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Travelling from Dubrovnik to Montenegro? Whether you take a bus, drive in a car or hop on the ferry, these are the best ways of travelling between the two!
Often referred to as the Pearl of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik is well-known for its fabulous architecture and the historic old centre. This is where you’ll lose hours walking around cobblestone alleyways, popping into little boutique shops or having a glass of wine in the Old Town Square.
One of my favorite things to do here is going for a walk along the top of the city’s medieval walls and enjoying spectacular views of the Dalmatian coast. Honestly, the views are some of my favourite in all of Croatia, they’re that beautiful.
Also, if you’re a fan of Game of Thrones (who isn’t, right?), Dubrovnik is the setting for King’s Landing. This means you’ll be walking home one evening and suddenly realise you’re basically in a film set. That’s exactly what happened to me.
Although this UNESCO World Heritage Site has plenty to offer, there are loads of incredible day trips from Dubrovnik well worth looking at. And a few of my favourites are to Montenegro, a country I absolutely love.
I’ve traveled from Dubrovnik to Montenegro a bunch of times over the years, and the trip between these two destinations is incredibly easy.
So, if you want to know how to get from Dubrovnik to Montenegro then keep on reading. I’ll go into all the different options and what’s best for you.
If you’re travelling to Montenegro at some point, then make sure you check out my guide to the best boutique hotels in Montenegro. These are some of the best places to stay in the country!
Contents:
How far is Montenegro from Dubrovnik?
Firstly, it’s good to know how far you’re travelling.
The border at Montenegro is only 45 kms from Dubrovnik. This takes about an hour to drive. However, as you’re probably not staying at the border, here are some of the most popular places to visit in Montenegro.
- Dubrovnik to Tivat – 70 km (2 hours to drive)
- Dubrovnik to Kotor – 92 km (2 hours to drive)
- Dubrovnik to Budva – 94 km (2.5 hours to drive)
Taking the bus from Dubrovnik to Montenegro
One of the best options of getting from Croatia to Montenegro is by bus.
All bus lines depart from the main bus station in Dubrovnik. This is next to the ferry terminal and is about 3 km from the Old Town.
The bus terminal is fairly modern so if you need to pick up snacks and drink for the journey then you’ll be able to do so there. You can also buy Croatian sim cards if you’re just coming into Croatia (pretty handy if you’re travelling around the area lots and aren’t from the EU).
There are a couple of departures daily from Dubrovnik to popular places in Montenegro like Kotor, Budva, and Herceg Novi. The bus ride takes between 2 and 3 hours depending on your destination in Montenegro. Here are the rough bus times:
First Stop: Dubrovnik to Herceg Novi, Montenegro – 1.5 hours
Second Stop: Dubrovnik to Kotor, Montenegro – 2 hours
Final Stop: Dubrovnik to Budva, Montenegro – 3.5 hours
Also, a lot of it depends on how long the border crossing takes. Sometimes you can get struck at immigration and it can take a lot longer, so make sure you bear that in mind.
For those of you who are travelling from Dubrovnik airport to Montenegro by bus, unfortunately there’s no direct route as of yet. First you’ll have to go to the main bus station in Dubrovnik and then travelling on the above bus from there.
Dubrovnik to Kotor
I often travel from Dubrovnik to Kotor by bus and the ride usually lasts between 1h 45 min and 3 hours. I know that’s a huge difference but as I said, the border crossing can take a lot of time.
Also, travelling in peak season when thousands of tourists flock to Montenegró for their summer vacation means busy roads and traffic jams. Unfortunately I’ve sat in a queue at the border more times than I’d to remember.
A one-way adult ticket from Dubrovnik to Kotor ranges from €15 to €20 and companies like Croatia Bus and Bozur have several buses per day.
For timetable and bus ticket prices, please visit Omio:
You can also go on a tour to Kotor which includes all transfers and guides, so this is another fantastic option too.
Dubrovnik to Herceg Novi
Looking for one of the most popular Dubrovnik day trips around? Then look no further than Herceg Novi.
Herceg Novi is the closest city to the Croatia/Montenegro border and it can be reached in 1h 45 mins by bus. The distance from Dubrovnik to Debeli Brijeg (the main coastal border crossing) is 40 kms.
Companies like Croatia Bus, Bozur, and Blue Line offer 3 to 4 daily bus lines between these two cities and a single one-way ticket will set you back around €15.
