Montenegro is quite a small country, so there are only two airports, one of them is Tivat (TIV), which is only 4 km from the city center. Charter flights most often fly here, so the peak of popularity of the Tivat airport falls in the summer.
Arriving at Tivat airport, every tourist, especially those who travel on their own, should know how to get from the airport to the city center, as well as to other resorts in Montenegro. Here you will find detailed and up-to-date information about all the ways how to do it as budget-friendly, profitable, and comfortable as possible. You will also learn how to get from Tivat airport to Budva, Kotor, Herceg Novi, Becici, Petrovac, and other resorts of Montenegro.
Which airport is better to arrive?
If you have a choice between two options, and you don’t know which Montenegro airport is better to fly to, Podgorica or Tivat, then definitely choose Tivat Airport (TIV) if you are planning a beach holiday. It is located on the coast of Montenegro, so even on the runway you can see a small part of the sea, and, of course, incredible mountain scenery. Even experienced pilots single out the landing at the Tivat airport as the most beautiful and bewitching.
Tivat airport timetable
If you want to see the schedule of departures or arrivals from Tivat airport, we advise you to visit the official website of the Tivat airport. It contains all the relevant information about flights, their departure / arrival times, as well as delays and cancellations.
How to get from Tivat airport to city center
Tivat International Airport, as mentioned above, is only 4 km from the city center, so if you have a small amount of luggage, you can go here on foot. In addition, you will have to go all the time in a straight line, so you definitely won’t get lost. But there is one BUT. There are practically no footpaths along the route throughout the entire journey, so we do not recommend taking this route with suitcases.
Taxi
Leaving the Tivat airport, you will not be left without the attention of local taxi drivers. They will literally follow you to negotiate, but here you need to be very careful and attentive. Drivers in their cars always want to make money with inexperienced tourists, so they inflate prices by 2 or even 3 times. And instead of 5-10 euros, you can pay 20 or even more (depending on how they have the nerve). Of course, you can bargain and they will reluctantly bring down the price for you. But nevertheless, it will still be higher than in official services.
Therefore, it is best to take care of the airport transfer in advance and order a taxi in Tivat through local or international service providers. Booking a car in advance will help you save money at least one and a half times.
In order not to throw stones at all enterprising taxi drivers, we want to note that some of them are quite conscientious, so if you managed to find one, be sure to keep in touch, as they will be able to arrange a transfer for you throughout Montenegro.
If you are traveling with a large family (5 people or more), it is still better to book a taxi in Montenegro in advance, so you will be sure that the car of the right size will come to you. By the way, do not forget to indicate how many children there will be so that drivers will prepare child seats.
Public transport
There is a public transport stop not far from the airport, but you should not flatter yourself about this, as it rarely goes there. And although you can find information on the Internet that the bus from Tivat Airport to the city runs every 30 minutes, in fact this interval is at least an hour, so waiting or not waiting is your choice.
The public transport stop is not located at the airport itself, but close to it, at a distance of about 150 meters. The exact location of the bus stop is indicated on the map.
Keep in mind that the schedule of public transport, as well as intercity buses, is purely advisory in Montenegro. Therefore, we advise you to buy all tickets on the spot, and not online, because there were cases when flights were simply canceled or they were delayed due to huge traffic jams.
Public transport will cost you €1. But, to be honest, rather than waiting for a bus, it’s better to order a taxi and comfortably get to the center of Tivat.
How to get from Tivat airport to resorts
Tivat Airport is the most convenient for those tourists who come for vacation on the coast. From here it is faster and easier to get to the various resorts of Montenegro.
For example, here are a few distractions and their distance from Tivat Airport:
- Kotor — 7,7 км
- Perast — 19,7 км
- Budva — 21 км
- Herceg Novi — 23 км
- Becici — 25 км
- Petrovac — 38 км
- Bar — 60 км
The choice of ways to get from Tivat airport to Budva and other coastal cities is small, but there is still something for every taste and budget.
It should be noted right away that there are no trains, no metro, no regular public transport as of at the moment. Therefore, from the available options you have to choose from:
- bus (from €2)
- taxi (from €10)
- transfer (from €12)
- car rental at Tivat airport (from €20)
By the way, if you decide to rent accommodation from the owners of guest houses or apartments, then some of them can also gladly provide you with a transfer, but, as a rule, for an additional fee. You can check this in advance.
