Written by Oonagh Turner
With its lagoon-like bay, this gem of the Balkans sits on the Adriatic coast, while its interior reveals limestone peaks and sparkling lakes.
1. Wild nature in its national park
Durmitor National Park / Image: Uliana Sova/Unsplash
Many tourists stick to Montenegro’s coastline, but the rugged interior is where you can discover its wilder side. Carved by glaciers, the Durmitor National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site, offering a wonderland of pristine nature. Take your pick from canyoning, rafting, river swims or hiking in alpine forests and meadows.
2. Waterside dining and floating bars
Bay of Kotor / Image: Faruk Kaymak/Unsplash
There are ample spots for wining and dining right on the water’s edge. In the Bay of Kotor, Kraken is a floating bar with an underwater cellar, where bottles of wine mature around 20m below sea level before being brought up to the surface for tasting.
3. Fascinating fortified islets
Sveti Stefan / Image: Petar Lazarevic/Unsplash
The coastline is peppered with fortifications that once guarded these strategically important shores. Explore the ancient walls of Budva’s Old Town or visit nearby Sveti Stefan – a 15th-century fishing village linked to the mainland by a narrow stone causeway.
4. It’s home to 280 bird species
Lake Skadar / Image: Chitra Laras/Unsplash
Straddling the border between Montenegro and Albania, Lake Skadar is a protected wilderness area, with Dalmatian pelicans and pygmy cormorants roaming its wetlands. Dubbed the ‘Amazon of Europe’, its lush, narrow channels can be explored by boat.
5. It’s a paradise for seafood lovers
Seafood with a sea view / Image: Getty Images
The sheltered nutrient-rich waters of the Bay of Kotor provide ideal conditions for Adriatic oysters and mussels. Along the shores near Perast, rustic family-run seafood spots serve the bay’s bounty fresh from the water, with oysters shucked to order.
6. Cyclists will love its winding roads
The Kotor Serpentine / Image: Matheus Frade/Unsplash
Montenegro’s hairpin roads deliver inspiring panoramas. Sedlo Pass is legendary, while the Kotor Serpentine twists through 25 hair-raising bends down Lovćen mountain. Don’t fancy the climb? Catch the cable car, rent a bike from Velo Experience and enjoy the thrilling descent.
7. Polako lifestyle
Ease into taking it easy / Image: Getty Images
Kotor is an ancient city shaped by more than two millennia of history, from Illyrian and Roman roots to centuries of Venetian rule. Its cobbled streets are the perfect place to embrace the ‘polako’ way of life – the Balkan mindset of slowing down – so kick back with a coffee or ice cream.
8. Venetian gems
Perast / Image: Matthew Ye/Unsplash
The charming town of Perast flourished under Venetian rule, with its strategic location helping it become a maritime powerhouse. Today, visitors come to admire its baroque palazzi, historic churches and two photogenic islets just offshore, as well as enjoying ample opportunities to swim.
9. Magnificent mountains
Prcanj, Bay of Kotor / Image: Steph Smith/Unsplash
The Bay of Kotor is a photographer’s dream, with Mount Lovćen towering above at 1,749m, creating a dramatic backdrop. In winter, mountain lovers can head inland to the unforgettable resorts of Kolašin and Žabljak for skiing and snowboarding.
10. Countless dreamy swim spots
The Tara River / Image: Uliana Sova/Unsplash
There are endless places for a refreshing dip in Montenegro, from the glacial waters of the Tara River to the spellbinding Crno Jezero (Black Lake). For summer swims near Kotor, Perast offers tranquil bathing spots with azure waters and plenty of places to jump in.
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