Can I use contactless or card to pay for public transport in Montenegro?

Just got back from a trip where I stayed mostly in Budva and did a few day trips by bus. None of the city buses took cards. I asked the driver once and he just said “no card, only euro” and waited until I paid exact change. The only time I used a card was for an intercity bus from Podgorica to Kotor that I booked online through Busticket4.me. Even then, the luggage fee had to be paid in coins to the driver. Montenegro’s transport works, but it’s very analog - have coins ready.

Spent two weeks in Montenegro in May and did a lot of bus travel between Kotor, Budva and Herceg Novi. For long-distance routes like with Blueline or Nikšić Express, you can sometimes book online and pay by card, but for local buses it’s almost always cash. I kept a stash of 1 and 2 euro coins just for that. Most drivers don’t even like giving change for 20s. Also, don’t expect to tap your card like in western Europe - that system’s not in place yet.

I took the local buses around Podgorica and to nearby towns in April, and coins were definitely still king. Most city buses don’t have any card payment system - you pay the driver in cash, usually around 1 euro. I tried to use my Wise card once and the driver just waved it off. Keep a bunch of coins handy, especially for the Blue Line buses and local routes. Even the bus station in Nikšić charged me a small fee just to use the toilet and only took coins.

I used public transport in Bar and Ulcinj recently and it’s very old school. You pay directly to the driver with coins or small notes. No machines, no tap, no apps. Even at some bus stations like in Cetinje, they write your name on paper tickets and ask for cash. My N26 card was great at ATMs, but I always had to make sure I had coins for buses. It’s not a card-friendly system at all, especially outside the main tourist areas.