Top 9 must see places in Montenegro
One of the best destinations for gulet cruise you have never heard of
With its name literally meaning Black Mountain, Montenegro is by definition a dramatic mountainous area bordering the Adriatic sea.
Montenegro is another amazing gulet and many cruising spots in the Mediterranean sea that you must visit. Landscapes are more mountainous than in Croatia, but Montenegro has strong assets and offers an impressive gulet cruise experience. You can cruise along 290 km (180 miles) of unspoiled coastline, and around 70 km of sandy beaches. Montenegro also offers great weather conditions for sailing; more than 250 days under the sun a year and typical Mediterranean wind conditions.
Here’s our guide to the 9 must-see beautiful places in Montenegro from north to south.
1. Herceg Novi
Herceg Novi is located north of the entrance of the Gulf of Kotor (Boka Kotorska). Built-in the 14th century, has a rich history and have been ruled by the King of Bosnia, Turks, Venetians, French, Austrians, and Russian. The town suffered widely from the 1979 earthquake but many historic buildings remain and now benefit from the World Heritage Listing. The Citadel, at the top of the city, has been well restored and offers a great walk.
2. Perast
Town Perast lies beneath the hill of St. Ilija (873 m), on a cape that separates the Bay of Rosano from that of Kotor, and overlooks the Verige strait, the narrowest part of the Bay of Kotor. The remains of Neolithic culture (3500 BC) have been discovered in the caves of Spila above Perast and various archaeological finds provide evidence of civilization dating from the Illyrian, Roman and early Christian periods.
Perast’s most famous landmarks aren’t on land at all. You must discover two peculiarly picturesque islands with equally peculiar histories.
3. Kotor
The amazing Bay of Kotor, at the bottom of the Gulf of Kotor (Boka Kotorska), is among the 10 most beautiful bays in the world. Built by the Romans, improved by the Venetians and now recognized by UNESCO as one of the world’s finest old towns. The very well preserved medieval city of Kotor is surrounded by fascinating mountains that rise well above 1000 m high.
Inside the historic walls, you’ll find cobblestoned streets that hide medieval churches and baroque palaces, but this isn’t a museum. The grand townhouses are still lived in, and the restaurants and bars that spill out onto the backstreet piazzas are loud with locals throwing back glasses of chilled Montenegrin wine.
Tumbling through limestone ledges and pine trees on the slopes of the Dinaric Alps, the town unravels onto the sparkling waters of the Adriatic.
4. Tivat
Tivat is located in the central part of the Boka Kotorska bay. Although it is the youngest town in the Boka region, Tivat has a lot of interesting and attractive destinations. The town has a reputation as being one of the sunniest spots in Boka Kotorska. While Tivat will never rival Kotor for charm, it makes a pleasant stop on a trip around the bay and is a useful base for exploring the sweet villages of the Vrmac and Luštica Peninsulas.
5. Porto Montenegro
Tivat is one of the hottest tourist spots on the Mediterranean, because of its new modern marina for luxury yachts – Porto Montenegro, with amazing settlement behind. Porto Montenegro is a major tourist attraction in Montenegro, but not only for the rich tourists but for everyone. Affordable prices will surprise you in this luxurious complex. You will enjoy the affordable prices of food and drinks, with a view of the most luxurious yachts.
Montenegro has the most yacht-friendly legislation in Europe. Advantages include duty-free fuel and reduced VAT on marine services. Porto Montenegro is also an official Port of Entry, with a customs and immigration office located directly in the marina.
Projects related to Porto Montenegro also include an 18-hole golf course in the vicinity of Tivat Airport, and a yacht maintenance facility. In 2018 Europe’s first One&Only Resort was opened.
6. Luštica Bay
Situated in Trašte Bay along the natural pearl Luštica peninsula, Luštica Bay is perfectly positioned between coast and backdrop mountains. Clear air, clean emerald Adriatic seas and unspoiled natural beauty blend the tranquil and the active for a distinct way of life. This is a hot spot for the young and trendy where drinks flow from early morning until long past sunset.
Enjoy the fresh seafood and excellent wines of the restaurant, soak up the sun and bathe in the crystal waters around the club before the party begins that evening.
7. Bigova
The village of Bigova is situated in a small, sheltered bay, opposite Luštica Bay, with rocky beaches and clear blue water. A tranquil seaside resort, it still retains the authentic identity of an ancient fishing village that attracts holiday-makers from around the world.
This sleepy fishing village has one of our favourite restaurants on the whole route – Grepolis – where the menu changes daily depending on what is caught.
8. Budva
Budva is really fantastic, it’s kind of a Montenegrin Saint-Tropez. It’s a beautiful and charming old walled city lying in a natural Mediterranean harbour and a lot of fortunate tourists coming during the summer. The narrow, cobbled streets of Oldtown are lined with cafes, art studios, restaurants and shops…You’ll spend a great time walking through Budva’s narrow streets and enjoying the Montenegrin version of “La Dolce Vita“.
The landscapes in this part of the Montenegrin coast are quite different from those in the Gulf of Kotor. Mountains leave room for long fine sand beaches and the water is clearer and clearer.
9. Sveti Štefan
Sveti Stefan is an unusual and unique place not only at Montenegro or Budva’s Riviera but in the whole Mediterranean. It stands on the cliff of a rocky island with roofs red like rubies.
A sand isthmus looking like a stem connects it with the land. It came into existence in a unique way.
It’s one of the best spots, If not the best in Montenegro. It’s basically a postcard decor, a huge Luxury hotel village on a dream peninsula with a fine sand beach on each side of the coast. The whole medieval picturesque village was transformed in the 1950’, during the communist area into a luxury resort…). Despite this strange destiny, the village remains a terrific spot. The best here is to let pictures do the talk.
To sum it up,
Montenegro is a fabulous destination to cruise and offers unique landscapes with a rich history. It’s the perfect destination that can be combined with a cruise in Croatia. If you like what you see and would like to learn more about gulet cruises, you can do that on this here.
Or contact our sales advisors for some good advice.
