Montenegro is in southeastern Europe, on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea, between Croatia to the north-west and Albania to the south-east. It is one of the Western Balkan countries, roughly opposite the heel of Italy across the Adriatic.

Is Montenegro part of Croatia?

No. Montenegro is an independent country and has been since the referendum of 21 May 2006. It shares a short coastal border with Croatia, which is why visitors often arrive through Dubrovnik, about a two-hour drive from Kotor.

What is the capital of Montenegro?

Podgorica is the administrative capital and the largest city. Cetinje, in the mountains above Budva, is the Old Royal Capital and still holds the title.

Is Montenegro in the European Union?

Montenegro is in Europe but not in the European Union. It is an official candidate country and has been negotiating membership since 2012. It is not in the Schengen area, and it is a member of NATO, which it joined in 2017.

What currency does Montenegro use?

The euro. Montenegro adopted it unilaterally in 2002, before it was independent, and is not a member of the eurozone. Cards are widely accepted on the coast; cash is still useful in the mountains.

How do you get to Montenegro?

Two international airports, Podgorica (TGD) and Tivat (TIV), sit within an hour of most of the coast. Many visitors fly to Dubrovnik in Croatia instead and drive across the border. Ferries link Bar with Bari in Italy, and buses run from Dubrovnik, Sarajevo, Belgrade and Tirana.

Where is Montenegro?

On the Adriatic, between Croatia and Albania — and smaller than most people expect.

The short answer

Montenegro is a country in southeastern Europe, on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. Croatia is to the north-west, Albania to the south-east, and the heel of Italy lies roughly opposite, across about 200 km of open water. It is independent, has been since 2006, and takes under three hours to cross by road from the coast to the Serbian border.

The country in six numbers

Southeastern Europe

Western Balkans, on the Adriatic

13,812 km²

About the size of Northern Ireland

293 km

Of Adriatic coastline

~623,000

People, 2023 census

Euro

Used since 2002, outside the eurozone

Podgorica

The capital; Cetinje the royal one

Who it borders

Five neighbours and one sea. The coast runs 293 km from the Croatian border at Herceg Novi to the Albanian border below Ulcinj, and the whole country is 13,812 km² — smaller than Northern Ireland, and mountainous enough that the drive still takes all day if you stop.

Croatianorth-west, along the coast past Herceg Novi
Bosnia and Herzegovinanorth, behind the mountains of the Bay of Kotor
Serbianorth-east, beyond the Tara canyon
Kosovoeast, across the Prokletije range
Albaniasouth-east, at Lake Skadar and the Bojana river

Is it in Croatia, the EU, or Schengen?

Not Croatia. Montenegro voted for independence on 21 May 2006 and has been a sovereign country since. The confusion is geographic: Dubrovnik is the nearest big airport to the Bay of Kotor, about two hours away by road, so a Montenegrin holiday often starts in Croatia.

In Europe, not in the EU. Montenegro is an official candidate for membership and has been negotiating since 2012. It is not in the Schengen area, so an EU passport or visa does not automatically govern entry here — check your own nationality’s rules before you travel.

Euros, and NATO. The country adopted the euro unilaterally in 2002, four years before independence, and is not a eurozone member. It joined NATO in 2017.

Getting there

By air

Podgorica (TGD) and Tivat (TIV) are the two international airports, each within about an hour of most of the coast. Dubrovnik (DBV) in Croatia is the common alternative, then a drive across the border.

By sea

Ferries cross the Adriatic between Bar and Bari in Italy, an overnight crossing that takes a car. Cruise ships call at Kotor, inside the bay.

By road

Buses run from Dubrovnik, Sarajevo, Belgrade and Tirana. In July and August the coastal road and the two border crossings north of Herceg Novi are the slow part of any journey.

Where to start

KotorThe walled town at the end of the bay BudvaThe busiest stretch of the Riviera DurmitorGlacial lakes and the Tara canyon Herceg NoviWhere the bay meets the open sea PodgoricaThe capital, and the road to everywhere Sveti StefanThe islet on every postcard

Planning the trip itself? Read before you go for entry rules, money and driving, or browse every town we cover.

Common questions

Where is Montenegro?: Montenegro is in southeastern Europe, on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea, between Croatia to the north-west and Albania to the south-east. It is one of the Western Balkan countries, roughly opposite the heel of Italy across the Adriatic.
Is Montenegro part of Croatia?: No. Montenegro is an independent country and has been since the referendum of 21 May 2006. It shares a short coastal border with Croatia, which is why visitors often arrive through Dubrovnik, about a two-hour drive from Kotor.
What is the capital of Montenegro?: Podgorica is the administrative capital and the largest city. Cetinje, in the mountains above Budva, is the Old Royal Capital and still holds the title.
Is Montenegro in the European Union?: Montenegro is in Europe but not in the European Union. It is an official candidate country and has been negotiating membership since 2012. It is not in the Schengen area, and it is a member of NATO, which it joined in 2017.
What currency does Montenegro use?: The euro. Montenegro adopted it unilaterally in 2002, before it was independent, and is not a member of the eurozone. Cards are widely accepted on the coast; cash is still useful in the mountains.
How do you get to Montenegro?: Two international airports, Podgorica (TGD) and Tivat (TIV), sit within an hour of most of the coast. Many visitors fly to Dubrovnik in Croatia instead and drive across the border. Ferries link Bar with Bari in Italy, and buses run from Dubrovnik, Sarajevo, Belgrade and Tirana.