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Magnificent Montenegro: An Dream Destination For Adventure Seekers

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Overview

Kotor Bay winds through southwestern Montenegro with mountainous terrain in the backdrop

Introduction

Whomever you’re traveling with, Montenegro seems to have some geography suitable for everyone. The deep blue Adriatic sea and its underwater caves, freshwater lakes, canyons or the mountains enable your entire traveling party to decide on their favorite destination spot. In a single day, an adventurous traveler can sip coffee on the Budva Riviera’s beaches, eat lunch listening to songs on Skardar Lake and later dine fireside on the slopes of the Durmitor Mountain. Since National Geographic gave the region its fair share of attention in recent years, travelers have been excited to discover one of the world’s “newest” countries.

Geography

Montenegro is a country of outstanding natural beauty ranging from the mountains in the North of the country to the breath-taking Kotor Bay and in the South, white sandy beaches washed by the deep blue Adriatic sea. Once considered a “playground for the rich and famous,” Montenegro is undergoing a revival because of its political stability, and now is one of the best times in its history to enjoy the beautiful and unspoiled country and its waters. It is bordered by Bosnia and Herzegovinia and Croatia to the North and West, Serbia to the Northeast, and Kosovo and Albania to the East and Southeast.

History

The turbulent history Montenegro left behind an invaluable treasure: numerous historic monuments and a national pride throughout the land. Montenegrin towns are rich in breathtaking architecture that stems from various periods throughout history. Through numerous events and festivals, tourists are afforded the opportunity to learn more about the traditions and customs of Montenegro–past and present.

Economy

At its core, Montenegro is an ecological state. This fact grants it one of the primary posts on the tourist maps and is what calls researchers and biologists to the region. The impressive quantity of sunny days in the summer and plentiful amounts of snow during its semi-mild winter have developed two clear forms of tourism in Montenegro: the coastal summer vacation and the ski trips in winter. In recent years, the Ministry of Tourism has been seeking an aggressive approach to increasing tourism in the country.

Factfile

Capital

Podgorica

Language(s)

Montenegrin, Serbian, Bosnian, Albanian

Currency

Euros (EUR)

Time Zone

UTC +1 Hour

International Dialing Instructions

Dial Exit Country Code + 1 +382 + The Number

Power

Voltage

230V

Frequency

50Hz

Plug Type(s)

C, F

Climate

mediterranean, hot summers, cold winters, heavy snowfall

Natural Hazards

earthquakes

Diving Season

Year Round

Tourism Office(s)

Website

http://www.montenegro.travel

Phone

+1 382 0 20 235

Police

112 or 122

Fire

112 or 123

Hospital

112 or 124

Trip Planning

Customs and Immigration

Most travelers from Europe, Australia, and the United States may enter and stay within the territory of Montenegro for up to 90 days, and may be in transit over the territory of Montenegro on the basis of a valid passport or other recognized travel document. For more information on visa and entry requirements in Montenegro, please visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration.

Although there is not a limit on the amount of currency that you can bring to Montenegro, you must declare all amounts over $10,000. Imports of cigarettes, wine, and cologne are allowed, but in limited quantities.

Health and Insurance

Most visitors to Montenegro do not need special vaccinations before entering the country. However, travelers over age one must provide a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate if they are coming from infected areas. All travelers are advised to ensure that their routine vaccines are current before traveling to Montenegro to help avoid infection. A rabies shot is recommended for any traveler involved in an activity that might bring them into direct contact with bats, carnivores, and other mammals.

Although most food and water in Montenegro is considered safe, travelers are always encouraged to bring an anti-diarrheal medication along with them.

It is recommended that all tourists purchase a travel insurance policy that will cover theft, loss, accidents, and medical emergencies. If you plan to participate in adventure sports while on vacation, please verify that your policy will cover you for these events. All necessary prescriptions along with a letter from your physician detailing your medical condition and the medication being carried with you should accompany all visitors to Montenegro.

