Montenegro, January 2024
I’ve traveled extensively around the Balkans, spending many months as a digital nomad, particularly in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Crna Gora (Montenegro). I’ve almost visited all Montenegrin cities by land transfer. However, every time I arrive at Podgorica bus station, it’s a complete nightmare! I can’t keep quiet any longer; I need to warn my fellow travelers. This is by far the Worst bus station in the World! I’m not exaggerating. I’ve never seen a worse one during my travels to many countries. I want to share my negative experiences and provide honest reviews about everything in details.
The Truth About Traveling to Montenegro
Here in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, which has been aiming to access the European Union for the past 10 years but has had no chance yet, this bus station is an absolute catastrophe! It has very poor facilities, it’s dirty, housed in a very old building from the Soviet period, and has very bad customer service.
In all developed countries, you must have a good attractive airport, a good railway station, and a good bus station, as these are mainly the first contacts with tourists when they arrive in a country and give them a good impression. It’s like this country is very poor; however, this country makes more than 1 billion euros from tourism only in the short summer season of 2023! However, the presence of lazy and incompetent individuals in the authorities, along with the pervasive corruption in society and the system to the core, are the main factors that will never lead to any minor efforts or investments in public tourism facilities. They haven’t done any small developments or renovations in many years. It’s really a shame! A country with just a population of 620,000 (almost half of them abroad), and they are in ugly poverty and lack minimum standards! Montenegro was supposed to be like Luxembourg or Liechtenstein or Switzerland… but this is impossible in this Mafia State. It will only be a dream! All these politicians are the same despite changing governments many times. They keep giving fake promises to people and lying to them; no change at all has happened! Corruption, corruption, and corruption…
Ok, let’s not talk too much about politics and let’s come back to our review about this catastrophic capital bus station.
Customer Service Nightmare: The Rude Reality at Podgorica’s Bus Station
First of all, the ladies at the counter are very, very rude to foreign customers, and even to locals. They don’t speak English at all. You are lucky if they don’t shout at you or insult you in their language (I’m serious). I’ve never seen racist agents like that, believe me, especially if you are African, Arabic, or from the Subcontinent India, so prepare yourself… This is a big problem in all of Montenegro and the Balkans, and we will cover it in other posts… unbelievably impolite and poor customer service! No hospitality at all and no little friendly or welcoming gestures! Many people in Montenegro who work in the service sector are very arrogant and possess inflated egos, and they treat tourists like a shit! In addition, they are very old ladies, they don’t speak any minimum English, they are rude and impolite! This is based on my real experience of visiting this bus station more than 10 times (And in all government institutions, you find old people and bad customer service, and they never give opportunities to the young generation to work… another problem… it’s like they like their unemployed youth spending their days from casino to casino or playing betting and destroying their future…) These ladies don’t smile at all and are terrible! I’ve never seen a major station with such low standards and poor conditions and very backward services! Don’t believe what they advertise in social media and propaganda about Montenegro just to attract tourists, but in reality, it’s totally opposite to what you find… (Montenegro, by the way, can’t be suitable at all for digital nomads, and we will cover this in other topics and the obstacles they face…)
Corrupt Practices: Challenges at Podgorica’s Bus Station
Another issue is that this bus station doesn’t accept any debit/credit cards! Unbelievable! We are in 2024, and they don’t have any POS machine. People come from all over Europe and all over the world to this station, and most of them don’t have cash at all, especially backpackers and nomads like us who use only bank cards or e-wallets… then you are forced to go to an ATM, and the ATM will rip you off with a minimum 5 euros fee, in addition to your home country bank fees, and give you a bad exchange rate. One time, I witnessed a very respected foreign man with his wife attempting to purchase two tickets from Podgorica to Kotor, but he only had credit cards and he had Cash also but he was short by just 5 CENTS only ! She refused to issue the tickets. It’s really unimaginable! This man had to withdraw money and pay for the tickets, almost missing the bus at the last minute. She was extremely rude to him, speaking with an angry voice. It was solely because he was of Indian ethnicity and she didn’t like his color of skin. She was so racist and disrespectful towards him. I was shocked to witness this, and it’s one of the many reasons why I’m writing this article. Absolutely no mercy at all! I don’t know where is the Ministry of Transport of Montenegro is to supervise all this?? I don’t understand how these people are still allowed to continue working without their performance or quality being reviewed or supervised. If it were in another country, I’m sure she would have been terminated immediately. No one is doing their job correctly! In addition to that, there is no consumer rights protection at all in Montenegro! Even if you complain or not, the outcome is almost the same. If you decide to complain, you’ll have to spend thousands of euros hiring a lawyer and navigating through chaotic bureaucratic processes, so most people just give up. Moreover, there aren’t even any CCTV cameras there. In other developed countries, they even install microphones at reception to monitor the communication between agents and customers for quality checks. But Montenegro is far behind in all of this. Corruption is rampant in this country!
