Traveling to Bar Overland from Neighboring Countries

Not every trip to Bar starts at an airport or a ferry terminal. A fair number of visitors arrive overland, crossing in from a neighboring country by train or bus. Here's how that looks depending on where you're starting from.

From Serbia

This is the most direct and best-known overland route, thanks to the Belgrade-Bar railway. It's a single, if long, train ride connecting Serbia's capital to Bar's coast, crossing genuinely dramatic mountain terrain along the way. We cover the full ride, timing, and what to expect in The Belgrade to Bar Railway: Riding One of Europe's Great Scenic Train Lines. Buses also run this corridor for travelers who'd rather not commit to the full train journey, or whose schedule doesn't line up with train timetables.

From Croatia

There's no direct railway between Croatia and Bar, so buses are the more practical overland option here, generally routing down the Adriatic coast or through Bosnia and Herzegovina depending on the specific service. If your trip includes both Dubrovnik and the Montenegrin coast, a bus connection is a common way to cover that leg without flying or renting a car.

From Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bus routes connect Bosnia and Herzegovina to Bar, generally via Montenegro's interior. This is a less heavily traveled corridor than the Serbia or Croatia routes, so expect fewer daily options and more planning around specific departure days.

From North Macedonia

Bus connections also run between North Macedonia and Bar, generally routing through Montenegro or along shared border regions. As with the Bosnia and Herzegovina routes, this tends to be a lower-frequency connection than the Serbia corridor, so check current schedules well ahead rather than assuming daily service.

A general note on overland border crossings

Montenegro isn't in the EU, so regardless of which neighboring country you're crossing from, keep your passport and any required documentation accessible, since border checks are a normal part of any of these overland routes, whether by train or bus. Crossing times can vary depending on traffic and how busy the border post is at that particular moment, so build some slack into tight connections.

Choosing between train and bus

If your route runs through Serbia and hits the Belgrade-Bar line, the train is worth strongly considering for the experience alone, not just as transport, it's a genuinely well-regarded scenic journey. For routes from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, or North Macedonia, where no direct rail option exists, the bus is generally your best overland choice. Either way, our bus station guide covers what to expect once you actually reach Bar by road.

Once you've crossed the border

Whichever direction you've come from, the practical question at the end is the same: getting from wherever you arrive, the bus station or the train station, to your accommodation. Both are covered in dedicated guides: From Bar Train Station to Your Hotel and, for bus arrivals, the transfer details in our bus station guide.

Fitting overland travel into a bigger trip

If you're piecing together a longer, car-free trip through the region, Seeing Montenegro Without a Rental Car covers how overland legs, taxis, and shorter regional hops all combine. And for the complete picture of every way to reach Bar, overland or otherwise, see our pillar guide to arriving in Bar. You can book a ride for the last leg of your journey through the Greencar.me Taxi app: Google Play or the App Store.