I really like Herceg Novi. The Old Town with its cobblestone streets looks amazing and there are a number of great seafood restaurants around.
Bear in mind that the beaches in Herceg Novi get very crowded during the summer season. If you’re looking for a beach day then you’ve been warned!
You can also get a private transfer to Herceg Novi if you’re looking for the quickest route possible.
Dubrovnik to Budva
Situated further south along the coastline in Montenegró, Budva is definitely the most popular vacation destination in Montenegró.
It will take you about 3 hours by bus to reach Budva from Dubrovnik and there are around 4 buses daily connecting these two cities. A single one-way ticket costs around €20.
Once you arrive in Budva, I recommend paying a visit to the city’s Old Town. Budva is also famous for its picturesque beaches and the city offers a vibrant nightlife scene with hundreds of bars and clubs where you can party until late.
Unfortunately there is no Dubrovnik to Budva ferry (but more on that later).
Driving from Dubrovnik to Montenegro
Okay, so next up we’re going to talk about driving.
Avis, Fleet and Hertz are some of the car rental companies in Dubrovnik where you can hire a car and drive to Montenegro. Another really good option is with DiscoverCars. This is a comparison website which gives you some great deals and savings.
Personally, I think hiring a car is the easiest way of getting from Dubrovnik to Montenegro. It usually takes me around an hour to reach Montenegro by car, but border crossings during peak season can be super slow.
I usually pick up and drop off the car in Dubrovnik. I’ve looked into dropping off a car in Montenegro and flying from there but it’s pretty difficult and some agencies add an extra charge for this, so to save the hassle I went back to Dubrovnik.
Still, one of the best things about having your own car is being able to stop off at places along the way and to enjoy the beauty of the Adriatic coast.
As for which road to take, I recommend following the coastline and passing through places like Cavtat and Plocice. This is the easiest and the fastest way to reach the Montenegro coast.
In case you are planning to visit cities like Podgorica and Niksic which are located up north, it is best to drive towards Trebinje in Bosnia and then enter Montenegro after Klobuk.
As for car rental prices, it all depends on the company, how many days you are planning to rent a car, and what type of car are you after. This means you can get a car anywhere between €10 and €100 per day so make sure you shop around.
Catching the ferry from Dubrovnik to Montenegro
Unfortunately there are no ferries between Dubrovnik and Montenegro. However, there is a popular boat trip to Kotor and Perast which is a great way of seeing Montenegro.
Sailing down the Adriatic coast between Croatia and Montenegro offers an opportunity to see many picturesque bays and small villages. These boat trips usually last for one day and include a visit to Boka Kotorska Bay and a few hours spent in the lovely town of Perast.
You can also charter a yacht in Croatia which is a fantastic way of getting around and living the high life!
Personally, I think it would be great if they added a Dubrovnik to Montenegró ferry but it doesn’t seem on the cards any time soon. Fingers crossed for the future though.
Just imagine how amazing it would be if there was a Dubrovnik to Kotor ferry – I genuinely think this would be the best way to travel between the two places and I really do hope it happens one day.
Train from Dubrovnik to Montenegro
Technically, it is possible to catch the Dubrovnik to Montenegro train but it is complicated.
There is a train network in Croatia but the majority of it is in the north of the country. There are trains from Zagreb to Osijek, Rijeka and Split.
For Dubrovnik, there are no trains. That means you’ll have to either drive or catch the bus to Niksic on the border of Montenegro. From here, you can catch a 1-hour train to the capital of Podgorica.
Even though this is chopping and changing your journey, the train in Montenegro is very pretty. Usually, the total journey to Podgorica takes around 3 hours.
For this reason, personally I wouldn’t recommend travelling by train between these two places.
Flying to Montenegro airport
It is possible to fly from Dubrovnik to Montenegro. However, because the majority of people want to visit Budva, Kotor and Herceg Novi instead of Podgorica it isn’t very popular.
If you are looking at flying, you can check out the latest times and prices below:
Other options for travelling from Dubrovnik to Montenegro
If you don’t feel like renting a car or using the regular bus line between Dubrovnik and Montenegro, a private excursion offered by different agencies in Dubrovnik is also a good option to travel. These agencies usually offer to pick you up at where you’re staying in the city, which is always super convenient.
