What's up guys, we're here in Montenegro. We've
been traveling around here for a couple of weeks. In this video,
we're going to show you the best places to visit in the country. So hope you enjoy it.
Located in the western Balkans of Europe, Montenegro is perched between Croatia, Albania,
and Serbia. Even though the country is rather small in size and population, it has incredible
diversity. From the jagged mountains in the east to the sparkling Adriatic Coastline in the west,
and the medieval towns scattered all across, there's a lot to see in this country.
Add to that a lovely Mediterranean climate and you can imagine why we consider Montenegro to
be Europe's most underrated destination. The name Montenegro translates to "Black Mountain",
calling for mystery and adventure. In this video, we highlight 12 beautiful places to
visit in this magical country. Make sure to watch until the end because we also share a
few travel tips as well as itinerary options that you can use for your own trip. Now let's dive in!
We're Zac and Ine. We make helpful videos about
destinations around the world so you can easily plan your own adventures.
Situated in the south of Montenegro near the Albanian border, Stari Bar or Old Bar is the
predecessor of the port town of Bar. Founded by Illyrians around 800 BC, this ancient town was
ruled by different groups over centuries, such as the Byzantines, Slavs, Venetians, and Ottomans.
Today, nearly all of the 240 buildings lie in ruins and the site can be visited for a small fee.
Step inside and you'll find a small museum, many churches,
Turkish bathhouse, and a fortress. After a few hours of exploring, you can take a break
outside the walls where there's a selection of bars, restaurants, and souvenir shops.
Of all the towns along the Adriatic Coastline, Sveti Stefan is the most unique. This small
fortified island village is Montenegro's most photographed place for a good reason.
From the steep slopes of the mainland, you can admire the
island villas surrounded by azure waters and connected only by a narrow causeway.
So unfortunately you can't actually enter the town here, it's closed off for tourists unless
you pay to be a guest. But, uh, there's a good viewpoint right behind us here you can go to.
At number 10, we have the Lipa Cave which can be found near Montenegro's
old capital city of Cetinje. This is one of the country's largest and most accessible caves,
which is impressive since it's millions of years old. You can only visit with a guide,
but tours leave multiple times per day and last about an hour each.
After a short train ride, you'll wander around the illuminated passageways of the cave to admire the
stalagmites, stalactites, and natural pillars. Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take any
videos inside the cave, but we took some pictures to show you what it looks like.
You can find the opening times and tour hours at their official website in the description below.
Known as the Balkans largest lake, Skadar is divided across both Montenegro and Albania.
The Montenegrin side is by far the largest one, with approximately 400 square kilometers being
protected by a national park. Home to over 180 different bird species, this is a true birder's
paradise. Most travelers just come to enjoy the breathtaking vistas and driving around the lake
to the viewpoints is an experience in itself. But if you're looking for a little more adventure,
we recommend going on a boat tour or kayaking. These are best undertaken on the northwestern
side of the lake, where serpentine loops stop near a charming village.
The bustling seaside city of Budva might be Montenegro's most popular destination to visit.
Cramped with high-rise hotels, buzzing beach bars,
and clanging clubs, it's also nicknamed the Montenegrin Miami.
During the summer, the beaches are filled with sunbathers and packaged holiday makers.
And while most of the city looks modern and new, there's also a beautiful Old Town or Stari Grad at
the southern tip. Get lost in its marbled streets and find hidden squares, churches, and a fortress.
It's nice and cozy here because the alleys are so narrow.
Located in the northeast of the country, Tara Canyon is another impressive place to visit in
Montenegro. With canyon walls reaching over 1,300 meters or 4,265 feet in some places,
this is Europe's largest and deepest canyon. The canyon is best explored from the water
level and rafting is the most popular activity here. But if you're visiting in the late summer
or fall like we did, the river won't be high enough to raft. In that case, you might want
to take in the views from the Tara Bridge or from one of the zip lines over the canyon.
At
number 6 we have Durmitor National Park, which lies on the edge of Tara Canyon. Here,
the landscape is made up of dramatic limestone peaks and glistening glacial lakes.
