Podgorica → Kotor: 25 hairpins or the coast via Budva
How to drive the famous Kotor serpentine, when to skip it and how to combine Kotor and Budva in one drive.
Two roads lead from Podgorica to Kotor, and both start at our office. One follows the coast via Budva, the other crosses Njeguši and drops down 25 hairpins above the bay. Here's everything you need to decide.
The route at a glance
Along the coast via Cetinje and Budva it's about 85 km and an hour and a half. Via Njeguši it's fewer kilometres, but the hairpins make it take as long or longer.
How to drive the serpentine
The road is narrow and single-lane in places. On the bends give way to buses and uphill traffic, use a lower gear on the descent and only stop in lay-bys.
Combine Kotor and Budva
Go via Njeguši in the morning, while the road is empty and the light is good, and come back along the coast via Budva in the evening. That way one day gives you both mountain and sea.
Need a car for this route?
DOT brings the car to the airport or your address, 24/7 — you pay only at pick-up.
Montenegro in numbers — for drivers
Six numbers DOT repeats to guests most often at hand-over. Remember them and your trip will run without fines or surprises.
Built-up areas, open roads and the motorway. Dipped headlights are required in daylight too, and speed cameras usually sit at town entrances.
The limit is so low that the only safe rule is: if you drive, you don't drink. Fines for going over are steep.
The only toll, on the Podgorica — Bar route. The Smokovac — Mateševo motorway section is currently free.
Paid zones in Budva, Kotor, Tivat and Bar, paid by SMS or at a meter. Old towns are pedestrian zones.
Rough 2026 price. Stations are plentiful on the coast; towards Žabljak and Durmitor, fill up in good time.
Police 122, ambulance 124, roadside help 19807. For anything about the car, contact DOT directly, 24/7.
Related destinations
FAQ
How many hairpins does the Kotor road have?▼
The serpentine above Kotor has 25 sharp bends. Drive it slowly, and only in daylight if it's your first time.
Is the road via Njeguši open in winter?▼
In winter the higher sections can have snow and ice. Check road conditions before you leave or take the coast road via Budva.
Can I collect the car in Podgorica and return it in Kotor?▼
Yes — a return in another town is arranged in advance, and you see the terms in the booking.