The good news is most of the tours have a professional guide and usually last for one day. Just to be on the safe side, I recommend using big company names such as Atlas Tours, Laus Travel, and Viator for these excursions.
Prices are usually around €50 per person but it all depends on the itinerary and packages you choose. Some of the most popular destinations in Montenegro on these private excursions include Budva, Kotor, Herceg Novi, and Perast.
You can also look into getting a private driver to take you to Montenegro – there are so many different options!
Things to consider
- In case of driving from Dubrovnik to Montenegro, bring your driver’s license and adhere to the speed limit.
- In Dubrovnik, the money currency is local kuna, while Montenegro uses euro.
- Camping in Montenegro is allowed at many places including next to lakes, atop mountains, and alongside rivers.
- Border crossing in Montenegro is relatively uncomplicated, but the wait can be long during the summer season.
If you’re looking for hotels then make sure you check out my blog post on where to stay in Dubrovnik. This post features some of the best properties in Dubrovnik and some of them are absolutely gorgeous!
Are you planning a trip to Montenegro? If so, how are you going to get there? I’d love to know in the comments below!
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Thanks for sharing. This is just what I needed. The views on the bus to Dubrovnik were spectacular and I really want to see Montenegro too!
No worries, I’m glad you found it useful!
Hi,
Thanks so much for the very informative article.
We are a group of 4, 60 plus years of age. We will be in Dubrovnik in early October and plan to do a day trip to Montenegro.
Can you please map out a day trip for us to follow. We have rented a car .
I welcome your suggestions. We don’t mind a long day so don’t be hesitant to include a full itinerary.
Looking forward to hearing your suggestions.
Hi Debby! It sounds like you need this article – in it are a few days trip from Dubrovnik to Montenegro that you can follow.
Great article! Makes us want to drive there ourselves. Was wondering how easy it to find parking in the few places you mentioned? Would be just a day trip and this point so probably would go to Bay of Kotor and possibly Budva.
Yes there are lots of parking spaces available at the places mentioned. Obviously they get a lot busier during the weekends, but I’ve never found parking a problem.
Hi, will be taking a bus from Herceg Novi to Dubrovnik in a few days – wondering if the earlier in the day I leave, the less traffic/border wait is to be expected. Debating btw the first bus at 8.10 with Globtour vs. the 9.30 one with Blue Line which has the best reviews from all the operators. Would appreciate your advice 🙂
Bonus question: do you know if there is a direct bus Virpazar – Kotor as I have conflicting info? cheers!
Hi Lucie! The earlier you leave, the quicker it’ll be crossing the border point. Usually the busses are a little longer than the cars, but they are extremely efficient at checking people’s passports. I’m not too sure about a direct bus to Virpazar–Kotor though. Hopefully you’ve managed to sort that out!
Hello, sorry to bother but can you tell me if it is possible to take a uber form Dubrovnik airport to Budva (for 2 adults and 2 kids)?
There isn’t Uber in Croatia or Montenegro, so it’s best to book a private transfer beforehand. Let me know if you need help with anything else!
Thank you for this helpful article! I was wondering if you can get a bus from Dubrovnik to Tivat as it wasn’t one of the locations you listed! Also, for a few nights stay in Montenegro, which location would you recommend?
Yes, you can definitely get a bus from Dubrovnik to Tivat. It’s about 3 hours with Croatia Bus. As for where to stay in Montenegro, I would always recommend either the Bay of Kotor (ideally away from the town of Kotor itself as it’s tiny) or Perast. Both those places are absolutely gorgeous.
Great information and very detailed – thank you for putting it out there.
Will be in Dubrovnik October planning to go Montenegro for a day. We do have a rental car and we all are over 55. Your recommendation how to spenp the day/ where to stop and things to see.
Advance thank you for your time
I’d really recommend driving around the Bay of Kotor or visiting Perast. Those are my two favourite places to visit in Montenegro and are great for a day trip.
Hi,
Excellent, informative info, thanks!
One question I have please: If hiring a car and crossing the border from Croatia to Montenegró (and back again), are any visas needed, or border fees in either direction? (I have a U.K. passport).
Thanks in advance!
Nope, not at all. You’re good to go!
Hello,
Thank you so much for your post. Very informative. As an Australian, I was wondering if you could detail what the ‘border crossing’ experience is like as we have not crossed borders by road in Europe before. What particular documents do they require and check? Thanks in advance!!
