Montenegro

Montenegro, officially the Republic of Montenegro, is a country located in the southeast of Europe.

Roads in Montenegro are mostly below European standards. The official currency in Montenegro is the Euro. That's why it is slightly more expensive than one might expect. Still cheaper than Western Europe though. It is generally a safe country. Unlike many of its Balkan neighbours, it pretty much managed to avoid the conflicts of the 1990s, so there are few landmines or other unpleasant surprises strewn about.

Cities

 * Budva, the expensive, over-crowded, tacky favorite coastal destination of Eastern European tourists
 * Herceg Novi, coastal gateway to Dubrovnik, Croatia
 * Jaz, nice hotel/beach area near Budva
 * Kotor, the still-expensive, but more "alternative" destination of Western European tourists
 * Podgorica, the inland capital
 * Bar, nice old town, a big harbor with international connections and in case you are fed up with thumbing, there is train to Podgorica and Belgrade
 * Ulcinj, the gateway from the coast to Albania

Bay of Kotor
When crossing the country in north-south-direction, note that the ferry in the Bay of Kotor is free for pedestrians.

Border crossings

 * Montenegro-Albanian border crossing between Ulcinj (Montenegro) and Shkodër (Albania).
 * Montenegro-Croatian border crossing between Herceg-Novi (Montenegro) and near Gruda (Croatia).
 * A dude reported being asked money by his driver once that border-crossing was done . This is not general practice though.

Hitching
People are friendly here but some of the roads are really terrible and/or treacherously mountainous which means it will take a long long time to cross from south to north. Almost all the roads are 2 lanes with speeds limits at 80km/h or below. Unsurprisingly, there are many mountains (mont-e-negro meaning - black mountains) which can result in 20km taking 5 hours in a truck. But they are spectacular and well worth going through slowly.

Towards Croatia
It can be done, but the terrain poses some issues is some areas. Particularly when hitching the coast from Kotor through Herceg-Novi toward Croatia, you'll mostly be on a 2 lane road bounded by steep mountains and with little or no shoulder - so your ability to easily and safely walk roadside will be compromised, as will the ability for drivers to find a place to pull over.

The border crossing from Montenegro to Croatia is on the outskirts of Herceg-Novi. You might find that people are hesitant to drive you over the border. If you find yourself on foot at the crossing, it's approximately 1.2km (moderately uphill) from the border station exiting Montenegro to the border station to enter Croatia. Once on the Croatia side of the crossing, it's easy to catch a ride. Keep in mind, though that it's much easier done in the morning/early afternoon since traffic gets sparse in the evenings.

Towards Albania
When heading this direction, particularly from Croatia through Kotor, instead of a steep mountain right on the side of the road and little or no shoulder, you've got the sea and little or no shoulder. As you approach Albania people may ask for money more often.

Hitchhiker experiences
Li In May 2012 hitchhiked Ulcinj - Bar. Generally it is quite difficult to hitchhike in Montenegro. I was going from Ulcinj to Budva after crossing the border from Shkoder in Albania, but the bus was quite late in the evening. Was really lucky as I only waited for 10 minutes and he was going to Bar. By the way he was an Albanian descendant which probably explained his generosity. Had no such luck in Bar after trying for about an hour. Saw lots of Montenegrins tried and failed as well.

Stewgreen August 2010 Found a different experience whilst hitching inland, from Kosovo to Podgorica and Niksik to Trebinje (Hertzogovina). Only one successful ride. Seemed people were a little scared. Usually more than 100 cars would pass and then the bus would come. Saw 3 times local women quickly get rides. Was told since local people pay, they don't like to stop for people with large backpacks who are seen as freeloaders.

MrTweek hitchhiked Dubrovnik - Herceg Novi - Kotor - Budva - Podgorica - Shkoder in June 2010. He always got lifts quite quickly and was never asked for money. Definitely a good hitchhiking country. Even a lot of locals do it. The only downside: roads are bad and lifts are rather short, so not a place for fast traveling.

T Hitched around Budva area June 2009 - and even with a tall scary looking male companion with me, it took only minutes before being picked up. We also hitched up coast from Budva to Croatia in September 2009. Had some difficulties around Herceg-Novi. Hitched a taxi returning to the taxi lot at the end of the day, then paid him 5euro to pass the lot and take us all the way to the border crossing. Walked the crossing and was immediately picked up once on the Croatia side.

Jason and Kelsey hitched here in May 2008 without problem and waiting very little time between rides. It helps to be out of big towns when thumbing as people realize that public transport in the middle of nowhere is almost non-existent.

Stan hitched there in December 2008. Came in from Dubrovnik, Croatia. There are very little cars at the border and I had to hike for 3 hours through Herzeg Novi to find a decent spot to hitchhike. It seemed to be a very uncommon thing to do, but the rides I got were such extremely friendly people! One ride bought me a good lunch, another ride invited me to his family's house, treated me on dinner and I could sleep at his place!

Experience learns that it is best to ASK people directly! Also, if you are headed to the capital Podgorica, take the ferry near Kotor, it's faster and you can ask people in their cars. Since I was in a hurry I took the bus from Podgorica to Pristina, Kosovo (with connection to Skopje), it was 16,50 euro for a 7 hour ride through an epic mountain area.

Quarim hitched there in may 2008, coming from Croatia. It seems to be difficult to find someone who is willing to take you over the border. I guess that driving habits are also sometimes horrible. Two drivers stopped for me and wanted to have money, then i decided to take the Bus to Shkodër, Albania. Since the bus was not departing like it was shown in the schedule, I was on the way with two Albanian workers who stopped cars with Albanian number plates and than haggled for a price with the driver (10 Euros for 3 persons).

Banzai faced mayor problems when trying to hitchhike in Montenegro in January 2007. He tried to hitch from Podgorica to Budva (passing to Cetinhe) together with a friend. There weren't too many cars to begin with, the very few that stopped asked money (more then it would take to go with the bus) and - most striking - had three cases of cars driving on all of a sudden after they stopped and opened the doors. When we were getting our backpacks, they drove on - even with open doors!. We spend an entire day trying to get a ride, no luck. In the end we decided to take the bus to the border town, called Herceg-Novi. We pitched the tent near the outskirts of town, and tried to hitchhike to Croatia next day. Again no luck, and since it was close to the border, we got numerous passport controls by different patrols (about 6 controls in 4 hours). After 5 hours, the police wanted to get rid of us so desperately, that they drove us up to the border, and kicked us out of Montenegro.

Kutikuti hitch-hiked from Shkoder (Albania) to Ulqin as well as all the way back in September 2011. There were not many cars passing by, and he was offered a ride by only 2 drivers total. On the way from Ulqin to Shkoder, he eventually ended up walking across the Montenegro - Albania border after catching one ride and walking for about 2 hours. It is a good idea to take every ride that you can catch even for short distances.

Gallar hitch hiked from Lepetane to Tivat and Kotor (and the road back) and it works pretty well. People seems to be really opened and if you will know a few words in their language they are really impressed and they are starting to be even more nice. Hitch-hiking out from Tivat to the Croatia border wasn't easy at all. Keep in mind that if you came to Montenegro through Albania (if u have got stamp in your passport) and you are going to cross Montenegro-Croatia borders, it will be kind if you will cross them by foot. Most likely you will be searched for drugs (and then if you are inside the car, the driver and car will be searched as well). As it has been already said, the traffic is really low during evening/night. The road between borders is really winding so in case of going there at night, wear your Vest! isin: Balkans

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Montenegro Monténegro