Prices in Montenegro - 2021: food, cafes, hotels

We visited the country with the romantic and mysterious name Montenegro twice, with a break of 7 years and a difference in the composition: +1 child.

Comparing these trips, I can responsibly declare that prices in Montenegro have not changed radically. The cost of a cup of black coffee on the shores of the Adriatic Sea has been € 1 for several seasons. True, the euro itself, which is in use here, has clearly grown in our direction. Therefore, prices in Montenegro in 2021 for Europeans are at the same level, and for Russians - higher. Good news: marginally relative to last year!

They counted and converted into rubles: how much is in Montenegro this summer?

We, the HowTrip team, also rested in Montenegro in August. We really liked it - we took a bunch of beautiful photos, shot a video (look at the end) and updated the information in the article 🙂

Airfare prices

• Direct flights in the summer season to Montenegro there are from Moscow (who would doubt it), St. Petersburg and Samara. Pobeda, S7, Aeroflot, Montenegro Airlines and Ural Airlines fly.
• Tickets: 15,000 - 25,000 rubles per person.

It is believed that an independent vacation in Montenegro flies into a pretty penny just because of air tickets - one click, and half the budget is gone. BUT! An amazing airline like Serbian Airlines periodically launches shares of unprecedented generosity - flights from Moscow for 12,000 rubles! Transfer in Belgrade (visa-free, you can walk), and then delivered to Podgorica (the second airport in Montenegro).

Look for air tickets on the good old services:

• Aviasales
• Skyscanner

... and always compare both, there may be a difference of several hundred rubles.

A word from the editor. We also caught a sale from Air Serbia and flew to Montenegro in August - for 12,600 rubles per person round trip 🙂

A visa to Montenegro is not required, but independent tourists are obliged to pay tourist tax: ≈ € 0.9 per day from each. Children under 12 years old are exempt from tax, from 12 to 18 years old - 50%. We paid ourselves at the tourist center.

Prices for tours to Montenegro - 2021

Isn't it cheaper tours to Montenegro? Here you cannot do without calculations, but I will carry them out in the section below "How much money to take". For now, I will indicate the prices for vacation in Montenegro by voucher. I book tours in the same way as plane tickets - online:

• Travelata
• Level.Travel
• Onlinetours

✓ Minimum tour for two in July-August costs 55,000 rubles for 7 nights (departure from Moscow, accommodation in an apartment).

✓ 10 nights in Montenegro - everyone loves it longer! - already from 66,000 rubles.

✓ Family vacation - dad, mom and child - will cost 80,000 rubles per week.

✓ Well, all inclusive - from 90,000 rubles. Moreover, there will be only a dozen hotels in the country that serve according to a similar system.

Food prices in Montenegro

A country where no one will go hungry, even with a minimal amount of funds! But still, let's study the prices in Montenegro for food in 2021.

First, let's deal with catering.

• Fast food in Montenegro comes down to street stalls offering mega hamburgers. This is delicious! Such a burger is prepared according to the principle of a constructor: in the set there is a huge cutlet (pleskavitsa) or fried sausages (chevapchichi), a fresh roll and the same fresh kaymak (something between thick sour cream and cream cheese). The rest is up to you: pickles, hot sauce, vegetables. Even an adult man of a far from slender build can eat enough, it is checked! Fixed price: € 2.5 ≈ 185 rubles.

Don't even bother looking for McDonald's! He's gone. So it goes. And also there is no CFS, BurgerKing, Starbucks - in general, all the western heritage of public catering.

• In Montenegro, they adore bakeries (but in a local way - bakers). They open early in the morning and are ready to feed both their own and "strangers" with fresh local pastries, pies and croissants.

✓ Burek with meat or cheese: € 1.2-1.5 ≈ 85-100 rubles

✓ Croissant: € 0.7 ≈ 50 rubles

• Standard snack in small cafes and coastal pizzerias will cost about € 15 ≈ 1110 rubles for two.

✓ Large (very large) pizza: € 10 ≈ 740 rubles

✓ Small (but also large): € 7 ≈ 520 rubles

✓ Pasta: € 7 ≈ 520 rubles

✓ Americano, 0.2: € 1 ≈ 70 rubles

✓ Beer, 0.5 l: € 2.5 ≈ 185 rubles

✓ Pleskavitsa: € 5-7 ≈ 350-500 rubles

✓ Gyros or kebab on the beach: € 3.5 ≈ 250 rubles

The same prices are in cafes serving the beaches: you place an order, go to lie on a sunbed, and the waiter brings everything when ready. By the way, we took for two, and ate three of us: one portion was enough for us with a small one, they are really big!

