Montenegro fact file

Montenegro’s location and geography gives rise to dramatic differences in climate between the coastal areas and the mountainous inland areas. The coast enjoys a Mediterranean climate with warm dry summers and wet autumns and winters. Winters can also be cold but rarely do temperatures along the coast drop below freezing. Adriatic weather is particularly affected by anticyclones (high pressure) from the Azores and Siberia, and cyclones and depressions (low pressure) from Iceland.

Winds
The prevailing winds are the cooling summer Maestral (north-westerly) the Jugo (south-easterly) and the Bora (north-easterly). Local Boras or katabatic winds can be a problem in some areas and all Boras can rise up suddenly with little warning. It is best, therefore, to avoid any overnight stops in bays that are open to the north-east, however calm and settled the weather appears to be.

Storms
Storms can arise quite quickly in the summer with little apparent warning and in a number of weather conditions.

Sea states
Sea states can change quite quickly from one area to another with confused choppy seas often resulting from a change of wind direction and/or where two channels meet.

By air
Montenegro has two international airports, Tivat and Podgorica.
www.montenegroairports.com
Airlines
Montenegro Airlines
JAT
Austrian
Croatia Airlines
Lufthansa

For those wishing to fly in by private jet, Tivat Airport has facilities for private aircraft.

Immigration
Citizens of the EU, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand do not need a visa and can stay for up to 90 days. Citizens of South Africa require a visa.

Customs and Nautical Rules and Regulations
Vessels must purchase a vignette (permit) to use Montenegro’s navigable waters. Vignettes allow unlimited access for periods from one week to one year. Unlimited vignettes may be issued in any single year, each allowing the captain to successively alter the passenger list to four times the total compliment that the yacht is allowed to carry. To expedite clearance, a vessel may forward its crew and passenger list, along with supporting documentation, to the Harbour Master 24 hours in advance of its arrival.

Porto Montenegro is an official port of entry.

Tides and currents
Tides and currents can largely be ignored for navigational purposes with the notable exception of the mouth of Boka Kotorska.

Marinas, ports and anchorages
Porto Montenegro offers everything a superyacht owner or wintering skipper could want. The towns of Budva and Kotor have limited berthing facilities for superyachts and there are several suitable anchorages in the Bay of Kotor. Other bays along the coast such as Bigova and Valdanos are suitable in some weather conditions or for a lunch-time stop.

Porto Montenegro
www.portomontenegro.com

Bunkering
Fuel is available from Porto Montenegro and may be purchased duty and tax free under certain conditions. Fuel can also be taken on at Kotor and Zelenika by truck, and at Bar by direct feed in the commercial port.

Provisioning
An increasing variety of international brands are available in supermarkets in the main towns. Seasonal local produce, available from town and village markets, is generally of excellent quality and Porto Montenegro has a provisioner/delicatessen on site.

Beaches
Montenegro’s coastline is strewn with beaches, many of them sandy.

Fishing permits
Fishing is popular on many of the lakes as well as at sea. Fishing licences must be obtained in advance from one of the fishing association.

Diving permits
There are a number of diving clubs and associations around Montenegro who will facilitate permits and provide further information. Alternatively contact the Diving Association of Montenegro based in Podgorica.

Emergencies
Dial 112 for all emergencies.

Medical
Montenegro has a reciprocal agreement with many European countries, including the UK, for medical treatment so that visitors can be treated, free, on the Montenegrin equivalent of the National Health system in emergencies. There are an increasing number of private clinics.

Hazards
There is a small risk of rabies, particularly inland, so avoid stray dogs. Mountain climbing is better carried out in an organised group with a local guide as the weather can change quite rapidly. Bear in mind that other activities such as white water rafting may not always fall under such strict health and safety regulations as in the UK for example.

Roads and driving
A motorway is in progress but otherwise the condition of roads can be variable though traffic is mostly light except in the peak summer season along the coast. On the spot fines are made for minor offences and tourists are a prime target. Other motorists are likely to flash in warning if they see a police car in waiting.

