Car Rental in Tivat

Why rent a car in Tivat?

Tivat is a great place to visit by car. Small, but very picturesque, it is located right on the Adriatic coast and is very close to famous Montenegrin attractions like the Bay of Kotor and Lovčen National Park. With a rental car, you can easily see the rest of the country or, if your rental car provider permits it, even pop over the border to Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, or Kosovo. This is a popular option as car rentals in Montenegro are often available at more affordable rates than in nearby Croatian cities like Dubrovnik.

Top ways to enter Tivat

• Tivat Airport: The busiest of the two Montenegrin international airports, it served 1.2 million travelers in 2018. 90% of the flights take place during the summer months when Tivat Airport is served by around 25 different airlines. Located 3.7km (2.2 miles) south of Tivat city center, the airport can be reached in around ten minutes.
• Podgorica Airport: Serving Montenegro’s capital city and also known as Podgorica-Golubovci, this airport is a large hub for Montenegro Airlines and is also served by low-cost airlines Ryanair and Wizz Air. Located 88km (54 miles) east of Podgorica, the airport can be reached in about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Dubrovnik Airport: Located right on the other side of the border with Croatia, Dubrovnik-Čilipi Airport is often used to reach Montenegro. The airport has been growing as a tourist hub over the last decade and served 2.5 million travelers in 2018. Located 48km (30 miles) west of Tivat, Dubrovnik Airport can be reached in about 90 minutes. Do ask your rental car provider in advance if they permit you crossing the border between Croatia and Montenegro. It is also possible to travel by public transportation and to pick up a rental car after arriving in Tivat. Also, check to see if you need a visa to enter either Croatia and Montenegro (each country has its own unique visa policy).
• Tirana Airport: Also known as Tirana-Nënë Tereza, the airport serving the capital of Albania handled 2.9 million travelers in 2018. Most of the flights are provided by Air Albania, Albawings, Ernest Airlines, and Wizz Air, but the airport is served by around 25 other airlines (although many only have flights during the summer months). Tirana Airport is 185km (115 miles) southeast of Tivat and can be reached in about 3 hours and 30 minutes. Like with Dubrovnik, ask your rental car provider in advance if they permit you crossing the border. Also, check to see if you need a visa to enter Albania.
• Sarajevo Airport: The airport serving the capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina is served by around 20 different airlines that together offer flights to and from many European countries and also provide connections with the Middle East. Located 250km (155 miles) northwest of Tivat, Sarajevo Airport can be reached in about 4 hours and 30 minutes. Ask your rental car provider if they permit you crossing the border and check to see if you need a visa to enter Bosnia and Herzegovina.

City facts

• Much like the rest of coastal Montenegro, Tivat has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and short, mild winters. The average high temperature is 27°C  (80°F) in July, the hottest month, and 5°C  (41°F) in January. In winter, the city has more precipitation than in the summer, with November being the rainiest month. July is by far the driest.
• Like many other settlements in Montenegro, Tivat has been inhabited for nearly 2,500 years. According to some historians, the city was named after Teuta, a queen of the Illyrians who were one of the first to settle in the area (although, according to others, the city’s name comes from the Greek word thiodhos which means ‘Way of God’). Other former inhabitants of Tivat include Romans, Celts, Venetians, and Austrians. Many of them have left traces that are still visible in the city today.
• Tivat is a popular destination for yachting enthusiasts, who often visit Tivat as a port of call when sailing the Adriatic coast.

