Yacht Charter in Montenegro is not as complicated—or as expensive—as many people assume. This comprehensive guide is packed with tips and recommendations on how to charter a sailing yacht in Montenegro for a few days and embark on a dream voyage across the Adriatic.
Table of contents:
- Yacht Charter in Montenegro: General Information
- Where and How to Find a Yacht in Montenegro
- Do You Need a Skipper (Captain)?
- Sailing Yacht Rental Prices in Montenegro
- Additional Costs During Your Yacht Charter
- Travel Tips
It will be difficult for you to plan your dream trip to Montenegro without these websites
Yacht Charter in Montenegro: General Information
This guide focuses on chartering a sailing yacht for a multi-day sea adventure, typically from 2-3 days to a week. If you’re looking for a motorboat for a tuna fishing trip or a 4-hour excursion in the Bay of Kotor, this is not the right article for you. Instead, check out these helpful resources:
- Fishing in Montenegro: Offshore and Shore Fishing with a Spinning
- Boat Excursions in Montenegro
Finding a motorboat today is easy—just take a stroll along the waterfront in any coastal town, and you’ll see plenty of options. Most boat owners display their pricing and available routes right there on the dock.
Since we’ve touched on the subject, let’s mention prices. A motorboat with a 140 HP engine, including a captain, typically costs around €200-300 per day. The price depends on the boat’s size, onboard amenities, and the specific marina. Captains know all the best routes, secret caves, uninhabited islands, and hidden lagoons—you’ll get to visit as many as time allows.
However, this guide focuses on sailing yachts and catamarans, which can seem intimidating at first (and even at second glance!).
Where and How to Find a Yacht in Montenegro
You have two main options:
- 1. Major Marinas
- One way to find a yacht is to visit large marinas, walk around, check out the boats, and ask people if they know someone renting one. Ten years ago, this was practically the only way to charter a yacht in Montenegro. Here are some of the largest marinas with a variety of yachts available:
- Porto Montenegro (Tivat)
- Budva
- Bar
The Bay of Kotor has very few yachts available—it’s mostly motorboats and smaller vessels.
- 2. Online Booking.
- Thankfully, with the rise of the internet, finding a yacht has become much easier. There are plenty of resources available, including specialized charter platforms, forums, and classified ad websites.
Important:
It’s best to book your yacht in advance. This is a niche market, and the selection of available yachts on the spot is quite limited.
Do You Need a Skipper (Captain)?
When renting a yacht in Montenegro, you have two options:
- With a skipper (captain)
- Bareboat charter (without a skipper)
In Reality: 90% of travelers opt for a yacht with a captain.
The Downsides:
- A random guy will be onboard with you.
- The captain takes up one cabin.
- You’ll have to get used to their presence.
The Upsides:
- Skippers are friendly and full of great stories—by the end of the trip, you’ll likely be best friends.
- No need for a license—chartering a yacht without a skipper requires an international sailing certificate and a security deposit of €3,000+.
- Less hassle—the captain knows the best routes, marinas, and hidden gems.
- You can relax and enjoy the journey while the yacht sails itself (well, almost).
Key Consideration:
If you rent a 10-meter yacht with space for 6 people (3 cabins), one cabin will be occupied by the skipper, meaning only 4 guests can stay aboard.
If you rent an 8-person yacht (4 cabins), the skipper will take one, so 6 guests can stay on board.
Sailing Yacht Rental Prices in Montenegro
This is a complex topic. In simple terms, renting a 10-meter sailing yacht for six people (realistically, for a group of four) for a week (7 days) costs around €2,000–3,000. This is the standard market rate.
Here’s our yacht during one of our trips. It’s a 7-berth yacht, and we chartered it with a skipper for a week, with four of us on board, for €2,200.
Some might say, “That’s expensive.” Let’s break it down:
- That’s €1,100 per couple.
- You don’t need to rent accommodation.
- You don’t need to pay for sunbeds.
- You don’t need to book boat excursions—your yacht is the excursion.
For seven days, you’ll sail across the Adriatic on a dream journey. A week in Egypt for a couple often costs even more, but this experience will be truly unforgettable.
If you spend a week staying in Budva, your expenses won’t be much lower. And that’s just a typical beach vacation, where only the top layer of people gets a tan.
Additional Costs When Chartering a Yacht
Of course, yacht rental isn’t the only cost involved. Here’s what else to budget for:
1. Food for the Skipper
If you go out to eat at a restaurant onshore, you’ll need to invite the skipper—that’s the rule.
That said, don’t worry. These sea wolves are easy-going—they won’t order lobster and champagne at your expense. They’ll typically get a standard meal and a beer. The restaurant bill is simply split among all passengers.
When cooking onboard, naturally, you prepare meals for the skipper too. If you buy drinks, include the captain in your count.
2. Marina Fees
Overnight stays in marinas are at your expense. Here’s what you need to know:
- The longer the yacht, the higher the marina fee.
- For yachts under 10 meters, docking fees are typically €15–25 per night.
- Each marina has its own pricing.
You’ll need a marina stay when:
- The weather is bad.
- You need to recharge the batteries.
- You need to refill fresh water tanks.
- You need to refuel.
📌 We stayed in a marina three times during our one-week trip.
3. Fuel Costs
You won’t be sailing 100% of the time. Every yacht has an engine, and you’ll use it quite often.
📌 Our total fuel cost for a week: €80.
Our 10-meter yacht with three spacious cabins + an extra seventh berth for the skipper. This layout allows for a group of six to rent it affordably. However, yachts like this are rare and booked a year in advance.
📌 Final Cost Breakdown:
For fuel, marina fees, and the skipper’s meals, we spent an additional €300 total.
So, our full yacht charter cost for four people was €2,500 for a week—about €625 per person.
Good to know:
If you’re a larger group (6–10 people), don’t expect costs per person to be significantly lower. Bigger yachts are much more expensive, and marina fees also increase.
📌 Plan for €600–700 per person for a comfortable yacht experience.
Travel Tips
A yacht trip requires careful planning—it’s not something you can organize last minute. The most popular yachts (3-4 cabins for 4-6 guests) are booked up months in advance.
Key Tips:
✔️ You need extended medical insurance to charter a yacht in Montenegro.
✔️ Many skippers provide free additional gear, such as:
- Snorkeling masks & fins
- Fishing rods
- Spear guns for spearfishing
- Stand-up paddleboards (SUPs)
- Diving equipment (sometimes)
When choosing a yacht, check what extra equipment is available—a well-equipped yacht can make your trip even more unforgettable.
✔️ Tivat and Porto Montenegro offer the best marinas for sailors.
Final Thoughts
Yacht charter in Montenegro is more affordable than you might think. In many cases, it’s not much more expensive than a typical vacation—staying on land, visiting beaches, and booking excursions.
Yes, it can seem complex, and first-timers will have lots of questions. But the key is:
📌 Start planning early, book your yacht in advance, and let the skipper handle the rest.
This will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience you’ll never forget.
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