Tivat Airport Transfers: Hire Car vs Taxi vs Public Bus Compared

Getting from TIV: Three Options Compared

Every passenger landing at Tivat Airport faces the same choice: hire car, taxi, or public bus. Each has a place depending on your budget, group size, and itinerary — but for most visitors exploring Montenegro beyond a single resort, one option pulls clearly ahead.

We've priced up the three most popular routes from TIV and compared them side by side.

TIV → Kotor (20 min, 12 km)

• Hire car: Hire car: from €20/day — you keep the car all day and drive wherever you want. Park outside Kotor's walls (€2/hr) or free along the Dobrota waterfront. Total cost for a full day exploring Kotor and the bay: €20–€25 including parking and fuel.
• Taxi: Taxi: €25–€35 one way. Fixed price, no meter. You'll pay again for the return — so €50–€70 for a round trip that only covers Kotor. No stops along the way unless you negotiate.
• Public bus: Public bus: No bus from TIV terminal. Walk 800m to the Adriatic Highway to flag down a passing Tivat–Kotor bus, or taxi to Tivat bus station (2 km, ~€5). Schedules are inconsistent and there's no luggage storage. Not a realistic option for airport arrivals with bags.

TIV → Budva (30 min, 22 km)

• Hire car: Hire car: same €20/day rental. Drive to Budva, then continue to Sveti Stefan, Jaz Beach, or Przno without rebooking anything. Parking in Budva old town: €3–€5/hr in summer.
• Taxi: Taxi: €30–€45 one way. The Budva taxi rank charges separately for the return. A round trip costs €60–€90 and you're locked to Budva.
• Public bus: Public bus: No bus stops at TIV terminal. Walk 800m to the Adriatic Highway (Jadranska magistrala) to flag down a passing Tivat–Budva bus, or taxi to Tivat bus station (2 km). Schedules are inconsistent. Once on the bus, it drops at Budva bus station — 15 min walk from the old town. No stop at Jaz or Sveti Stefan.

TIV → Herceg Novi (40 min, 45 km via Verige ferry)

• Hire car: Hire car: €20/day + €5 ferry crossing. Take the Verige car ferry at Kamenari — it runs every 15 minutes and the crossing takes 5 minutes. Stop at Perast on the way. Total: €25–€30 for a full day along the bay.
• Taxi: Taxi: €45–€60 one way. Most taxi drivers go the long way around the bay (no ferry), adding 30 minutes. Round trip: €90–€120.
• Public bus: Public bus: No bus from TIV terminal. Walk 800m to the main highway or taxi to Tivat bus station (2 km), then catch a Kotor-bound bus and change for Herceg Novi. Schedules are unreliable, the route goes around the bay (no ferry), and total journey time is 2+ hours with the transfer.

The Verdict

For a solo traveller going to one destination and back, a public bus is technically cheapest — but there's no bus stop at TIV terminal, schedules are unreliable, and you'll walk 800m with luggage just to reach the highway. For everyone else, a hire car saves money and hassle from day one.

The real advantage isn't just price. It's flexibility. A hire car lets you stop at Perast on the way to Kotor, swing by Jaz Beach before Budva, or take the Verige ferry shortcut to Herceg Novi. A taxi locks you into a single route with a single destination, and the public bus doesn't even serve the airport.