Top sights and activities

• Porto Montenegro. Parts of the Montenegro coastline have become increasingly posh over the last decade, but Porto Montenegro might still out-fancy them all. This luxurious marina and waterfront development is a place where to admire some of the most expensive yachts in Europe, dine at high-end seafood restaurants, or simply go on a long walk to appreciate the beautiful Tivat coastal waters.
• Historic Churches. Tivat is also home to several churches and historical landmarks, including the Church of St. Michael and Buca Summer House.
• Gornja Lastva. Sitting at an elevation of about 300 m (985 ft) and overlooking the sea, Gornja Lastva is a picturesque little village right next to Tivat. Made up of beautiful stone courtyards and cute houses, the village remains populated mainly by local farmers and offers a much more relaxing atmosphere than central Tivat. The surrounding mountains also offer ample hiking and climbing opportunities. Located just 5.5km (3.4 miles) from Tivat, it can be reached in about 13 minutes.
• Bay of Kotor. One of the best things to do in Tivat is to explore the surrounding villages and Montenegrin tourist areas, Kotor being the most popular. Kotor is famous for its stunning, UNESCO World Heritage-listed medieval Old Town. Kotor is less than 20 minutes’ drive from Tivat and travelers willl find many worthwhile attractions here, including the 12th century Catedral of Saint Tryphon and the Kotor Fortress. Find out more in this great guide to Kotor.
• Sveti Marko Island. Also known as Stradioti, Sveti Marko is a beautiful Adriatic island near Tivat. Located just a short boat ride away, it offers opportunities for doing water sports, exploring its large olive gardens, or simply enjoying the sun and the sea. It is not permitted to take a rental car on the boat, but you can park the vehicle near the harbor and pick it up again after returning to Tivat.
• Blue Cave. The famous Montenegro Blue Cave, or Plava Spilja, is an amazing sea cave just a short boat ride from Tivat. The cave is famous for its translucent waters and emanating turquoise glow. Visitors can access this cave via speedboat tours departing daily from Porto Montenegro.

Traffic and parking

• Montenegro drives on the right-hand side of the road.
• Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the speed limits are 130km/h (81 mph) on highways, 100km/h (62 mph) on motorways, 80km/h (50 mph) on all other roads outside built-up areas and 50km/h (31 mph) within populated and built-up areas.
• It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving.
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.03% for all drivers. Exceeding the limit can lead to large fines, a license ban, or even imprisonment. 
• Although Montenegro uses both the Cyrillic and Latin alphabets, most road signs are written in the Latin alphabet. 
• Very few gas stations in Montenegro are open after 10:00 p.m. You will find some in Podgorica, but there are almost none in more rural regions. 
• Montenegro is a very mountainous country (it has the third-highest average elevation in Europe, after Andorra and Switzerland). Even though most of the roads are in good shape and the country is generally catching up with Western European standards, it’s very important to exercise extra caution when driving along the curvy and steep mountain roads. 
• It is forbidden to overtake stopped school buses if passengers are getting in or out.
• Proof of insurance and the car’s documentation need to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
• When driving, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
• When driving in Montenegro, it is mandatory to drive with dimmed headlights on at all times, even during daylight hours and outside of tunnels.
• The police number in Montenegro is 122, the fire brigade number is 123, and the ambulance number is 124.

Toll roads

As of February 2023, there are no toll roads in Montenegro. However, there is one tolled tunnel, the Sozina Tunnel, in the southeast of the country. The toll is € 2,50 per car and payable at the Podgorica exit. 

The Belgrade-Bar Motorway which is currently under construction and will connect the Montenegrin coastline to the Serbian capital Belgrade (passing the western outskirts of Podgorica on the way) is planned to be a toll road after its completion. 

The Adriatic-Ionian Motorway connecting Trieste in Italy to Kalamata in Greece is another highway that is currently under construction and might be tolled in the future. The motorway will cross Montenegro from the border with Croatia in the west to the border with Albania in the southeast.

Ideas for day trips

• Kotor. The small town of Kotor is best known for its natural beauty. Located on the Gulf of Kotor, it has often been mentioned as one of the most picturesque places in Europe with its nature having been admired since at least Roman times. Visit the fjord-like beaches, rent a kayak or SUP, or hike the famous Ladder of Kotor. If nature isn’t enough of a reason to go, Kotor also charms its visitors with a fully-walled old town, ancient churches, and the Maritime Museum. Located just 12km (7.4 miles) east of Tivat, it can be reached in about 20 minutes.
• Lovćen National Park. The national park of Lovćen is named after the mountain in the center of it. Made up of two imposing peaks, the highest of which reaches 1,749 m (5,738 ft), Mount Lovćen was historically known as the black mountain and thus gave the name to the country of Montenegro. Challenge yourself with a climb, enjoy spectacular views, and perhaps even spend a night in an old shepherd’s hut. Located only about 35km (22 miles) east of Tivat, the national park can be reached in about 45 minutes.
• Bar. A cozy coastal city with long beautiful beaches, Bar attracts larger and larger international crowds every year. Some visitors love the place so much they even decide to stay there permanently. The city has no shortage of interesting attractions - there are impressive ruins of churches and mosques on its outskirts, and the city is also near the beautiful Lake Skadar, a protected nature area. Located 63km (39 miles) southeast of Tivat, Bar can be reached in about 1 hour and 40 minutes, with most of the road taking you right along the Adriatic coast.
• Herceg Novi. Although not as popular — and arguably not as scenic — as Kotor, Herceg Novi is a lovely, relaxing place to visit. In addition to many lovely beaches, the area has a number of other aces up its sleeve. These include the very well-preserved Herceg Novi Old Town, two stunning fortresses, the cliffside Savina Monastery, mud spas, and ancient stone hiking paths leading into the surrounding mountains. Depending on the traffic, the drive from Tivat takes 40 minutes to one hour.
• Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik is located less than 2 hours from Tivat, and makes for an excellent day trip if your car provider permits border crossing into Croatia. There are paid parking options throughout the city, which enable travelers to leave their cars and explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town, narrow cobblestone streets, and historical icons by foot. 