For two in a cafe, we got about 12-15 euros (without alcohol), but the check can be reduced by taking 1 portion for two (they are large)

• If your soul desires something more sophisticated, welcome to a restaurant... In such establishments, our account for three fluctuated within € 40 ≈ 3000 rubles. Here you will be offered traditional pleskavitsa (or kebab, as is often indicated on the menu) in different variations, soups and salads, as well as seafood.

✓ Chorba meat (beef soup): € 2.5 ≈ 185 rubles

✓ Chorba fish: € 2 ≈ 150 rubles

✓ Serbian salad (ordinary vegetable salad with olive oil): € 2 ≈ 150 rubles

✓ Pleskavitsa with garnish: € 8 ≈ 600 rubles

✓ "Meshano Meso" (meat platter weighing 1 kg (!)): € 10 ≈ 740 rubles

✓ Assorted seafood (about the same weight): € 20 ≈ 1500 rubles

✓ Dessert: € 2.5 ≈ 185 rubles

✓ Juice or fruit drink: € 1.5 ≈ 115 rubles per glass

✓ Water, 0.33 l: € 1 ≈ 74 rubles

✓ Homemade wine, 1 liter: € 9 ≈ 670 rubles

✓ Draft beer, 0.5 l: € 2.5 ≈ 185 rubles

What establishments can we recommend?

Will be in Herceg Novi, be sure to visit the restaurant "Three Lindens", you will not regret! It is located on the main descent from the Old Town to the sea. You will definitely not pass by. You can ask the locals. When going to a restaurant, do not forget to change your clothes. Your clothes may be lightweight (shorts are allowed), but not beachwear.

In Budva it was delicious for us in:

• Kuzina - an institution with both local and typical European cuisine. We tried here pleskavica and shopska salad (the two top photos are from here).
• Moritz eis Is a chain of ice cream parlors from Serbia. Pistachio, dulce de leche - incredible tastes :) Two stingy - 3.9 euros, there is also in Tivat.
• If you walk along the embankment, turn left and enter the Old Town through the far passage, there is a pizza stall nearby for 2 euros - there are always queues!

Food prices in Montenegro - 2021

There are several main stores, but most of all we went shopping at Aroma
(there are more of them, and prices are cheaper)

Of course, we cooked ourselves. How much does it cost to eat overstocked in Montenegrin shops?

Most often we bought at Idea and Voli (Voli often had promotions, as in our Pyaterochka). We also went to MEGA Market. But only when they returned late from a walk. It works until 23.00, and our usual shopping list came out for the same amount.

Prices for groceries in stores in Montenegro:

The hot season for holidays in Montenegro is summer! Where can we go without fruit? Here are the high season store prices (per kilogram):

• Apples - € 0.95— € 1.25 (65-85 rubles)
• Nectarines (delicious!) - € 1.3 (90 rubles)
• Peaches - € 1.9 (130 rubles)
• Bananas - € 1.3 (90 rubles)
• Melon - € 0.5 (35 rubles)
• Watermelon - € 0.45— € 0.5 (30-35 rubles)

As you can see, the prices in the grocery stores in Montenegro are not low. It is connected with the fact that the country produces almost nothing, everything is imported.

In general, I noticed that the prices for shops - Aroma, Mega Market, Voli, Idea - practically do not differ.The same can be said about alcohol prices (regardless of where you are going to shop - in large shopping centers or in private stores).

• Meat (chilled beef), kg: € 7 ≈ 520 rubles
• Fish, kg: from € 8 ≈ 595 rubles

We also visited local markets, wandered there as an excursion. In stores, prices are lower. But at the bazaars you can bargain (but we still do not know how).

Prices for hotels in Montenegro

The cost of rest in Montenegro directly depends on where the "place in the sun" is located, chosen for a particular vacation.

➢ St. Stephen's Island - luxury vacation.

➢ Budva, Becici, Herceg Novi or Petrovac are quite acceptable middle peasants, you can find housing there for very reasonable money.

➢ Kotor is too picturesque to offer inexpensive options, but neighboring (and beach) Kindness helps out.

➢ Ulcinj, due to its remoteness, is a budgetary one, it is cheap there relative to more "central" resorts.

It is logical that prices depend on the distance to the beach: the closer the sea, the more expensive the accommodation. On the other hand, it can be noisy there, tourists walk until the morning (and maybe not only tourists). The holiday season also affects the “pricing policy” of hotels. In summer it is more expensive, in early spring or late autumn, when the weather is not the same, it is cheaper.

