Saving Tips
Montenegro inherently offers good value for money — with these strategies, it gets even better:
- Take advantage of the off-season: May/June and September/October offer perfect weather at prices 30–50% below the high season (July/August). Many hotels have special offers during this time.
- Apartments instead of hotels: On Booking.com and local portals, you can find apartments with kitchens from 30€/night. Cooking for yourself saves a lot — markets and supermarkets (Voli, Idea) are inexpensive.
- Street Food: Ćevapi (4–5 pieces for 3€), Burek (Börek, 1.50–2€), and Pljeskavica (grilled minced steak burger, 3–4€) are filling, delicious, and ubiquitous.
- Tap water on the coast: In most coastal towns, tap water is drinkable — a refillable bottle saves a lot of money over the trip.
- Buses instead of taxis: The bus network is cheap and connects all tourist spots. Kotor–Budva: 3€ by bus, 15–20€ by taxi.
- Free beaches: Most Montenegrin beaches are freely accessible. The paid beach clubs with loungers (5–15€ per lounger) are optional — there is almost always a free beach section next to them.
- Kotor Fortress in the afternoon: The climb to the San Giovanni Fortress costs 8€ entrance during the day. In the off-season and from late afternoon, access is often free — and the light is better anyway.
- Wine from the winery: Montenegrin wine (especially Vranac) is dirt cheap directly from the producer — a bottle from 3–5€. In restaurants, you pay three times as much.