Traveling There

Podgorica (TGD) and Tivat (TIV) are the two major international airports in Montenegro. Passengers may also fly into Belgrade, Serbia, and continue the trip into Montenegro over land or air. Most flights to Montenegro pass through two or more stops in Europe before eventually reaching the destination, and travelers are likely to fly more than one airline–such as United, Jat, Lufthansa, Adria, Austrian Airlines, and Czech Airways. There is an export or embarkation tax for all children over 2 years and all adults. The fee is payable at the airport of departure. Travelers should consider the length of the flight, mandatory stopovers, and price when selecting an airline carrier.

By land, Montenegro is accessible through any of its neighboring countries by car. International drivers will need an International Driving Permit and vehicles will need to have or purchase third-party insurance. A well-developed bus service along the coast connects Dubrovnik, Herceg Novi, Mostar and Sarajevo. There is also a minibus that travels twice each day frim Ulcinj to Albania and from Belgrade, Serbia, there are many buses that run routes to each bus station in Montenegro. By train, visitors to Montenegro can board in Belgrade, Serbia to Bar on the coast.

If you choose to arrive by boat, there are three major seaports in Montenegro: Bar, Kotor and Zelenika. At Montenegrin littoral, there are a large number of marinas offering services to small boats and medium-sized yachts. Better equipped marinas with special facilities include those at Ulcinj, Budva, Tivat, and Herceg Novi. There are ferry boats that sail from Italy to Bar and Kotor and several Mediterranean cruise ships use one or more of Montenegro’s cities as a port of call. Cruise lines that service the area include: Star Clippers, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea, MSC Italian, Thomson Cruises, Windstar, Oceania, and Lindblad Expeditions (National Geographic Explorer tours).

Traveling Around

For travel on land, regular bus and taxis services are available, depending on your preference. Car rental is also widely available. If you choose to drive your own vehicle, please note that there is a mandatory insurance of all vehicles in Montenegro, and you will be required to make a payment at the border crossing.

Ferries sail between Bar, Kotor, and Italy for those who wish to travel by sea.

Accomodations

Montenegro has hundreds of hotel options for travelers, ranging from bed and breakfast inns to four star hotels and franchised resorts. Generally, accomodations are fair to good and many lodges also offer buffet style or continental breakfasts. Please note that hotel tax of about 17% is not always included in the list price of the hotel, and travelers should inquire before booking whether or not taxes are included in the rates. There are several seasonal liveaboards available in Montenegro for those who wish to spend most of their time diving.

Local Attractions

Many of the local highlights are the historical monuments and buildings, geographic wonders, and cultural festivals. Some of the great landscapes include those of Mount Durmitor, breathtaking rafting on the Tara Canyon, biogradska gora–one of Europe’s last remaining virgin forests– and the Kotor fjord, the Southernmost in Europe.

Other Activities

Montenegro offers a range of activities aside from scuba diving. These activities include bird watching, walking, cycling, white water rafting, rock climbing, and water skiing. The geographically diverse countryside, scattered with historic towns and villages, mountains, the salt lake or white sandy beaches allow for ample changes of scenery and a fresh breath of air wherever you travel.

Dining Out

Located directly on many small secluded beaches are several small cafés or restaurants for the traveler who wishes to remain close to the shore. Cuisine varies greatly from one region to another. Table service is usual in hotel restaurants. Most places serving the local brew or other alcoholic beverages, such as grape brandy or rakija, close by 10 p.m. Common ingredients to local dishes include milk, cheese, wheat, meat or sausages, and potatoes.

Nightlife

In Montenegro, night life is vibrant with dance clubs, jazz clubs, bars, cafes, and pubs (even Irish ones). Kotor is generally regarded as a hotspot for night activity in Montenegro, however there is also much activity in Cetinje such as the cinema and opera theatre. Note that in Budva, local regulations restrict music after 1:00 a.m. Several fairs and festivals happen yearly in Montenegro including the Winter Cup, Mimosas Festival, Kotor Carniva, Budva Music Festival and more.

Shopping

Podgorica has a wide range of clothing shops and shopping centers. People from Podgorica are famous for their choosy taste in regards to fashion. Boutiques in the streets of Hercegovacka, Njegoseva and Sloboda lure shoppers in with the newest lines of suits, and shoes labeled by world famous fashion designers. Herceg Novi’s old town is renowned for its jewelry shops and artists’ galleries. There is also a movie theatre attached to a large mall in the capital. Shops in tourist resorts often stay open until midnight in high season.

