Montenegro

The Balkan nation of Montenegro can be defined by rugged mountainous landscape, ancient villages and architecture, beach-lined Adriatic coastline and rich culture. Add to this an abundance of outdoor activities, and you are guaranteed to fall in love with one of Europe’s most beautiful yet underrated countries.

Montenegro’s capital Podgorica displays a fusion of historical and modern elements. Podgorica’s most notable highlights are Stara Varoš which is its old Ottoman town, Millennium Bridge and the Neo-Byzantine style Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ. The capital also gives easy access to one of the most sacred sites in the country, the Ostrog Monastery. It seems carved out of the face of a hill and its unique location lures millions of visitors each year.

Kotor, a fortified city on the country’s Adriatic coast, is dotted by museums, churches, squares, and Venetian palaces. The gorgeous Bay of Kotor (also known as Boka) is the best place in the country to witness the sunset. The Kotor City Walls, which can be climbed for amazing views of the bay and the 12th-century St Tryphon’s Cathedral are the town’s other attractions. A few kilometers away, Cetinje city was once the capital of Montenegro and is popular for its 18th-century white Cetinje Monastery, National Museum of Montenegro and the Lipa Cave.

The Lovcen National Park can be accessed from the towns of Kotor or Cetinje and is dominated by rocky mountains covered by dense forests. Mount Lovcen, a mighty black mountain, is the park’s highlight and it was after this mountain that the country got its name. Montenegro translates to ‘black mountain’. The park’s terrain is suitable for adventure activities like zip lining, quad biking, cycling and hiking. Budva is a coastal town with a rich history, lively nightlife and lovely beaches, notable for its medieval Old Town (Stari Grad). Just off the coast lies the tiny islet of Sveti Stefan with beautiful stone villas dating back to the 15th-century. However, the islet is now home to the luxury Aman resort and can be visited only if you have a reservation. With stunning views of Mount Rumija, Stari Bar is another small town that can be visited from Budva as a day trip and boasts of natural beauty and historical elements like the ruins of Fortress Stari Bar and the old olive tree. It also has serene rocky beaches like the Sutomore beach, Red beach and Šušanjska Plaža, which are great places to relax and also try out Montenegro’s seafood.

Lake Skadar lies on the border of Montenegro and Albania and is southern Europe’s largest lake. The lake runs through dramatic mountains, lush vegetation and tiny timeless villages.. The surroundings of the lake is a designated national park and offers great views along with some of Europe’s best birdwatching opportunities. Durmitor National Park which spreads over a part of the Dinaric Alps is home to Europe’s deepest canyon, the Tara river canyon. The Durmitor massif features over 50 towering peaks and around 18 glacial lakes which are popular for skiing in winter and hiking in summer.

Montenegro has been a highly underrated destination for years and is slowly gaining popularity in recent times. Book a trip now and discover the untamed beauty of Montenegro before it turns into a typical touristy European destination.