Montenegro packs the Bay of Kotor, the Budva Riviera and the Durmitor mountains into a very small country. Coverage along the coast is good. The catch is that Montenegro is not in the European Union, so EU phone plans do not automatically roam there at home rates — and many visitors arrive on a day trip from Croatia without realising it.
Short answer: buy a Montenegro plan, or a bundle that lists Montenegro, before you cross the border. Do not assume an EU or UK plan covers it.
What a Montenegro eSIM costs
At the time of writing (October 2026), Wanderly's Montenegro plans start at $2.99 for 1GB, with 10GB around $8. The median across data-only Montenegro plans is about $0.80 per GB, well under the $1.43 median across 187 countries in the Wanderly eSIM Price Index. Some larger bundles last only five days, so check validity against your dates.
Montenegro is outside EU roaming
Some EU operators include Montenegro or offer reduced Western Balkans rates, but many charge standard non-EU roaming. UK, US and Canadian plans usually charge too. On a day trip from Dubrovnik to Kotor, your phone leaves the EU at the border — see the best eSIM for Croatia.
Coverage where you will actually be
Montenegro's networks are Crnogorski Telekom, One and m:tel. Travel eSIMs connect to a partner network automatically.
- Kotor, Perast and the Bay of Kotor: good coverage, including on boat trips inside the bay.
- Budva, Sveti Stefan, Petrovac: good.
- Podgorica: good.
- Durmitor and Žabljak: coverage in town; patchy on the mountain trails and in the Tara Canyon.
- Lovćen and the Kotor serpentine road: mostly covered, with some gaps.
How much data you need
| Trip | Suggested data |
|---|---|
| Day trip to Kotor | 1 GB |
| One week on the coast | 3–5 GB |
| Two weeks incl. Durmitor | 5–10 GB |
See how much data you need for travel.
Montenegro on a Balkans trip
Combining Montenegro with Albania, Bosnia or Croatia? Each is a separate coverage area, and only Croatia is in the EU. See the best eSIM for Albania.
Setting it up
- 1Confirm your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked on our compatibility checker.
- 2Install the eSIM over WiFi before you travel — iPhone or Android steps.
- 3On arrival, select the eSIM for mobile data, turn on data roaming for that line, and turn it off on your home line.
FAQ
Does my EU phone plan work in Montenegro? Not automatically. Montenegro is outside the EU, so EU roaming rules do not apply. Some operators include it; many charge extra.
How much does an eSIM for Montenegro cost? Wanderly Montenegro plans start at $2.99 for 1GB, with a median of about $0.80 per GB.
Is there signal in the Bay of Kotor? Yes, good coverage in the towns and on the water inside the bay.
Does a Croatia eSIM work in Montenegro? Not unless the plan lists Montenegro.