Montenegro - guide to the biggest highlights on your journey is written by The editorial staff in cooperation with montenegro.travel.
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Vacation in magnificent Montenegro
Since 2006, Montenegro has been an independent republic located on the Mediterraneanhavet. The small country is defined by dramatic mountains and wild nature. According to legend, Montenegro means 'the black mountain', referring to the color of the dark coniferous forests that cover large parts of the country.
Montenegro is located on Middelhavet – or more precisely on the Adriatichavets coast. The mountainous country is surrounded by the neighboring countries of Serbia to the north, Kosovo and Albania to the southeast, and Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina to the west. To the southwest on the other side of the water lies Italy.
With an impressively varied nature, fantastic activities in every season and true sustainability, Montenegro is a truly unique destination to travel to.
Although Montenegro is a small country, its ambitions are certainly not small – especially not in terms of sustainability. Montenegro is the world's first ecological state: In 1991, the Montenegrin authorities thus adopted a declaration whereby the country became the first ecological state in the world.
The small and diverse country is easy to travel around, regardless of whether you want to leave havet to the mountains or vice versa; you can experience it all with relatively short trips.
The sunny country in southern Europe has an average of 240 sunny days per year. In addition, Montenegro is the country with the deepest gorge in Europe, the Tara Canyon, and the oldest tree in Europe; an olive tree that stands in the coastal town of Bar and is over 2000 years old. And it even still bears fruit.
Montenegro is also the country where you will find the largest lake Balkans, one of the three remaining rainforests in Europe and no less than five national parks.
From June you can fly directly to Montenegro from Denmark in less than three hours with the national airline Air Montenegro, so it's just a matter of going on holiday.
Coast: Adriatichavets jewel
The most well-known part of Montenegro is probably the Boka or Bay of Kotor, with the cities of Kotor, Tivat and Herceg Novi, which are popular holiday destinations for tourists – and for good reason. It is clearly one of the most beautiful bays in the world, and the coast in general is incredibly attractive. Here you can, for example, board a mysterious submarine and learn about the long-kept secrets of the Yugoslav navy.
If you visit the marinas of Porto Montenegro, Porto Novi and Luštica Bay, you will see luxurious mega-yachts and be surrounded by exclusive restaurants and shops.
If you are looking for a quieter environment, the cities of Tivat and Perast have more intimate beaches and small piers where you can sunbathe, sip cocktails or eat a delicious dinner.
In addition, you will find the 'city of many steps' Herceg Novi and the island of Gospa od Škrpjela - also known as 'Our Lady on the Rocks' in English - a church that 'floats' in the middle of the Bay of Kotor.
On the Sveti (Saint) Stefan peninsula, you will find some of Montenegro's best beaches. The reddish sandy beaches that connect the coast with the rocks are definitely worth a visit. In addition to the fine sand and the fantastic hidden coves, you can take a walk among the conifers in Miločer Park.
If you are more into wellness - and especially if you are a woman - you should take the route past Ulcinj. If you prefer an active holiday by the water, there are plenty of water activities here; especially kitesurfing, stand-up paddle and kayaking are widespread when you look out over the open blue sea in Ulcinj.
If you want to live the completely free life, you can go to the beach Ada Bojana. It is a nudist beach with many restaurants and beautiful surroundings. Be aware that the sun can be really sharp at these latitudes - so remember the sunscreen and take care of yourself.
Life in a rural way - give yourself an experience in the countryside
If you want to really get down to speed, go on holiday to the beautiful traditional villages of Montenegro. Here you can go on a peaceful and secluded adventure while surrounded by the country's embracing nature.
Take a tour of the countryside, where village families open their homes to travelers. You can have a very special stay in a village where you will be taken to Montenegro of the past, which is full of exciting stories and traditions. Across the country you will find 200 registered rural households.
Scattered across the country are countless villages and so-called 'mountain cats', each with its own history, but all sharing a similar way of life. Katuns are the temporary settlements of farmers and shepherds in the mountains that local people created to look after their livestock.
If you want to experience the authentic Montenegro, you should go to one of the villages and learn about the nomadic lifestyle. You can get one katun host, who shares captivating stories from his life high in the mountains.
Alternatively, you can go out and sample village life for a day. You will learn about the history and culture of the past while enjoying the peace of nature. And you will help make an organic home-made meal, which you can help enjoy with the very friendly locals afterwards.
Montenegro's enchanting national parks
In a country like Montenegro, which contains so much beautiful nature, you will of course also find several national parks.
In the national parks Durmitor, Lake Skadar/Shkodër, Lovćen, Biogradska Gora and Prokletije you can experience wonderful mountain landscapes, stunning glacial lakes and incredible biodiversity.
