Traveling Europe by motorhome as a non-European citizen? The chances are you’re thinking about border crossings. Here are the full details of the Bosnia Montenegro border crossing from Sarajevo to Podgorica at Hum.
If you’re anything like us and starting to plan an epic motorhome adventure in Europe, there’s no doubt that (especially as a non-European) you might be wondering about border crossings. We have been traveling fulltime for more than five years now. But coming from an island country (New Zealand) border crossings are always an adventure(!).
Even with advances in all kinds of GPS technology it is always reassuring on travel days and especially for border crossings to have a heads-up about what the travel-day and crossing might bring. (Because PS. For these kind of Eastern European border crossings new technology means nothing!).
Here are the full details of the Bosnia Montenegro border crossing from Sarajevo to Podgorica at Hum.
About the Bosnia Montenegro border crossing options
There are five operational border crossing points for the Bosnia Montenegro border.
- Sitnica: From Trebinje to Herceg Novi – Trebinje road. This is the main crossing from Mostar to Kotor.
- Klobuk (BiH) Ilino Brdo (MNE): From Trebinje to Niksic.
- Deleusa – Vracenovici: From Bileca to Niksic.
- Hum – Scepan Polje: This crossing connects Sarajevo and Podgorica with the main magistral road from Foca to Niksic. (This is the border crossing we took and have detailed below).
- Metaljka: Between Pljevlja and Gorazde. This is the least-used Bosnia Montenegro crossing mostly transited by locals.
The following is our experience of the Bosnia Montenegro border crossing at Hum from Foca to Niksic.
About the Bosnia Montenegro border crossing at Hum – Scepan Polje
I’ve got to be honest. This border crossing appears to be the main crossing between the two capital cities: from Sarajevo to Podgorica. But the drive to the border from Foca towards Hum had us seriously questioning if this was the correct road.
Albeit coming from an island country like New Zealand we never take border crossing for granted. But I would describe the Bosnia Montenegro border crossing at Hum as feeling pretty darn remote. An epic drive. Scenic. (And with much reminder of the unsettled past in Foca, Brod and Gorazde).
Here is everything you need to know from Gorazde and Foca onwards to the border.
Brod – the last fuel station before the Bosnia Montenegro border
Whether you are traveling from Sarajevo or Gorazde you will likely pass through the small(ish) town of Foca. This is the last sizeable town before the Bosnia Montenegro border crossing.
From Foca, the final service station is in Brod.
There is one last Neškovi service station in the small town of Brod (in Bosnia and Herzegovina). The service station is a large one and with a reasonably well-stocked convenience store and restaurant attached.
- Tip: Don’t forget to spend the last of your BAM here.
The road from Foca to the Bosnia Montenegro border
Leaving the service station at Brod had us within a few kilometres truly questioning if we were in fact on the right road. Evidence from the Bosnia conflict continues with abandoned houses along the roadside. And the road itself is already narrow and at times narrows further to the point where you need to stop and wait to let another vehicle past.
It seems contradictory with the large rafting resorts popping up sporadically along the M18 road. We truly were confused. And simultaneously questioning whether we were on the right path.
Could this narrow and sometimes dirt road truly be the main Bosnia Montenegro border crossing from Sarajevo to Podgorica?
It seemed unlikely.
But remembering that we do find this type of adventure exciting. And that’s kind of what bought us to Eastern Europe in the first place.
So, with what little reception and screenshots I had saved of the map we half-confidently drove onwards towards Hum and the Bosnia-Montenegro border.
- Foca to Hum: 42 min (25.4 km)
Exiting from Bosnia Herzegovina
About 500m from the border we saw the first signs of the Bosnia Herzegovina border and the tricolour red, blue and white flag of the Republika Srpska.
The border crossing terminal is literally just a single cubicle with what appeared to be two staff on the exit side from Bosnia Herzegovina.
Understandably they were rather fascinated to see four New Zealanders at their border crossing. But they welcomed us in and processed our passports for exit within a few seconds with no exit stamp.
We didn’t require vehicle documents on exit from Bosnia Herzegovina.
Crossing the Bosnia Montenegro border crossing at Hum
All that links the two sides of the Bosnia Montenegro border is the small wood and steel bridge across the Tapa River.
Signs on the exit side of the bridge state the weight limit to be 12 tonne. (I don’t think I’d test it!).
Drive straight across and up around the corner to the Montenegro border control.
Entering Montenegro
Here there is a two-laned undercover border terminal. And I’ve got to be honest (again) we really couldn’t understand the official.
Montenegro is scrupulous with documentation for the vehicle entering or exiting the country. But we didn’t know that ahead of time. (Possibly still a little confused due to the road-size and quality and the remoteness of such a border crossing).
There was no other vehicle ahead of us to watch first. And what we interpreted as instructions to disembark the vehicle for a customs check had the guard chasing us back inside the van in a fluster. What he actually wanted was the vehicle documents and details.
After that it was just a few minutes, and we were (stamped) on our way into Montenegro.
Border to Pluzine (Montenegro border town)
The first kilometres leaving the border were a welcomed appreciation of tar sealed roads and the extra centimeters of lane width on each side. But the best part was yet to come.
The drive is spectacular along the Piva River with tunnel after tunnel. The road winds further up the clifftop with the river getting seemingly further below. There is a bridge crossing to the other side and the road continues up high until the Mratinje Dam.
- Tip: Note that some of the tunnels don’t have any lighting inside which takes a few seconds to adjust even with headlights.
Palacinke (and a welcome break in Pluzine)
It might have been thanks to the dirt roads or the narrow roads, the clifftop tunnels or the border crossing itself but on reaching Pluzine it felt well overdue for a stop.
We had coffee and Palacinke at the busy Eko Piva Café. They are well stocked with all kinds of beers and coffee and despite the extensive menu were only serving Palacinke when we passed.
- Tip: There is plenty of parking out the front and toilets on site.
Montenegro border to Niksic and onwards to Podgorica
The drive is pleasant on a main highway from Pluzine to Niksic and onwards towards Podgorica.
- Bosnia Montenegro border (Hum) to Niksic: 1 hr 34 min (86.4 km) via M18
Crossing the Montenegro Bosnia border in the other direction
Crossing the border from Montenegro to Bosnia Herzegovina at Hum is the same in the other direction.
The last major border town in Montenegro is Pulzine. And the first service station and small (very small) border town in Bosnia Herzegovina is Brod near the larger town of Foca.
- Read all about the best things to do in Podgorica, Montenegro here.
Final thoughts on the Bosnia Montenegro border crossing (and a few last tips)
Overall, the border crossing was a great experience. People in both the border towns seemed genuinely pleased to see travellers enjoying their town.
The welcome at both booths of the Bosnia Montenegro border crossing were pleasant. And especially the cafes and service station in Brod, the bakery in Foca and the café in Pulzine made a real effort to communicate in English with us and to ensure we were happy at each stop.
Note that there are multiple police speed checks along the M18 road departing Foca (BiH) to the border. (Only at the beginning of the road; before it becomes gravel). But still. Check your speed and make sure to be driving with your headlights on.
Enjoy Montenegro!
More about travel planning for Europe and beyond
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