Fly into Dubrovnik, Drive to the Riviera
Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) often has wider international connections and cheaper flights than Tivat or Podgorica. The trade-off is distance: roughly 2.5 hours of driving to reach Budva. The upside? That drive follows one of Europe's most spectacular coastal roads.
Cross-border rental is straightforward as long as your paperwork is sorted. Tell us at booking that you are starting in Croatia and we make sure the Green Card insurance covers every kilometre.
Plenty of travellers combine a day in Dubrovnik with the drive south. Stop in the old city if you have time — then enjoy the Adriatic views all the way to Budva.
The Drive to Budva
Leave the airport and join the coastal E65 heading south. You will cross the Montenegro border at Debeli Brijeg, then follow the bay road through Herceg Novi and along the Boka Kotorska.
Two and a half hours of Adriatic coastline, one border stop, and you pull into Budva. On a clear day this ranks among the best drives in southern Europe. Keep the camera charged.
Crossing into Montenegro
The border checkpoint at Debeli Brijeg sits between Herceg Novi and Dubrovnik. In summer, queues build fast — peak waits hit 1–2 hours on weekend afternoons. Cross before 8am or after 8pm and you will breeze through. Have your passport, rental contract, and Green Card accessible, not buried in a suitcase.
Dubrovnik Airport Terminal
A modern terminal less than 30 minutes from Dubrovnik's old city walls on the E65. Parking fills quickly in peak summer — pre-booking saves stress.
Inside: bureau de change, ATMs, post office, restaurants, duty-free, and a newsstand. Everything you need before hitting the road south.