Scuba Diving

Overview

Montenegro’s dive sites are located off the country’s Southwestern coast in locations such as Herceg Novi, Budva, Sv. Stefan, Bar and Ulcinj. Although water temperatures may reach into the 80s in the summer, cooler air in the spring, fall, and winter dramatically drops water temperatures to as low as 50F (10C). Wetsuits are encouraged in the summer, and dry suits are required for colder weather dives. The majority of dive sites are wreck dives, but there is plenty opportunity for artificial reef diving, cave diving, lagoon and blue hole diving as well. There are a number sites in Montengro are suitable for beginning divers, however many require advanced or expert skill levels. Marine life in Montenegro includes thriving coral, crabs, and over one hundred different species of fish.

Dive Sites

There are thirty plus flagged dive sites in Montenegro. Nine major dive sites are located off the coast of Montenegro, all accessible by boat. Plenty of thriving coral as well as other species of underwater life can be found along the ocean walls and shallow floors that aren’t much deeper than 35 meters. Generally, visibility is good, ranging from 15-35 meters, with a few claims of excellent visibility in good weather. The sea currents are part of the Mediterranean and generally move counter-clockwise. The average speed of these currents varies, but averages about 7 km per day. The fastest sea currents are between Bay of Kotor and the island of Vis, with speeds averaging 13 km. The currents towards the north (Croatian Atlantic) are slower. Waves are generally only a few feet or less.

Top Dive Sites

Many shipwrecks are located in Boka Kotorska, while other sites off the coast of Tivet or those closer inland boast underwater caves and deep sea life. The Village of Rose on the Lustica Peninsula is nearby the famous blue hole diving sites. Diving in Mikovic Cave off the coast of Bar offers views of flaming red color stone and winding caverns. The Galley is a popular site near Herceg Novi where an unidentified 16th century merchant ship now rests in a watery grave. Although some of its many treasures were plundered, other items that were recovered from the wreck are on display in the National Museum.

Special Requirements

There are no known diving restrictions or special requirements for diving in Montenegro.

Dive Operators

Diving clubs as well as private instructors hailing from a number of countries offer regular PADI, NAUI and BSAC courses and day or weeklong excursion packages for divers. Although diving is gaining popularity in Montenegro, there are still a limited number of dive operators and liveabords in the country.

Hyperbaric Chambers

A recompression chamber may be available at the Naval Base on Kotor Fjord/Herceg Novi, but please check with your dive operator for local numbers. Additionally, divers are advised to discuss, finalize, and agree upon an Emergency Assistance Plan, which includes obtaining all local medical emergency contact numbers, prior to beginning any dive. When a diving emergency arises, divers are strongly urged to follow any agreed upon Emergency Assistance Plan.

Conservation Efforts

Conservation efforts in Montenegro have been battling pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist areas such as Kotor. As per its constitution, Montenegro is an “Ecological State” and is adding to its national parks and protected areas each year.

Maps

Location:

Europe
Montenegro

Keywords: diving guides, europe dive travel, montenegro dive travel, montenegro diving, adriatic sea diving, herceg novi diving, budva diving, bar diving, ulcinj diivng Author:

Melissa Gwaldis

Related Tags: Diving Guides

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Magnificent Montenegro: An Dream Destination For Adventure Seekers

Accordion Content

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Introduction

Geography

History

Economy

Customs and Immigration

Health and Insurance

Traveling There

Traveling Around

Accomodations

Local Attractions

Other Activities

Dining Out

Nightlife

Shopping

Overview

Dive Sites

Top Dive Sites

Special Requirements

Dive Operators

Hyperbaric Chambers

Conservation Efforts

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You are here

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Magnificent Montenegro: An Dream Destination For Adventure Seekers

Accordion Content

Introduction

Geography

History

Economy

Customs and Immigration

Health and Insurance

Traveling There

Traveling Around

Accomodations

Local Attractions

Other Activities

Dining Out

Nightlife

Shopping

Overview

Dive Sites

Top Dive Sites

Special Requirements

Dive Operators

Hyperbaric Chambers

Conservation Efforts

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