Montenegro

A Coastline Worth Every Hairpin Turn

The Bay of Kotor is one of the Mediterranean's great surprises: a fjord-like inlet ringed by medieval fortifications and ancient church spires. The walled old town of Kotor is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and neighbouring Perast watches over two tiny island churches that seem to float at the centre of the bay. Further south, Budva's sand and party scene contrast beautifully with the quieter coves around Sveti Stefan, a rose-pink village on a tidal islet.

Lakes, Wilderness and Ancient Stone

Lake Skadar, shared with Albania and ringed by wetland reserves, is one of Europe's premier birding destinations and the source of the country's finest freshwater fish. Inland, Biogradska Gora protects one of the last primeval forests in Europe, its glacial lake mirroring centuries-old beech and fir. The old royal capital of Cetinje sits quietly on a plateau above the coast, its compact museums and monastery telling the story of a proud mountain kingdom that held off the Ottoman empire for centuries.

Food, Wine and a Country on the Move

Montenegrin cooking is generous and hearty: slow-cooked lamb under a peka lid, smoked prsut ham carved at the table, kajmak cream cheese piled onto fresh bread and local wines poured from Plantaze vineyards that stretch across the Zeta plain. Podgorica itself has grown into a lively small capital with a good restaurant scene and a clutch of galleries and music venues. Montenegro joined NATO in 2017 and is on the EU accession path, so the infrastructure is improving fast while the landscape stays magnificently wild.