A newly married couple spending their honeymoon in Dubrovnik booked Shuttle 202 as their private chauffeur for a multi-day drive through southern Croatia and Montenegro. What a lovely journey it was, from Dubrovnik to Montenegro and through some truly beautiful places along the way.
They had their own accommodation, restaurants and activities arranged. Our role was to provide comfortable private transportation between the places they wanted to visit, give them the flexibility to travel at their own pace and, as an additional service, create professional photographs along the way. Their journey took us from Dubrovnik to Mali Ston and then across the border into Montenegro, with stops in Perast, Kotor, Risan, Tivat, Budva and finally Podgorica. Here is what the journey looked like from our side of the driver’s seat.
Dubrovnik Private Chauffeur
We first met our couple at Dubrovnik Airport, where we were waiting for them after their flight. From the airport, we drove them to their hotel, the Dubrovnik President, where they could settle in and take a short break before heading into the city. Later, we picked them up again and drove them to Dubrovnik Old Town. After breakfast at Dubravka 1836, they explored the historic centre, walked the famous city walls and enjoyed some of Dubrovnik’s beaches. Along the way, we also found time to create some beautiful honeymoon photographs for them. Dubrovnik is one of those places where history doesn’t feel like something hidden inside a museum. For centuries it was the centre of the independent Republic of Ragusa, a small but remarkably successful maritime republic that built its wealth through trade, diplomacy and shipping. The Old Town, surrounded by almost two kilometres of monumental stone walls, still reflects that history through its narrow streets, palaces, churches and fortresses. And from a photographer’s perspective, Dubrovnik is difficult to beat. Warm stone, small streets, the blue Adriatic and changing light provide a completely different background every few minutes. After exploring the Old Town and spending some time near the sea, our first day came to an end. It was a good reminder of why Dubrovnik works so well as the beginning of a longer private chauffeur journey along the Adriatic coast.
Mali Ston and an Oyster Experience
The following day we picked up our couple and drove approximately one hour north of Dubrovnik to Mali Ston. This tiny settlement at the beginning of the Pelješac Peninsula has a very long connection with shellfish farming. Mali Ston Bay is particularly famous for its European flat oysters. The combination of clean Adriatic seawater and freshwater sources has created excellent conditions for oyster farming here for generations. Our couple had arranged an Oyster Experience, which took us by a small boat from Mali Ston into the bay. Fresh oysters were taken directly from the sea and opened in front of us. There were also mussels prepared in traditional Dalmatian style and local wine. It was one of our favourite moments of the journey. Not because it was particularly glamorous, but because it felt completely authentic. A small boat, calm sea, fresh oysters and a glass of wine with the Pelješac landscape around us. Sometimes these simple experiences become the ones you remember most. After Mali Ston, it was time to head south again.
Fresh Oysters from the Sea in Mali Ston Bay
Private Driver from Dubrovnik to Montenegro
Our next drive took us from Croatia across the border into Montenegro. For travellers who don’t want to think about driving, parking, border crossings or moving luggage between destinations, travelling with a private chauffeur from Dubrovnik to Montenegro makes this part of the journey considerably more comfortable. Our couple could simply relax while we took care of the road. And it is a beautiful road. As you approach the Bay of Kotor, the landscape changes dramatically. Mountains rise almost directly from the water and small stone settlements begin appearing along the shoreline. Our first stop in Montenegro was Perast.
Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks
Perast is tiny, but it has an extraordinary amount of history for such a small place.
Situated directly on the Bay of Kotor, it flourished particularly during the Venetian period and became home to successful sailors, merchants and sea captains. Their wealth can still be seen today in the elegant stone palaces and churches along the waterfront. For us, it was also a wonderful place for photography. We walked with our couple through the town and created a series of relaxed photographs before they took a boat to Our Lady of the Rocks. The little island has one of the most interesting stories in the Bay of Kotor. Unlike nearby St. George Island, Our Lady of the Rocks is artificial. According to local tradition, sailors began placing stones into the sea at the location where an icon of the Virgin Mary had been discovered. The tradition continued over generations until an island gradually emerged from the water. The custom survives today through the traditional Fašinada, when local people take their boats onto the bay and add more stones around the island. Surrounded by calm water and the mountains of Boka Bay, it is also an incredible place to photograph. After a very warm late-summer afternoon exploring Perast, our couple returned to something slightly less historic but very welcome. A cool vehicle, air conditioning already running and cold drinks waiting inside. These are small details. But for us, they are an important part of a premium private chauffeur service.