Bus
The most budgetary way to get from Tivat airport to other cities is, of course, a bus. Bus stops (if you can call them that) are located near the airport, on both sides of the highway. Buses to Budva, Bar, Kotor run for about 40 minutes, but the problem is that the main flow of passengers gets off at the Tivat bus station. It's already annoying.
The second way is to go to the bus station, which is one and a half kilometers from the airport. 20-30 minutes walk and you will be there. Or you can take a taxi to the station (negotiate with the locals or call the service), and then go where you need by bus. A taxi will cost about 5 euros, don't settle for more :) Near the bus station, there is also a supermarket, a car rental service, and a new small hotel.
There is a public transport schedule inside the bus station, so you can choose the one that suits you best. As a rule, cashiers sell tickets for the next bus, but if you are going to Herceg Novi, they can also clarify which route you prefer: via the ferry or along the bay.
We note right away that it is better to go via ferry if you want to get there faster. But to enjoy beautiful views, we advise you to go towards the Bay of Kotor.
You can see the cost of tickets, as well as the bus schedule in advance on the website https://busticket4.me/. Just keep in mind that another 1 euro must be added to the price indicated on the website (bus station fee).
Buy tickets online only if you can print them yourself. Unprinted tickets in Montenegro are not accepted.
The fare on the bus depends on the distance and can range from 2 euros to 10 euros. Also, for each piece of luggage, if any, you will still need to pay 1 euro extra already on the spot, to the driver.
This method is quite profitable if you are traveling alone or as a couple. In addition, from the main bus station in Tivat you can get fast anywhere in Montenegro.
Taxi
A more comfortable way is a taxi from Tivat airport. You can either bargain with the locals at the exit (you can especially bring down the price if you speak Serbian with them), or pre-order a car through the Tivat taxi service. On average, the fare in Montenegro is 60-80 cents / km and the landing is € 1.2-2, that is, even a trip to Bar will cost you no more than 60 euros. For local drivers it will be about 2 times more expensive. Therefore, either order a taxi service in Tivat, or bargain on the spot.
There is also an airport taxi service, but it tends to have higher fares (landing 2 euros and each kilometer 1-1.25 euros)
Life hack how to save on a taxi to Herceg Novi and other cities on its side
Take a ride along the highway or order a taxi to Lepetane (ferry crossing). Usually, it will be no more than 15 euros. Next, go to the ferry on foot (it is free for pedestrians, only drivers of vehicles are paid) and there you can go to public transport Blue Line, the stop will be on the right way 50 meters away. And then for a maximum of €1.70 you will get to the city you need, be it Igalo, Zelenika or Kumbor.
Transfer
For those who like to plan everything in advance or for large families, we recommend ordering a transfer from Tivat Airport. This is sometimes even more profitable than traveling with the whole family by bus and checking in luggage for an additional fee.
At the airport you will be met by a driver holding a sign with your name. In addition, if your flight is delayed, you will not be charged an additional fee for demurrage.
Depending on the distance to the needed city, the price of transfers from Tivat will change. For example, a transfer for 4 people to Budva will cost 35-40 euros, to Bar — 60-70 euros.
Car rental
For maximum comfort, as well as for those who plan to explore not only the beaches of Montenegro, it is best to rent a car at Tivat airport. And it is best to do this in advance, so as not to find a situation where there are no free cars. The price for renting a car varies depending on the season, as well as the number of days for which you plan to rent a car. The more days, the lower the price. With the help of online services, you can pre-select the necessary model of the machine, as well as see all its characteristics. The deposit for a car in Montenegro is quite low, if you do not book through global giants such as Hertz, and may not be available at all. The required driving experience is from 2 years, as in Montenegro it can be difficult to adapt to the local driving style.
You can order a car rental at Tivat airport in many local services, the main thing is to specify the needed pick-up point and the car rental companies will deliver the car to your arrival.
If you didn’t have time / didn’t think / changed your mind and want to rent a car on the spot, then inside the airport you will see racks with several rental offices, they may have something for you, but keep in mind that the price will be quite high.