You just need to show your passport. Usually you drive up to a booth, hand over your passports, then check/stamp them, then pass them back through your car window. It usually takes a few minutes if everything is in order. It really is very quick and easy!
Thank you for the article! Great info and super helpful. Do you have a view on which days of the week are busiest for the border crossing? Assume weekends may be more congested than weekdays but that is just a guess!
You’re very welcome! You are exactly right – quietest days are Monday and they get progressively busier as the week continues peaking on Friday and Saturday. During summer, it’s always busy, but it just takes a bit of extra time. Always a good idea to bring some snacks in the car!
We are doing an 8 day cruise from Split to Dubrovnik September 20. We have 5 days after to spend. We would like to spend it in Montenegro. Any suggestions?
You will probably dip into it in your cruise, but I’d recommend spending a couple of days in Kotor Bay. It really is such a beautiful spot in Montenegro and well worth spending two or three days there. Another amazing spot is Tivat, and Durmitor National Park!
Hi, how long does it usually take to cross the border during summer? Planning to go by car from Dubrovnik to Budva/Kotor on Aug 1st. And do you also know how bad is it in the border to cross from Kostar to Mostar? Thanks!
Good question! It really does depend on the traffic, but I would say it takes around an hour. They checking of your passport is really quick, but the road to the border crossing is quite narrow which is why the traffic builds up. I’ve driven into Bosnia before and the border crossing only took a few minutes as we were the only ones around, but that was a fair few years ago now. I hope that helps!
Thank you so so much for this really helpful, informative article. Much appreciated. From your experience, do you have a view on which border crossing is easier / possibly less congested? Some forums look like Njivice-Konfin could be the better option? Be good to get your view. Also other than passports, covid info & the green card/insurance for the hire car, what documents are required when crossing the border? Thank you again!
Njivice-Konfin is definitely less congested than Debeli Brijeg, but it’s also further out the way. In my experience, Debeli Brijeg usually has more border control staff working their way through people, so it can often work out quicker anyway. As for the documents, that’s all you need! They usually spend 5 minutes checking EU/UK passports, so usually it’s really quick once you get to the border itself. I hope that helps and have a great trip!
We are planning a first trip to Croatia and Montenegro. We are all in our
70’s. Are there car rental companies who will rent to us older, wiser, more
careful drivers? We will be there this next Sept, 2022
Ohhhh good question. I know there are a number of local car hire companies in cities like Split and Dubrovnik, so your best bet might be to try those. I guess they might charge a bit more, but hopefully you can find a car for your trip!
Hi, very useful post thank u. We r thinking of flying into TIV staying a couple of days and then going to debrovnic and then split n back to debrovnic to fly out. Wud u say this is the best way to do it (to reduce cost)? We r going mid July
Also for bus transportation, r there bathrooms in the bus or are there any rest stops?
Thanks
This sounds like a good journey for sure. Tivat is a great place to start, and then you can work your way up the coast. As for the buses – yes, they do have toilets on board.
Hello and thank you for your very helpful text 😉 we will arrive in Dubrovnik very soon in may, spend a night there and we would like to take to bus to Herceg Novi to rent a car then on Montenegro ! What do you recommend to see in a small day in Dubrovnik and where to sleep ? Thank you so much for your help, have a nice day
I have a blog post on where to stay in Dubrovnik here – https://www.anadventurousworld.com/where-to-stay-in-dubrovnik/. As for things to do, there are so many to choose from! I’d recommend walking around the old city walls though for sure!
Thanks, very helpful. We’re going to fly to Dub then drive to Montenegro – it will be a Saturday in August!!! But that just cannot be avoided. On the way back I’m thinking it’s sensible to have the last night in Dubrovnik so I don’t stress about missing the flight due to the boarder crossing. Question – is the boarder open 24/7?
Good question. It’s definitely open every day of the week, but I’m not too sure if it’s open 24/7. I suspect it’s not, with the border crossing closing at either 22:00 or 00:00 and opening again at 05:00, but don’t quote me on that. I would say make sure you give yourself a good couple of hours at the border crossing just in case. Hopefully it’ll be quick and easy for you, but you never know!
Going to Dubrovnick and Montenegro in Sept
Whoop whoop! I hope you can still go and have an amazing time!