Is Montenegro Value Visiting? My Ideas After A number of Visits

Have you ever ever thought of visiting the small Balkan nation of Montenegro? Recognized for its dramatic landscapes, charming previous cities, gorgeous seashores, and wealthy historical past, Montenegro is a hidden gem nestled in Southeastern Europe.

I’ve visited Montenegro a number of instances now and may’t suggest it sufficient. When folks ask me what my favourite nation in Europe is, I usually record Montenegro in my prime 5 (my others are Italy, Greece, Portugal and Croatia).

However once I first visited Montenegro again in 2012, my information of the nation was very minimal. I knew it was small. I knew it was a part of the previous Yugoslavia, and that it used to enter the Eurovision Music Contest underneath ‘Serbia and Montenegro’. I’d heard whispers of pumping nightlife from Australians who had handed by on their excursions of Europe. That’s about it.

The good factor about visiting a spot you understand little or no about, is that you could be pleasantly shocked if you get there.

And boy, did this nation shock me. Montenegro had me saying the phrases ‘wow’, ‘stunning’ and ‘gorgeous’ again and again. I used to be bowled over by the great thing about the place, and likewise by how stylish and glamorous it was. 

The nation has among the most breathtaking surroundings I’ve ever seen. Think about standing on a pristine sandy seashore, gazing out on the ocean, then turning behind you to see towering, majestic mountains. Every time I’ve been again, I’ve fallen in love with Montenegro that little bit extra.

While neighbouring Croatia basks within the limelight, Montenegro appears to have been mendacity underneath the radar- but for a few years the nation was a preferred trip spot for A-list celebrities and VIPs.

In its 1970’s heyday, Montenegro’s Sveti Stefan was a playground for well-known visitors akin to Sophia Loren, Sylvester Stallone, Claudia Schiffer and Princess Margaret. Because the nation obtained independence in 2006, Montenegro has been making a comeback, and it’s now having fun with its lastly having fun with its second of fame.

In the event you’re planning a go to and what to know “Is Montenegro price visiting?” the reply is sure.

However, since I wish to provide the most sincere and detailed reply attainable, this weblog submit dives into the numerous causes you must have Montenegro in your journey bucket record and likewise considers just a few challenges it’s possible you’ll encounter.

Causes to Go to Montenegro

Unsurpassable Surroundings

Let’s begin with the surroundings and environment. From quaint villages to dramatic mountains, Montenegro’s panorama is extremely numerous.

The UNESCO World Heritage website, the Bay of Kotor, is a must-visit with its majestic surroundings and historical fortified metropolis. Kotor Bay is commonly often known as “Europe’s southernmost fjord” and jogs my memory very a lot of the Lysefjord in Norway.

In case you have the time, take a look at close by Perast. This small city is situated on the Bay of Kotor and is residence to 2 stunning islands, Our Woman of the Rocks and St George. The latter is a small island with a church that dates again to the twelfth century. It’s additionally price taking a ship journey across the bay to see among the different islands and fortresses.

Additional inland reveals the spectacular Durmitor Nationwide Park, recognized for its limestone peaks, glacial lakes, and ample wildlife. Don’t miss out on the Ostrog Monastery, constructed right into a vertical cliff face, providing breathtaking views over the Bjelopavlići plain.

Then there’s Budva, Montenegro’s hottest seashore vacation spot. You’ll be able to simply spend just a few days right here exploring the historic previous city and enjoyable on completely different seashores within the space. East of Budva you’ll discover the well-known Sveti Stefan island, which was as soon as a fortified village however is now a really costly luxurious lodge.

Montenegro doesn’t have iconic landmarks like Buckingham Palace, the Louvre or the Colosseum, but it surely does have a whole lot of stunning surroundings and historical past to go along with it.

Crystal Clear Water

So many locations are described as having ‘crystal clear water’ that the phrase begins to lose that means, however Montenegro actually did have crystal clear water. And oh how the ocean was sparkly- it seemed like somebody had sprinkled fairy mud throughout it!

From Seashores…to Mountains

I really like the best way you may be on the seashore one minute, and within the mountains the following. This entire area is extremely mountainous, offering a spectacular backdrop in every single place you go. Seashore bums can spend the day sunbathing, enjoyable and swimming within the Adriatic, while adventurous travellers can pursue outside actions akin to mountain climbing, mountain biking and climbing.