Our guests enjoy the destination. We take care of the drive.
Private Chauffeur to Kotor
Our next destination was Kotor. Few places on the Adriatic have such a dramatic entrance. The mountains seem to rise almost vertically behind the medieval town, while the old fortifications climb high above the rooftops. Inside the walls, Kotor becomes a maze of narrow stone streets, small squares, churches and centuries-old buildings. The Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979, and its long maritime history can still be felt throughout the Old Town. And then there are the cats. Kotor is famous for them. You will find them sleeping on stairs, sitting outside shops and occupying sunny corners throughout the Old Town as if the city belongs to them. Our couple had independently arranged a local guide who met them in Kotor and showed them around the historic centre. We think this works particularly well when travelling with a private chauffeur. A professional local guide can explain the detailed history of the destination, while our job remains what it should be: providing comfortable and flexible private transportation throughout the journey.
After exploring Kotor, our couple decided to have dinner at Luna Rossa at Hotel Monte Cristo, a restaurant we were happy to recommend from our own experience. If you happen to be nearby, it is certainly worth considering. Then it was time to continue towards Risan.
Mövenpick Hotel & Residences Teuta Kotor Bay
Our couple had chosen Mövenpick Hotel & Residences Teuta Kotor Bay in Risan for their accommodation. Risan is only a short drive from Kotor, but the atmosphere is much quieter. The hotel is a modern luxury property directly on the Bay of Kotor, with contemporary interiors, a private beach, beautiful views and an outdoor infinity pool overlooking the bay. Our driver stayed at the same hotel during this part of the journey. And this is where Shuttle 202 becomes a little different from a conventional chauffeur service. Our driver is also a professional photographer. The accommodation and hotel had been selected and booked by our clients, but since we were all staying in such a beautiful location, it seemed a shame not to take advantage of it. So we took our cameras and created an editorial-style honeymoon photo session around the property. No complicated production. Just a newly married couple, a beautiful location and some wonderful evening light over the Bay of Kotor. The photographs became another part of their journey.
Private Ride to Tivat and Budva
The following morning we picked up our couple and continued towards Tivat and Budva. These two destinations are relatively close to each other, but they show two very different sides of Montenegro.
Tivat and Porto Montenegro
Tivat feels completely different from historic Perast and Kotor. The town has strong maritime roots, but modern Tivat is probably best known internationally for Porto Montenegro. What was once a naval facility has been transformed into a modern marina surrounded by restaurants, cafés, residences and some seriously impressive yachts. The contrast is fascinating. One moment you can be standing beside centuries-old stone buildings somewhere on Boka Bay and shortly afterwards walking past superyachts in a contemporary marina. Our couple spent some time walking through Porto Montenegro while we created a few more photographs along the waterfront. There was no need to rush. And that is one of the things our guests appreciate most about having a private driver in Montenegro. You decide where you want to go and how you want to spend your day. We take care of getting you there.
Budva - History by the Adriatic
From Tivat we continued towards Budva. Budva is considered one of the oldest settlements on this part of the Adriatic, with a history stretching back more than two thousand years. Its most recognisable part is the walled Old Town, sitting on a small peninsula surrounded by the sea. Behind the stone walls are narrow streets, small squares, churches and hidden corners that feel completely different from modern Budva outside them. And that contrast is what makes the city interesting. Historic stone walls on one side. Beaches, restaurants, hotels and a much more energetic atmosphere on the other. We didn’t try to turn the afternoon into a checklist of attractions. Our couple explored the places they were interested in, stopped when they wanted and continued when they were ready. For us, that is one of the greatest advantages of travelling with a private chauffeur. The schedule belongs to you.