The hotel business is very actively developing in Montenegro. Absolutely all local residents are engaged in advertising. For example, in Budva, not only guides, but also ordinary shop assistants proudly talk about the hotel where the James Bond movie was filmed! Spoiler: in fact, "James Bond: Casino Royale" was filmed in Karlovy Vary, from the Montenegrin "Splendid" in the film only the title.

In general, in the season, the distribution of hotel prices is as follows (the price is indicated for a double room, per night, no meals):

If you monitor the situation in advance, you can get on super offers like - 4 stars for 1300 rubles. 5 * hotels in Montenegro can be counted on one hand. Moreover, half of them are located in the non-beach Kotor and Tivat.

I can say that we were very pleased with our first stay at a 3 * hotel (found on Booking). The service and cuisine were excellent (they took only breakfast), and the rest did not bother us much: between the beach and excursions, we dropped into the hotel just to change.

The cost of renting an apartment

We rented an apartment at the rate of 1,500 rubles per person
(in the photo the apartment cost 4,500 for 3 people)

On my next trip, I also took housing off the coast, but this time in the private sector. Firstly, there is more choice, and secondly, it is cheaper. Booked on Airbnb, an international private rental service. Follow the link to get a discount of up to 4000 rubles on your first booking. The average price tag for apartments ranges from 2,000 to 7,000 rubles per day.

A word from the editor. All our cool apartments in Budva, Kotor and Becici (by the sea) cost 1100 rubles / night per person. There are three of us, we created three accounts on Airbnb - and saved 6,300 rubles 🙂

In general, in Montenegro one gets the impression that you can not book anything in advance. And upon arrival, go to the first house you like with a SOBE sign and find a shelter there. But why, if all the same surrenders to Airbnb. You can rent everything: both apartments in apartment buildings, and whole mansions with swimming pools. This is great news (or maybe not news) for those who prefer independence.

Transport prices in Montenegro

Traveled from Podgorica airport by Kiwi Taxi for 38 euros - inexpensive
1.5 hour trip and personal meeting

The airport.

Tivat Airport is the most inconvenient airport for a traveler! If everything is clear with the voucher vacation (they will be taken by bus), then you will have to independently:

• Or 3 kilometers on foot to stomp to the bus station in order to take a city bus
• Or take a local taxi - 40-50 euros to Budva!

The same story with the Podgorica airport. But there is one way to get there - the optimal one in terms of convenience and money. This is a transfer from KiwiTaxi - a driver will come for you, meet you at the airport with a sign, and take you to any resort to the door of the hotel / apartment.

A word from the editor. We tried KiwiTaxi in Athens with a 12 hour transfer. It turned out to be very convenient, and we didn't waste an extra 2 hours to get from the airport by bus. Therefore, for August, we also ordered KiwiTaxi from Podgorica to Budva - 38 euros per car. We met on time, drove with comfort - everything is clear!

Around town.

On vacation, we used a city bus or taxi to get around. But more often the latter. Moreover, at prices this is not such a blatant bourgeoisie.

Judge for yourself:

• Public transport: € 1 ≈ 70 rubles per person
• Taxi: € 1 ≈ 70 rubles per km

We had € 3.5 ≈ 260 rubles for the whole family, but the car was served there and then, as we needed. Of course, this is important when the drive is close. We called the car through our beautiful mistress. They just called her, told her where and when we need a taxi and that's it. You can do this yourself, having previously learned the phone number. Dispatchers understand Russian well.

In general, there is no language barrier in Montenegro: the Montenegrin language is very similar to Russian, all the inscriptions and signs have been translated into Russian. But even if not, their meaning can be intuitively understood (they have a native alphabet, Cyrillic).

It is imperative to call a taxi, do not get into an empty car! The taxi driver will turn on the dual counter.

Intercity.

Buses dominate here - Montenegro is a small country, and therefore trips last from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours (with the exception of Podgorica), you can be patient :)

We drove:

• From the bus station of Budva to Kotor - € 3.5 one way
• From Kotor bus station to Tivat - € 2.5
• From the bus station of Budva to Becici - € 1— € 1.5

Conveniently, tickets can be bought online at busticket4.me. It is inconvenient that 1) buses sometimes are late - we left Kotor for Budva with an hour delay; 2) CORK! Well, oh-oh-very frequent and long :(

Rent a Car

It is better to take a car in advance online, usually it leaves
about 35-45 euros / day

If you plan to travel long distances, there is a reason to rent a car. Prices for car rental in Montenegro start from € 25 per day (when renting from 3 days). This can be done:

✓ In advance, through one of the sites, for example, Rentalcars.com.

