A country in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Montenegro borders Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia to the north, Albania to the south, Serbia to the northeast, and Kosovo to the east.
Even though Yugoslavia’s tragic civil war that took place in the 1990s has greatly affected Montenegro’s tourism, the country has managed to stabilize its situation – in 2007, the level of tourism has almost reached pre-war volumes.
As a result of the increased level of tourism, a lot of roads have been renovated and many hotels have been either renovated or constructed.
Therefore, we can expect Montenegro to treat its tourists right when it comes to traveling standards and safety – we’ll see more in regard to this as we continue our Montenegro safety guide.
Montenegro is grouped into five regions, with a total of 21 municipalities. One of them is the Bay of Kotor, considered one of the most beautiful bays in all of Europe. If you want to see more of the Adriatic Sea, then we recommend Budva Riviera, which is the main tourist drag and features historic villages, nice beaches, as well as wild nightlife.
However, let’s cut the chatter and see how safe is Montenegro for tourists!
Highest Risks You Expose Yourself to When Visiting Montenegro
Overall Risks in Montenegro: LOW to MEDIUM
In terms of safety and security, Montenegro comes with the usual petty crime and instances of violent crime – the latter usually occurs between organized criminal groups and does not usually target tourists.
Other than that, it is reported that most visits to this country are trouble-free and that tourists/ travelers don’t get caught up, so to say, in serious or life-threatening incidents.
Keep in mind that you must register with the local police of Montenegro as a visitor/ tourist within 24 hours of your arrival. Moreover, the law here states that you must carry a valid form of ID with you, such as a passport or driving license, at all times.
If you happen to be checked by the authorities and don’t have an ID on you, you risk being fined. As you have to carry your passport with you, it is recommended that you keep a copy of your passport in a safe place.
Pickpocketing and Theft Risks in Montenegro: MEDIUM
As mentioned before on our Montenegro safety guide, the only thing you should be worried about in terms of crime is petty and opportunist theft.
Instances of petty theft usually occur in larger towns, public places, tourist hot spots, beaches, public transportation, and airports.
Therefore, it is recommended that you take some basic safety measures as soon as you leave your hotel, in order to keep yourself out of trouble.
- How to avoid pickpocketing and theft in Montenegro?
In order to avoid pickpocketing and theft while in Montenegro, you should carefully read our Montenegro safety travel tips.
First of all, we recommend you use a hotel safe, especially if you have more than just a couple of documents on you. If you travel within a group, you can keep all of your valuables in the same safe.
When in the public places mentioned above, it is advised that you do not leave your belongings unattended. Moreover, when walking through crowded areas, you should keep your backpack/ bag in front of you or on either of your sides, as petty thieves can easily rob you if you have it on your back.
Scam Risk in Montenegro: LOW to MEDIUM
Is Montenegro safe to visit when it comes to scams? Well, reports for such incidents are scarce, though some tourists tell of taxi- and other usual types of scams. In this respect, you should get informed as to which the common fraud schemes across the world are.
- How to avoid getting scammed in Montenegro?
In order to avoid getting scammed, we recommend you use only licensed and metered taxis. In short, when you arrive at the airport, you should not hail a random taxi and, instead, rely on a reputed company and call one to pick you up.
For this, additional research may be required before you leave home – but it is better to have the number of a company you know you can trust rather than rely on a random taxi/ taxi driver you may stumble across.
Other than that, make sure that you get familiar enough with the country’s currency and remember to double-check the change you receive after you make a purchase.
Kidnapping Risk in Montenegro: LOW
According to statistics, Montenegro had a kidnapping rate of only 0.2 cases per 100,000 population back in 2013. This rate also represented a decrease of 66.67% when compared to 2011, when the kidnapping rate was 0.5 cases per 100,000 population.
Therefore, we can assume that no one, be they criminals or criminal groups, will try to kidnap you while in Montenegro. Still, basic safety measures are to be taken in order to further ensure your safety.
- How to avoid getting kidnapped in Montenegro?
In order to avoid getting kidnapped, our Montenegro safety guide recommends you choose your traveling areas carefully – avoid remote areas, as well as bad-reputed neighborhoods and the city outskirts.
Moreover, if traveling during the night, you should stick to the main areas of the city, specifically to the places that are well lit and patrolled by the authorities. In the case of extended traveling during the night, it is recommended that you are not alone.
Terrorism Risk in Montenegro: LOW
How safe is Montenegro for tourists that are afraid of terrorism?
First of all, don’t worry, we all fear terrorist attacks, as they are something that should be feared. Then, according to statistics and reports, there hasn’t been any terrorist initiative or attack in Montenegro in recent years.
Therefore, you should only take some basic precautionary measures when it comes to such incidents so that you are properly prepared in case something happens.
- How to avoid terrorism in Montenegro?
In order to avoid terrorism in Montenegro – even if attacks are unlikely to happen -, you should keep an eye out on your surroundings, especially when visiting places of prayer, official buildings, and areas that can get really crowded, such as shopping malls/ centers.
These are the areas that are usually prone to a terrorist attack but, as mentioned, the chances of one happening in Montenegro are quite low.
Risks for Women Traveling Alone in Montenegro: LOW
When it comes to how safe is Montenegro for solo women travelers, the answer is, as you may have expected, that the country is more than safe.
There are no local laws and customs that would make you approach a more conservative outfit – still, a decent one is recommended if you want to avoid harassment or catcalling -, and there are no reports of incidents/ violent crime towards women in recent years.
