Montenegro

Is Montenegro safe to visit?

Yes, with two caveats. The US State Department rates Montenegro Level 1, its lowest risk level, and the 2026 Global Peace IndexGlobal Peace IndexAn annual ranking of 163 countries by how peaceful they are, based on conflict, crime, militarisation and political instability.More in the glossary ranks it 30th of 163 countries, ahead of Serbia. Tourists rarely meet serious crime on the coast. But the roads are the deadliest in the Western Balkans, and Montenegro has more guns and more organised crime violence than most of Europe. We score it 76, below Serbia (78) and Croatia (84).

How safe are Montenegro's roads?

This is the risk most visitors underestimate. The Transport Community, which collects road statistics for the Western Balkans, counted 67 road deaths in 2025 (provisional), down from 75 in 2024. That is 107 per million people, the highest rate in the region and more than twice the EU average of 43. Deaths in 2025 were 43% higher than in 2019.

A small population makes the rate jump around, and summer visitors add a lot of traffic. Still, the roads themselves are hard. The drives to Durmitor, through the Morača canyon and over the serpentines above Kotor are narrow, with sharp bends, unlit tunnels and long drops. In July and August the coast road from Herceg Novi to Budva is slow and crowded.

Pedestrians need care too. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says drivers do not always stop at crossings, and a green pedestrian light still lets cars turn right across your path. Penalties range from 20 to 6,000 euros, and the drink-drive limit is under half of England's.

Gun crime and the Cetinje shootings

On 1 January 2025 a man in Cetinje, the historic capital, shot dead 12 people, including two children, after a bar fight, then killed himself. It was the town's second massacre in under three years: in August 2022 a gunman killed 10 people there. Police said the 2025 weapon was illegal and the attacker had earlier convictions for violence and illegal weapons possession. The government declared an amnesty for illegal guns and promised a stricter weapons law.

These were not attacks on tourists, and they do not make Montenegro a violent place to visit. Eurostat recorded 12 homicides in 2024, 1.92 per 100,000 people, about twice Serbia's rate. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary also warns that violence between organised crime groups can affect people nearby. In practice, that means leaving a bar or street where a confrontation starts.

Theft, taxis and card fraud

Petty crime is the everyday risk. Pickpockets work tourist hot spots, beaches, airports and public transport, especially in Kotor's old town, Budva and around cruise ship days. Use the hotel safe, and never leave luggage in a parked car.

Some taxi drivers overcharge tourists. Use taxis with a roof sign and company name, agree the fare or check the per-kilometre price, or book by app. At Podgorica airport take a licensed taxi from the rank in front of the terminal. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary also warns of card skimming; use ATMs inside banks.

Sea, mountains and wildfires

Beaches are generally safe, but the FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary warns that speedboats and jet-skis run close to swimmers in summer. Use designated swimming areas and follow lifeguards' flags. The maritime rescue number is 129. If you rent a jet-ski or quad bike, get a safety briefing and check your insurance covers it.

In the mountains, the FCDO says hikers have got lost after leaving marked paths; carry a charged phone and tell someone your route. Wildfires are common from April to October, and the coast is in a seismic zone; the last serious earthquake was in 1979.

Health

CDC recommends hepatitis A and B vaccines for unvaccinated travellers, and the FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary lists ticks and tick-borne encephalitis. UK visitors get free emergency treatment only with a certificate from the Montenegrin Health Insurance Fund; otherwise you pay and cannot claim it back, so carry insurance that covers evacuation.

How to stay safe in Montenegro

• Drive mountain roads in daylight, and do not try to match local overtaking.
• Swim inside marked areas and keep an eye on boats.
• Take licensed or app taxis and agree the fare.
• Leave the area if an argument or fight starts in a bar or club.
• Call 112 for any emergency and 129 at sea.

How we scored it

Conflict (85) is the strongest factor, reflecting a Level 1 advisory and a calm political scene. Road safety (66) is the weakest, based on 10.7 road deaths per 100,000 people in 2025. Violent crime (80) sits in the 1–3 per 100,000 band, trimmed for gun crime and organised crime violence. Confidence is medium because small numbers make Montenegro's rates swing sharply from year to year.