There’s a lot of contradictory information online about shopping in Montenegro, its stores, and markets. Some claim Montenegro is practically the Mecca of affordable European shopping, a destination for tours to buy clothes, fur coats, and branded items. But is that really the case? Let’s break it down. Along the way, I’ll also share useful information about Montenegro’s retail scene. Spoiler alert: the rumors are greatly exaggerated.
Table of contents:
- Markets and Shops in Montenegro: General Information
- Shopping in Montenegro: What You Need to Know
- Outlet Stores in Montenegro
- Travel tips
It will be difficult for you to plan your dream trip to Montenegro without these websites
Markets and Shops in Montenegro: General Information
Every city in Montenegro has a food and goods market — it might be small, but it’s there. Local farmers sell produce straight from their gardens, as well as cheese and meat.
Market Hours:
Markets generally open around 6 a.m. and close by 2 or 3 p.m. After 1 p.m., there’s usually not much left to see or buy.
Important: Markets are closed on Sundays!
In addition to markets, every city has plenty of grocery stores within walking distance. Montenegro’s retail sector is dominated by three major chains: Voli, Franca, and Aroma, which have driven out most smaller competitors. Prices and product ranges are fairly similar across these stores. Personally, I prefer the bread and baked goods at Aroma.
Store Hours:
Most grocery stores are open from 8 or 9 a.m. until 9 or 10 p.m.
Important: Grocery stores are also closed on Sundays!
Good to know:
Montenegrin law mandates that employers give retail workers Sundays off. So neither markets nor grocery stores operate on Sundays. Plan ahead and buy your groceries in advance.
However, restaurants, taverns, cafes, and bakeries remain open on Sundays, so locals often spend their Sundays dining out.
Some General Notes About Markets and Shops in Montenegro:
- Haggling isn’t common at markets. Vendors might give you a small discount of 1 euro or round prices down slightly, but it’s nothing like the bartering you’d see at Eastern bazaars.
- If you ask for a discount in Montenegrin, you’ll likely endear yourself to the seller and may get a better deal or even some extra tomatoes for free!
- The magic phrase: “Dajte molim vas popust” (Please give me a discount).
- Locals buy fruits, vegetables, and herbs at markets for the superior freshness and selection, while relying on stores for other products.
Shopping in Montenegro: What You Need to Know
Let’s dive into clothing shopping specifically. The internet paints Montenegro as a center of European fashion, dethroning even Milan. Honestly, I have no idea where people get that idea. Let’s set the record straight.
The main shopping hubs in Montenegro are Bar and Podgorica.
Why Bar? It’s Montenegro’s main port city, receiving cargo ferries from Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Albania loaded with clothes and other goods.
Why Podgorica? It’s the capital and largest city, connected to Bar by the country’s only railway line — making freight transport convenient.
It is important to understand:
Bar and Podgorica do have luxury brand stores like Prada and Gucci, but their selection is modest, and prices are on par with the rest of Europe. New collections are priced sky-high, though you can find older items on sale.
Sale Seasons:
Sales follow the European schedule: February to March for winter collections and August to September for summer clearance.
Like elsewhere, Montenegro has both mass-market brands and knock-offs. Here’s how it breaks down:
- Ferries from Italy bring luxury goods.
- Ferries from Turkey carry clothing from popular Turkish brands like LC Waikiki, Defacto, and Koton.
- From Albania come goods made in local factories for Italy, Turkey, and other markets.
So Montenegro’s retail scene offers everything from Armani to Turkish knock-offs.
Outlet Stores in Montenegro
There’s not much to say here. Montenegro has two major outlet centers, both in Podgorica. You can easily spend a day at these typical European-style outlets, which offer plenty of brands and discounts of up to 70% on older collections.
- Mall of Montenegro — located near the city center, about a 10-15 minute walk
- Official site:www.mallofmontenegro.com
- Coordinates and map: 42.43207868738052, 19.263210212707477
- Delta City — said to be Montenegro’s largest shopping mall, although it’s big only by Montenegrin standards. I’ve seen much larger ones elsewhere.
- Official site: www.deltacity.me
- Coordinates: 42.437165862977736, 19.23554907932154
Travel tips about shopping in Montenegro
Here’s the bottom line: don’t expect amazing bargains or luxury fashion steals in Montenegro. It’s simply not that kind of place.
It’s hard to claim that prices here are great — it all depends on what you’re comparing them to.
My wife and I don’t shop for Prada or Gucci, so I can’t compare those prices. But we do love good sneakers. We’ve bought Nike sneakers for 30 euros in Warsaw, Belgrade, and even Bar during sales — always the same price.
It is important to understand:
Shopping in Montenegro is no cheaper than elsewhere in Europe, Greece, or Turkey. Sales happen at the same time everywhere, and outlet stores are ubiquitous. The only difference is that Montenegro has fewer options and a smaller selection. With just 600,000 residents and 3 million tourists per year, there’s no incentive to create a shopping paradise here.
For real shopping, take a ferry or flight to Italy. If you’re after mass-market brands, fur coats, or boots, head to Turkey. Montenegro is all about the sea, mountains, and food.
Below are two useful articles for the shopaholic:
- If you’re curious about gift ideas from Montenegro or want to know more about local alcohol, prosciutto, and cheese — these are definitely worth buying in Montenegro. All about alcohol in Montenegro.
In conclusion: Shopping in Montenegro exists, but it’s no better than in the rest of Europe. Prices aren’t lower, and the selection isn’t wider. Those claiming Montenegro is a shopping haven are greatly exaggerating. If shopping is your main goal, you might want to rethink your destination to avoid disappointment.
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