Coast or interior: what a year looks like in each

People who move to Montenegro have usually seen it in summer. That is understandable, but it leads to a decision based on two weeks out of twelve months.

The coast out of season

From November to April the coastal towns empty out. That cuts both ways.

The good side: quiet, empty beaches, cheaper accommodation, the sea still there, and the mountains above it at their best. Kotor and Herceg Novi in February are towns of their own.

The other side: many restaurants and shops close, choice narrows, and in some settlements very few people remain over winter. If daily social life matters to you, experience this before buying.

Tivat is the exception

Tivat works year-round thanks to the marina, the airport, and a resident population employed in the surrounding facilities. If you want a coast that does not stop in October, Tivat is the first candidate.

Podgorica

Podgorica is not a tourist town, and so it runs normally twelve months a year. It has the most work, the best health and administrative infrastructure, and the shortest journey to everything.

In summer it is hot — temperatures over forty degrees are not unusual. That is why many who live there keep something on the coast or in the mountains.

The north

Kolašin and Žabljak are a different proposition: mountains, skiing, cold winters, short seasons. Prices are considerably lower, and nature is the reason people come.

For permanent living, the north asks you to accept distance from larger centres and winter road conditions.

A practical suggestion

If you can, spend a week in February in the location you are considering, before you sign anything.

That is a cheaper check than the wrong purchase, and it is usually enough to make the decision obvious.