Adventure traveller Kate McCulley who claims to “travel the world for a living” describes Montenegro as “the most beautiful country in Europe”. Kate has been to 76 countries, 7 continents, and 137 UNESCO Sites, so we at Globerovers Magazine wholeheartedly agree with her assessment.
Montenegro, one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, offers enchanting coastal towns, magical islands, majestic mountains, and a lot more! Travellers proclaim it the “most beautiful country in Europe” and we may agree.
Montenegro has a long list of highlights that include spectacular mountains, breathtaking landscapes, picturesque coastal towns, fjords, islands, mountains, canyons, and rushing rivers.
Not only is it a great location to explore in warm months, but it is also a wonderland in winter when you can choose among several ski resorts with over 25 km of slopes served by over 18 lifts. Montenegro truly offers skiing in the wild. Then head for the forests for incredible winter hiking. Make sure to bring along your snowshoes and cross-country skis.
With a coastline of 293 km that stretches along the Adriatic Sea between Albania to the south and Croatia to the north, Montenegro has roughly 73 km of beaches.
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For a party atmosphere try the beaches of the southern town of Ulcinj, just north of the Albania border. Further north is the riviera town of Bar, from where trains depart into the interior to places such as Podgorica, Tuzi, Nikšić, and Bijelo Polje. From Bar harbour ferries cross the Adriatic Sea in about 7 hours to Bari in southern Italy.
Further north along the coast lies Sveti Stefan, a small islet approximately 6 km southeast of the interesting town of Budva. Sveti Stefan has a rich history that includes being a fortified village built to defend against the Turks,
Today the islet is owned by the Aman Sveti Stefan, a luxury hotel where tennis champion Novak Djokovic married Jelena Ristić in July 2014.
Northeast of Budva the old historic Mediterranean port town of Kotor lies along a secluded part of the Bay of Kotor. Hike 1,350 steps up the nearby hill to the Fortress of St. John (also known as the Castle of San Giovanni). From here the views over the bay and the old town, Kotor Stari Grad, are truly breathtaking.
In town don’t miss a visit to the Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas, the Church of St. Mathew, the Franciscan Church of St. Clara, and the walks along the bay.
Other highlights of Montenegro include Herceg Novi near the Croatia border, Lake Skadar, and the 150-metre-high bridge on the Tara River at the Tara Canyon. Don’t miss climbing the 461 stairs to the top of the Njegos Mausoleum in the rugged Lovćen National Park.
With too many highlights to mention, Montenegro is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. We agree with Kate.
Get to know your Montenegro
- Montenegro is the 10th smallest country (by area) in Europe.
- Land area: 13,812 km².
- Population: 629,200.
- Tourist arrivals: 843,609 (2017).
- Capital: Podgorica.
- Neighbouring countries: Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, and Albania.
- Known for beautiful natural scenery and medieval towns.
- Montenegro got its name, meaning ‘Black Mountain’, from the dark forest that covers the land.
- By
area , Montenegro is comparable to the size of Connecticut (USA).
Blog post and photos by Peter who has been travelling almost full-time since 2005 and has been to over 122 countries. He visited several countries, such as Japan, more than 20 times. Peter is Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of GlobeRovers Magazine, an independent travel magazine focused on intrepid destinations.