Renting a car in Herceg Novi
Herceg Novi sits at the mouth of the Bay of Kotor, ten kilometres from the Croatian border. The rental map covers the seafront strip through Igalo, the bus station near the harbour, and the Croatian border post itself. From Budva the drive is ninety kilometres round the bay or fifty via the Lepetane ferry.
Popular rental cars in Herceg Novi
Herceg Novi for drivers
Herceg Novi is a stepped town, built on a hillside above the water with the Old Town at sea level and modern development climbing behind it. The seafront runs west through Igalo, a spa suburb, and east toward Kamenari and the Lepetane ferry. The ridge above the town gives the whole Boka a wide-angle view.
For most of the year a compact hatch is easiest. The old town lanes above the sea are narrow and steep; anything longer than a Golf will fight the switchbacks. The push south around the bay to Perast and Kotor takes an hour and a quarter along the fjord road.
Where to pick up in Herceg Novi
Pickup is usually at your hotel or apartment on the seafront, at Igalo, or at the bus terminal near the Old Town gate. If you are crossing from Croatia by taxi, the border post at Debeli Brijeg is a signed drop-off point.
- Free delivery to your Herceg Novi or Igalo hotel
- Hotel Iberostar or Hotel Plaza on the seafront
- Hotel Hungest Sun Resort in Igalo
- Herceg Novi bus terminal (near the Old Town)
- Debeli Brijeg border post (from Croatia)
- Portonovi marina at the eastern end of town
From any of the seafront points you drive out along the shore road: east for the bay loop or west for the border and Dubrovnik. If you want to visit the Savina Monastery on the eastern edge, the road is a short hop from the harbour handover.
Getting there and driving
Most Herceg Novi rentals arrive from Dubrovnik Airport via the Debeli Brijeg border, about forty kilometres and just over an hour with the crossing. From Tivat the ferry saves twenty minutes; from Budva the drive is ninety kilometres round the bay road, an hour and a half outside summer.
The E80 through Herceg Novi is one lane in each direction; in July and August the Igalo section jams around noon and again at seven each evening. Fuel stations sit at both ends of the seafront strip and at Kamenari next to the ferry pier.
Live prices and availability for your exact dates.
Free cancellation available on most cars
Parking in Herceg Novi
The seafront paid parking runs on an hourly tariff with a daily cap. The largest visitor lot is behind the Old Town at the entrance to the harbour; a second one near the Portonovi marina serves the eastern half. Igalo has its own strip of paid bays that fill early on spa days.
Hotels along the seafront all include parking; anything above the town in the terraced villas is one paid slot per unit with the manager arranging a permit at check-in. Anyone parked overnight along the promenade should check the seasonal switch.
Scenic drives and day trips
The obvious loop is the bay itself: east to Kamenari and the ferry, across to Tivat, on to Kotor via the tunnel, back through Perast and Risan. Two hours of driving, half a day with lunch. The other side of the peninsula is Portonovi and the Luštica bay road, which stays flat and slow.
The cross-border option is Dubrovnik. Ninety minutes each way through the Debeli Brijeg crossing, with the walled city and Ston oysters as reasons to make the trip. Budget an extra thirty minutes at the border in high season, and buy the paid permit tier for Croatia at checkout when you book.
- Dubrovnik AirportDebeli Brijeg border, ten minutes past
- TivatVia the Lepetane ferry
- KotorRound the bay via Perast
- PerastAlong the fjord road
- BudvaNinety kilometres of bay road
- Tivat AirportFerry across, then five minutes
Insurance and deposit
Every booking on the platform includes free third-party liability cover with a small refundable deposit at pickup. Herceg Novi driving is mostly flat and easy; the risk shows up on the Cetinje mountain climb or on a Dubrovnik day trip where the border adds paperwork.
Full Coverage limits your liability for accident damage and adds glass, lamps and wheel cover, though the deposit is still held at pickup; Full Coverage Plus removes the deposit entirely, worth it for anyone crossing to Croatia. Tiers and rules are on the insurance page.
For most Herceg Novi trips a small automatic is the pick, and the Toyota Yaris Hybrid is a step ahead of the pack here: the slow crawl through Igalo and the promenade suits a hybrid, and the drive round the bay sips at about half the diesel rate.
Pick up the keys and drive
Choose a car, agree a slot at the seafront or the border post, and drive out under the plane trees. Free cancellation on most cars keeps the plan flexible if the ferry queue moves the day.
Herceg Novi car rental FAQ
Renter questions on a Herceg Novi pickup: how the Croatian border works, whether to take the ferry or drive round the bay, and where to park in high summer.
How does the Croatian border crossing work?
Debeli Brijeg is the main road crossing between Croatia and Montenegro, ten kilometres from Herceg Novi. Passports are checked on both sides; expect ten minutes off-peak, up to an hour in high summer. The paid cross-border permit tier at checkout covers this route.
Is the ferry faster than the bay road?
To Tivat and Budva, yes. Kamenari to Lepetane takes ten minutes on the water and cuts fifty kilometres off the loop. The car ferry runs every fifteen minutes in summer, every thirty out of season.
How long is the drive from Dubrovnik Airport?
About forty kilometres and an hour with the border crossing. The last five kilometres to Igalo run along the shore road and slow to walking pace in July and August; leave the airport before nine or after eight to avoid it.
Where do I park in Herceg Novi Old Town?
The main visitor lot behind the Old Town gate at the harbour. It fills between eleven and one in season; the overflow along the eastern promenade takes another few hundred cars. Both are paid by the hour with a daily cap.
Can I drop the car in Budva or Tivat?
Yes. One-way drop-off inside Montenegro is available on most cars for a small fee shown at checkout. Dropping the car outside Montenegro (in Croatia, Bosnia) is not supported.
Are the roads down to the beach clubs drivable in a small car?
Yes. The lanes down to Zanjice, Mirišta and the Blue Cave boat launch are patched tarmac with tight hairpins; a small hatch is easier on them than an SUV. The last two kilometres to Zanjice are single-track.
Is there parking at Portonovi?
Yes. The marina has an underground lot for visitors, paid by the hour with a daily cap. It rarely fills; use it if the main town lots are full and take the ten-minute walk in.
What is the fuel situation on the drive?
Stations at both ends of Herceg Novi and at Kamenari next to the ferry. Fill up before the border crossing if you plan to drive on in Croatia; the first Croatian station is about fifteen kilometres past Debeli Brijeg.
Live prices from every supplier for the exact car and dates you pick.
Free cancellation available on most cars