Key facts
- COVERAGE
- Montenegro
- NETWORKS
- m:tel
- PLAN TYPE
- Data only
- IP ADDRESS LOCATION
- United Kingdom
- DELIVERY
- QR code by email
How it works
- 1Choose a plan and pay.
- 2Scan the QR code we email you. You can install it before you fly.
- 3When you land in Montenegro, turn on data roaming for the Spidot line.
Questions about the Montenegro eSIM
Which networks does it use?
Do I get a local phone number?
Can I use it outside Montenegro?
How do I install it?
Will my phone work with an eSIM?
Montenegro uses the euro, so does EU roaming apply?
Can I use the eSIM on a day trip from Dubrovnik to Kotor?
Will I have signal while rafting on the Tara?
Is there coverage in Žabljak and Durmitor?
Can I use the same eSIM on the train from Belgrade?
Will the eSIM work on a boat trip around the Bay of Kotor or to the Blue Cave?
What if I run out of data in the middle of my holiday?
Montenegro eSIM guide: mobile data for travellers
Montenegro packs a remarkable amount into a small country. On the Adriatic coast, the Bay of Kotor winds between steep mountains to the walled old towns of Kotor and Perast, while Budva, Sveti Stefan, Petrovac and Ulcinj offer beaches and old-town streets. Inland, the road climbs to Cetinje, the old royal capital, and Lovćen National Park, then on to Lake Skadar's wetlands, the canyons of the Tara and Morača rivers and the high plateau of Durmitor National Park around Žabljak. Podgorica, the capital, is the main inland hub.
Getting between these places involves serpentine mountain roads, ferries across the bay and buses that are easier to use with a map in your pocket. A Spidot eSIM gives you mobile data in Montenegro without buying a local SIM, while your own SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts. This guide covers your options, data needs, setup, coverage on the coast and in the mountains, and practical tips.
eSIM, roaming or a local SIM in Montenegro
Montenegro uses the euro, which leads many travellers to assume it is part of the EU. It is not, and that is important for mobile data.
Roaming with your home SIM
EU Roam like at Home rules apply within the EU and EEA, so they do not automatically cover Montenegro. A SIM from Croatia, Germany or any other EU country may be charged at roaming rates there, depending on your operator. Some operators include Montenegro in their roaming bundles, others do not. The same applies to UK, US, Australian and other SIMs: check your operator's terms for Montenegro before you go. Day-trippers from Dubrovnik are often caught out by this.
A Montenegrin prepaid SIM
Prepaid SIMs are available in operator shops, kiosks and some petrol stations, and you may need a passport to buy one. A local SIM can make sense for a long summer stay. For a short trip, it means an errand on arrival and swapping out your home SIM.
A Spidot eSIM for Montenegro
With Spidot you buy a Montenegro plan online, receive the QR code by email straight after payment and install it at home. Plans start from $2.90. Your home SIM keeps your number for calls and texts, and the Spidot line provides data. Most plans are data-only; if you need to call local numbers, for example boat operators or rafting companies, see our Data + calls plans.
How much data to plan for
Montenegro trips tend to mix beach days with long drives and day trips, which means steady use of maps and messaging. These figures are approximate:
- Maps and navigation: a few megabytes per hour; very useful on mountain roads and for parking in busy coastal towns.
- Messaging: light. Many apartments, boat operators and guides communicate through WhatsApp or Viber.
- Social media and photos: moderate to heavy, especially with video of Kotor's views and Durmitor's lakes.
- Video calls: several hundred megabytes per hour.
- Streaming: heavy, often more than a gigabyte per hour in high definition.
Typical choices
A week based in Kotor or Budva with apartment Wi-Fi often fits a small or mid-sized fixed data plan. A road trip that combines the coast with Lake Skadar, Durmitor and the Tara canyon, or a trip that also takes in Croatia, Albania or Bosnia and Herzegovina, works better with a larger plan.
Remote workers in Budva, Herceg Novi or Podgorica may prefer an unlimited plan, keeping in mind that speed may slow after heavy use. A no-expiry plan suits travellers who return to the Balkans. You can check how much data is left and add more data along the way.
Before you go
Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi. First check your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked, then follow the install guide for iPhone, Samsung or Pixel.
- Install the eSIM one or two days before you travel and label it "Montenegro".
- Keep your home SIM as default for calls and texts and set the Spidot line for mobile data.