Wealthy Historical past

Montenegro’s historical past is wealthy and sophisticated, stretching again to historical instances. First inhabited by Illyrian and Celtic tribes, it later fell underneath Roman rule, resulting in a mixing of cultures. After the cut up of the Roman Empire, it grew to become a part of the Byzantine Empire. The area fought in opposition to Ottoman invasions all through the Center Ages, forming the principality of Zeta within the 14th century, later often known as Montenegro.

Montenegro maintained its independence all through the Ottoman interval, turning into a kingdom in 1910. Nevertheless, after World Warfare I, it was forcibly included into the newly fashioned Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, later renamed Yugoslavia.

Montenegro remained a part of socialist Yugoslavia underneath Tito’s regime following World Warfare II. Nevertheless, with the violent breakup of Yugoslavia within the Nineteen Nineties, it selected a extra peaceable path, remaining in a federation with Serbia. In 2006, following a referendum, Montenegro regained full independence.

Right this moment, the nation is a parliamentary democracy. As a multiethnic and multireligious nation, it’s aspiring to affix the European Union, signifying its dedication to peace and cooperation with its neighbors.

The nation’s lengthy, storied historical past is obvious in its walled cities, historical monasteries, Orthodox church buildings, and medieval fortresses. In the event you’re a historical past buff, you’ll discover quite a bit to maintain you occupied right here.

Nice Nightlife

Montenegro may not be the primary place that involves thoughts when contemplating the nightlife, however locations like Budva are recognized for his or her energetic scene. Town comes alive at evening with quite a few bars, golf equipment, and seashore events. Cafe Greco and Casper Bar are hotspots for cocktails, whereas Prime Hill and Trocadero are widespread nightclubs.

Prime Hill is a big, open air nightclub on prime of “Toplis Hill”, therefore the identify. It’s solely open in the course of the summer time season, however with a capability for round 5,000 folks, it’s turn into probably the most well-known and talked about nightclubs in Europe.

The nightlife in Budva itself isn’t as stylish or wild as what you’d discover in a spot like Mykonos or Ios, however you may undoubtedly social gathering and have a superb time in Budva. Kotor is so much quieter, though it has some good cocktails bars and eating places.

Stunning Seashores

Montenegro boasts a shocking Adriatic shoreline, and the most famous beaches may be discovered within the Budva Riviera. Right here, sun-seekers can lounge on the sands of quite a lot of seashores, together with Mogren, Slovenska, and Jaz Seashore.

In contrast to Croatia’s seashores, that are fairly pebbly, Montenegro has attractive sandy seashores which might be comfy for enjoyable on. From secluded coves to lengthy sandy stretches, there are seashores of every kind right here.

Affordability

In comparison with a few of its European neighbors, Montenegro is comparatively inexpensive for vacationers. Whether or not it’s lodging, eating, transportation, or leisure, your cash is prone to stretch additional right here than in lots of different European locations. Nevertheless, anticipate larger costs in peak tourism season.

Yummy Meals and Drink

Montenegro’s delicacies is a pleasant mixture of Mediterranean and Japanese European influences. Seafood is a staple alongside the coast, whereas meat dishes dominate the mountain areas. Don’t overlook to pair your meal with Vranac, an area crimson wine, or a shot of conventional Rakija. I found that the Montenegrin folks actually like their fireplace water. At each meal, and even breakfast, I used to be supplied their residence grown plum brandy, or Rakia, which is kind of simply pure ethanol in a pleasant decanter.

I personally love the meals in Montenegro – you get large parts, and the seafood could be very recent. Listed here are among the prime dishes to strive in Montenegro:

Burek: Originated from the Ottoman Empire, this baked pastry is crammed with quite a lot of elements. In Montenegro, it’s mostly crammed with cheese, spinach, or grounded meat.

Crni Rižot (Black Risotto): This intriguing dish will get its distinctive black shade from squid or cuttlefish ink. It’s usually ready with a mixture of seafood like squid, clams, and mussels.

Njeguški Stek: Named after the Njeguši village, this dish is a stuffed pork loin with cheese and prosciutto, usually served with potatoes.

Ćevapi: These small, skinless sausages are sometimes served with flatbread and a tangy sour-cream sauce known as Kajmak.

