Planning the perfect trip to Montenegro? Whether you’re visiting for the first time or making a return trip, there are some things you simply shouldn’t miss out on. To make the most of your time – and to enjoy the very best this beautiful country has to offer – be sure to add these experiences to your list.
DK Top 10 Montenegro
View BookVisit the Bay of Kotor
More reminiscent of a fjord than a bay, this epic landscape of hulking cliffs, picturesque towns and shimmering waters is Montenegro’s calling card. Whether you choose to explore the area by boat or by car, you’re guaranteed postcard worthy views at every turn.
Join the festivities
Time your visit to coincide with one of the country’s festivals and you’ll be in for a treat. Kotor hosts the most extravagant celebrations, with its lively Winter Carnival and sea themed Boka Nights. Meanwhile in Herceg Novi, the blooming of mimosas is met with stunning masquerade balls.
Bask on the beach
Montenegro’s beautiful coastline more than rivals that of its Adriatic neighbours. With sweeping sandy beaches, clandestine coves and pebbly pockets, the western shoreline is primed for swimming and sunbathing. Petrovac Beach is popular for families while Mogren’s two sandy beaches are perfect for snorkelling. The country is also famed for its wind-surfing – Velika Plaža is a go to.
Try Njeguši prosciutto
The country’s most lauded culinary treat, Njeguši prosciutto hails from the small mountain village of the same name. It’s famous for good reason: undergoing a meticulous process of salting, seasoning and air-drying, the ham takes months to prepare and is prized across the country.
Explore historic towns
Hosting treasures from the Venetian and Ottoman empires, Montenegro’s old towns are open-air history museums. But they’re also vibrant holiday hot spots, with buzzy bars and traditional restaurants hidden down atmospheric alleyways. Photogenic Perast, wedged between the coast road and the Bay of Kotor, is worth a visit for its 16 Baroque churches and 17 grand palazzos.
Raft the Tara River
There’s no better way to explore Europe’s deepest canyon than by rafting through it. Routes along the Tara River afford spectacular views (the towering Đurđevića Tara Bridge is a highlight), with numerous rapids providing thrills and spills aplenty.
Spot Dalmatian pelicans
Bird-watchers will have a field day in Montenegro. From soaring golden eagles to nimble alpine swifts, this country is a haven for birdlife, and none are more special than the Dalmatian pelicans, most commonly seen around Lake Skadar.
Go to church
With so many beautiful religious monuments, it’s a battle for the country’s most famous. Carved into a cliff face, Ostrog Monastery is an amazing site, but Our Lady of the Rocks, on an island in the Bay of Kotor, is perhaps the country’s most iconic.
Take a road trip
Travelling by car is arguably the best way to explore this compact country, and you only need a few hours to move between its varied landscapes. One moment you’ll be racing along the coast, the next you’ll be tackling scenic switchbacks in the mountains.
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