With its size, Montenegro is a manageable country, so you are never far away from one of the country's national parks on a holiday to the country.
Bjerglandet offers activities all year round. You can go on bike rides, hikes and trekking, paragliding, canyoning, rafting, zipline and much more. In addition, during the winter months you can enjoy winter sports activities such as skiing and snowboarding.
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Montenegrin culture and lifestyle
Although Montenegro is a small country, it has a very special culture. This applies to everything from traditional dance to crafts and food.
If you want to experience true Montenegrin art, you should go to Sveti Stasije – or 'St. Eustacius Church' – in Dobrota and see the approximately 130 authentic medieval folk art pieces. The church is dotted with 'Dobrotska lace' each with its own story woven into the fantastic lace.
If you're more into live culture, meet the keepers of the 'kolo' dance tradition. This lively dance with colorful dancers who dance together in a ring must be experienced. Then swing past the northern part of Montenegro to Kolašin and feel the rhythm on your own body.
On the music front, Montenegro is particularly proud of the one-stringed instrument 'gusle'. The instrument is reserved for epic folk songs that tell stories of battles and triumphs. It is in this way that the rich history of Montenegro has been transmitted from generation to generation throughout time.
UNESCO has placed the nature and culture of the Kotor region and the national park Durmitor on the World Heritage List. Visit the city of Kotor itself, which is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Enjoy the city's unique architecture, admire the numerous palaces and churches and sense the enchanting spirit of culture in this iconic city.
Montenegro has cities for every taste. Head to the capital Podgorica, where you can enjoy both a relaxed atmosphere and new urban trends. Or head to Cetinje, which is rich in cultural and historical monuments and archaeological sights.
If you're looking for great music festivals and local beer, the industrial student town of Nikšić is for you.
In the northern part of the country, you can visit the Durmitor National Park, the impressive nature and Europe's deepest gorge, the Tara Gorge.
Starting this summer, you can make use of the cable car that connects Kotor to the Lovćen National Park, which, in addition to featuring the impressive black mountain that gave the country its name, is also the final resting place of the country's iconic regent, Bishop Petar II Petrović-Njegoš .
The cable car can carry 1000 passengers per hour in the 40 gondolas, and visitors can enjoy the beautiful view of the park and the mountainous landscape around the old royal capital of Cetinje during the ten minute ride. If the funicular ride isn't enough, Lovćen is also the perfect place for anyone who loves adrenaline-pumping activities.
Montenegrin cuisine
Montenegro is known for its rich and varied gastronomic offer, so it is also a perfect destination for a holiday for foodies. In the southern part of the country you will find a wide range of restaurants with excellent Mediterranean cuisine and also rural households where they welcome you with open arms and really let you feel the Mediterranean spirit.
Don't forget to also visit the village of Njeguši with its amazing view, where you can enjoy Njeguši cheese.
Local specialties are what await you in the north, and one of them you must not miss is 'kačamak'; an authentic dish in Bjelasica, Sinjajevina and Durmitor in particular.
The often secluded 'catoons' of the northern regions, where the locals really offer a warm welcome, are the perfect places to enjoy both the magic of nature and excellent local specialities.
Montenegro's gastronomic delights should be accompanied by high-quality wines. In the southern part of the country, you can visit vineyards with Mediterranean charm and impressive views.
In the Bay of Kotor, you can also try wines that have been on tap below havet for years in Montenegro's first underwater wine cellar.
If you are going on holiday to central Montenegro, you can visit Plantaže, which is one of the most important producers of grapes, wine and grape brandy in South-Eastern Europe. Here is the largest vineyard gathered in one place in Europe at an impressive 2300 hectares.
The special Montenegrin climate, which comes with the location between the Adriatichavet, Lake Skadar and the high mountains, provide ideal conditions for growing and developing authentic varieties and varieties of grapes, making the wines truly special.
From the central part of the country and all the way along the coast you will find countless vineyards, where you can enjoy wine of the highest quality.
Montenegro is obvious to combine with a trip to other countries in the Balkans, but also as a destination in itself. You can go on a charter trip to Montenegro, but you can also arrange your own trip. We hope you have been inspired.
Good trip to nature-loving Montenegro.
You must experience that on your trip to Montenegro
- The city of Herceg Novi
- Visit Boka or Kotor Bay to see some of the most beautiful bays in the world
- Go to the island of Gospa od Škrpjela, also known as 'Our Lady on the Rocks'
- Discover the amazing national parks such as Durmitor, Lovćen, Biogradska Gora and Prokletije
- Lake Skadar/Shkodër
- Europe's deepest gorge, the Tara Gorge
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