From December to March, Durmitor serves as a major ski resort,
but during the summer and fall, it attracts hikers and nature enthusiasts.
The star attraction is undoubtedly the stunning Black Lake, which can easily be explored on
foot from the nearby town of Žabljak. But for more adventure, hike to one of the surrounding
mountain peaks. We hiked to Prutaš Peak, which is more relaxed and less busy than Bobotov Kuk,
Montenegro's highest peak. Learn all about how to do the Prutaš Peak hike in our other video.
Heading back to the coast, Herceg Novi is situated near the Croatian border at the entrance to the
Bay of Kotor. This beautiful town is home to a quaint Old Town filled with tiny squares,
elegant churches, and a fortress. But for the best atmosphere, head down to the waterfront.
There's a large pedestrian-only promenade lined with cafés and restaurants. There are also some
pebbly beaches where you can enjoy some of the bay's best and cleanest swimming. But be aware
that Herceg Novi is extremely hilly and to get to the beaches from the highway you'll have to go
down numerous sets of steps, which makes it very challenging for older or mobility impaired people.
Another beautiful town in the Bay of Kotor is Perast.
With similar looks to Venice, Perast has a rich and powerful past. And in spite of having
only one main street, this tiny village boasts many churches and former palaces.
But its most famous landmarks aren't actually in the town itself: two picturesque islands are
located right off the shore, both topped with chapels. You can easily visit them by boat.
The most beautiful town in all of Montenegro in our opinion is Kotor. Located in a corner
of the Bay, Kotor is also the most historic place to visit in the country.
In fact, Kotor was ruled by various different groups, such as the Illyrians, Romans, Byzantines,
and Venetians. These conquerors have left marks behind, such as Renaissance palaces
and Baroque towers that can be found in the walled Old Town. But besides that, Kotor is
also known for its majestic fortifications that overlook the town. Walking up the steps
to the fortress is truly rewarding as it offers magnificent views of the town and Bay below.
Watch our video all about Kotor to see the incredible things you can do there.
From Kotor, you can easily journey to Mount Lovćen National Park.
A narrow serpentine road takes you up to the mountains, boasting spectacular views
that stretch the entire Bay to the Adriatic Sea. And if you continue to the entrance of the park,
you'll find an imposing Black Mountain that gave the country its name: Mount Lovćen itself.
Here, you can find the final resting place of its greatest ruler and you
can actually visit the mausoleum at 1,660 meters or 5,446 feet of altitude.
So we're at the mausoleum and from here you can actually see other countries,
for example Bosnia and Herzegovina is just right behind us and you can
also see Albania which is right over there where Skadar Lake kind of forms the border.
Finally, we have the most beautiful National Park in Montenegro. The Prokletije Mountains
are a huge expansive wilderness that form the border with Albania and Kosovo.
Being so scenic and remote, this park is one of the best-kept secrets of Europe. The best
way to discover the jagged peaks, valleys, and springs is by hiking one of the many trails.
We hiked the beautiful Volušnica Loop Trail, which takes you up a spectacular ridge line.
But there are also shorter and easier hikes to waterfalls and a Blue Eye. Check
out our other video all about Prokletije National Park and be prepared to be wowed.
As we promised at the beginning of our video, we'll now share three things we learned that
will help your own trip around Montenegro. First, we recommend getting a rental car as it's easiest
to get around the country. But drive carefully as the roads are narrow and windy in many places.
Second, the country is very hilly and many of the towns are built into the slopes, so be prepared
to walk a lot. Finally, allow yourself enough time in the mountains as the weather is very
unpredictable there. Generally, the best time to visit Montenegro is from April to October,
though the summer months are hot and more crowded. We also included a few
itinerary options on the screen here in case you want to use them to guide your own trip.
If you're planning your Montenegro trip, we recommend keeping things organized with our
interactive travel planner. Find a discount code below. We also included important links
that you'll need for your trip in the description, such as a full travel guide with where to stay,
where to eat, and an interactive map so you can get to each spot that we mentioned.
We'll catch you on the next adventure.