When arriving at Dubrovnik Airport (DBV), many tourists are looking for ways how to get to Montenegro, as the distance from Dubrovnik to Kotor or Budva is less than 100 kilometres. This close proximity makes Montenegro an attractive tourist destination that can be travelled to quickly from Croatia. In this article you will find out about Dubrovnik airport transfers and all the ways to get from Dubrovnik to Kotor and other cities in Montenegro.
The cheapest way how to get from Dubrovnik Airport to Montenegro
As with any other city, the cheapest and least comfortable way to get from Dubrovnik to Montenegro is by public transport. The catch is that there are no direct connections between Dubrovnik airport and Montenegrin cities. You will have to first get to the city centre of Dubrovnik, or rather to the Dubrovnik bus station, and then buy a ticket to Kotor, Herceg Novi, Budva or any other city you need. If there is no direct route to your destination, then take a ticket to any available city (Kotor, Budva, Herceg-Novi, Tivat) and then buy a ticket to your desired destination on the spot, or you can buy it online.
You can see the schedule and buy a ticket online by selecting your required date and final station.
Official Croatian website for buying a ticket: kolodvor.hr
Or you can also buy a bus ticket on the Montenegrin website: busticket4.me
Flixbus also travels from Dubrovnik to Montenegro, and you can buy tickets directly on their website or app.
All routes from Dubrovnik to Kotor, Herceg Novi, Podgorica or Budva are direct, so you won't need to change buses.
The journey time (not counting the time to get from the airport to the bus station) will be approximately 2-4 hours (depending on the station you choose) if there are no traffic jams at the border.
Take this also into account if you will be travelling back from Montenegro to Dubrovnik airport.
It is better to leave strongly in advance, as it can take several hours to get through the border.
One-way fares start at 26 EUR per person.
Transfer from Dubrovnik Airport to Montenegro
The second best way to get from Croatian airport to Montenegro is to pre-book a transfer from Dubrovnik airport to your final destination. The cost of a transfer from Dubrovnik starts from 60 euros if you are travelling to Herceg Novi and from 120 euros if you want to get from Dubrovnik to Kotor.
If you are arriving early in the morning or late in the evening, this will be the best option, as buses to Montenegro do not run 24 hours a day.
Private transfers from Dubrovnik airport are also convenient if you are travelling as a family or as a group. You can book a transfer online on any of the websites, we recommend airportstaxitransfers.com as it offers the most attractive prices.
Taxi from Dubrovnik Airport to Montenegro
If you like to improvise and not plan your trip in advance, there is also a way to get from Dubrovnik Airport to any city in Montenegro, albeit at a higher price. After picking up your luggage, you'll find the official taxi service inside the terminal, where you can order and pay for a taxi.
If your arrival time is too late or too early, there are always a few taxi drivers at the exit of the airport who will be happy to take you to your destination. The cost of a taxi from Dubrovnik airport to Montenegro starts from 80 EUR (Herceg Novi) and the further the distance, the higher the price. A sign with current taxi prices is also posted at the exit of the airport.
The journey to Herceg Novi takes approximately 40-60 minutes (when there is no traffic jam).
Ferry from Dubrovnik to Budva, Montenegro
If you want a new experience and something unusual, you can get from Dubrovnik to Budva by ferry. This route was reopened in the summer of 2024, but it will be active only during the high season (from 1 July to 31 August). The only nuance is that the ferry is passenger only and you can't pass there with a car.
- Ferry departure point: Terminal Gruz, Dubrovnik
- Ferry arrival point: pier Marina Bay, Budva
- Price: 40-50 EUR
- Travel Time: 3 hours
- Buy ticket: ferrycroatia.com
We recommend this way of travelling if you need to get from/to Dubrovnik quickly. This route helps you to bypass large queues at the border, as in the summer season you may be stuck in traffic jams for several hours.
Car hire
If you are planning a trip to Montenegro for a few days and want to visit the main attractions of this country, it would be wise to rent a car in Dubrovnik. You can rent a car directly at the airport or order a car delivery to the airport and comfortably go to explore neighbouring countries and cities. The cost of renting a car in season varies and depends on demand. use reputable aggregators to search for car hire or contact local companies.
