Car & Van Hire in Herceg Novi

Montenegro's top seaside resort is growing in popularity as a tourist destination. Every year, more visitors flock here, attracted by its beautiful beaches and healing sea mud. If you're in the mood for a spa getaway, this Balkan city is an ideal choice. When you're not relaxing in the spa, you can wander the streets, admiring the old town and discovering more about this Montenegrin marvel.

Herceg Novi has a complicated, often turbulent past. Its strategic location, guarding the Bay of Kotor, has led to dozens of civilisations vying to hold it over the centuries. As you walk around the old town, you'll see traces of this complex history in architecture from the Ottomans, the Venetians, the Russians, the Spanish, the French, the Yugoslavians and more. In 2006, Montenegro finally separated from Serbia, gaining independence at last. This means that the old town has the air of an open-air museum, telling the history of this intriguing country.

With car or van hire in Herceg Novi, it's easy to get around. Start with a visit to the Mare Fortress, built by a Bosnian king in 1382. This mighty fortress has proved key to Herceg Novi's fortunes, changing hands many times. Today it is open to visitors, and exploring it is a fun activity for the whole family. Another intriguing old building is Kanli Kula, a huge tower in the old town that dates back to 1539. The name means "bloody tower", and it was used as a prison during the Ottoman occupation. Nowadays, it features an open-air amphitheatre and holds a number of shows, concerts and events during the summer.

Car hire in Herceg Novi is a great way to explore more of the surrounding area. Head inland to see Montenegro's canyons, which are some of the small country's most impressive natural jewels. You can go hiking through canyons like Morača, Cijevna or Piva or, if you're feeling brave, try adventure sports. White water rafting and canyoning are popular activities and are sure to get your heart racing!

Boat trips are a popular choice for visitors to Herceg Novi. Plava Spilja, the Blue Cave, is a stunning natural wonder that can only be accessed by sea. A trip across the bay can also take you to Rose, a delightful little fishing village in the traditional style, or to many of the area's best beaches. If you don't want an organised boat trip, you can hire a kayak and set out on your own adventures.

Parking is quite limited around Herceg Novi, as the town is built on a fairly steep hill. Hotels often have their own free parking facilities; if not, you may have to park in the lower part of town and walk. Do not park in an unmarked space, particularly in the summer months. Montenegrin authorities work hard to tow illegally-parked vehicles regularly, and as the country becomes a popular tourist destination, this is a real threat in summer.

Following a massive government programme to improve road conditions after independence, Montenegro today has some of the best roads in the Balkans. While potholes are no longer a major concern, there are other things that can make driving difficult. This is a very mountainous country, so you will need to be prepared for tight bends and narrow roads. Drive carefully, and avoid taking to the road at night if you can help it.

While driving in Montenegro, you will need to keep your headlights on at all times. This is a legal requirement, and you will be fined if caught driving with headlights off.

If you want to travel to the other side of the Bay of Kotor, you can take the Lepetani car ferry. This is a convenient option that will mean avoiding the Bay of Kotor road. Even by Montenegrin standards, this road is particularly narrow and twisty and is regarded as the country's most difficult area for driving. The car ferry provides an alternative way of crossing the bay.

Herceg Novi is close to the borders with both Croatia and Bosnia/Herzegovina. Many visitors like to plan a road trip across the Balkans that will take them to different countries. If you wish to cross an international border, make sure you speak to your Enterprise Rent-a-Car agent first. Some borders around here are tricky, and if your papers are not in order, you might find yourself stranded, not allowed to re-enter Montenegro.

Border crossings in this region can be extremely time-consuming. At present, none of these three states is a member of the Schengen common movement zone, though all are potential future candidates. Until then, there are lengthy border checks. Particularly in the summer months, when residents of the three countries like to travel for their holidays, wait times can be very long. If you're lucky, you'll wait 20 minutes to cross the border. If you're unlucky, it will take several hours. Get up early during peak season because border crossings are fastest before 07:00.