Montenegro by bus
Montenegro has a relatively well organized bus network, whether within the country or abroad. The main hub in Montenegro is Podgorica which is also the capital of the country. From Podgorica there are daily buses to bigger and smaller towns in the country; some of the most popular are Herceg Novi, Budva, Ulcinj, Kotor and Tivat which are situated on the coast and Niksic, Pljevlja, Bijelo Polje in the continental part. The number of bus lines within the country is usually increased during the summer season, especially to and from tourist destinations.
In almost all bigger towns there is a bus station but Podgorica bus station is best equipped. It is situated in front of the railway station and it has several ATM machines, a small restaurant, a post office, a few small shops, a travel agent, wireless Internet, a place to leave your luggage...
In a smaller town, you wait for a bus at a bus stop and wave your hand when a bus comes along.
International bus transport in Montenegro
Regarding international bus transport, Montenegro is best connected with the neighbouring countries like Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, Albania but there are also departures to Macedonia, Turkey, Germany, Slovenia, Luxemburg, France...
On GetByBus you can buy tickets for the following international connections to and from Montenegro:
- From Zagreb, Split, Ploce and Dubrovnik to Igalo, Herceg Novi, Kotor, Tivat, Budva, Petravac, Bar and Ulcinj
- From Vinkovci, Vukovar, Osijek, Slavonski Brod, Medjugorje, Mostar (As well as several other BIH cities) to Igalo, Herceg Novi, Kotor, Tivat, Budva, Petravac, Bar and Ulcinj
Given the fact that Montenegro is not a part of the EU, please bear in mind that there might be bus delays due to the border crossing procedures. It is also necessary to have a valid passport when travelling to or from Montenegro.
Bus service quality
Buses in Montenegro run frequently but with regard to the quality of the buses, you can expect anything, from the new ones to the old ones. Some buses might not have air conditioning which is a downside especially during the summer months when traffic jams occur very often.
One of the disadvantages is also that not many drivers speak English so the communication might be a bit more difficult but most drivers are polite and friendly and will drop you off wherever you want or do any other favour.
Bus ticket prices
Bus ticket prices are fairly low; bus travelling within Montenegro costs up to 15 euros per person, depending on the distance. Ticket prices for buses running to the most popular destinations tend to be a little more expensive.
Bus tickets for some routes can be purchased on getbybus.com website; otherwise you can purchase tickets either on the bus or at a ticket office. Bear in mind that the official currency in Montenegro is Euro.
Ticket reservation is possible; however it might depend on the bus station and if you are a foreigner trying to reserve a ticket, it might not be easy and could result in larger misunderstandings unless you speak Montenegrin.
Depending on the carrier there might be discounts for certain categories like children, students, pensioners or the unemployed.
If you carry luggage for the hold, the price is around 1 euro per item; this applies for travelling within Montenegro. For longer distances the price might be higher.
Bringing a bike on the bus is generally not possible especially in the summer months, but to be sure you should contact a particular company; the same is also for the pets.
Although at times it is not the best one, travelling by bus is the cheapest means of transportation in Montenegro.