Planning a Vacation to This Beautiful Balkan Country? But Don’t Know Much About Montenegro? This Short Article Is for You! Here, you’ll find general and interesting facts about Montenegro to help you better understand the country, broaden your horizons, and simply get ready for your trip.

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facts about montenegro
10 Humorous Commandments of Montenegrins Reflecting the Essence of the Locals

General facts about Montenegro

Let’s start with the basics in a concise format:

  • The name “Montenegro” was given by the Venetians (from Mons = mountain, Negro = black). Locals called the region Crna Gora, which also translates to Black Mountain.
    • The word “black” in the country’s name doesn’t refer to the color of the mountains but symbolizes how hard life was here. Difficult in every sense: building houses, farming, and even transportation were all challenging.
  • Mountains cover over 80% of Montenegro’s territory.
  • The country’s total area is 13,812 sq km.
  • The population is only about 620,000, mostly concentrated in the capital and coastal cities.
  • The capital is Podgorica, the largest city by far, with around 130,000 residents.
flag of montenegro
Montenegro’s flag features a golden double-headed eagle on a red background. The national emblem is essentially the eagle from the flag.
  • The official language is Montenegrin, which is practically Serbian. It belongs to the Serbian language group, with minor differences. Learn more about the national language of Montenegro and what is important for a tourist.

Interesting facts about Montenegro:

In a 2017 survey about the language spoken in Montenegro, 42% of respondents said they spoke Serbian, while only 39% said Montenegrin. Another 15% indicated Albanian, with the remaining respondents mentioning Croatian or Bosnian.

10 interesting facts about Montenegro for tourists

Now let’s move on to fun facts that might surprise or simply amuse you:

  • While many think of Montenegro as a seaside destination for beach vacations, over 60% of its territory lies above 1,000 meters above sea level, and 82% consists of mountains.
  • Montenegro boasts four climatic zones. Along the coast, flowers bloom year-round, while in the mountains, winter often buries rooftops under snow—even though the country is only about 200 km across in length and width.
  • The Montenegrin domain zone, .me, is globally popular among bloggers. Over a million addresses are registered in this zone annually, bringing the country 300 to 500 million euros in revenue each year from domain sales alone.
  • Despite being a coastal country, locals are meat lovers. Seafood isn’t particularly popular, so don’t expect a feast of seafood dishes.
meat in montenegro
An ordinary hot meal portion typically includes 300 to 500 grams of meat.
  • The official currency is the euro, even though Montenegro isn’t part of the EU, the Schengen Zone, or the Eurozone. How is this possible? Read the article: Currency in Montenegro.
  • Montenegrins drink only coffee. Finding classic black tea in stores is difficult; you’ll mostly see hibiscus, mint, or chamomile in teabags. Order tea in a restaurant, and the waiter might say, “Drink tea at home; here we have coffee only.”
  • Almost two-thirds of the population smokes, including women, the elderly, and, of course, men. Smoking indoors in cafés, trains, and other places is common. Finding a non-smoking section in restaurants is almost impossible. Surprisingly, cigarettes aren’t cheap: a pack costs around 3 euros.
  • The Tara River Canyon is one of the five deepest canyons in the world and, by some accounts, even ranks second. Learn all about Durmitor Park and the Tara River Canyon in this comprehensive overview.
  • These humorous Montenegrin commandments, once created as a joke, perfectly reflect the local mentality. Here are a few of them:
    • “Tired of working? Lie down and rest.”
    • “No one ever died from resting.”
    • “Work kills—don’t die young.”
facts about the river tara
View of the Tara River Canyon from the Đurđevića Bridge

Travel tips: facts about Montenegro

You now have some general information. As you travel, you’ll notice that the currency is the euro, Montenegrins aren’t the world’s biggest workaholics, and they relax whenever possible. And yes, the country has plenty of mountains. If you plan to venture inland, be sure to pack appropriate clothing, even in summer—it’s often 10 to 15 degrees cooler in the mountains.

In Conclusion: I hope these facts about Montenegro have given you a better understanding of life in this fascinating country. Now you’re better prepared for your dream journey through the Land of Black Mountains!

Resources to help you plan your dream trip to Montenegro

  • WayAway: Cheap flights and best deals.
  • Car rental in Montenegro:
    • LocalRent – works with local rental companies. Leader in car rental in Montenegro.
    • DiscoverCars – a large international platform.
  • Budget-friendly vacation packages to Montenegro: CheapOair.
  • Hotels and apartments all over the country:
    • Trip.com – the most popular accommodation booking platform
    • TripAdvisor compares the prices among dozens of other booking services and offer the best price
  • Tours, excursions and activities (including extreme ones):
    • GetYourGuide – more than 800 tours
    • Viator – 1000+ excursions and activities throughout the country
  • Comprehensive travel insurance: EKTA
  • Internet and Calls:
  • Taxi and airport transfers: Intui.Travel