The Chedi Luštica Bay - Dinner by the Adriatic
Before leaving the coast and continuing towards Podgorica, we made one more stop at The Chedi Luštica Bay, one of Montenegro’s most luxurious seaside resorts. Located in Luštica Bay, the resort feels quite different from the historic towns we had visited during the previous days. The approach itself is beautiful, with a winding road gradually opening towards the Adriatic, the marina and the modern waterfront village below. The Chedi combines contemporary Mediterranean architecture with a much quieter and more relaxed atmosphere than some of Montenegro’s busier coastal destinations. Surrounded by mountains and the sea, with its own marina and beach nearby, it feels almost like a small world of its own. Our couple had chosen The Chedi for dinner, so our role was simply to get them there comfortably and give them all the time they wanted to enjoy the evening. And it was a perfect choice for one of their final nights in Montenegro. After several days of medieval towns, stone walls and busy sightseeing, sitting beside the Adriatic and enjoying dinner in Luštica Bay brought a completely different pace to the journey. For a private chauffeur in Montenegro, this is also one of those destinations where the drive is part of the experience. There is no searching for parking, thinking about the road back after dinner or watching the time. Our guests can simply enjoy their evening, knowing their driver is there when they are ready to continue. After dinner, we left the coast behind. The following day, our final destination was Podgorica.
Podgorica with a Private Chauffeur
The final part of our journey took us away from the Adriatic coast and towards Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro. Podgorica is often overlooked by international visitors who head directly towards Kotor, Budva or the coast. But it offers a completely different side of the country. The wider area has been inhabited since ancient times, and only a few kilometres from modern Podgorica are the remains of the Roman city of Doclea, dating back almost two thousand years. The city later developed through different historical periods, including centuries of Ottoman influence. Modern Podgorica is built around the Morača and Ribnica rivers and feels much more urban than the coastal towns we had visited during the previous days. For us as photographers, that was actually perfect. After days of blue sea, mountains, medieval walls and small stone streets, we wanted the final photographs of the journey to feel different. One of our favourite locations was the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ. The monumental Orthodox cathedral is one of the most recognisable modern landmarks in Podgorica. Its massive stone exterior, domes and towers provided a completely different setting for the final photographs of our couple. We spent some time around the city creating more urban-style images that would complete the visual story of their journey. And after several days on the road, there was one final stop. Food. Our couple visited Porto restaurant at Stanka Dragojevića 40C, known for its fish and seafood dishes.
After Dubrovnik, Mali Ston, Perast, Kotor, Risan, Tivat and Budva, sitting down for a relaxed meal in Podgorica felt like the right way to finish the journey. By this point, we had driven hundreds of kilometres together. We had crossed a border, waited while they explored old towns, carried luggage, stopped for photographs, driven along the Adriatic and through Boka Bay and shared plenty of conversations along the way. It no longer felt like simply driving clients from one address to another. And that is exactly what we like about this work.
Private Chauffeur Croatia and Montenegro
Looking back, there wasn’t one single destination that made this journey memorable. It was the combination of everything. Dubrovnik’s stone walls. Fresh oysters in Mali Ston. The quiet waterfront of Perast. Our Lady of the Rocks. The medieval streets of Kotor. An evening overlooking the Bay of Kotor in Risan. Superyachts in Tivat. The ancient streets of Budva. And finally the completely different urban atmosphere of Podgorica. But between all of these places were many hours on the road. Those hours are our part of the journey.
Shuttle 202 provides private chauffeur transportation. We are not a travel agency and we do not sell accommodation, guided tours, restaurant reservations or travel packages. Our guests choose and arrange the destinations, accommodation and activities they want to experience, while we provide private transportation between them. And if requested, there is something extra. Professional photography. A comfortable premium vehicle, an experienced private chauffeur, flexibility during the drive, cold drinks after a hot afternoon and the possibility of returning home with professional photographs of your journey.
For couples, families and private travellers looking for a private chauffeur between Croatia and Montenegro, Shuttle 202 offers transportation that can become part of the experience rather than simply the distance between two destinations. Because sometimes a journey is remembered not only for where you went, but for how you travelled. And photographs can bring you back to those moments years later.
Shuttle 202 Your driver. Your photographer. One journey. See you somewhere on the road.
Planning a Private Journey from Croatia to Montenegro?
Travel comfortably with your own private chauffeur and enjoy the freedom to stop, explore and continue at your own pace. Professional photography can also be included on request.