Montenegro by car

Duration: 5-14 days
Estimated distance: 2400 km
Countries covered by the route: Hungary*, Serbia, Montenegro

Contents

Language
Currencies and Payments
Preparation
Crossing the Ukraine-Hungary Border
Transit through Hungary
Fuel Prices in Hungary
Crossing the Border with Serbia
Toll Roads in Serbia
Fuel Prices in Serbia
Crossing the Border with Montenegro
Driving on Montenegro's Roads
Fuel Prices in Montenegro
Budva, Montenegro
Kotor, Montenegro

* The route is planned through Hungary ?? because if you go through Romania ??, the distance is 100 km shorter, but the travel time is 4 hours longer. In Romania, most roads are not highways, have 1.5 lanes in one direction, and pass through populated areas with corresponding speed limits.

Route on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/iCjYuRfVS6ae5Dys6

Language

In Hungary, there are no problems with English communication; in Serbia, it might be a bit challenging. In Montenegro, English is widely understood, and many also understand Russian.

Currencies and Payments

In Hungary – Forints, needed only for paying for toilets at some gas stations (there are life hacks for this).

In Serbia – Dinars; if you plan to stay overnight, cash may be needed for payments in restaurants.

In Montenegro – Euros, which is very convenient.

Preparation

We recommend the following steps:

• Find accommodation on Booking or Airbnb websites.
• Book accommodation, print booking confirmations, and save them as PDF files.
• Visit an insurance company and get medical insurance policies and a green card for your car.
• Head to the border with Hungary.

For reference, here is a list of all documents needed for the trip:

• International passport
• Driver's license
• Vehicle registration document
• COVID-19 coverage medical insurance policy
• Green card (owner's liability insurance for the vehicle)
• Printed accommodation booking confirmations

Crossing the Ukraine-Hungary Border

You can cross the border with Hungary only at two checkpoints: "Tisa" (near Chop) and "Luzhanka" (near Berehove). If you are not vaccinated, for vaccinated individuals with a vaccination certificate, passage through all checkpoints is allowed.

At the "Tisa" checkpoint, there is a large neutral zone, a bridge over the Tisa River, and this checkpoint is connected to the Kyiv-Chop road. Delays in crossing the border may be longer. Crossing the border at the "Luzhanka" checkpoint can be faster than at "Tisa." Upon approaching (1-2 km) the checkpoint, you may see a line of minibusses. If you are driving a car, bypass this line and head to the blue ANP or UkrNafta gas station on the left side of the road. There will be a sign "entry prohibited" on the oncoming lane. Stop before the sign, or if there are already cars, stop behind them. If there is no sign, drive closer to the entrance to the checkpoint. If you see cars on the right side, ask if this is the line, and if so, stand behind them. Border guards at the entrance will explain what to do, even if you mistakenly went to the wrong lane.

Our car was the 8th in line in August 2020, and it took us 9 hours to cross the border.

You can view the border crossing points on the map and their congestion on the website of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine: https://dpsu.gov.ua/ua/map

Transit through Hungary

In Hungary, road usage is subject to payment. The easiest way is to buy a vignette online: https://e-autopalyamatrica.hu/en/

A 10-day vignette for a car will cost €13, and for one month, it will be €17.70.

When to buy the vignette?
As soon as you pass the control on the Hungarian side, when leaving the Luzhanka – Beregsurany checkpoint, immediately after the first meters of road narrowing, there is a right turn where you can stop and buy the vignette online without using roaming since all Ukrainian mobile operators work there. Buy it through the website, receive confirmation via email, and you can continue your journey. The vignette is checked at the exit from certain gas stations, and each time it may be a different location. The check is done by stopping you for 1 minute, verifying the validity of the vignette by your car's number, and if everything is okay, you will be allowed to proceed.

For more details on road payment, mandatory equipment in the car, and other nuances regarding travel through the country, read the article about Hungary.

Fuel Prices in Hungary

Crossing the Border with Serbia

According to recent information from social networks, queues of up to 3 km are forming at the border with Serbia, and it takes approximately 3 hours for such a queue to pass the Horgos border crossing point. Take this into account when planning your trip.
You can view cameras at the border on the website: mup.gov.rs. On the site, click on the Horgos Border Crossing link in the left column to see cameras at the Hungarian-Serbian border in Horgos.
You can try other border crossings, but what is happening there is unknown.

Toll Roads in Serbia

In Serbia, road tolls are charged based on the distance traveled. The first toll payment point is located approximately 27 km from the Horgos border crossing point on the A1 motorway. These are toll booths where you need to pass through and pay for passage.
For more details on road tolls, mandatory equipment in the car, and other nuances regarding travel through the country, read the article about Serbia.

Fuel Prices in Serbia

Crossing the Border with Montenegro

Usually, crossing the border can be very quick.
Cameras at the Montenegro border:
Pljevlja – Prijepolje (Rance)
Bijelo Polje – Prijepolje (Dobrakovo)
Rožaje – Novi Pazar (Dračenovac)

Roads in Montenegro

In Montenegro, there is no charge for using the roads, except for the Sozina tunnel and ferry crossings. Be cautious, many Montenegro roads are mountainous with serpentines. Remember braking techniques on steep descents and pay attention to your well-being and the well-being of passengers, as motion sickness is common.
For more details on tunnels, ferries, mandatory equipment in the car, and other nuances regarding travel through the country, read the article about Montenegro.

Fuel Prices in Montenegro

Budva, Montenegro

A resort town, bustling with activity, the main resort of Montenegro. At night, you can hear discos from the promenade, during the day the entire city is by the sea, and in the evening, life comes alive in the restaurants along the promenade. Many yachts are moored in the port. Ukrainians are well known in Montenegro. The local population understands Russian well and even speaks it; there are no problems with English either. Budva is more of a youth resort. Nevertheless, it's always pleasant to stroll through the narrow streets of the old town in the evening.

Kotor, Montenegro. Ferry Crossing

Coordinates on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/aaJY4vzZ6uGGyAzB9
Official website: http://ferry.co.me/

Kotor is a charming town in Montenegro. You can walk through the city, along the promenade, climb to the fortress, which offers a beautiful view of the entire bay. From Kotor, excursions to the "Blue Caves" are available, where it's very pleasant to swim in clear blue water surrounded by beautiful scenery. Those who have vacationed in Kotor say that it's a great place to relax.