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Montenegro travel guide

Montenegro is Europe's hidden gem – compact, yet bursting with gorgeous Adriatic beaches, some of Europe's finest mountains and activities aplenty

The small Adriatic country Montenegro offers all you could wish for. In the west, you’ve got beaches and the Adriatic, with small fishing villages dotted along the coast. Further inland, you find wide plains and high mountains like Maja Kolata, for active holidays involving everything from hiking to rafting.

National parks like Durmitor offer stunning scenery and the many walled towns like Kotor have mazes of cobbled streets inviting you to get lost and explore. Wildlife is abundant in the hills, and hikers might on occasion come across a wolf or bear in the very remote parts of the country.

Hospitality is very important to Montenegrins, and accommodation will always be clean. As a former Yugoslav republic, the cuisine is similar to that of other Adriatic states. Meals include lamb, veal and lots of fruit and vegetables, and most of Montenegro’s food is organic. Specialties include cheese and smoked ham.

Wanderlust recommends

1. Skadar Lake is the largest lake in the Balkans and one of the biggest bird sanctuaries. Pelicans call Skadar their home, and boat trips can be arranged.
2. Climb Montenegro’s highest peak Maja Kolata (2534m). Maps are not readily available and the climb is only recommended for adventurous travellers, but well worth the effort.
3. Chill out on one of Ulcinj’s beaches or take a stroll through the historic part of town Stari Grad.
4. 18km outside of Kotor lies the small village Perast which offers boat trips to the mall island Lady of the Rock, a man-made island. The locals took over 550 years to create it, dropping a stone there every year in July, until they sank 87 ship laden with stones to help the process.
5. The monastery at Cetinje, the former capital, is home to the mummified hand of St. John the Baptist and part of the true Cross, although a little bit of imagination might be needed to identify the hand as such. The town itself offers a charismatic mix of cottages and palaces.
6. Take the train to see some of Montenegro’s most stunning countryside between Bar, Prodgorica and Serbian capital Belgrade. Crossing the country from one end to the other, you can sit back and watch the varying landscape roll by.

Wanderlust tips

Hike through the Durmitor national park to see the Tara Canyon which is Europe’s longest at 82km long and 1,300m deep. Great for winter sports such as skiing, the summer turns Durmitor into an outdoor activity hub with horseriding, cycling and paragliding all on offer throughout the park.

Montenegro trips