Visiting Montenegro

Fairytale images, landscapes that are free of concepts and despite the rapid growth of tourism and the European touch, Montenegro has succeeded because it does not try to convince that it belongs to the West…

Montenegro, Crna Gora, Black Mountain: the name alone brings to mind romance ‘mixed’ with drama. On a trip here you will experience both in different ways, exploring its land. Bathed in the fragrance of wild herbs, coniferous trees and Mediterranean blossoms… Montenegro is truly as magical as it sounds.

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The “Monte Carlo” of the Balkans Its history

Once upon a time there was a country… in a puzzle of countries now enjoying independence, this one gained its autonomy as a separate state only in 2006, has an area almost 10 times smaller than that of Greece, while its narrow coastal zone does not exceed 300 km. Montenegro has a coastline in the southwest on the Adriatic Sea, bordering Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the east and Albania to the south.

And yet, this country is called the “Monte Carlo” of the Balkans and is an attraction for the rich and famous, who… together with their sailing boats and yachts, leave the Italian and French Riviera and head for the new, almost unpolished diamond of the Adriatic.

The question that arises with this data is… how has this small country managed to become a benchmark for visitors to the Mediterranean basin? What is it that its inhabitants have achieved in so few years that has elevated it from a potential tourist destination to the next big thing in the Mediterranean?

Let’s take things from the beginning… Hidden behind the rocky mountains, it is the only country in southeastern Europe that remained independent during the years of Ottoman rule as its geographical position allowed it to repel almost all the invasions it received in history.

In the 1960s and 1970s it was the Sant Tropez of the Adriatic. With Sophia Laurent, Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor and other jet setters unrepentantly worshipping the area for its beauty, today it has regained some of that glamour, with internationally renowned luxury resorts making their presence felt.

Montenegro’s coastline seems to be reliving the glory days of those decades! It enjoys high-end tourism, thanks to its marinas, cosmopolitan beaches and high quality services, and it is hard to find someone there by chance. If you visit it once, you are most likely to return…

The capital is Podgorica,the Podorica airport located from the capital just 10 minutes and is perched in the mountains, built at the confluence of the Moraca and Ribnica rivers, a city of no particular interest that seems to be still searching for an identity. It is not itself a tourist attraction, while the two seaside towns of Budva and Kotar or kotor have already won the bet.

The top tourist Budva

Budva, the ‘capital’ of tourism and one of the most beautiful medieval cities in the Mediterranean, may have few attractions and even fewer beaches, but it is a strong card on the country’s tourist map. In its marina, you will see moored luxury yachts of Russian -mostly- tourists, who will not hesitate to spend without a second thought. The marina is located north of the Old Town, and this is where Slovenská Obala, the pedestrian promenade, starts.

Among the sandy beaches of Budva, there will surely be more than one, which will not only charm you… but enchant you! Safe and clean, they have also gathered the nightlife of the town, but they also often host various kinds of events. Budva is therefore the one chosen by many – mainly – for the stunning beaches that characterize the surrounding area, and more specifically those that reach up to the resort of Sveti Stefan, on a route of about 9 km alongside crystal clear waters and fairytale beaches.

At the end of it, the ultra-luxurious resort 10 minutes by the podgorica airport taxi Aman Sveti Stefan is found on the tiny island of the same name. Connected to the coast by a narrow isthmus, it is a fortified settlement, dating back to the 15th century and characterised by its atmospheric atmosphere with stone buildings and cobbled cobbled streets! The Budvanska Riviera, as it is otherwise known to the general public, is famous for its sandy and pebbled beaches, its rich nightlife and its Mediterranean architecture buildings. In fact, the town is 3,500 years old, which makes it one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic. From its port, boats depart for excursions and dives to Hawaii Beach on the opposite island of St. Nikola, just 5 minutes away.

The famous Kotor

On the other hand, Montenegro’s historic and most famous town – perhaps the most beautiful – is Kotor (Kotor or Kotar), 24km from Budva, mirrored in the blue waters of the Adriatic. The ‘Nymph of the Adriatic’, as its inhabitants call it, at first glance is quite reminiscent of nearby Dubrovnik in neighbouring Croatia, and the history of Montenegro’s maritime state has been as turbulent as that of the other cities on the Dalmatian coast.

The Bay of Kotor is considered by many to be one of the most lacy parts of the Adriatic coastline, while the town is today one of the finest examples of a fortified medieval settlement on the Adriatic and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979.

Kotor is famous for its beauty with its blue sea, green mountains and the palette of different bright colours; it is a city with culture and several cultural elements. The first impression is made by the fortifications on Mount San Giovanni and entering the Old Town and walking through the narrow streets takes you back to medieval times. Passing under one of the gates – entrances of the walls is equivalent to starting a journey through time! Narrow paved cobbled streets connect small squares surrounded by imposing stone mansions, low houses with tiles and flowered balconies, while stone steps lead to platforms at the highest point of the walls, from where the view of the marina with its luxurious yachts and the blue strip of sea that twists and disappears behind the edges of the mountains is breathtaking.

Beyond its architectural interest, however, Kotor delivers lessons in Balkan history! The numerous Catholic and Orthodox churches built from the 13th to the 15th century, the 17th-century Prince’s Palace, the Napoleon Theatre, built in the 19th century, the Maritime Museum, which traces the country’s glorious history as a Mediterranean naval power, are some of the main attractions of the old town. Outside the walls, the waterfront is ideal for endless walks overlooking the endless… blue of the waters and the green of the trees.

Sights not to be missed in Montenegro

• Durmitor National Park, in the northern part of Montenegro. Ideal for hiking, cycling, mountain climbing, swimming, rafting.
• The Ostrog Monastery, built into the rugged slope of the huge Ostróska Greda rock, 118 km from Budva.
• A few km from Kotor, Perast, in the bay of Boka, stands out for its magnificent Old Town with traditional architecture.