Montenegro Tourist Tax: What It Is and How Much It Costs
Is there a tourist tax in Montenegro?
Yes — Montenegro levies a tourist tax (boravišna taksa) of approximately €0.50–1.50/night per adult, depending on the season and location. It's collected by your accommodation — either added to your bill at checkout or collected separately at check-in. Children under 12 are typically exempt.
What is the tourist tax in Montenegro?
The tourist tax (Montenegrin: boravišna taksa, meaning “sojourn fee” or “residence fee”) is a nightly per-person charge levied by the municipal government and collected by all registered tourist accommodation in Montenegro. It applies to hotels, guesthouses, apartments, hostels, and most other forms of commercial accommodation.
The money funds local tourism infrastructure — beach maintenance, public facilities, tourist information centres, signage, and local events.
How much is the tourist tax?
The rate varies by municipality, season, and accommodation category. Approximate figures as of 2025–2026:
| Season | Rate per adult per night |
|---|---|
| High season (July–August) | €1.00–1.50 |
| Mid-season (June, September) | €0.70–1.00 |
| Low season (October–May) | €0.50–0.70 |
Examples:
- 2 adults, 7 nights in July in Kotor: approximately 2 × 7 × €1.00–1.50 = €14–21 total
- 2 adults, 5 nights in September in Budva: approximately 2 × 5 × €0.70 = €7 total
- Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children), 10 nights in August: approximately 2 × 10 × €1.50 = €30 (children under 12 exempt)
The tourist tax is a modest expense in the context of any accommodation budget, but worth knowing about to avoid surprise at checkout.
Who is exempt?
The tourist tax typically does not apply to:
- Children under 12 years old
- Holders of certain disability classifications
- Persons staying for medical treatment
- In some cases, guests staying longer than 7 consecutive days (exemption varies by municipality)
How is it collected?
Collection method varies by accommodation type:
Hotels and larger properties: the tourist tax is almost always added to your final bill at checkout, listed as a separate line item (“boravišna taksa” or “tourist tax”). You’ll see it itemised alongside room charges, breakfast, and other services.
Private guesthouses and apartments: collection is less standardised. Some hosts add it to the accommodation price; others collect it cash separately at check-in. Ask your host in advance if it’s not mentioned in your booking confirmation.
Hostels: typically included in the nightly rate or collected on arrival.
Camping sites: a similar fee applies, usually at a lower rate (€0.30–0.50/night).
Is the tourist tax included in online booking prices?
Sometimes, but not always. The booking platforms (Booking.com, Airbnb) handle this inconsistently:
- Booking.com: properties sometimes include the tourist tax in the displayed price; others show it as a “property surcharge” to be paid at the property. Read the “Important info” section of each listing.
- Airbnb: increasingly showing tourist taxes in the total price breakdown before checkout. Verify on the booking summary.
- Direct booking with the property: tourist tax is usually collected at the property, separate from the online payment.
The safest assumption: budget for the tourist tax as a separate expense, paid at the accommodation.
Legality and registration requirement
All commercial accommodation in Montenegro is legally required to collect the tourist tax and remit it to the municipality. This is connected to the guest registration requirement (all foreign visitors must register with local police within 24 hours — hotels do this automatically).
If you’re staying in a property that appears to be avoiding the tourist tax entirely, it may also be avoiding the registration requirement. This is not something to be concerned about from a tourist perspective, but it’s context for why you’ll see it properly collected at registered properties.
Tourist tax and total accommodation costs
For a typical 7-night coast trip with two adults:
- Tourist tax at peak season: approximately €14–21 total
- This represents roughly 3–5% added to a mid-range accommodation budget
For budget planning, add €10–20 in tourist tax per person per week as a simple estimate. See the full Montenegro budget guide for context.
Other taxes and charges to know
VAT (PDV): Value Added Tax is 21% in Montenegro on most goods and services. It’s included in displayed prices (as in EU countries) — no hidden VAT surprises. Restaurant menus, hotel rates, and activity prices all include VAT.
City parking: metered parking in Kotor, Budva, and Podgorica is a separate charge (€0.50–1/hour). Not a tax but an additional cost visitors sometimes overlook. Free parking in mountain areas.
Road tolls: the Sozina tunnel (bypassing Lovćen between Podgorica and Bar) costs €3.50 one way. The Bar–Boljare motorway has toll points. Small costs, but worth knowing if driving.
Activities: no additional taxes
Booked activities — Kotor cable car, Bay of Kotor kayak, guided tours — include VAT in their quoted price. There’s no separate tourism activity tax beyond VAT.
Museum and site entrance fees (Kotor city walls ~€8, Lipa Cave, Cetinje museums ~€3–5 each) are set admission prices, not taxes, and are paid directly at the entrance.
FAQ
Is the tourist tax the same everywhere in Montenegro?
No — it varies by municipality and season. Kotor municipality, Budva municipality, and Bar municipality all set their own rates within national guidelines. The range is €0.50–1.50/night for adults.
Do children pay the tourist tax?
Children under 12 are usually exempt. Children 12–18 often pay a reduced rate (50% of adult rate). Confirm with your specific accommodation.
Can I pay the tourist tax by card?
At hotels, it’s typically added to your card bill at checkout alongside room charges. At private apartments or guesthouses that collect it separately, it’s often cash only.
Is the tourist tax declared on Booking.com?
It depends on the property. Some list it in the price; others note it as a fee payable at the property. Read each listing’s details section before confirming.
What happens if a property doesn’t charge a tourist tax?
Unregistered or informal accommodation may not collect tourist tax (or registration). This is the property’s legal risk, not yours. However, if anything goes wrong (no registration, questions at a border about where you stayed), having a properly registered booking is useful.
Is Montenegro planning to increase the tourist tax?
Montenegro’s tourism is growing significantly (5+ million visitors/year in recent years). There’s ongoing discussion about adjusting tourist taxes to fund infrastructure improvements, but any significant changes would be announced with advance notice. The current rates are stable.