 cents). There are a number of areas on the roads where you can safely enjoy the panoramic views. Or take photographs.

It is also pleasant to travel to Montenegro by car because there are some of the mildest parking rules in the EU. It is impossible to stop just like that only under prohibitive signs and in paid zones. Naturally, paid sites are concentrated near attractions and in city centers. Motorists can solve the problem by stopping a little further. A few hundred meters traveled have not hurt anyone yet.

It is advisable to choose hotels and apartments that offer free private parking. There you can easily leave your car for any time, and walk around the neighborhood or have fun without thinking about it. The basic driving rules in Montenegro do not differ significantly from their Russian counterpart. In populated areas, you cannot move faster than 50 kilometers per hour. On unpaved roads they drive at a speed of up to 90, and on asphalt roads - up to 100 km / h.

The most modern highways can be driven at speeds of up to 130 kilometers. But the list of such roads must be clarified in advance. For turning off the dipped beam (regardless of the time of day), a fine of 30-150 euros is imposed. Absolutely all passengers must be fastened. The rules do not allow children under 12 years old to travel in the front seats.

To avoid being harassed by the traffic police, you should always have a standard first aid kit, a fire extinguisher and an emergency stop sign with you. You can get out of the car only with a reflective vest. This piece of clothing should be inside the cabin, preferably in a conspicuous place. In Montenegro, punishments are made for the use of any device that helps bypass radar control. Riding studded tires is prohibited in principle.

But not only Moscow drivers go to the Balkans, and it would be snobbery to be guided only by them. For people going on the road, for example, from Voronezh or through it, the path will be different. They have to travel about 2720 km, spending 33-35 hours on the road. They leave for Montenegro mainly in order to enjoy a beach vacation. There are various coastal sites, but with rare exceptions they are well sheltered from the wind.

Since the main beach facilities are oversaturated with tourists from half of July to half of September, it is recommended to go from May 20 to July 15. But we must remember that then the sea may not yet warm up enough.

It will take 36-38 hours to overcome it. This consumes from 240 to 270 liters of fuel. On the way, motorists will have to pass through the following main points:

• Orsha;
• Borisov;
• Baranovichi;
• Slonim;
• Volkovysk;
• Bialystok;
• Captains;
• Neboruv;
• Ostrava;
• Tršice;
• Brno;
• Drasenhofen;
• Vein;
• Graz;
• Galgovo (Slovenia);
• Budva itself.

The main part of the attractions of Montenegro is concentrated in the coastal zone. Therefore, the maximum flow of tourists rushes there. Budva is recommended for youth holidays, for family travelers. This city is also suitable for those who are going to explore the whole country. The city is located almost in the center of the Adriatic coast, and it is not difficult to get from it to the most remote corners. The infrastructure in this place is very well developed.

But the problem is that there is too much demand for housing in Budva. You either have to pay a lot of money, or look for a suitable option for a long time. Beach holidays are also more expensive here. In addition, Budva is often noisy.

A visit to Herceg Novi will appeal to a considerable part of the youth audience. Those who want to improve their health also come here. In this area of ​​the country there are many opportunities for mountain tourism and cave trekking. Herceg Novi is clearly divided into areas for vacationers with different interests and inclinations.

It is worth staying in Kotor if:

• you need to get to know the local bay;
• there is a desire to visit the nearby Riviera;
• I want to touch the old city buildings.

Arriving here by car, you don't have to worry about the location of the city in the depths of the bay and the rarity of buses. But it should be borne in mind that the chance of finding free parking is very small. In the old part of the city, the prices in cafes are very high, there are no specific entertainment for children. Since around the mountain, darkness comes early. And there are no beaches in the city itself.

Staying in Tivat, you can easily get to anywhere in Montenegro quickly. An excellent cultural program awaits vacationers at this resort. But the city is not very large and does not abound with retail outlets. There are only "few" - beaches, travel agencies, entertainment, cafes, souvenir shops. At the same time, the cost of housing is not the lowest, even by Montenegrin standards.

It is important not only to correctly plan the route and choose the end point of the trip, not only to determine the range of attractions to visit. To relax in Montenegro safely and pleasantly, you should listen to the opinions of experienced tourists. They strongly recommend not to neglect the requirements of the registration regime. The likelihood of facing sanctions is small, but if they do happen, the consequences are inevitable. It is useful, even while living in a hotel, to additionally clarify whether the data was actually transferred to the registration service.

Despite its reputation as a safe country, it is important to understand that in Montenegro, as elsewhere, tourists attract criminals of all stripes. Many crooks come from other countries for petty theft. Therefore, complete relaxation is undesirable. Visiting wilderness can be dangerous. It is not recommended to go there alone, especially in the mountains.

Experts advise having euros in cash, and ideally a small denomination. Bank cards are deliberately not accepted by taxi drivers, sellers in the markets. You cannot pay with them even in shops and restaurants located in the north or in remote mountains. But you can find NLB ATMs, where ruble cards are cashed in euros, and where the menu is in Russian.

They also advise:

• plan more time for sightseeing;
• refuse to drink tap water;
• handle money carefully and not show it publicly;
• be ready for inspection at the Serbo-Montenegrin border.

For information on how to get from Moscow to Montenegro by car, see the next video.