Montenegro is an up-and-coming holiday region on the southeastern Adriatic coast. The beautiful country in the Balkans has been an independent state since June 2006 and was previously part of the Republic of Yugoslavia. The capital and at the same time the largest city of the country is Podgorica, which has around 150,000 inhabitants and where all of the country’s important institutions are located. The main language of the country is Montenegrin and is very similar to both Serbian and Croatian.
Montenegro has breathtaking beaches and a lot of natural landscape. It is also worth mentioning for European tourists that the euro is used as the currency in Montenegro. Montenegro is still an insider tip among holidaymakers, so a trip to this region is particularly worthwhile, as the country is not yet too overcrowded with tourists.
Below we present you the most exciting tours, most beautiful attractions and best sights in Montenegro.
1. Budva Beaches
The incredibly beautiful beaches in the well-known bathing and holiday resort of Budva are an extremely worth seeing attraction in Montenegro. This coastal town is one of the oldest on the Adriatic and also has an extremely interesting old town, which is a listed building. In Budva you will find a lot of golden yellow fine sand beaches as well as great, very clean pebble beaches.
The countless beaches attract many visitors, which is why Budva also has great hotels and a very active nightlife. From relaxation, to architecture and culture worth seeing, to cool beach parties and club events, everything can be perfectly combined in this city.
2. Tara River Canyon (Kanjon rijeke tare)
The longest and deepest canyon in all of Europe can be found in Montenegro. The so-called “Tara Gorge” is 78 km long and approx. 1,300 m deep. It is one of the largest and most spectacular gorges in the world. This gorge is a unique natural spectacle located on the largest river in Montenegro, the Tara.
The best way to experience this canyon in all its glory is clearly by water. The Tara, which is particularly popular with adrenaline junkies due to its violent rapids and a large number of waterfalls, is particularly suitable for a drive through the gorge. If this variant is too action-packed for you, you can of course take a look at the gorge outside of the water.
3. Sveti Stefan
Sveti Stefan (in English “Saint Stefan”) is a breathtakingly beautiful island with a picturesque fishing village. It is one of the most popular sights on the Adriatic coast. The approximately 1.46 hectare island is connected to the Montenegrin mainland by a so-called dam. There are many churches on the island that are definitely worth a visit.
Sveti Stefan is considered a more upscale place in Montenegro, where many celebrities have spent their summers. The upper class of the country still has their weekend houses in the region, but there is now also a very good tourist offer. The great view of the sea and the intimate island feeling make this place a special highlight that you should definitely see.
4. Ostrog Rock Monastery
The Ostrog Monastery is probably the most important monastery of the Serbian Orthodox religious community. It is located at the foot of the Prekornica Mountains near the city of Danilovgrad and serves as a popular and well-known place of pilgrimage for members of the Orthodox, Catholic and Muslim faith. This incredibly impressive monastery was built into the cave of a rock wall at a height of 900 m and makes an almost unreal impression.
This unusual construction amazes many visitors. The best way to get to the monastery is on foot via a designated hiking trail. However, if you can no longer do this or if you are already traveling by car, you can also reach the monastery via a street, parking spaces are available. The journey by vehicle is an adventure in itself, as the roads are very narrow and uneven as well as extremely winding.
5. Lipa cave
This underground cave not far from the city of Cetinje is a unique masterpiece of nature. Many different passages make their way through this cave. Various halls and splendidly decorated galleries can be admired here. There are also underground lakes and springs in the Lipa Cave that create a sight that you will certainly never forget.
This cave is the only cave in the country open to tourists and a real tourist magnet. We think: Quite rightly. Anyone who has ever undertaken a tour through this indescribably beautiful cave has created a memory for life. Lipa is without a doubt one of the best sights in Montenegro!
6. Old town of Kotor
Another city worth seeing in Montenegro is the port city of Kotor. When you visit this city, you immediately notice that it has particularly impressive architectural buildings and huge city walls. Due to its unique construction, the old town of Kotor has already been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The city has a large number of churches worth seeing and at the same time is the seat of the Catholic diocese of Kotor. There are also some wonderful palaces to discover that date back to the time of the Venetian rule. Due to the exclusive location of the city on the water and surrounded by a high mountain range, there is also impressive nature to explore in the area.
7. National Park
The Lovcen National Park is located in northern Montenegro and is an approx. 64 km² main mountain range of the republic. At the foot of the mountains lie the popular cities of Budva, Kotor and Cetinje, which proves the proximity of the mountains to the Adriatic coast. The park provides a habitat for many rare animals and plants that you will rarely see anywhere else. This unique mountain range is ideal for hiking and a unique nature experience.
On the top of the highest mountain, Jezerski Vrh, stands the tomb of the late poet and poet Petar II. Petrović Njegoš. Visiting the tomb is of course only a small aspect of climbing all the way up the mountains, because when you reach the top you have a breathtaking view over the land and the sea.
8. Porto Montenegro
One of the most modern and newest attractions in Montenegro is Porto Montenegro, a luxurious and ultra-modern marina on the Adriatic. This marina with its exclusive promenade is located in the city of Tivat and is currently still partially under construction. Nevertheless, the region is already considered the “place to be” in the country. Only recently, Intercontinental Hotels secured a 51% stake in the luxury hotel Regent Porto Montenegro.
The very convenient location, close to the Bay of Kotor and Tivat Airport, offers an ideal location for high-class boutiques and shops, high-quality luxury apartments and a large number of fine restaurants and cafes. This marina is a true paradise in front of a dreamy backdrop with a view of the emerald-colored Adriatic Sea.
9. Luštica Bay
The quite new city Lustica Bay, which is located directly on Porto Montenegro, is an up-and-coming luxury district. It has been designed and designed to be incredibly modern and of high quality and has a large number of very exclusive and expensive apartments, suites and hotels. Expensive brand name stores are also lined up here. In addition to golf courses and so-called infinity pools, this town offers an impressive view of the Adriatic Sea and the famous Montenegrin mountains.
The best way to get to this place is via the marina. The focus is on the luxurious life on the coast, if you end up here, you have to dig a little deeper into your pocket to spend the night, but you will also get everything of the finest offered. A visit to the promenade and the marina is definitely worth it.
10. Durmitor National Park
The Durmitor National Park in the north of the country is also one of the well-known sights that should not be missed when traveling to Montenegro. There are countless imposing mountains that reach a height of over 2,000 m. There are also various gorges and great mountain lakes in the interior of this national park, which is part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage.
In the winter months, the park is particularly popular with winter sports enthusiasts, as it is wonderfully suitable for skiing. The Crno Jezero, also called black lake, is a magnificent, large glacial lake in the middle of the mountains, which is often bathed in a black light due to the surrounding trees. This sight is almost magical and unmistakable. The above-mentioned Tara Gorge can also be found in this national park.
