Croatia to Montenegro: The Most Underrated Coastal Drive in Europe
We pulled over for lunch in Slano with zero expectations. It ended up being my favorite restaurant in all of Croatia — the kind of place you only find when you’re behind the wheel.
We pulled over for lunch in Slano with zero expectations. It ended up being my favorite restaurant in all of Croatia — the kind of place you only find when you’re behind the wheel.
Crossing into Montenegro
The border crossing between Croatia and Montenegro is one of those things that catches you off guard if you’re not expecting it. You’re driving along, the coast is beautiful, and suddenly there’s a line of cars waiting at a checkpoint. The wait can be anywhere from 10 minutes to over an hour depending on the time of year and day of the week.
Once you’re through the border, the vibe changes immediately. Montenegro feels different. It’s less polished than Croatia, but in the best possible way. The mountains get bigger. The road gets more dramatic. And then you start descending toward the Bay of Kotor, and you just know you’re somewhere special.
The Right Car for This Drive
If I’m recommending a car for this route, I’d say a Porsche. And I don’t say that just because I’m biased toward the Taycan — although, yes, I am. But this drive has a lot of mountain climbs, a lot of cliff roads, a lot of winding sections where you want a car that’s responsive and planted. You want something that handles well at low speeds through towns but also feels alive when the road opens up through the hills.
This is the kind of road where you want to be low, connected, and feeling every turn. A sports car on a cliff road with the Adriatic below you — that’s the move.
The Bottom Line
The Croatia to Montenegro coastal drive is, in my opinion, the most underrated driving route in Europe. People know about the Amalfi Coast. They know about the French Riviera. But this stretch of the Adriatic — from Split through Dubrovnik, across the border, down through the Bay of Kotor to Budva — is just as beautiful, arguably more dramatic, and a fraction of the cost.
It’s the kind of drive that makes you feel alive. The kind of drive where you pull over just to stand on a cliff and look out at the water. The kind of drive that reminds you why you travel in the first place.
If you ever get the chance, take it. And do it behind the wheel. That’s the only way to feel it properly.
Written by
Tarik Bob
Founder, Seren Mont