Croatia and Montenegro in one trip: Dubrovnik, the border and the bay

Pairing Croatia and Montenegro is one of the easiest two-centre holidays in Europe, and for me it’s the smartest way into the Bay of Kotor if you already know Dubrovnik, or vice versa. The border is short, the airports are close and the currency is the same. What you do need to keep in mind is that you’re crossing an external Schengen border, with the checks that brings.

A 20 km border

MONSTAT measures the Croatian border at 20.04 km, the shortest of Montenegro’s five. It runs along the entrance to the Bay of Kotor, in the municipality of Herceg Novi, and the National Tourism Organisation lists two road crossings, Debeli brijeg and Kobila. The country’s other crossings, by name, are in Montenegro’s border crossings.

On the other side, Montenegro opens with Herceg Novi, its old town and fortresses, which I think makes a better first stop than heading straight for Kotor. See Herceg Novi.

Dubrovnik and Kotor, 71 km apart

According to Kotor’s tourism board, Dubrovnik airport is 71 km away and Tivat’s just 8.3 km, which makes an open-jaw easy, flying into one and out of the other without retracing your steps. Doing the journey by car, bus or transfer is covered in Dubrovnik to Kotor, and the airports are compared in Montenegro’s airports.

If you’re driving on to Tivat or Budva, the Kamenari to Lepetane ferry crosses the Verige strait and spares you the loop round the bay. The official 2026 tariff is €5 per car and €2.50 per motorbike; details are in the Kamenari-Lepetane ferry.

If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Herceg Novi for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.

Checks and queues

Croatia is in Schengen and Montenegro isn’t, so the crossing is a proper border check. gov.uk mentions summer congestion at the borders and says the new EU registration of entries and exits may slow things down when you go back into Croatia. I’d cross early and never plan a flight right after the border.

For a British visitor, Montenegro has its own rules. You can stay up to 90 days in 180 without a visa, your Montenegrin days don’t count towards Schengen, and you must be registered within 24 hours, which hotels do for you. The GHIC is accepted, but only with a certificate from the local Health Insurance Fund.

How I’d split the days

With a week, I’d spend two or three days in Dubrovnik and its coast and four in Montenegro, based in Kotor or Perast with trips to Budva and Cetinje. With ten days, I’d add Lake Skadar and Durmitor, which is what really sets Montenegro apart from the Croatian coast. And if you’re hiring a car, check beforehand that the contract allows you to cross the border, remembering you’ll be driving on the right in both countries.

If you’re thinking bigger, with Bosnia, Serbia or Albania, there are ideas in Montenegro and the Balkans.

So you do not lose the morning at the ticket office, browse tickets and tours in Herceg Novi on GetYourGuide.

If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Herceg Novi for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.