Tivat makes a good base for a car trip. The airport is minutes from Kotor and about half an hour from Budva, so you can spend your evenings on the coast and still reach the mountains and the far side of the bay before lunch. Most of what follows is a day drive from Tivat, arranged roughly by direction. Times are approximate, and the sections that depend on current road or opening conditions say so.
Kotor and the Lovćen road
Kotor is 10 to 15 minutes from Tivat Airport by car, so it is the easiest day out. Park outside the old town walls and walk in, which keeps the car out of the narrow streets. From the old town, the serpentine road climbs toward Lovćen National Park. One description puts it at about 8 km with around 25 bends, and says it is narrow in places but well maintained. Take it slowly and pull in at the viewpoints for the view back over the bay.
At the top, the park entrance costs €2 per person and is charged soon after you drive in. The Njegoš mausoleum costs another €3 per person at its own entrance. Neither can be bought online in advance, so bring cash or check the gate’s current card options. Opening hours are shorter in winter, and the roads can close with ice and snow, so check conditions before you go in the cooler months.
Lovćen also pairs well with a drop down to Cetinje, the old royal capital, if you want the rest of the day.
Luštica peninsula
Luštica is the long finger of land on the western side of the bay, reached from the main coastal road between Budva and Tivat. A route description from the Budva–Tivat roundabout says to turn left toward Luštica, then follow the paved road through Radovići, Bjelila and Krašići to the village of Rose at the very end of the peninsula. Rose has a parking area on the left of the road.
From Rose you can continue along the other side of the peninsula to the beaches at Žanjić and Mirište, through olive groves and small villages. The roads here are narrow, so take your time, especially in summer traffic.
Luštica is quieter than the Budva coast, and the drive itself is part of the day. Bring water and food, as there is not much in the way of shops once you leave the main road.
The Budva coast
Budva is about 30 to 40 minutes from the airport on the main coastal road. The beaches south of Budva, and Sveti Stefan, make an easy half-day from Tivat. In July and August the single coastal road through Budva backs up badly, so the morning is the time to drive it. The hub guide for Montenegro suggests the same loop, so you can follow it in reverse if you want to leave the coast later in the week.
If you want to go further south, Ulcinj has a long sand beach near the Albanian border. That is a longer drive, and it is better as a full day than a stop on the way back.
Herceg Novi and the Dubrovnik side
Going west, Herceg Novi is the main town on the way, and you can reach it either by the road around the inner bay or by the Kamenari–Lepetane ferry, which runs from just north of Tivat. The ferry costs €5 for a car. The ferry usually saves time, but queues at peak times can cancel out the gain. For the crossing details, see Tivat Airport Car Pickup and Drive to Kotor or Budva.
Dubrovnik is a longer and more demanding day. Transfer operators give the drive from Tivat at around 68 to 76 km, with the Debeli Brijeg border crossing typically 5 to 15 minutes and longer on summer weekends. Check the rental company’s written permission for the crossing before you go.
Longer day trips
Lake Skadar, the Ostrog monastery and the Durmitor mountains are better done from a base further north, or as long days from Tivat if you are willing to drive. Ostrog is a cliff-face monastery that is an easy half-day from Podgorica, according to the hub guide for the country.
Practical tips for day drives from Tivat
- Start early in summer. The coastal road and the ferry queues build up from mid-morning, especially in July and August.
- Carry water and cash. The Lovćen park entrance and mausoleum tickets are paid at the gate, so have the euros ready.
- Check the weather from November. Winter tyres are mandatory in winter conditions, and chains are worth carrying on the northern mountain roads from November to March.
- Keep the rental company’s number saved. If you plan to cross a border or leave the country’s main roads, let them know first.
For the rental side, including the local companies in Tivat and what to check before you book, read Car Rental in Tivat: Local Companies and What to Check. For the airport pickup and the drive out from the airport, read Tivat Airport Car Pickup and Drive to Kotor or Budva. The wider country guide, with a one-week route across Montenegro, is at milatos.com.