Early this month my family and I went on a holiday to Montenegro. It is not one of the popular tourist destinations in the world as not many know about Montenegro.
We traveled by direct Fly Dubai flight from Dubai to Tivat in Montenegro. It took us approximately 5 hours 50 minutes. Currently there are 2 flights per week from Dubai to Montenegro.
Resident visa holders of UAE do not require a Visa for up to 10 days if they hold a proof of accommodation and return tickets. We just spent 5-10 minutes at the passport control and the whole process went swiftly.
Travel during Pandemic
Tourists need to show a negative PCR test taken 72 hours in advance and it is compulsory. Additionally if you have a COVID-19 vaccination certificate you can carry it but not necessary or compulsory. No quarantine on arrival, you must wear masks in public and follow social distance guidelines. Please check for the latest official travel guidelines to Montenegro before planning your holiday, as these guidelines are constantly being revised based on the pandemic situation. While returning to Dubai, we also had to take a PCR test 72 hours in advance and show the negative results to take the flight back home. We got the PCR test done in a private clinic in Tivat.
About Montenegro
Located in Southeastern Europe, Montenegro is a Balkan country and it was part of former Yugoslavia. It shares borders with Serbia, Croatia, Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina and Kosovo.
Podgorica is the administrative capital and largest city. With breathtaking coastline, majestic mountains and lush greenery, Montenegro is a beautiful country.
On our 5 day visit to Montenegro, we stayed in the coastal city of Tivat or Porto Montenegro and explored the other parts of the country.
What is the best time to visit Montenegro?
The best time of the year for a trip to Montenegro is the period from May to October. It gets very hot in July and August. During our visit in early August, the weather was very hot in the day and pleasant in the evenings.
Where to stay?
Whether it is luxury or budget hotels, Montenegro has many options. We stayed in the luxurious and beautiful La Roche Boutique Hotel with stunning views of the Boka Bay in Tivat/Porto Montenegro.
Getting Around
Montenegro has public transport like buses, trains, boats and taxis. It is a good idea to hire a car or motorcycle. We mostly took taxis and minivan with a guide for tourist related activities.
Things to do and see in Montenegro
We stayed in Tivat for 4 nights and 5 days and explored Tivat on our own and various parts of Montenegro with a tourist company.
The first day we arrived from Dubai early in the evening and after checking in to our hotel, we walked on the shores of Boka Bay and had dinner at a lovely restaurant with beach views. It was a wonderful experience to walk around the lively and happening area.
On day 2, we went on North Montenegro, Durmitor, Tara and Ostrog Tour. It was an exhausting 15 hours and 450kms trip where we covered 2/3rds of Montenegro. Our guide stopped at amazing places for breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks.
The trip was scenically beautiful with mountains and lakes in the north. We got to see coastal, central and northern Montenegro. The Tara Bridge, Slano Lake, Durmitor National Park and Ostreg Monastery were fabulous. We also did Zipline across Tara river and it was a memorable experience.
Day 3 was a relaxed day and we got up late and enjoyed a laidback breakfast and then took a taxi to Kotor. From Kotor we took a boat tour to Lady of the Rock, Mamula Island, Submarine Tunnel and Blue Cave.
We stopped over at the man-made Lady of the Rock Island and visited the church. The highlight of this trip was the submarine tunnel and snorkeling time at Blue Cave. After the boat trip we explored Kotor on our own and spent a lot of time in Kotor Old Town. After dinner in Kotor, we took a taxi back to our hotel in Tivat/Porto Montenegro.
On day 4 we took a private tour to Perast, Kotor and Budva. This trip was different from the other trips as we got to visit historic and old towns, beautiful cities, monuments and churches.
The tiny town of Perast has jaw dropping views and romantic restaurants. We had a delicious lunch there. Next stop was Kotor and this time we had a guided tour. The Kotor old town is rich in history and architecture. We visited the museums, galleries, churches and also managed to shop for souvenirs.
Last stop was Budva, a town in Adriatic sea. It is known for sandy beaches and night life. We visited the Budva Riviera and the historic medieval old town.
The last day or day 5 was a relaxed day at the hotel and we went around Porto Montenegro and had a great lunch at one of the nice venues. And after that it was time to head over to the airport to catch a flight back home.
Overall we enjoyed our trip to Montenegro. We especially enjoyed the Kotor old town, nature, mountains and the coastline. Montenegro is good for one time visit!
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