Europe > Montenegro > Podgorica (TGD)
The Car or no Car advice for Podgorica can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Podgorica ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Podgorica ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Podgorica?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.🚗 Advantages of Renting a Car
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Easy access to Montenegro’s highlights 🗺️
Lake Skadar, the Moraca Canyon, Cetinje, and the coast are all far easier to reach by car. -
Flexible regional travel 🌍
Podgorica works well as a base for day trips in multiple directions. -
Straightforward driving 🚦
Roads are generally good, traffic is light, and distances are short. -
Time efficiency ⏱️
A car avoids bus timetables and slow connections when heading into nature.
🚧 Disadvantages of Renting a Car
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Compact city centre 🚶
Central Podgorica is easy to walk and doesn’t require driving. -
Limited sightseeing within the city ⚠️
The main appeal lies outside Podgorica rather than within it. -
Affordable taxis 🚕
Taxis are inexpensive and practical for short urban journeys. -
Parking in central areas 🅿️
While not severe, parking can be awkward in the busiest streets.
Getting to Podgorica (TGD) ✈️🚗
Podgorica Airport has a good range of low-cost flights, which makes it one of the most flexible entry points into Montenegro. Carriers such as Ryanair and Wizz Air provide regular services from across Europe, often making Podgorica cheaper and easier to reach than coastal airports. What it lacks, however, is depth in legacy scheduled carriers, especially compared with peak-season resort airports.
By contrast, Tivat Airport (IATA TIV) tends to have a stronger mix of scheduled flights from legacy airlines, reflecting its role as a coastal and leisure gateway. That said, overall Podgorica still offers more choice, particularly if you’re flexible on airlines or travelling outside the height of summer. If you do fly into Tivat, buses run between Tivat and Podgorica city centres, but there are no direct airport-to-airport services — you need to go into Tivat town first and change.
A more outlying but sometimes very attractive alternative is Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik Airport has a far wider international network, including direct flights from as far afield as New York (Newark). From Dubrovnik Airport, you can rent a car and drive into Montenegro, allowing around three hours to reach Podgorica depending on traffic and border conditions. This option makes sense if flight availability or pricing into Montenegro itself is limited.
✅ Conclusion — should you rent a car in Podgorica
If your plans are mostly urban, renting a car is optional, and walking plus taxis will cover your needs 🚶🚕.
If you want to explore Montenegro beyond the capital, renting a car is highly recommended 🚗.
In short: Podgorica itself doesn’t demand a car, but Montenegro absolutely rewards having one 🌄🌍.
