Montenegro
Travel destinations and tourist attractions in Montenegro combine a dramatic Adriatic coast, medieval towns, and mountain scenery. Highlights include the fjord-like Bay of Kotor with its UNESCO-listed old town, the beaches of Budva, historic Perast, and the rugged peaks of Durmitor National Park.
General information
Montenegro is a small country on the Adriatic coast of the Balkans, where steep mountains drop almost straight into the sea. The capital is Podgorica, the language is Montenegrin, and although the country is a candidate for European Union membership rather than a member, it uses the euro (EUR). Despite its size it packs in a dramatic bay, sandy and pebble beaches, medieval towns and some of the wildest mountain scenery in Europe. Summer is peak season on the coast; spring and autumn are quieter and cooler.
Transport and how to get there
The country has two airports — Podgorica (TGD) and Tivat (TIV), the latter right on the coast — and many visitors also arrive via Dubrovnik (DBV) in nearby Croatia. Buses connect the coastal towns and the interior reliably and cheaply, but a rental car is the best way to enjoy the Bay of Kotor's winding shore and the mountain national parks. Distances are short, though summer traffic around Kotor and Budva can be slow.
Prices
The currency is the euro (EUR), and Montenegro is moderately priced, with the coast noticeably dearer in July and August. A budget hotel or apartment costs roughly €40–75 a night, mid-range hotels about €75–130. An inexpensive meal is around €8–14, a three-course dinner for two in a mid-range restaurant about €35–55, and a coffee near €1.80. Kotor's old town is free to wander, while climbing its city walls costs about €15. Prices are approximate.
Main attractions
The jewel is the Bay of Kotor, a fjord-like inlet ringed by mountains, with the UNESCO-listed walled town of Kotor and the charming village of Perast with its island church, Our Lady of the Rocks. Along the coast, Budva offers a medieval old town and busy beaches, and the islet of Sveti Stefan is one of the Adriatic's iconic sights. Inland, Durmitor National Park with the Black Lake, the immense Tara River Canyon and the cliff-carved Ostrog Monastery reward the journey.