Crime
Crime rates are generally low though it is advisable to keep personal belongings safe and follow the principles of normal common sense.

Religion
Montenegro is a predominantly Orthodox country.

Dress
The style of dress varies according to the region and is very similar to the rest of Europe depending on whether you are working in a big city or enjoying leisure time by the sea. Sunscreen, sunhats, sunglasses and plastic beach shoes are advisable, if not essential.

Events
In the summer, almost every coastal town or village has a summer festival of some kind or another. Twice a year, in a tradition that dates back to Venetian times, Kotor hosts a carnival with mask clad revellers, and in winter in the mountain regions there are skiing competitions and cultural festivals galore. Traditional home grown entertainment reflects the rich and varied culture. More details on Visit Montenegro – Events

Cruising strategies
Montenegro has a short but spectacular coastline, though with far fewer islands than neighbouring Croatia. Many superyacht owners combine a trip to Montenegro with one to Croatia and possibly Venice. Boka Kotorska and Kotor are the must see destinations, Budva is arguably the liveliest of the seaside towns and Sveti Stefan and Ulcinj are well worth a visit. If you have time to go inland and discover some of the magnificent mountainous areas and nature parks, so much the better.

Best time to go
From mid July through August, the Adriatic is very busy with holiday makers from all over the world. June and September are quieter months though the sea temperatures may be a little fresh in June.

Area highlights

Boka Kotorska (Bay of Kotor)
Frequently referred to as Europe’s only fjord, Boka Kotorska is nothing but spectacular. It’s steeply rising mountains watch over the ancient and eclectic history of the towns beneath them, notably Kotor, and circle a bay that is now set to become a world class superyacht playground once again. Porto Montenegro, open in June 2009, lies just outside the inner part of the bay, in Tivat, and is well on the way to providing everything a discerning superyacht owner could need including, with Compositeworks, a full superyacht and repair facility across the bay. Kotor itself was a city republic, a little like Dubrovnik, in the early 15th century and many powers have fought over it. The city defences, including 4 kilometres of city walls, have their origins in Roman times but were reinforced by the Byzantines and Venetians. The bay hides many delights, including a couple of gems of restaurants, and several more historic settlements. A leisurely cruise around the bay would be time well spent.

Budva
The Budva Riviera lies at the heart of Montenegro’s beach tourism. Long stretches of beaches have led to the development of a number of resorts. Budva itself, along with Risan, is one of the coast’s oldest settlements, though the old town had to be painstakingly rebuilt after a major earthquake in 1979. Nearby, the tiny rocky islet of Sveti Stefan, crowned by an equally tiny 15th century church, is probably Montenegro’s most iconic destination and now the home of an exclusive resort.

Ulcinj
Close to the border with Albania, Ulcinj is believed to be more than 2,000 years old and, though it was under Venetian rule for longer than some other Montenegrin towns, the Turkish influence is most predominant. The immense sandy beach, Velika Plaža, stretches for over 12 km to the Albanian border and, around Ulcinj, are the ancient olive groves of Valdanos, Lake Saško and the saltpans, now sanctuaries for a diverse range of birds and other wildlife.

Mountains and nature parks
If you have time, a trip inland is well worth it for the intense beauty of Montenegro’s mountain regions and also, perhaps, a little skiing in the winter.

Charter Guide Montenegro charter guide Favoured by Marilyn Monroe and James Bond in Casino Royale, Montenegro has experienced a renaissance as a luxury destination with all its historical charm and natural beauty in tact

Itinerary 3 days cruising magnificent Montenegro The coast of Montenegro, and particularly the fjord-like Bay of Kotor, is steeped in history, breathtakingly beautiful and still relatively undiscovered

Feature Porto Montenegro – a premier superyacht destination in the Eastern Mediterranean With its deep water harbour, spectacular setting and vision of being a premier superyacht home port, Porto Montenegro is becoming a destination in itself