There is a very famous saying: “Good wine comes in small packages”, and at SiViaggia we can safely say that these words fit it perfectly Montenegro. Despite being one of the smallest countries on our continent, Montenegro is a treasure trove of treasures – natural and otherwise – exciting and of immense value. Let’s discover them all together The reasons why the next destination is Montenegro.
5 reasons to travel to Montenegro
Let’s make a necessary premise: in reality there are very few, because there would be hundreds of reasons why we should all consider Montenegro as our next travel destination. However, we decided to name the main ones that will most likely convince you to immediately organize an adventure to this European country.
The first region for which we recommend a trip to Montenegro is the incredible variety of possibilities and activities it offers: there is an Adriatic Sea that invites you to dream, mountains that seem to touch the sky with their peaks, hidden lakes , the gorges glowing deep in the sunlight, hidden by lush forests and plenty of nature for hiking, diving, rafting, cycling, horseback riding and even winter sports.
It is a country where the word boredom practically does not exist and where the sun shines much more often than anywhere else.
The second reason for traveling to this area is precisely related to yours sea. It is characterized by a rugged coastline and offers beaches with all services as well as hidden coves accessible only by boat. There is sand, perfect for a family vacation, then stones, pebbles and rocks. But above all there is one beach that is really worth a visit: Becici Beach, which was even awarded the Golden Palm as the most beautiful beach in the Mediterranean. Then there are islands, peninsulas, marinas and bays. Essentially it is one ideal coastal destination for everyone.
In Montenegro your taste buds will also be happy: this is the third reason why you need to organize a trip Food and wine. The food in the Balkans is excellent and especially in this country you can taste delicious meat dishes and especially fish. In fact, the fishing tradition is an ancient and widespread practice in these areas.
The fourth reason is related to the artistic and cultural heritage that can be discovered in the lively cities and ancient villages. The natural and historical-cultural region KotorFor example, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. Herceg Novi (Castelnovo in Italian) is full of fortresses built by various local rulers and decorated with exotic plants brought to the area by returning sailors. Podgorica, the precious capital, is a modern city built on the banks of six rivers, making it a place with truly surprising profiles.
The final reason – but we remind you that there are many others – concerns theEntertainment and hospitality. Montenegrins are people who love life, play pranks and have fun. The days pass with a rhythm of positive energy and it is no coincidence that this is a country where the nightlife is in no way inferior to many other parts of the world.
In addition, numerous festivals, masquerade parties and events celebrating cuisine, craftsmanship and numerous local traditions are organized throughout the year.
The nature of Montenegro
One of the things that most makes visitors fall in love with Montenegro is its extravagant and amazing nature. Suffice it to say that despite its small size, there are four national parks here. Among the wonders not to be missed is certainly the Durmitor National Park, also known as the “region of small lakes”: there are about twenty pools with water of Ice Age origin.
It is a majestic mountain range that is part of the Dinaric Alps and has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1980. Of particular note is the extraordinary gorge formed by the Tara River, which is the deepest and largest in Europe.
The Bay of Boka Kotorska – or rather the gigantic Bay of Kotor – which is also known as the “Bride of the Adriatic” is also beautiful. Here many curious coves come to life, lapped by a sea so calm and clear that it reflects the colors of the high and wild surrounding mountains.
You definitely can’t miss Lake Skadar, the largest in the Balkans and a true masterpiece of nature. With a surface that varies according to the season, it offers a very rich flora and fauna, ideal for lovers of green tourism and bird watching.
What makes everything even more special are the various islands that populate it. The most famous is Beska where an old and beautiful monastery stands.
The beaches not to be missed
In addition to the already mentioned Becici Beach, Montenegro offers many other paradise corners. One of them is this Trsteno beacha strip of gravel and sand over 200 meters long that seems to have been stolen from the Caribbean due to its beauty.
It is also very suggestive Sveti Nikola beach which lies on a picturesque island in front of the port of Budva. With its tropical colors, it is affectionately nicknamed “Hawaii Beach” and is surrounded by several treasures, such as the Church of San Nicola.
Then again Przno beach that comes to life in the village of the same name. It is about 100 meters long and is washed by a calm and clear sea, which is always ideal for swimming.
Golden sand and a sparkling sea characterize this Rafailovichi beach which is even surrounded by lush vegetation. It is less crowded than many other beaches and is ideal for those who want to relax and enjoy the sun.
Finally – but there are still many dream beaches –Milocer, also called “King’s Beach”. It is reserved for the guests of the hotel there and is shaped like a crescent. It is made of gravel and pink sand and is overlooked by exceptional vegetation.
Unique places
Cities full of wonders, extravagant nature and beaches that seem to come straight from a postcard, but the truth is that that’s not all: Montenegro hides so much Places that are truly unique.
One of them is the “church island” Gosp od Škrpjel, where, according to legend, two brothers found an image of the Madonna in 1452. Precisely for this reason, even today it is possible to observe around the Rock of Discovery a series of stones that were useful in the creation of this artificial island where there is a beautiful Marian shrine: the Church of the Madonna dello Scalpello.
Then again the Stećci, which have not only been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2016, but are also part of a transnational site that includes 28 locations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and central and southern Croatia. They are really old cemeteries – between the 12th and 16th centuries AD – arranged in rows and featuring tombstones – called stećci – carved in limestone and a wide range of decorative ones motifs and inscriptions.
The Biogradska Gora National Park is also truly extraordinary and unique, with sparkling lakes, rushing streams and one of the few remaining primeval forests in Europe. This makes it one of the last three virgin forests that still adorn our continent and, in contrast to the others, offers the greatest diversity of flora and fauna.
It’s also really adorable Ostrog Monastery which was built into the face of a steep rocky hill. Nestled in the wildest nature, it has been a destination for religious pilgrimages for centuries.
It is also beautiful and worth a visit Perast Although it is a small village, it boasts several records: it is the oldest residential settlement in the region in which it is located, it is the place with the highest number of daylight hours in the country and even one of the most beautiful examples of Baroque architecture in the country whole country. “Adriatic.
Also a must is Sveti Stefan, which is now one of the most famous symbols of Montenegro. It is a pretty village set on a fortified island with an exceptional golden sandy beach. A truly special place, connected to the mainland by an isthmus.
The big news this year
It has just been inaugurated in this beautiful country the first sea-mountain cable car on the Adriatic. It is an exciting 3.9 kilometer route that connects directly to the Bay of Kotor to the nature park of Mountain Lovćen, at 1,348 meters above sea level.
The work was carried out by the South Tyrolean company Leitner and is one of the very few connections of this type in Europe. This spectacular route, which can be completed in about 11 minutes, begins in the town of Dub in the coastal municipality of Kotor and ends in Kuk on Mount Lovćen.
With a height difference of 1,316 meters between the departure and arrival stations, it has a capacity of 1,200 passengers per hour and consists of 48 cabins, each of which can carry a maximum of ten people.
Thanks to this incredible achievement, in addition to significantly reducing travel time from one area to another better protection of the fragile environment in which it stands because it significantly reduces the use of the old and winding Njeguš road: it will lead to a reduction in environmental pollution due to the reduced amount of harmful gases emitted by cars and buses.
In short, Montenegro is a truly surprising country and a must-see.