Tivat (TIV) is the closest airport to Bečići, and for most arrivals the ride is short enough that the bigger decision is how you cross those last 20-odd kilometres rather than how long it takes. There's no train, no direct airport bus, and taxi prices climb in high summer — so it pays to know your options before you land. This guide walks through transfers, taxis, the bus workaround and car hire, with rough 2026 costs. For the wider picture, see our getting to Bečići guide.
At a glance
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Distance | Roughly 23 km to Bečići |
| Drive time | About 30–40 minutes, longer in peak-season traffic |
| Private transfer | Around €45–50 for a standard car (fixed, per vehicle) |
| Airport taxi | Around €45, but not fixed — rises May–October |
| Direct bus | None from the airport itself (see workaround below) |
| Car hire | From ~€25–30/day booked ahead |
In short: a pre-booked private transfer is the simplest door-to-door option; a taxi is fine if you're happy to negotiate; and the bus is doable but fiddly with luggage. Distances are short, so no option costs you much time.
How far is Tivat Airport from Bečići?
Tivat Airport sits just outside the town of Tivat, on the Bay of Kotor side of the peninsula, while Bečići is on the open-sea Budva Riviera. The road distance is around 23 km, and the drive is usually 30–40 minutes — quick in spring or autumn, but slower on summer afternoons when the coastal road and Budva's approaches clog up. The route runs over the ridge and drops down to Budva, then the short final hop south to Bečići. It's one of the shortest airport-to-resort hops on this coast, which is a big part of why Tivat is the airport most Bečići visitors aim for.
Option 1: Private transfer (the easy button)
A pre-booked private transfer is the most stress-free way to arrive: a driver meets you in arrivals, prices are fixed per vehicle regardless of traffic, and you go straight to your hotel door. Across the transfer operators we checked, a standard car (up to four passengers) from Tivat to the Budva/Bečići area runs roughly €45–50, with larger family cars and minivans costing more — a minivan for a group of seven or eight is typically around €80. Because the price is per car, not per person, transfers get better value the more of you there are. Book ahead in July and August, when demand peaks.
Tivat is a small airport, so arrivals is quick and the meeting point is easy to find — a driver holding a name board is hard to miss in a compact hall. If you're travelling with young children, it's worth flagging when you book whether you need a child seat, as not every car carries one as standard; a good operator will fit one on request. And if your flight shifts or you land late, a booked transfer will usually track the flight and wait, which a walk-up taxi obviously won't.
Option 2: Taxi from the airport
There are usually taxis waiting outside arrivals. Expect to pay around €45 for the trip to Bečići, though — unlike a booked transfer — this isn't a fixed rate and tends to rise between May and October. Agree the fare (or confirm the meter) before you set off, and note that not every airport taxi takes cards, so carry some euros. For a couple, a taxi and a private transfer end up costing much the same; the transfer just removes the haggling and the wait.
Option 3: The bus workaround (no direct airport bus)
Here's the honest version: there is no bus service from Tivat Airport itself. What you can do is get to Tivat's main bus station, which is roughly a 15-minute walk (or a short taxi) up the road, and catch one of the regular buses toward Budva. That leg costs only a few euros — reckon around €4 — and takes about half an hour, after which you'd change to a local Budva–Bečići bus or grab a short taxi for the final couple of kilometres.
It's the cheapest way in, but it's a genuine faff with suitcases and involves at least one change plus possible waits, so it mainly suits light-packing budget travellers. If that's you, our getting around the Budva Riviera guide covers the local coastal buses you'll use for the last stretch.
Option 4: Hire a car at the airport
If you plan to explore beyond the beach — day trips to Kotor, Sveti Stefan or the mountains — picking up a hire car right at Tivat turns the airport run into the start of your road trip. Economy cars start from roughly €25–30/day booked ahead, though peak-summer rates climb and fleets can sell out, so reserve early. Weigh it up in our dedicated renting a car on the Budva Riviera guide before committing — for a pure beach holiday, a car can be more parking hassle than it's worth.
Comparing your options
| Option | Rough cost | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer | ~€45–50 per car | 30–40 min | Door-to-door ease, families, groups |
| Airport taxi | ~€45 (not fixed) | 30–40 min | Arriving without pre-booking |
| Bus workaround | ~€4 + local bus/taxi | ~1 hour+ | Budget travellers, light luggage |
| Hire car | From ~€25–30/day | 30–40 min | Day trips and self-drive holidays |
Prices are 2026 ranges gathered from multiple transfer and taxi operators; treat them as ballparks, since seasonal demand moves them around.
Tips for a smooth arrival
A few things make the last leg painless. Carry some euros — Montenegro uses the euro, and not every taxi driver takes cards, so cash covers the fare or the bus ticket without fuss. Screenshot your hotel's address and a map pin before you land, since data may not be live the moment you step off the plane (more on that below), and a driver will get you there faster with a pin than a hotel name alone.
Timing matters in summer. Flights into Tivat bunch up on weekend afternoons in July and August, and both the taxi rank and the coastal road get busy — if you land midday in peak season, a pre-booked transfer waiting in arrivals saves you queuing behind a planeload of other arrivals. Off-season, the rank is quiet and a walk-up taxi is quick.
Finally, know which side of the country you've landed on: Tivat is on the sheltered Bay of Kotor, so if you fancy detouring to see Kotor or Perast on the way, they're close — though that turns a transfer into a mini-tour and costs more. For the fuller arrival picture and onward travel, see our getting here and practical info pages.
Staying connected on arrival {#connectivity}
One thing that trips up US, UK and other non-EU visitors: Montenegro is not in the European Union, so the "roam like at home" rules many Europeans rely on don't automatically apply here. Some EU operators do include Montenegro through fair-use or bilateral arrangements, and post-Brexit UK plans vary by carrier — so check your specific plan before you fly, because default roaming can be pricey. If yours isn't covered, a Montenegro eSIM (small data bundles typically start around €5–8) is the cleanest fix: buy it online, install it before landing, and you'll have data the moment you clear the terminal. This is the one spot on your trip where sorting connectivity in advance genuinely saves money and hassle.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Tivat Airport from Bečići?
It's roughly 23 km by road, and the drive usually takes about 30–40 minutes — quicker in shoulder season, slower on busy summer afternoons around Budva. Tivat is the closest airport to Bečići, which is why most visitors to the resort fly into it rather than Podgorica.
How much is a taxi from Tivat Airport to Bečići?
Expect around €45 for a standard car, but this isn't a fixed rate and tends to climb between May and October. A pre-booked private transfer costs much the same (roughly €45–50 per vehicle) but locks in the price and puts a driver in arrivals waiting for you, which many travellers prefer.
Is there a bus from Tivat Airport to Bečići?
Not directly from the airport. You'd first get to Tivat's main bus station — about a 15-minute walk or short taxi away — then take a bus toward Budva (around €4) and change for a local Budva–Bečići bus. It's the cheapest route but awkward with luggage and involves a change or two.
Should I book a transfer in advance for Tivat?
In July and August, yes — demand peaks and both taxis and transfers get busier and pricier. A pre-booked private transfer guarantees a car, a fixed fare and a driver meeting you on arrival. Outside high season you can usually just take a taxi from the rank, but booking ahead still removes the guesswork.