Print Scam: The Ticket Troubles of Montenegro’s Bus System
The second issue is if you buy your ticket online, in all countries in the world, they accept tickets on your mobile, but in Montenegro, you are dreaming; the bus driver will not let you board and will ask you to print the ticket! Do you know how much they charge to print the ticket at the bus station in Podgorica and in all other bus stations? Guess how much? They charge you 3 euros just to print a bus ticket! Normally there is no need to print it at all because you have mobile ticket, or maximum they should charge 10 cents for printing small paper, not 3 euros !!! They just want to milk tourists like cows and profit from them… Unfortunately, there are a lot of greedy people and a lot of greedy businesses in this country, and no humanity or consideration at all! So imagine a ticket from Podgorica to Niksic costs 3 euros or 3.5 euros; then it will cost you 6 euros! Unbelievable! Total scam and fraud and ripping off tourists. And this is only a small example… I met many tourists who visited Montenegro; despite liking the natural beauty of the country, many of them said they will never come back again to this country…
Scams and Surcharges: Rip-Offs at Montenegro’s Bus Stations
The third issue is that despite all taxes of the station (almost 1 euro) being included in the ticket cost, when you go to board and you have a small bag or small luggage, the driver will ask you to pay another 1 euro for luggage! Unbelievable! This is totally illegal! And of course, cash only. I argued with the bus driver and refused to pay him for this scam again! You just need to tell him, ok, if you want me to pay you 1 euro, give me a bill (račun), and all bills in Montenegro must have a QR code and not be written by hand, and you have the right to refuse to pay according to the government. So, in this case, the driver was afraid of me, and I didn’t pay 1 euro because he knows I will complain about him. However, he ripped off other poor tourists…
When you go to the toilet, again, you need to pay 40 cents (now 60 cents) for just a dirty and old Turkish toilet style (not even a normal toilet)! You can’t even sit properly and poo comfortably! And when you wash your hands, you don’t even find proper paper or a machine to dry them! And the cleaner man in the toilet is looking at you with angry eyes and waiting for you in the corner to pay him… hell and nightmare! Normally, when you pay bus station taxes in addition to the journey cost inside the ticket, the toilet should be free… but nothing is free in this country! Even the air you breathe will charge you for it. Also, they advertise free Wi-Fi there, but no single Wi-Fi is open or free! You just need to sit in old chairs (without back) for a long time and wait for the bus to come. There are two very small shops and a pharmacy there; their prices are very expensive and exaggerated, even to buy one bottle of water. It’s better to bring your own snacks and drinks in advance, or you will get ripped off.
The High Cost of Travel: Overpriced Tickets and Hidden Fees
Now let’s talk about the buses and ticket costs. All the bus companies between towns are private buses. None are public buses! That’s why they set the prices high and profit much from tourists.
Imagine a journey between Podgorica to Gusinje, just 118 KM, costs you in Montenegro 14.5 Euro + 1 euro for luggage, 15.5 Euro!!! And in a very old van, not even a bus, it doesn’t have minimum comfort standards, minimum safety and security measures, no Wi-Fi at all, and no AC or heater in winter! An old IVECO van, maybe 50 years old from the Soviet period! The seats are not comfortable, and there’s nothing! It’s a total catastrophe! Even construction workers in third-world countries go to work in better buses than these! However, last time I traveled from Porto to Lisbon in Portugal, for 315 KM (almost three times the distance) for only 5 euros (three times less the price) on the famous Flixbus, very comfortable and very safe, with WIFI and everything! This is a real logical comparison! Unbelievable, really!
The cost difference between the poor buses in Montenegro and the comfortable buses in Europe, like in Portugal, is remarkable. No comment needed!
Montenegro’s Punctuality Problem: Late Buses Are the Norm !
Now, let’s address the issue of timing. I believe Montenegrin people have never heard of OTP (on-time performance). These buses are always super late. You can never expect any bus to arrive at the station on time, seriously. It has become something very normal in this country.
Safety Concerns: Reckless Driving and Lack of Security Measures
Now let’s talk about the reckless drivers and how they drive very fast and recklessly without respecting the rules! First of all, I would like to mention that I’ve never seen a bus driver put on his seatbelt before starting the drive !! Then expect to have a typical old Montenegrin guy, rude and who doesn’t speak English at all! Second, expect this driver to smoke inside the bus (I’m really serious and not joking)! Plus, there is no AC at all. I traveled many times in summer temperatures of almost 43 degrees, and no windows can be opened, and no AC at all, or sometimes there is AC, but it’s not working! It’s a total catastrophe! Bring with you some fresh towels to wipe your sweat! Expect this driver to play Serbian songs or folklore at a loud volume… totally headache-inducing and disrespectful!
And if he’s not playing songs, you can find him talking non-stop and flirting with a beautiful girl sitting in front, with just silicon boobs and fake Russian lips and Botox… I’m not exaggerating, but this is the actual image… maybe it looks funny, but it’s not funny at all. Or if no one is there, you will find him talking non-stop on the phone to his wife while driving so crazily and not respecting road signals and crossing red lights! You are lucky if you didn’t have an accident on these mountain roads and you’re still surviving.
