A little more
Montenegro.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Montenegro: what to know before you go

Montenegro is a small Balkan country on the Adriatic, where walled Venetian towns line a dramatic fjord-like bay and mountains rise straight from the coast. Inland, deep canyons, glacial lakes and old forests are only a few hours' drive from the beaches. It suits road-trippers, hikers, rafters and beach-goers who want variety in a compact space.

Where to go

• Kotor and the Bay of Kotor. The UNESCO-listed old town of Kotor sits at the inner end of a winding bay surrounded by mountains.
• Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks. A small baroque town on the bay with stone palaces and church towers.
• Budva and Sveti Stefan. Budva's walled old town and beaches make it the busiest resort on the coast.
• Durmitor National Park. A UNESCO-listed mountain park in the north with limestone peaks, glacial lakes such as the Black Lake near Žabljak, and the Tara River canyon.

Best time to visit

May, June and September are the best months for most visitors: warm sea, sunny weather and fewer crowds than in July and August, when the coast becomes very busy and hot. The mountains of Durmitor are best for hiking from June to September, and rafting on the Tara is usually possible from spring into autumn, with stronger water early in the season.

Staying online in Montenegro

Mobile coverage is good along the coast, in Podgorica and in larger towns, with 4G widely available. In the mountains of Durmitor, the Tara canyon and remote valleys coverage can be patchy or absent. Cafés, hotels and many restaurants offer free Wi-Fi. Montenegro is not in the EU, so EU roaming rules don't apply and some European plans charge high roaming fees there. Install an eSIM before you travel and switch it on when you land or cross the border.