- How to avoid crime as a solo woman traveler in Montenegro?
Even the rates are low, crime can still occur. In this respect, it is recommended that you avoid traveling during the night, especially if you find yourself in remote or bad-reputed areas.
In short, you should stick to the areas meant for tourists and the city center, as these are safe even during the night. Other than that, there’s nothing else you should be worried about and, overall, you can enjoy your trip to Montenegro even if you are a solo woman traveler.
Rape Risk in Montenegro: LOW
Back in 2015, Montenegro had a rape rate of only 0.8 cases per 100,000 population. Even the rape rate seems to have stuck to this level throughout the recent years, it is surely a decrease when compared to 2008 or 2009, for example, when it was around 2.7-1.5 cases.
Therefore, our Montenegro safety travel tips recommend you take some basic safety measures in order to avoid this type of incident.
- How to avoid getting raped in Montenegro?
So, in order to avoid getting raped in Montenegro, you should approach a decent style in terms of outfit, to draw as little attention to you as possible. Other than that, we recommend you avoid traveling through remote areas, as well as through bad-reputed neighborhoods or the city outskirts.
If you stick to the places that are recommended for tourists and stay on the well-lit streets when traveling during the night, you should be free of any trouble.
Risks for People Traveling with Children in Montenegro: LOW
As we all know, having your children with you on a trip can really make a holiday more pleasant. With this in mind, you should also be aware of the fact that they can be hard to control or keep under surveillance, so to say, at times.
However, given the country’s low crime rate and scarceness or serious incidents, bringing your children with you should be as safe as a walk to the park.
- How to avoid unwanted scenarios?
As mentioned, children can sometimes be a nuisance – therefore, keep in mind that, if you are going to bring them with you, you’ll always have to keep an eye on them. Moreover, you’ll have to tend to their needs and so on.
In this respect, besides keeping them out of danger, you’d also want to prepare a proper first-aid kid for them. It should contain medicine that they might need during the trip, as well as band-aids and such.
Traveling with children doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the country you are visiting – it only means that they need more attention and caring from you than usual.
Natural Disaster Risks in Montenegro: MEDIUM
In terms of natural disasters, the most dangerous ones are floods and extreme temperature – these come with a frequency of 80% and 20%, respectively. When it comes to mortality, extreme temperature has the highest rate.
Therefore, before leaving your accommodation, it is recommended that you check the weather and news reports so that you know how to prepare for your trip.
Naturally, a first-aid kit is recommended as well as any other things that may help you, especially during extreme temperature scenarios – bottled water, head covers, and such.
Transportation Risks in Montenegro: MEDIUM
If you want to plan a long-drive trip, make sure to check the status of the local road closures, available on the Auto-Moto Association of Montenegro website.
In terms of road travel, the roads’ standard is labeled as fair to poor – their status worsens towards rural areas, or if driving after bad weather or in winter.
If you plan on traveling through the two-lane Moraca Canyon, we recommend you to be extremely careful. Here, not only the road conditions can get poor, but so can the driving standards, especially due to overcrowding.
The roads that lead to the coastal areas are usually in much better shape, so to say than in the rest of the country, but they can get quite overcrowded, especially during summer.
When it comes to traffic and driving laws, you must respect every single one you know – exceeding the speed limit by just 10kph will result in a fine, driving without your seatbelt on or while using your phone will also get in trouble, and a blood alcohol level higher than 0.3g/kg is defined as intoxication.
Night-Clubs, Pubs, and Bar Risks in Montenegro: LOW
There are no reports of incidents, minor or serious, taking place in nightclubs, pubs, or bars. Moreover, there have been no incidents of harassment or sexual violence either – therefore, you can party as much as you want.
However, we do advise you to limit your alcohol intake and to realize when it’s time for you to stop partying and to return to your accommodation.
With a little bit of care and awareness of your surroundings, you should be just fine and out of trouble!
Health Risks in Montenegro
First of all, keep in mind that, while you can find pharmacies with a good supply of medicine across the country, some of those prescribed in your country might not be available in Montenegro.
Before leaving your home country, make sure that you have enough medical supplies (including prescription medicine) – your personal stock should cover the duration of your stay as well as any unforeseen delays.
Ordering medicines and importing them by post from abroad is not legal and possible in Montenegro.
As always, we recommend you travel with proper travel health insurance and with enough funds to cover the costs of any treatment or medicine that you might have to take.
List of Vaccines You Need in Montenegro
Below you’ll find a list of the vaccines that you may have to take before visiting Montenegro. However, it is advised that at least 8 weeks before your trip, you should visit your doctor and check the latest country-specific health advice.
- Routine Vaccines – MMR, diphtheria-tetanus, varicella, polio, and the yearly flu shot.
- Hepatitis A and B
- Rabies
Most Dangerous Areas in Montenegro
There are no areas known to be dangerous or extremely dangerous in Montenegro.
Tourists across the world claim that they did not feel threatened or anything similar during their stay in the country and that, other than specific remote areas, bad neighborhoods, and such, nothing else felt remotely dangerous.
Concluding Remarks: Is Montenegro Safe to Visit?
So, is Montenegro safe to visit and to add to your travel list? The answer is, clearly, yes. The crime levels are low and the only thing that you should worry about is petty crime.
As long as you take the necessary safety measures and stay aware of your surroundings, you should come across no issues/ problems when discovering this beautiful European country.
