Money, cards and ATMs in Montenegro

The euro, without the eurozone

• Montenegro uses the euro - and is not a member of the eurozone.
• It adopted the currency unilaterally in 2002, and along with Kosovo is one of only two territories using the euro with no monetary agreement with the EU.
• Practically this means nothing changes for you: prices are in euro, cards work, no exchange needed.
• It does mean Montenegro has no central bank monetary policy of its own, which is a live economic subject locally.
• Cards work in tourist areas and less reliably inland; carry cash for the north.

ATMs

• Always refuse the machine's offer to charge you in your own currency. Dynamic currency conversion at an ATM or a card terminal costs several per cent, every time, and the offer is worded to sound helpful. Choose the local currency and let your own bank convert.
• Use bank ATMs rather than the independent machines in tourist areas, which add their own fee on top.
• Beware the standalone Euronet machines in tourist areas across the region. They add a large fee and push dynamic currency conversion hard. Use a bank's own machine.

Tipping

• Rounding up is normal, 10 per cent for good restaurant service.