Last summer 2023, there were many accidents in Montenegro in this very small country and small population: 77 people died and many were injured! And this is considered a big number, trust me. You can verify this information even on Google. The standards of safety and security in Montenegro are zero!
Locals are proud to drive very fast; they think they are in need for speed game or racing: they said we are very brave and not afraid ! What relation does bravery have to driving crazily like Formula 1 in small streets, passing one-way cars only until dying!!! And a lot of young guys, I saw them driving on the road without a driving license! I swear I saw minors of 13 and 14 years old driving daily! Unbelievable! I don’t know where their parents are or how they are educated or what they teach them at schools! I’m really wondering! Very careless and reckless. Good luck to anyone taking these buses.
Underdeveloped Infrastructure: Montenegro’s Bad Roads and Their Grim Impact
In Montenegro, the condition of the roads is terrible, despite the government’s wealth and heavy taxation of its people and residents. Believe me, I had always hard time even riding a bicycle or motorcycle on Montenegrin roads : it’s very challenging due to their poor condition. Most main roads in Podgorica and throughout Montenegro are not flat; they are hilly and have uneven surfaces ! This is often due to engineers and corrupted companies who win government bids to construct roads using poor-quality and substandard materials. Even after the roads are built, they might very quickly develop cracks and potholes, making driving difficult and dangerous.
This causes many accidents and shows a shameful lack of investment in infrastructure. It’s unclear where the money is spent, as roads stay broken and new ones aren’t made. Also, just a little rain can make the roads flood and cause chaos. Montenegro is really far behind even poorer countries and even third-world countries in this regard, and corruption makes it worse. These bad roads in Montenegro are a big problem and reflect the overall neglect and disaster in the country.
Montenegrin Traits: Bus Drivers and Corruption
I’ll tell you another funny or sad story about the driver. One time, we were on the way to our destination, and the driver stopped the ugly mini-bus (or Van) in front of a shop without even asking for our permission. He got out and went into the small shop to buy some food (bread, cheese…). I was shocked. He kept us waiting for almost 3 minutes. But what’s even more shocking is that he drove another 2 minutes and stopped the bus again. This time, he stopped by his house and delivered the items to his wife! Unbelievable, really! This only happens in the Balkans! I can’t believe that Montenegro is part of Europe with these behaviors, attitudes, and backward actions. This is all true, and they’ll never tell you about it in fake Instagram stories or YouTube videos. It’s all sincere and genuine.
Renting vs. Riding: Discrimination on Montenegro’s Roads
I recommend that tourists visiting Montenegro avoid using the old private buses for intercity travel. Regrettably, the country’s transportation system and infrastructure are still underdeveloped and has no convenient public transport. I can’t believe this in 2024; it’s like in 1924 in Montenegro… Instead, I suggest tourists and nomads consider renting a car, which could be more cost-effective. Renting from neighboring countries might offer even better options and savings. We will talk in another topic about renting car agencies in Montenegro and how they are scamming and ripping off tourists. But even if you drive your own rented car, you may face disrespect from other Montenegrins, as people may honk at you and even verbally abuse you, especially if your car has a license plate from ”poor” cities in the North like Pljevlja (PV) or Bijelo Polje (BP), rather than from famous cities like Podgorica (PG) or Budva (BD), for example. This really happened to me while I was riding in a car with my friend who had a license plate from Pljevlja. People kept bothering us and honking at us for no reason, even though my friend is Montenegrin. Unbelievable really ! This is very stupid and very sad also : there is a lot of regional discrimination and racism within Montenegro, despite its small size. I hope that in the future, the government will only use “MNE” on car plates in Montenegro, without the symbols or city codes. This would help reduce unnecessary problems related to regionalism and discrimination. I would like to mention also that Social appearances carry great weight in Montenegro and in the Balkans, and there’s a lot of fake Society. We’ll cover this topic in future posts…
Montenegro’s Path to EU Membership: Unrealistic Standards? A Far-Fetched Fantasy?
My question is, I’m really wondering how Montenegro wants to join the European Union with these low catastrophic standards! It will be a miracle, really! The European Union Commission should visit this country and stay long and supervise many small details even! I don’t want to talk about politics, but what I see from a lot of corruption and bribes and nightmare bureaucracy will never lead them to access the European Union. This Hub bus station in Podgorica is a small sample of the entire country and is total nightmare! I traveled to many countries in Africa; even third-world countries in Africa are more advanced and developed than this and have much better capital bus stations or central railway stations than this a million times! Such a shame, really!
After reading, I hope the information reaches you well and is helpful. We will continue highlighting and courageously expose all kinds of scams and challenges during travels in Montenegro and elsewhere, never remaining silent and always standing for the truth.
P.S. Check the catastrophic and real Google reviews as additional proof about my article in the following link here
Podgorica Main Bus Station in Google Maps (Autobuska Stanica Podgorica)