Italy, Montenegro’s main trade and economic partner, lies just 200 km across the Adriatic Sea. In this article, you’ll discover the best ways to travel from Montenegro to Italy, including ferries and flights. There are many nuances and details that may not be immediately obvious to tourists.
Table of contents:
- General Information About Traveling from Montenegro to Italy
- By Plane: Montenegro to Italy
- Ferries from Montenegro to Italy
- Ferry Routes to Dubrovnik (Croatia)
- Travel tips
It will be difficult for you to plan your dream trip to Montenegro without these websites
General Information About Traveling from Montenegro to Italy
As mentioned earlier, Montenegro and Italy are separated by just 200 km across the Adriatic Sea. However, if you choose to travel by car or bus, here’s what your route will look like on the map.
- Nearly 2000 km to reach Bari.
- By bus, the journey takes two full days, with two transfers, costing a minimum of €100 to €150, plus food expenses.
- Traveling by car to southern Italy involves at least 24 hours on the road, with costs of €300 to €400 for fuel and tolls.
- Find out why Montenegro uses the Euro currency but is not in the EU here.
That’s why flights or ferries are surprisingly fast, cost-effective, and far more reasonable than a 2000 km detour by land.
By Plane: Montenegro to Italy
Flying is incredibly simple:
Montenegro has two international airports — Tivat and Podgorica.
(Find everything you need to know about these airports, including duty-free shops and travel tips.)
Italy, being a vast country, has numerous airports.
As of 2025, Wizz Air offers a direct flight from Podgorica to Milan, with a seasonal route to Rome. The flight takes only 1.5 hours, with tickets starting from just €10.
For all other Italian airports, you can easily reach them with one short layover. Well-planned flights typically take around 4-5 hours. Convenient layover options include:
- Belgrade
- Budapest
- Milan
- Rome
From these hubs, you can reach any Italian airport with plenty of daily flight options.
Learn how to buy cheap tickets to Montenegro here. You will also find the optimal route today.
Check all tickets on the major platform: WayAway
Ferries from Montenegro to Italy
Good to know:
Bar is the largest and only port in Montenegro that can accommodate international ferries. It also has the largest cargo rail terminal in the country. Bar is an important logistics and trade center with Italy.
Bar to Bari Route:
- Season: July 2 to August 27.
- Ferries depart from Bar on Tuesdays at 11:00, returning from Bari on Wednesdays at 19:00.
- Ticket Prices: €78 one way (€144.40 round trip).
- Vehicle Prices: €101 one way (€186.60 round trip).
- Operators: Jadrolinija and Montenegro Lines. Check their websites for updated schedules and prices.
Bar to Ancona Route:
- In 2025, the sea route will operate from July 1 to September 10.
- Tickets start at €80 one way, travel time is about 13 hours. The ferries operate at night
- Operator: Italian company Adria Ferries.
Other routes to Italy are not planned for 2025, but updates will be made as new information becomes available.
For two adults with sleeping cabins and a vehicle, the cost of a ferry journey typically amounts to €260. This is cheaper and far faster than a long road trip — just 7-8 hours to Italy, leaving you refreshed and ready to explore.
Ferry Routes to Dubrovnik (Croatia)
In 2024, two new routes were launched from Budva and Kotor to Dubrovnik along the eastern Adriatic coast. These ferries are passenger-only (no vehicles allowed) and are ideal for those with a Schengen visa looking to enjoy the scenic Adriatic coastline. Dubrovnik is also a fantastic excursion destination.
- Budva to Dubrovnik:
- Season: June 6 to September 29, departing at 6:00 AM.
- Daily in summer except Thursdays; in September, from Friday to Monday.
- Duration: 2 hours.
- Ticket Prices: From €50 one way, €59 round trip. Children aged 3-11 pay half price, and children under 3 travel free. Bicycle transport costs €10.
- Kotor to Dubrovnik:
- Season: June 2 to September 29, departing at 17:30 on Mondays and Wednesdays.
- Duration: 1.5 hours.
- Ticket prices are the same as from Budva.
Operator: Adriatic Lines in cooperation with Kompas Tours. Check the link for updated schedules and prices for 2025.
Tips and Hacks
If you’re traveling between Montenegro and Italy, here are the key takeaways:
- Flying is an excellent, fast, and affordable option that most people choose.
- Ferry routes are limited but still available.
If you specifically need a ferry but the dates don’t work, here’s the best advice: Montenegro is a small country, and neighboring countries offer far better ferry connections to Italy.
Closest major ports for ferries to Italy (Bari and beyond):
- Dubrovnik (Croatia) — 150 km from Bar
- Durrës (Albania) — 140 km from Bar. (Useful article on Albanian ferries, schedules, and prices.)
- If you’re wondering how to cheaply and quickly get from Montenegro to Albania, there’s no need for flights or trains — they don’t operate between the two countries.
Final Thoughts:
Some people claim you should travel from Montenegro to Italy for luxury brand shopping, while others believe Montenegro produces and exports top-brand items directly to Italy, making shopping just as good locally. Find out the truth about shopping in Montenegro here.
In conclusion, getting from Montenegro to Italy is simple if you know your options. Flying is the best choice, but if you need to transport a car or bulky goods, ferries from Durrës or Dubrovnik are much easier than waiting for summer schedules in Bar. 😊
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:
- Airalo eSIM in Montenegro
- Drimsim – universal sim card for frequent traveler
- Taxi and airport transfers: Intui.Travel