✓ MyRentacar is a similar method, the difference is that the site works with private individuals. Check them out very carefully.

✓ On site. Rental offices are usually combined with sales of excursions and are in any resort town.

Gasoline prices are around € 1.35 ≈ 95 rubles per liter.

To easily navigate in an unfamiliar country, it is better to install applications with maps and navigators on your phone at home even at home. For example, a good thing - maps.me, works even without an Internet connection.

Prices for entertainment and attractions in Montenegro

Central beach of Budva - pebbles mixed with sand

Of course, the main entertainment of Montenegro is the beaches! They are different here: sandy, pebble and even concrete.

➢ ordinary sand can be enjoyed in the area of ​​Rafailovici and Petrovac

➢ black medicinal - in Ulcinj

➢ pebbles - Becici, Budva, Herceg Novi

➢ concrete - Kotor and Herceg Novi

And there are also free and paid beaches. Of course, there are much more free ones. There you can sunbathe on your towel, as they say for free... For greater comfort, there are umbrellas and sun loungers almost everywhere. Prices on the beaches range from € 6 to € 15 (≈ from 444 to 1110 rubles) for a set of 2 sun loungers + an umbrella from morning to evening.

In Herceg Novi, for € 15 ≈ 1110 rubles, we rented a canopy (a whole closed tent) with two sun loungers for the whole day. A standard set of an umbrella and 2 sun loungers cost € 10 ≈ 740 rubles.

All sorts of beach things and entertainment in Budva are worth:

• Jet ski for 15 minutes - € 30
• Umbrella and sun lounger rental - € 10— € 12
• Umbrella, if bought in a stall - € 8
• Inflatable mattress - € 5— € 8
• Swimming mask - € 6
• Parachute flight behind the boat - € 25
• Fishing - € 30
• Diving - € 40

On paid beaches entrance from € 8 ≈ 600 rubles per person. Sun loungers and umbrellas are provided.Or you can donate sun loungers, take only an umbrella, and for the amount you paid for the entrance, choose any drinks and snacks in the beach cafe. It's called a beach club.

How to entertain yourself for free in Montenegro, besides beaching? In many cities, the historic center deserves a separate walk. For example, in Herceg Novi, there is a very picturesque place - the Spaniola fortress. In fact, these are abandoned ruins at the very top of the mountain. Free admission. And what kind of views open up from there! But with playgrounds in this area, everything is bad. They are so harsh that you never dreamed of. In the Budva area, the infrastructure is more tailored to the needs of children.

With paid children's joys, things are more cheerful. Along the entire coastline for children, there are a lot of all kinds of entertainment: rides, wheelchairs, slot machines, trampolines, children's labyrinths. The cost is about € 2 ≈ 150 rubles.

Besides:

• Aquapark Budva: € 18 or € 15 for children
• Bucket-spatula-mold set - € 8

Best excursions

You can find out the prices for excursions in Montenegro in advance on the Internet, and immediately book your favorites there. Agreeing with a Russian guide is also not a problem: many of our compatriots make money there. If you want to chat with locals:

• Tripster
• Sputnik

Services where you can find a suitable excursion from private traders. There will be no problems with the language, Montenegrins working in the tourism sector know the great-mighty very well.

Where to go? Our top 6 excursions in Montenegro with prices (per person):

• Tara and Moraca river canyons - € 50
• Walk along the Bay of Kotor - € 25
• Shrines of Cetinje and Lovcen - € 40
• Sightseeing Heart of Montenegro - € 50
• Skadar Lake - € 40
• Dubrovnik (Croatia) - € 50
• Albania - € 50

Now in more detail.

1. Canyons of the Tara and Moraca, Zabljak and Durmitor rivers. In my personal rating - No. 1.

Best excursion, beauty for the whole day! We took this one >> individual
with a local Russian-speaking guide

Travel from the sea high to the mountains. First, you will be driven over the canyons, where the beauty, height and recklessness of the drivers will take your breath away. Then an authentic lunch on the territory of the Zabljak ski resort: local delicacies - Negush cheese and smoked prosciutto, for dessert - strong plum brandy and stunning views of the highest mountain in Montenegro - Durmitor in the reserve of the same name.

2. Boko-Kotorska bay - boat trip.

View from the observation deck of the Kotor fortress - it's not so easy to climb :)

With a visit to the man-made island of Gospa od Shkrpela (Mother of God on the Reef), a walk in the city of captains of Perast and a tour of medieval Kotor (with lunch optional).
Learn more >>

3. Cetinje and Lovcen - a trip to the shrines of Montenegro.

They will show and tell everything about the first capital of Montenegro - Cetinje. There is the Cetinje Monastery, where one of the main relics of Christianity, the right hand of John the Baptist, is kept. Further ascent to Mount Lovcen, to the mausoleum of the most revered ruler of Montenegro, Petr Njegos. And finally, lunch in the village of Njegushi, where he was born.

