Montenegro Travel Guide

Montenegro is one of Europe’s hidden secrets. On a visit to Montenegro you could be having coffee on one of the numerous beaches of the Budva Riviera, eating lunch with the song of the birds on Skardar Lake or exploring one of its picturesque rural villages. Montenegro has a lot to offer but is still a relatively unknown place and is why it is often referred to as the "Hidden Pearl of the Mediterranean".

Where to stay...

You will find all the usual accommodation options in Montenegro including hotels, bed and breakfast, self catering, camping and caravanning. The star rating system is used for hotels. The most luxurious hotels are to be found on the coast and bed and breakfasts can be found in villages without hotels. Camping and caravanning can be found all over Montenegro and a list of the sites can be obtained from the national tourism organization.

Things to see and do

• Relax on one of the 117 sandy beaches along the Adriatic coast.
• Wander through the old towns of Budva, Kotor, or Bar.
• Climb the peaks of Durmitor National park.
• Birdwatch in the Scadar Lake area in the Zetsko-Skadarska Valley.
• Explore the Bioggradska Lake and Primeval Forest National Park.
• Explore the Botanical Gardens in Kolasin.
• Visit the Port of Kotor with its old city quarter. Do not miss the Naval Museum, the Drago, Bizanti, Pima and Grgurina Palaces and the Church of St Lucas.
• Visit the Savina Monastery in Herceg Novi, it is a good place to visit and is a good example of baroque architecture. There are also several galleries and exhibitions which are worth a visit.
• Visit Ulcinj, it is one of the oldest towns on the Adriatic Coast; the Balsica Tower and the Renaissance Church Mosque here must be seen.
• Take a stroll through the famous botanical gardens in Kolasin.
• Take part in hiking, biking, kayaking, rafting or paragliding in the Durmitor National Park. Its glacial landscapes, high peaks, pine forests and deep gorges provide some stunning scenery to enjoy while taking part in these outdoor activities.
• Visit Kotor and explore its picturesque old city quarter and admire its Venetian architecture, seventeenth century clock tower, twin towered Cathedral of St. Tiphun.
• Go and see the seventeenth century Ostrog Monastery which is built into a cliff between Danilovgrad and Niksic.
• Visit the Bay of Kotor, considered to be among the most beautiful bays in Europe. High cliffs surround the bay and they reflect in the clear waters.
• Enjoy the magnificent view from Lovcen Mountain.
• Take a boat tour to Zanjic Beach and Blue Cave from Boka Bay.
• Go white water rafting on the Tara River.
• Visit Belgrade, the capital and largest city in Serbia, it has a thriving café and restaurant culture, famous nightlife and a passion for arts and literature, the Serbian capital city offers affordable metropolitan living at the crossroads of Central and Eastern Europe.
• Novi Sad is Serbia’s second largest city and is its cultural centre with many museums, galleries, libraries, and theatres. It has even been nicknamed the Serbian Athens.
• Visit the Djerdap National Park and its main attraction Djerdap Gorge, a river valley made from four gorges.
• Follow one of Serbia's numerous wine routes - an example is the Palic wine route which follows the trail of 'Wines from the Sands' because the entire region is on sandy soil. The wine-making tradition in this area is over 2000 years old.

Festivals and events

• Kotor Carnival (February).
• Podgorica’s Days of Beer festival (July).
• Cultural events across the country in August including the International Folklore Festival in Cetinje and Cultural Summer in Podgorica.
• Belgrade International Film Festival features some of the best in world cinema (February – March).
• Belgrade Summer Festival – theatre, dance, visual art and music at a range of venues in the city including the streets, squares, and theatres (July – August).
• Exit Noise Summer Fest is the biggest music festival in south-eastern Europe (July)
• Belgrade Beer Festival is held every summer over 3 to 4 days (August).
• The Guca Music Festival is a brass band festival which takes place every summer in the Serbian town of Guca (August).
• Belgrade Race Through History – takes place at the historic Kalemegdan Fortress – participants run around the building and around the streets of the city (October).
• Joy of Europe – children from around Europe gather in the city to celebrate and encourage a greater union among the diverse peoples of Europe (October).

Time Difference

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