Nauryz in Montenegro from Almaty: tours

Nauryz in Montenegro on March 21 is not a public holiday, so it is celebrated privately — at home or in a hotel, with family and travel companions. There are no festive fairs or concerts in Budva, Kotor and Tivat, but the promenades of Becici and Petrovac are almost empty in late March. Hotels and car rentals are cheaper than in summer, and mimosa and almond trees bloom on the coast.

How to celebrate Nauryz in the off-season on the Adriatic?

The holiday falls on the quietest time on the coast. Nauryz is not among the public holidays here, so it is celebrated privately.

What happens in the cities on March 21

In Budva and Kotor, ordinary working life goes on on March 21. Cafes on the promenades are open, but local authorities do not organize festive fairs or concerts. The Kazakh diaspora here is small, so there are no big festivities in Tivat or Herceg Novi. In Bar and Ulcinj you can meet individual families who gather at home. A tourist should count on a quiet day without a city program. But in late March there are almost no vacationers on the coast, and the promenades of Becici, Petrovac and Sveti Stefan are empty. A walk along them on a holiday turns out calm and unhurried. Such a holiday in Montenegro is remembered for its silence, not the noise of a crowd.

How it is celebrated with family and travel companions

The holiday most often has to be celebrated in a rented apartment or in a hotel. In Budva and Kotor, food markets operate in winter, where cheese, prosciutto and fresh fish are bought for the table. In Tivat and Herceg Novi the selection of products is more modest, but the main shops are open all year round. Travel companions from the same trip often cook dinner together and share it on a terrace overlooking the bay. Some book a table at a restaurant in Budva, where the kitchen also works in the off-season. In Bar and Ulcinj some establishments are still closed in March, so it is better to choose a place in advance. A warm evening on a balcony in Petrovac or Becici replaces any banquet. The main thing is to gather your people nearby, and then the celebration in Montenegro sounds homely.

What documents, visas and flight from Almaty are needed?

The trip begins with papers and tickets. From Almaty, the journey to the Adriatic coast takes almost a day.

Visa-free regime and passport validity

The entry rules are set by Montenegro, and before buying tickets it is worth checking them in official sources. The passport validity period and the permitted number of days of stay change, so check the department's website for the date of travel. A tourist from Almaty usually plans a short trip for a week or two. Medical insurance in Montenegro is taken out optionally, but it will come in handy when walking in the mountains. Keep copies of documents separate from the originals. This makes it calmer to go through control at the airport of Tivat or Podgorica. Rules clarified in advance save you from rushing on the day of departure.

Routes with connections via Istanbul and Dubai

There are no direct flights from Almaty to Tivat and Podgorica, the route is built with a connection. Istanbul and Dubai are two convenient transfer hubs on this route. Via Istanbul the flight is shorter, but the connection is sometimes at night. Via Dubai the flight is longer, but the connection takes place in a large hub with long waiting halls. Tickets for late March in the off-season cost less than summer ones, and the choice of dates is wider. The total travel time including waiting reaches up to a day. Take a margin between flights of at least three hours. Then a delay of the first segment will not ruin the trip to Montenegro.

How to get to the coast and where to stay

The airports are located in Tivat and Podgorica, and from them the road leads to the sea. The distances between resorts are small.

Transfer from the airport of Tivat and Podgorica

From Tivat airport to Budva it takes about half an hour, to Kotor — a little longer. From Podgorica, the journey to Bar takes about an hour, to Budva — about an hour and a half. Taxi in the off-season costs less than summer rates, but it is better to agree on the price before boarding. A transfer ordered in advance meets you in the arrivals hall and does not depend on the queue at the parking lot. Buses between coastal cities run on schedule, but there are fewer trips in spring. From Tivat it is convenient to get to Herceg Novi and further along the bay. The road along the coast is picturesque in itself. Choose a transfer according to the number of suitcases and the time of arrival.

Car rental in the off-season: license and roads

A car at the airports of Tivat and Podgorica in March is taken cheaper than in summer. Rental companies require an international license and a bank card for the deposit. The roads along the coast are narrow, the serpentines above the Bay of Kotor require attention. The toll road runs away from the sea, free sections wind through villages. Parking in Budva and Kotor in the center is paid and cramped. In winter some mountain passes are closed, so it is better to build the route to Ulcinj along the plain. Gas stations are found often, but in remote places between Bar and Ulcinj there are fewer of them. A full tank before a long road through Montenegro saves nerves.

Weather, nature and walks in late March

Late March on the coast means mild sun and cool evenings. Rain still happens, but the days are clear.

Blooming of mimosa and almond

In late March, mimosa and almond bloom on the coast. Yellow and pink spots are visible along the roads of Budva, Tivat and Herceg Novi. In Kotor the trees bloom right by the fortress walls, and in Becici — on the slopes above the beach. The air smells sweet, and this is the best backdrop for photos without a crowd. The temperature during the day stays around fifteen degrees, by evening it drops noticeably. A jacket and comfortable shoes will come in handy even in the south, in Bar and Ulcinj. Rain in March is short, but an umbrella in a backpack is not superfluous. The holiday of blooming gives walks such as do not happen in the July heat.

Fortress walls of Stari Bar and Kotor

In Old Bar and Kotor at the end of March there are almost no tourists. The fortress walls of Kotor rise above the bay, and the climb takes about an hour. From the top there is a view of the tiled roofs and the harbor. In Old Bar the ruins lie among the olives, and entry here costs less than in summer. The trails are slippery after rain, so footwear with tread is needed. In Petrovac and Sveti Stefan the promenades are open for walks at any time. Take water and a light snack, cafes along the route do not operate everywhere. Morning is better for the climb: by noon it is warmer on the walls. A calm exploration of the fortresses is a rare stroke of luck in the height of the season.

Money, communications and everyday little things

Payments and communications are worth thinking through before departure. In the off-season some service points operate shorter hours.

Euro to tenge exchange rate and cash

Montenegro uses the euro, and the exchange rate to the tenge is constantly changing. Take part of the cash in euros already in Almaty, so as not to look for an exchange on the first day. Cards are accepted in large hotels in Budva and Kotor, but in small cafes and at markets banknotes are more often needed. Small banknotes are more convenient: change is not always given from large ones. Exchange offices in Tivat and Herceg Novi are found on the promenades, and the rate in them differs. In Bar and Ulcinj there are fewer exchange points, plan ahead. Keep a small amount separately from the main one. That way it is calmer on a trip around Montenegro.

ATMs in Budva, Kotor, Tivat, Herceg Novi and Bar

ATMs are available in Budva, Kotor, Tivat, Herceg Novi and Bar. In small villages like Becici and Petrovac there may be none at all. Cash withdrawal comes with a commission, the amount depends on the bank. Large branches work on weekdays and close early. In Sveti Stefan and on the road to Ulcinj count only on a supply of banknotes. Before leaving the city, withdraw the needed amount. Keep the receipts until the end of the trip. This helps when sorting out disputed charges.

Visa and entry rules change: check with the primary source — the government of Montenegro, https://www.gov.me/en/diplomatic-missions/embassies-and-consulates-of-montenegro/kazakhstan. The information on this page was verified on 14.09.2026.

In short

• Nauryz in Montenegro is not a public holiday, there are no city festivities.
• It has to be celebrated with family or travel companions.
• There are no direct flights from Almaty, they fly via Istanbul or Dubai.
• Check entry rules in official sources on the date of travel.
• At the end of March mimosa and almond blossom on the coast.