With the dramatic bay of Kotor and a number of medieval cities along its coast, yacht charter Montenegro is definitely one of the latest stars of the Adriatic, becoming an increasingly popular yacht charter destination. This is mainly due to the fact that was inaccessible for a long time but also to its rugged beauty. With lots of quality beaches that seem to never be crowded, it's no wonder that an increasing number of people choose this country for a quiet holiday off the beaten path.
General Info
Tourism in Montenegro is still recovering following the war in the 1990s, but improvements are speedy and the country is quickly turning into a lovely, albeit somewhat costly destination for sailing or motor yacht charter. The country features a unique position along the coast of the Adriatic Sea in between Croatia, Serbia and Albania, some of the cleanest beaches and waters in this part of the Mediterranean and an exciting nightlife.
Probably one of the most beautiful sailing territories for when you come here on a boat rental is the Bay of Kotor that many consider to be one of the most beautiful in Europe. Apart from its legendary beauty, Kotor is the longest fjord in southern Europe and home to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Kotor, Budva and Ulcinj - all wonderful spots to come to on a sailing holiday.
The fastest and most comfortable way to come here would be by plane but you could also drive here, just keep in mind that much of the infrastructure is still undergoing major reparations. By train would be another option since Montenegro has overnight trains leaving from all neighbouring countries, all for fairly small prices too. By ferry, you can get into Montenegro from Bari and Ancona in Italy.
Law & Order
The increasing number of tourists is turning Montenegro into the holiday destination it was before the war, which in turn is shaping the legislation and bureaucracy concerning foreign tourists. Visitors from countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States and Europe may enter and stay in Montenegro for 3 months with just a valid travel document, while nationals from countries from the former Soviet bloc and Russia need a tourist visa in order to enter and stay in Montenegro.
For yacht charter skippers, additional paperwork is required. As usual, after entry one must head immediately to a port of entry (Bar, Budva, Kotor, Risan or Zelenika) with the ship´s registration documents, a valid skipper license (certificate of competence), a crew list, a list of boat equipment and clearance from the last port of call.
Alternatively, you can expect your boat to be intercepted by naval crafts patrolling the waters. In order for this to go down smoothly, you should monitor VHF channel 16 at all times and when contacted give out the required information such as the name of the ship, flag, international call sign, last port of call and destination.
In order to sail your yacht in Montenegro a license is required - that includes charter boats. This is issued upon entry in the country and is quite expensive after the tax for this rose dramatically at the end of 2008. The cruising permit is issued for 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months or a year, with prices varying accordingly, regardless of whether you own the boat or charter it.