Black Mountain - Active Experiences & Cultural Journeys
through Montenegro & the Western Balkans
What is the official currency in Montenegro (and the Western Balkans)?
Montenegro's official currency is the EURO. Montenegro is not yet a member of the European Union, although it has applied for membership. However the Montenegrin government officially adopted the EURO as its official currency and all the prices shown on this website are in Euros, as are all the prices in the shops in Montenegro and the cash you will draw from banks and ATM machines.
Other regional currencies :
Albania - Lek
Bosnia and Hercegovin - Konvertible Mark (abbr. KM)
Croatia - Kuna (Croatia is an EU member but has not yet converted to the Euro as at February 2015)
Kosovo - Euro
Macedonia - Macedonia denar
Serbia - Dinar (abbr. RSD)
For current exchange rates click here www.xe.com
Which are the best regional airports for accessing Montenegro ?
Currently the best regional airport for accessing Montenegro is Dubrovnik's Cilipi airport which has the most frequent flights and connections to Western Europe and onwards from later March through until late October. In winter flights are infrequent and British Airways connects twice weekly with the UK. Croatian Airlines maintains at least 2 flights per day between Dubrovnik and Zagreb in winter with onward connections to major European hubs from Zagreb. In summer Easyjet has flights from Stansted and Gatwick to Dubrovnik along with a host of other British and Euopean airlines serving this busy summer hub.
Tivat aiport in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro is served with flights to and from Eastern European and Russian destinations and also by Montenegro airlines to London and other major European cities.
Montenegro's capital city Podgorica now has year round, (twice weekly in winter) Ryanair connections to the UK, as well as good connections via Turkish Airlines and its low cost carrier to Istanbul and onwards to the East.
Both Podgorica and Tivat airports are served daily by Montenegro Airlines and Air Serbia flights to and from Belgrade with onward connections throughout Western and Eastern Europe.
For clients travelling to Podgorica and the areas close to the Albanian border there are good connections through Tirana (2 hours drive from the Montenegrin border) and for clients heading to Montenegro's lower Tara canyon for rafting Sarajevo airport is 1.5 hours from the border at Scepan Polje.
What is Montenegro's climate ?
There are three climate zones in Montenegro: the coastal zone, the continental zone and the mountain zone.
The coastal zone, located on the Adriatic Sea and separated from the northern region by steep mountains, enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with long dry summers and short mild winters. Average July temperatures are 28ËšC with a highs in the 30ËšC and above range; average annual sunshine is over 2,500 hours with a summer average of ten hours a day. The winter average temperature is 9ËšC and rarely drops below freezing, but the northern 'bura' wind can be very cold. Both spring and autumn enjoy moderate temperatures but also heavy rainfalls concentrated over a short period. In some areas annual rainfall reaches 700mm.
Continental zone - The central plains region of Montenegro includes Lake Skadar and the Zeta and Bojana valleys and are generally warmer in summer than on the coast. Podgorica's average January temperature is 5ËšC and in July 28.5ËšC. The maximum ranges are 40ËšC with a minimum of -10ËšC.
Mountain zone - The highest mountainous area consists of peaks at 2,000 m and higher. The climate is sub-alpine with cold, snowy winters, up to 5 metres of snow in the mountains is not uncommon and some remote communities are regularly cut off during heavy snow. Moderate summers see an average of 270 hours of sunshine per month. Winter maximum temperatures are around 3ËšC with a low of around -8ËšC. In the summer months the ranges are typically from 23ËšC to 9ËšC. In mid summer visitors should take care to be prepared for cold evenings and pack accordingly.
Montenegro's coastal region, mountain resorts and borders are busiest in July and August during local and European school holidays. The shoulder season lasts from late April to the end of October and from January to March the mountain resorts are busy with skiers and visitors seeking snow adventures.
What are the main laws for driving in Montenegro
Montenegro drives on the right as per the rest of Europe. It is mandatory to drive with your headlights switched on at all times, including during daylight hours and bright sunshine. International driving licences are not required as long as you hold a photocard driving licence ID. There is a zero tolerance on alcohol, speaking or using a mobile phone while driving is forbidden and seatbelts must be worn at all times where fitted. Children under 8 years old should be seated in an appropriate baby / child seat or booster seat.
Police checks for speed and to check documentation are common. Carry your passport, driving licence and car documents (car's registration card / papers and insurance documents) on you at all times when driving. If bringing your own foreign registered car to Montenegro you will be required to purchase local, mandatory border insurance upon arrival at the border. The charge is around EUR1 per day with a minimum EUR 15 charge imposed.
*Please note all information given in this section has been checked but accuracy cannot be guaranteed and this is a guideline only. Local laws should always be checked and your car rental representative can assist.
Stores, Banks, Pharmacies, Opening Hours
Supermarkets and general retail stores work 7 days a week. most supermarkets are open from 06:00h or 07:00 until 22:00. Petrol stations typically work 06:00h to 24:00h. Banks are open from Monday - Friday from 08:00h or 08:30h until 15:00h usually and some banks also open Saturday mornings. ATMs are founds in all main towns and cities and at some petrol stations and supermarkets. Pharmacies open 6 days per week and in every main town there is always at least one pharmacy open on a Sunday. There are no restrictions on when alcohol can be sold, ID is required for minors.
Which language is spoken in Montenegro ?
The official language of Montenegro is Montenegrin. This language is derived from Serbo-Croatian and is essentially the same language with some grammar, letter and regional spelling and pronouciation differences. People from Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Montenegro can all easily make themselves understood to one another. Montenegro uses two alphabets - Cyrillic for official documents and Latinic for everyday use. In many places street name signs are indicated in both languages. Road signs are generally in latinic but in areas closer to Serbia may be found only in Cyrillic although they are mostly being upgraded to both alphabets. Some remoter villages and communities may only be signposted in Cyrillic. In schools children are taught to read and write in Cyrillic in the first two grades and then in third grade they learn to read and write Latinic. from that point onwards they choose which is more convenient from them although schooling continues in both alphabets.
Other official regional languages are :
Albania : Albanian
Bosnia and Hercegovina : Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian
Croatia : Croatian
Kosovo : Albanian and Serbian
Macedonia : Macedonian
Serbia : Serbian