Duration - 6 hours.

Individual excursions (up to 4 people): € 108 ≈ 8000 rubles guide services, the cost of a car is negotiated separately (usually around + € 100 ≈ 7400 rubles).

4. "Heart of Montenegro" - when you need everything at once.

A volumetric group excursion that combines a walk along the Boka Kotorska Bay, Cetinje and Lovcen.

Duration - all day.

Cost: € 50 - adults, € 25 - children ≈ 3700 and 1850, respectively.

5. Skadar Lake is an option for lovers of flora and fauna.

Drive to a place that is home to an incredible number of birds, including giant pelicans.

Duration - 5 hours.

Price: € 40 - adults, € 20 - children ≈ 3000 and 1500 rubles, respectively.

My advice: how much does a vacation in Montenegro cost?

Prices for holidays in Montenegro are quite affordable. Let's make an accurate breakdown in numbers - let's calculate the costs of an average tourist.

1) Minimum voucher in July for 7 days it costs 55,000 rubles for two (Budva).

2) "Putting together" the tour on one's own - for 7 days for two to Budva:

• Flight - 34,000 rubles (Victory with baggage) OR on the Air Serbia sale for 25,200 rubles.
• Transfer (round trip) - 3000 rubles from Tivat OR 6000 rubles from Podgorica.
• Insurance (on Cherehapa) - 700 rubles.
• Accommodation (the cheapest apartments, as in the tour) - 13,000 rubles.
• Tourist tax - 1000 rubles.

Total: 52,000 rubles OR 46,000 rubles.

If you "jumped" into this section from the content, look for all attendances-passwords-services above (you can save a lot) 🙂

How much money to take to Montenegro? For food, souvenirs and other unforeseen expenses, we usually budget for € 50 for two. A week comes out about 25,000 rubles, so for sure, you can round up to 30,000 rubles.

Naturally, you can increase (or decrease) each of the proposed items of expenses specifically for yourself and recalculate all expenses!

How much did my trip cost?

The article was written by our friend, and in August we ourselves went to Montenegro. In the video we talk about all the expenses 🙂

In short: our vacation together cost ≈ 77,000 rubles for 8 days. Of them:

• Flights Moscow-Podgorica-Moscow - 25,200 rubles
• Accommodation (rented apartments on Airbnb) - 17 600 rubles
• KiwiTaxi transfer from Podgorica airport to Budva and back - 78 euros ≈ 5500 rubles
• Excursion to Durmitor Park (we decided to take one, but which one!) - 128 euros ≈ 9000 rubles
  We booked an individual excursion and there were 5 of us, so this is the cost for two.
• On-site expenses (food, transport, souvenirs, tourist collection) - 275 euros ≈ 19,500 rubles

And here is the budget for the family from the author.

The entire budget of our trip was 120,000 rubles for a family: 2 adults, 1 child of 3 years old. For 12 days. Including EVERYTHING!

➢ Flight price - 35,000 rubles. Round trip, for almost three (child ticket is 70% of the total cost). Of course, with luggage ☺ We flew to Dubrovnik. There was Schengen, and we got on the sale of Serbian Airlines, and from there it is closest to Herceg Novi.

When crossing the Montenegrin border with neighboring countries, make sure that you have all the stamps in your passport. Forgetfulness and inattention of Montenegrin customs officers is a byword even in their homeland.

➢ Transfer (from a neighboring country, please note) - € 80 ≈ 5920 rubles, round trip. When booking accommodation, you can immediately agree with the hosts about how you intend to get to them. The locals are very helpful and hospitable. They will help in any case. In hotels, this service is often already included in the price list.

➢ Apartment - 40,000 rubles for 12 days or € 44 per day.

➢ Tourist tax - € 21 ≈ 1560 rubles for two for 12 days.

➢ Car rental (excursion program) for 3 days - 5500 rubles + gasoline about 5000 rubles for a full tank (it was enough for us for 3 days of active traveling).

Our accommodation option in Herceg Novi was a compromise between price and location. They lived near the Old City. Nearby - attractions and shops ... But to the sea it was necessary either to wind through the picturesque streets, or to overcome directly about 500 (!) Steps. Tip: don't repeat our mistakes! Walking down, of course, is fun, but upstairs ... But our dad pumped up his arms perfectly, dragging the youngest :)