- Download offline maps of Montenegro, especially the north (Durmitor, Tara, Prokletije) and the road from Podgorica to Žabljak.
- Save your accommodation details and booking confirmations offline.
- Turn off data roaming on your home SIM so it does not connect to a Montenegrin network by accident.
Arriving in Montenegro
Montenegro has two international airports: Podgorica, near the capital, and Tivat, right on the Bay of Kotor and close to Kotor and Budva. Many visitors also fly into Dubrovnik in Croatia and cross the border by road. When you arrive, turn off flight mode, select the Spidot line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it. Our data roaming guide shows where to find the setting.
Crossing from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia or Albania
Border crossings on the coast road from Dubrovnik and inland from Bosnia and Herzegovina or Albania can involve queues in summer. Near the border your phone may cling to the neighbouring country's network. If you have plans for both countries installed, switch the mobile data line once you have crossed and keep data roaming off on your home SIM.
Arriving by train or ferry
The railway from Belgrade to Bar is one of the most scenic in Europe, with many tunnels and bridges; signal drops in and out along the route. Ferries also connect Bar with Bari in Italy. Install your Montenegro plan before you leave so you are connected when you arrive.
Coverage on the coast and in the mountains
Montenegro's terrain is steep, which affects coverage more than its small size might suggest. Your Spidot eSIM connects through m:tel.
Coast and towns
The coast from Herceg Novi through Kotor, Tivat and Budva to Bar and Ulcinj, and the main towns inland, generally have good coverage. Behind the thick walls of Kotor's old town, signal can be weaker indoors. In peak summer, crowded beaches and events can make networks busier.
Mountains and canyons
In Durmitor National Park, on hiking trails, in the Tara and Morača canyons and in the Prokletije mountains near the Albanian border, signal can be weak or absent, especially in valleys. Rafting trips on the Tara are typically offline for much of the route. Download offline maps, tell someone your plans and carry a charged power bank.
Lake Skadar and the border areas
Around Lake Skadar, coverage is usually reasonable near villages such as Virpazar but can fade on the water. Near borders, your phone may pick up Albanian, Bosnian or Croatian networks, so keep an eye on which network you are using.
Data on buses, ferries and road trips
Buses connect coastal towns and run inland to Podgorica, Cetinje and Žabljak. Timetables are often posted at bus stations rather than online, so checking at the station is still worthwhile. A small car ferry crosses the Bay of Kotor between Kamenari and Lepetane, saving the drive around the bay, and boat taxis link the bay's towns in summer.
Driving
The Kotor serpentine road up to Lovćen, the coast road in summer traffic and the mountain routes to Durmitor are slow and require full attention. Set your route before you start, use a phone mount and download offline maps for the north. In tunnels and canyons you may lose signal for a while, but an offline map keeps working.
Sharing data with a hotspot
You can usually share Spidot data with another phone or a laptop through your phone's personal hotspot. It is useful in apartments with weak Wi-Fi or when travelling as a group in one car. All devices use the same allowance, so pause automatic updates and backups on laptops and keep an eye on your balance.
Using public Wi-Fi safely
Cafés, beach bars, hotels and apartments commonly offer Wi-Fi. Use it with care:
- Use mobile data for banking, payments and important logins.
- Confirm the network name before connecting.
- Avoid entering passwords on sites without a padlock.
- Turn off automatic joining of open networks.
- Keep your phone's software up to date.
Practical tips for Montenegro
A few local details make life easier:
- Money: Montenegro uses the euro, even though it is not in the EU. Cards are widely accepted on the coast, but carry cash for small cafés, parking, bus tickets and mountain villages.
- Language: Montenegrin is the official language, and both Latin and Cyrillic scripts are used. English is common in tourist areas.
- Summer crowds: Kotor and Budva are very busy in July and August, especially when cruise ships are in port. Maps help you find quieter routes and parking.
- Heat and battery: summer heat drains batteries; carry a power bank on day trips.
- Mountain weather: in Durmitor, conditions change quickly even in summer. Check the forecast before setting out.
Montenegro on a multi-country trip
Montenegro is often combined with Croatia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina or Serbia. If your trip includes EU countries such as Croatia, check whether Montenegro is on the Europe plan's country list; if it is not, use a separate Montenegro plan alongside it. Most eSIM phones can store several eSIMs and you switch the mobile data line at the border.
For neighbouring countries, see our plans for Croatia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo.