01Personal safety in the city
Personal safety in the city
On public transport and in Podgorica’s shopping centres, keep a closer eye on your belongings when it is crowded. A bag or phone can more easily slip out of sight, so the main concern is petty theft.
If something is stolen, report it to the police on 122. If a bank card was in the missing wallet, contact your bank to block it. The bank prevents further use of the card, while the police take the theft report and investigate what happened.
02Going out at night and travelling alone
Going out at night and travelling alone
Podgorica is suitable for a solo visit or an evening out with the usual precautions. If you take a taxi back, choose an official operator whose identity and contact details are clear. You can book directly with your chosen company using the Podgorica taxi contacts in the practical information guide.
03Problems with tourist services
Problems with tourist services
If a tourist service differs from what was agreed, or you are charged for something you did not use, you have grounds to ask for an explanation and make a complaint. A disagreement alone is not proof of fraud. Service irregularities fall within the remit of the relevant inspectorate, while suspected criminal offences should be reported to the police.
Taxis and unlicensed transport
In Podgorica, book a car through an official taxi operator. A licensed vehicle has a roof sign, the company name and a telephone number. This makes the service provider identifiable, which also matters if you need to query a fare later. You can find the contacts of official Podgorica taxi companies in the practical information guide.
Query a disputed fare with the operator first. Unlicensed transport and taxi-service irregularities within Podgorica can be reported to the city’s Directorate for Inspection Affairs at [email protected] or its duty service on +382 67 245 799. The vehicle registration, location and time of the journey help identify the operator concerned. Include a receipt if you have one.
Accommodation and hospitality services
For a problem with accommodation or restaurant service, explain the difference between what was agreed and what you received. A receipt, booking confirmation or correspondence can help show that difference, so contact the establishment first with the documents you have. Accommodation or hospitality irregularities can be reported to the tourism inspectorate at [email protected].
Reporting suspected fraud
Suspected criminal fraud, theft or threats should be reported to the police. Call 122 or make a report at a police station. Payment confirmations, correspondence and any details you have about the service provider help explain what happened. A police report helps establish whether a crime took place, but does not itself guarantee a refund.
04Car rental
Car rental
The deposit you leave when renting a car is separate from the rental price and is a normal part of the contract. A problem arises if the agency cannot explain why it has retained the deposit, or charges for damage you dispute. The agreed terms and the car’s condition at collection and return provide the basis for resolving that dispute.
Registered agencies and rental terms
Rent only from an agency with a registered business and the required operating approval, or through the Hire And Travel platform, which brings together offers from such agencies. The contract should identify the agency clearly and set out the rental price and deposit terms. These details establish who takes on the contractual obligations and whom to contact with a complaint.
Deposits and damage charges
Depending on the contract, a deposit may be a card hold or a payment. If damage is charged when you return the car, the collection and return reports and photographs allow its condition to be compared. They help clarify which damage is being charged for and whether it was already present. Ask the agency for a written breakdown and the basis for any damage charge or additional fee you dispute.
When a card hold is released, the funds are not necessarily available in your account immediately. If the agency has released it but the funds are still unavailable, ask your bank about the remaining processing. This is different from an agency retaining a deposit. Rental-service irregularities in Podgorica can be reported to the city’s Directorate for Inspection Affairs at [email protected]. Suspected criminal fraud should be reported to the police on 122.
Comparing offers and booking support
Through the Hire And Travel platform, you can compare rental offers from verified, legally operating agencies in Podgorica for your dates. Alongside the rental price, the deposit and insurance terms show the obligations you accept with the vehicle. If a dispute concerns a booking made through the platform, contact both the agency and platform support with your booking confirmation and payment documents.
05Road safety
Road safety
Most pedestrians in Podgorica use marked crossings and follow traffic lights, although people also cross on red or away from crossings. For a driver, this means a pedestrian may enter the road even when vehicles have a green light, or along a stretch with no marked crossing. Pay attention to people beside the road between junctions as well.
06Health and weather
Health and weather
Summers in Podgorica are hot, and even a short outdoor visit can be tiring in the hottest part of the day. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures is particularly demanding for children, older people and visitors with chronic health conditions. Leave walks for the morning or evening and spend the hottest hours somewhere cool.
Drinking water
Podgorica’s tap water is generally suitable for drinking. Heavy rain can, however, cause turbidity at the Mareza source. A restriction issued in those circumstances applies to the part of the city supplied by that source, so check whether it includes your accommodation. If it does, use bottled drinking water until tap water is cleared for use again.
07Safety outdoors
Safety outdoors
Safety outdoors around Podgorica depends on the activity and the weather. Along the Moraca and Ribnica, particular care is needed when water levels are high after heavy rain. In those conditions, avoid going down to the water or entering the river. For recreational swimming in the city, there is also a supervised option.
Swimming in the city
The municipal swimming pools beside the Moraca Sports Centre have lifeguard supervision for recreational swimming in Podgorica.
Mountain trips
For a mountain trip from Podgorica, conditions at your destination matter more than the weather in the city. Mountain weather can change, and your chosen trail may be unmarked. The destination forecast and information about the trail are therefore part of preparing for the outing.
Wildfires are also possible in dry summer periods. A warning for the area you intend to visit may change your plans, so take it into account before setting out.
08Local rules and documents
Local rules and documents
Foreign visitors in Montenegro should carry a valid identity document and show it to an authorised official when asked. Which document is acceptable depends on the basis of your stay and the document permitted for entry. A photograph or copy can help establish your details, but does not replace a valid identity document.
If you lose the document, report the loss without delay to the relevant police service or your country’s diplomatic representation. Keeping its number or a copy can make obtaining a replacement easier.
09Emergencies and assistance
Emergencies and assistance
In an emergency, call 112, the common number that connects you with the appropriate service. It is particularly useful if you are unsure whether you need the police, firefighters or an ambulance. You can also call each service directly using the numbers below.
Roadside assistance and rental vehicles
For a vehicle breakdown, AMSCG roadside assistance is available on 19807. If the car is rented, notify the agency too: the rental terms determine how assistance is arranged and what happens to the vehicle. After an accident, the documents required by the agency also matter, including a police report where one is needed for the particular case.
The cost of assistance depends on the vehicle, contract and services covered. AMSCG assistance is not free for every vehicle, so for a rental car the intervention cost also needs to be clarified under the rental terms.
