Where is Montenegro? Your Ultimate Guide to Croatia’s tiny Neighbor

Montenegro is one of Europe’s smallest countries with a population of just 610,000 (similar to Luxemburg). In total, it occupies a land area of 13,812 km2, a similar area as the Netherlands but with much fewer inhabitants.

History and Montenegrin Culture

Montenegrin culture and Montenegro’s history are heavily influenced by neighboring Serbia, the Ottomans, and Italy. The Venetians ruled over large parts of Coastal Montenegro for almost 400 years from 1420 to 1797. The coastal town of Kotor is probably the best testament to this time.

source: Montenegro Travel

The southern coastal region around ‘Ulcinj’ borders Albania and is dominated by an ethnic Albanian population. Albanians are for the most part Muslim, a relic of former Ottoman rule. While the Venetians were ruling over the northern coast, the South East of Montenegro was controled by the Ottoman Empire.

Centuries of foreign influence has left its footprint on the Montenegrin state. Today, there are three main ethnic groups in the country that live peacefully together: the Orthodox Montenegrins and Serbs, Catholics, and Muslims.

The Montenegrin coast (also known as southern Montenegro) is beautiful and diverse. Since Montenegro’s independence in 2006, Montenegro has developed one of the fastest-growing tourism sectors in the world. Roughly twenty percent of the Montenegrin economy consists of tourism.

Talks about EU membership

Milo Djukanovic has dominated Montenegrin politics since the fall of the Yugoslav Republic. He was one of the initiators of Montenegrin independence and set the country on path to EU membership. He is however a controversial figure with apparent ties to criminal structures and has been trialed for cigarette smuggling.

His party, the ‘Democratic Party of Socialists’ lost heavily in the last presidential and parliamentary elections. The up-and-coming political parties have affirmed the western course of Montenegro and eyed accession to the European Union within the next five years or so.

As things stand now, Montenegro will probably be joining the Union before its ultimate neighbors: Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania, and Bosnia. The delegation of the European Parliament comes to Montenegro once a year for meetings of the Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee.

Where is Montenegro in Europe?

Montenegro lies geographically in Southeastern Europe on the Western Balkan Peninsula. It borders Croatia to its north, Albania to its south, and Bosnia and Hercegovina, Serbia, and Kosovo to its east. It is situated on the shores of the Adriatic Sea, opposite to southern Italy.

Geographically speaking, Montenegro is situated in the Balkan region, the stretch of land that connects the Adriatic Coast to the Black Sea, from the Alps to the Turkish Strait.

source: Encyclopedia Britannica

Which country does Montenegro belong to?

Montenegro has been an independent country since 2006 when it split from a State Union with Serbia. The independence referendum was supported by just 55% of the population. There is a large Serb minority in Montenegro making up about one third of the population. From 1945 to 1991, Montenegro was part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY).

source: ICTY

In the centuries preceeding World War II, Montenegro has been mostly governed by larger European and Asian powers such as the Venetians, the Ottoman Empire, and Austria-Hungary. However, the country’s core around the old royal capital of ‘Cetinje’ remained mostly unconquered.

Old Montenegro’s historical center around Cetinje and Mount Lovcen has served as a stronghold against invading Ottoman forces for centuries. This part of, Montenegro was never subjugated. Today, the descendants of the royal capital of Cetinje are a proud faction of the population with an elevated sense of pride and devotion to their country.

Is Montenegro in Asia or Europe?

Montenegro is located in Southeastern Europe. Asia starts in Turkey which is about 1,000 kilometers east from Montenegro.

source: Britannica

What language is spoken in Montenegro?

The official language in Montenegro is the Montenegrin language, a language that is almost identical to Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian. In fact, many linguists consider those languages to be interchangeable variants of the Shtokavian Dialect.

If you are interested in the details of the Montenegrin Language, you can find more details in our dedicated post on that topic.

Is Montenegro safe?

Montenegro is a safe country with no major safety threats. Every year, more than two million tourists arrive in Montenegro to spend their holidays. It is a tiny country that has good relations with its neighbors.

Is Montenegro safe? – If you want to read our comprehensive guide about traveler’s safety in Montenegro, click on the link above. 

Montenegro Capital

Podgorica is Montenegro’s capital and is also the country’s largest city with a population of 210,000 people. Montenegro in total has only 620,000 inhabitants.

source: Wikipedia

During socialist rule under Marshall Tito (1946 – 1992), Podgorica was called ‘Titograd’ in honor of the Yugoslav politician. The city was almost totally destroyed during the Second World War and in the years following the war had a population of just 15,000.

Most of the city’s develeopment happened in the decades under socialist rule. Podgorica is not a touristy city: there are not many historical landmarks. What makes it stand out is its geography. Podgorica is located 15 kilometers north of Lake Skadar and has 6 rivers flowing through it.

Today, Podgorica is the dynamic administrative and economic center of Montenegro. All embassies are here and most of the country’s GDP is generated by its population. Podgorica is growing year in and year out. Many Montenegrins, especially from Northern Montenegro, move to Podgorica in search for a better life.

Montenegro Cities

If we use the definition of the US Census Bureau, cities have a population of at least 50,000 people. In Montenegro there are two settlements that have a poplation greater than 50,000: Podgorica and Niksic.

Podgorica is the political and economic center of Montenegro while Niksic is a former industrial city with a current populaiton of 56.000.