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car in Tivat is the Fiat Panda, although many travelers also go for the Volkswagen Polo and the Hyundai i20. The most preferred rental car types are economy, mini, and compact.

Further destinations

• Dubrovnik. Though it can be a great day trip, as mentioned above, the beautiful Croatian city of Dubrovnik, which rose to international fame when its old city was used as a filming location for King’s Landing in Game of Thrones, can also be a great destination to spend a few days or more. A truly magical place, it charms every visitor with its impressive palaces, beautiful churches, and long Adriatic beaches. Located just 68km (42 miles) northwest of Tivat, Dubrovnik can be reached in about 1 hour and 40 minutes. You’ll have to cross the international border between Montenegro and Croatia, so ask your rental car provider in advance if they permit it (in case not, you can go by public transportation and pick up a new rental car after arriving in Croatia). Also, check to see if you need a visa to visit Croatia as the country has a different visa policy than Montenegro. 
• Nikšič. Another inland destination that gets overlooked by the vast majority of visitors to Montenegro, Nikšič is the second city of Montenegro. Although better known for its industrial prowess, it can be a very satisfying off-the-beaten-path destination, both for its ancient bridges and fortresses and the proximity to sights like the Ostrog Monastery and several large lakes. The drive from Tivat to Nikšič takes about two hours.
• Skadar Lake National Park. Named after the large southeastern lake that Montenegro shares with Albania, this is one of the nicest protected areas in the country. The area is internationally recognized for its diversity and the uniqueness of its flora and fauna which includes one of the last pelican colonies in Europe. The area can be enjoyed in a number of different ways — there is an extensive network of hiking trails, the possibility of taking a boat tour, as well as many very scenic lakeside and mountain roads for a scenic drive. Located just south of the national capital, Podgorica, the drive from Tivat to Lake Skadar takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Northern Montenegro. Still largely overlooked by international visitors, Montenegro’s northern interior retains something of its rugged Balkan charm. Home to few international hotels, but instead large virgin forests, old mosques, and seriously impressive mountains, it is the perfect destination for an adventure lover. Bijelo Polje, one of the region’s largest cities, is 209km (129 miles) north of Tivat and can be reached in about 3 hours and 30 minutes. You can explore the rest of the north from there.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina. Having recovered from the damage of the war in the 1990s, Bosnia and Herzegovina is becoming an up-and-coming travel destination. There are good grounds for that, too - made up of Bosnian Muslims, Serb Orthodox Christians, and Croatian Catholics, the country boasts a rich cultural heritage. There are also impressive waterfalls and some of the most scenic mountain villages in Europe. Mostar, the nearest large city to Tivat and a fantastic destination in its own right, is 170km (105 miles) northwest and can be reached in about 3 hours and 40 minutes. Like with Croatia, ask your rental car provider in advance if they permit you crossing the border and check to see if you need a visa to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Car rental prices in Tivat

• Premium cars - from €161 per day
• SUVs - from €19 per day
• Small cars - from €12 per day
• Medium cars - from €16 per day
• Large cars - from €19 per day
• Station wagons - from €33 per day
• Vans - from €28 per day
• Convertibles - from €56 per day

Money-saving and other tips

Getting a good rental car in Tivat is significantly easier if you follow these tips:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Tivat is the cheapest in January when renting a car is about 67% cheaper than the yearly average and a whole 80% cheaper than renting in July. Start your year with a trip to Montenegro!