Lonely Planet - Lonely Planet Montenegro

Imagine a place with sapphire beaches as spectacular as Croatias, rugged peaks as dramatic as Switzerlands, canyons nearly as deep as Colorados, palazzos as elegant as Venices and towns as old as Greeces and then wrap it up in a Mediterranean climate and squish it into an area two-thirds of the size of Wales and you start to get a picture of Montenegro. You could easily drive clear across the country in a day or spend a month and be left wanting more. Ironically, this tiny place is populated by giants arguably the tallest people in the world.

Theres not a lot of it barely 100km from tip to toe but Montenegros coast is quite extraordinary. Mountains jut sharply from crystal-clear waters in such a way that the word looming is unavoidable. As if that wasnt picturesque enough, ancient walled towns cling to the rocks and dip their feet in the water like theyre the ones on holiday. In summer the whole scene is bathed in the scent of wild herbs, conifers and Mediterranean blossoms. The word magical is similarly impossible to avoid.

When the beaches fill up with Eastern European sunseekers, intrepid travellers can easily sidestep the hordes in the rugged mountains of Durmitor and Prokletije, the primeval forest of Biogradska Gora or in the many towns and villages where ordinary Montenegrins go about their daily lives. Hike, mountain bike or kayak yourself to somewhere obscure and chances are youll have it all to yourself. This is, after all, a country where wolves and bears still lurk in forgotten corners.

Ever since the Roman Empire split in two 1600 years ago, this land has sat on the borderline between east and west and its all the more interesting for its turbulent past. The richness of its cultural history can be seen in the mosaic floors of Roman villas, flamboyantly painted Orthodox monasteries, ornate Catholic churches, the elegant minarets of mosques, and the sturdy fortresses built by the numerous powers that have fought over these lands. Then theres the legacy of 50 years as a communist state, independent of both the Eastern Bloc and the West. For those with even a passing interest in European history, its a fascinating place.

Bay of Kotor ()
O-CHE / GETTY IMAGES

Why I Love Montenegro

By Peter Dragievi, Author

I still remember the sheer thrill I felt when confronted with the extraordinary beauty of the Bay of Kotor for the first time and each time I visit, that thrill returns. For me, Montenegro is at its most magical on long summer evenings when the streets fill up with people, young and old, heading out for a slow, social stroll a scene thats repeated in every city, town and village throughout the country. Sit me somewhere with a glass of local wine, a plate of grilled squid and a view of the passing parade, and Im in heaven.

See for much more.

Montenegros Top 16

GREG HAHN / GETTY IMAGES

The postcard-perfect walled island village of Sveti Stefan is a wonder to behold. Its a little slice of Mediterranean heaven, with oleanders, pines and olive trees peeking between the terracotta roofs of pink stone dwellings. Content yourself with the views, as access to the island is limited to guests of the exclusive resort that owns it. Laze on the beach, take a stroll through the woods to Prno, and go crazy taking photographs its hard to get a bad shot.

Montenegros Top 16

PAUL BRIRS / GETTY IMAGES

Once upon a time there was a Black Mountain. And on top of that mountain there was a tomb guarded by two granite giantesses. And inside the tomb, under a canopy of gold, there rests a great hero, lying in the arms of a giant eagle... This fairy-tale location is the final resting place for the very real 19th-century Vladika (bishop-prince) Petar II Petrovi Njego. The simple but affecting structure and monumental statuary do little to distract from the remarkable views over all of Old Montenegro.

Montenegros Top 16

RICHARD IANSON / GETTY IMAGES

Time-travel back to a Europe of moated walled towns with shadowy lanes and stone churches on every square. It may not be as impressive as Dubrovniks or as shiny as Budvas, but Kotors Stari Grad (Old Town) feels much more lived in and ever-so dramatic. The way it seems to grow out of the sheer grey mountains surrounding it adds a thrill of foreboding to the experience as if they could at any point choose to squeeze the little town in a rocky embrace.