Buzara: It is a easy but flavorful dish of shellfish (normally prawns, mussels, or shrimps) cooked in white wine, garlic, and herbs.

Brav u Mlijeku (Lamb in Milk): This conventional dish entails slow-cooking lamb in milk with a beneficiant mixture of garlic and bay leaves till the meat turns into tender and the milk turns into a fragile, creamy sauce.

Njeguški Pršut (Njeguši Prosciutto): Njeguši is a small village in Montenegro recognized for its smoked and dried ham, kind of like Italian Prosciutto.

Elegant, Upscale Vibes

Montenegro is without doubt one of the classiest locations I’ve visited in Europe. You’ll see a whole lot of mega yachts moored right here, giving the nation some severe Monte-Carlo vibes.

Kotor is residence to Porto Montenegro – a cosmopolitan marina with luxurious residences, high-end vogue boutiques and upscale waterfront eating places. In the meantime Budva is residence to Dukley Gardens – a luxurious residential complicated and resort with a classy seashore membership.

Then there’s the enduring Sveti Stefan, a former village that’s been became a non-public island resort. A keep on the Aman Sveti Stefan can set you again €750 per evening minimal, with costs operating into the hundreds.

The nation is residence to some actually stunning luxurious lodges, though you too can discover a variety of lodging to swimsuit all budgets.

Superb Sunsets

Since Montenegro’s shoreline faces West, it will get unimaginable sunsets- the type that make you wish to pull over by the facet of the street to take a photograph.

Regardless of all these engaging causes to go to Montenegro, you also needs to bear in mind of some drawbacks:

Cons of Visiting Montenegro

Infrastructure

The infrastructure in Montenegro continues to be growing. Some roads, particularly within the mountains, may be difficult to navigate. Public transport choices are usually not as in depth as in another European international locations, however there’s a good bus community connecting the foremost cities and cities. If you wish to attain extra distant areas, you’ll must e book a tour or hire a automotive.

The bus is the preferred mode of public transportation in Montenegro. In the event you plan to take a long-distance bus, make sure that to e book your tickets upfront, particularly in the course of the peak vacationer season. Buses can get crowded, and a few routes solely have a restricted variety of buses operating in a day. 

There are trains in Montenegro, however the railway community is proscribed. There’s a line that runs from Bar to Bijelo Polje and one other one which runs from Podgorica to Nikšić.

Restricted Flight Connections

Many vacationers discover it difficult to get direct flights to Montenegro, as there aren’t as many worldwide connections as one would hope for. Close by international locations like Croatia or Serbia could supply higher flight connectivity, requiring an extra bus or automotive journey into Montenegro.

From the UK you’ll discover solely a handful of direct flights to Montenegro’s Tivat Airport. These seasonal flights are operated by Easyjet out of London and Manchester. Different airways would require you to make a stopover elsewhere in Europe. If flights to Montenegro are wanting costly, you may fly to Dubrovnik in Croatia as an alternative.

Vacationer Crowds in Summer season

Like many widespread locations, Montenegro can get fairly crowded within the peak summer time months. In the event you want avoiding massive crowds, take into account travelling in the course of the shoulder seasons (spring or autumn) when it’s much less busy.

In the course of the summer time the seashores are sometimes jam-packed, significantly these within the heart of Budva. Kotor is a well-liked cease for cruise ships, so town may be overrun with cruise passengers in the course of the daytime.

A Last Phrase

In the event you like eating al fresco, wandering round quaint previous cities and enjoyable on stunning seashores, then Montenegro is certainly a rustic to place in your bucket record. Equally, you’ll like it when you take pleasure in mountain climbing and the outside. With stunning mountains and a shocking bay, there tons of hikes and watersports to entice outside lovers.

Montenegro has an air of glamor to it, and for me it feels virtually like a cross between Lake Como and the French Riviera (two of my favourite locations). My boat journey on the Bay of Kotor on a sunny day surrounded by stunning surroundings, was probably the most enjoyable experiences I’ve ever had. It was the form of day that had me considering, ‘does it ever get higher than this?’

All in all, Montenegro is a shocking place, and one which I’ll fortunately return to time and time once more. Though it’s not with out its challenges, the rewards far outweigh the cons.