Country Guides

The Bay of Kotor - Photo: daninho_ibk

As Europe has opened up both politically and economically over the last 20 years, so have the amount of value for money holiday destinations increased.

Among these is Montenegro a small country in the Balkans. Although Montenegro was affected badly by the civil war in Yugoslavia, tourists have now started to flock there and the country has much to offer. You can head to the mountains and national parks for some skiing or prefer to relax alongside beautiful beaches. Montenegro also has a fascinating history and culture.

History

The coastal town of Budva - Photo: daninho_ibk

While the state capital is Podgorica, the Royal city of Cetinje has more cultural attractions. Cetinje occupies pride of place in the hearts of Montenegrins as it was one of the few places to resist the advances of the Ottoman Empire. Much of the attractive architecture in Cetinje is down to all the international embassies that are based there.

In Podgorica much has been destroyed by conflicts over the years. Settlement here actually dates back to prehistoric times and there are also many examples of Turkish architecture from the Ottoman era. There would have been much more to see if Podgorica had not been bombed on 70 separate occasions in the Second World War. There are however some nice historic villages which can be seen on the Budva Riviera. They are also the locations of some of Montenegro’s best beaches at Becici and Budva.

Coastline

The old town of Perast - Photo: daninho_ibk

Montenegro borders the refreshing waters of the Adriatic Sea and so, like neighbouring Croatia, has built up a large amount of tourism around arrivals by boat. Sailing here is an idyllic experience and there are more and more high-quality marinas being built to cater to the needs of travellers. Because Montenegro has a Mediterranean climate which leads to hot summers, the beach will be an alluring destination. Top of the list must be the UNESCO heritage site listed Bay of Kotor which is one of the exceptional areas of natural beauty for miles around.

As well as travelling to the ancient fortified town of Kotor, you should see the smaller village of Perast. Although it doesn’t have the sandy beaches of some of the other, better known tourist coastal resorts, Perast is a good place to get away from the summer crowds. The Montenegrin south coast is also worth visiting with the sea port of Bar and the coastal town of Ulcinj being located there. Ulcinj has the longest sandy beach in Montenegrin.

Nature, White Water Rafting and Skiing

Lake Skadar - Photo: daninho_ibk

The word Montenegro itself means Black Mountain and the country has some dramatic terrain. Visit the North Mountains of Montenegro for great for nature and skiing. Try Zabljak for an excellent winter resort, though some pistes and chair lifts can only be accessed with the help of a car. The Savin Kuk slope is the best at three and a half thousand metres long but there are also shorter pistes which are perfect for beginners. You will also find a fun après ski scene with some decent restaurants.

The Lovcen National Park is an area of beauty and the Skadar Lake National Park contains large lakes that make a great spot for walking or picnicking. The Durmitor National Park also contains the splendid Tara River Canyon, the deepest gorge in Europe (and second in the world only to the Grand Canyon) that is an unforgettable place to go white water rafting. You can also see a spectacular set of glacial lakes which are known as the Eyes of the Mountain.

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