Montenegro: Where mountains meet history

One of the six republics that formed the collapsed Yugaslavia, Montenegro, meaning ‘the black mountain,' is a great destination with its beautiful nature, good restaurants and coasts near the Adriatic Sea



The historic Montenegro offers natural beauties, history dating back thousands of years and warm hospitality to its visitors. Located near the Adriatic Sea, Montenegro is a breath-taking destination known for its beaches, fiords and forests for outdoor adventure lovers. In this historical country that has hosted many civilizations over the centuries, visitors will see traces of the Ottoman Empire there. Historical mosques, Turkish coffee shops and a Muslim population consisting of 30 percent of the entire population, attest to the Ottoman culture, which still lingers in the country today.A mixture of different cultures, religions and nationalities come alive in Montenegro. Before Yugoslavia was founded, Montenegro cities had been conquered by the Ottoman Empire during the time of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror but they had always been self-governed. After several revolts, Montenegro separated from the Ottoman Empire in 1878 and became independent. Years later, Montenegro joined former Yugoslavia. After the collapse of Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro became one united country. After a controversial referendum in 2006, it separated from Serbia and today's Montenegro was finally founded.Although the capital is Podgorica, the most popular cities are Budva and Kotor. Budva is only one hour away from the capital. The road that reaches to Budva is on the foot of the mountains with a breathtaking view. The city's main attractions are visiting the old town and beach clubs. The most famous one is Hawaii beach, which is on an island across from the old town. Every 30 minutes, boats leave for Hawaii and it takes only 15 minutes to arrive. Like most of the beaches, entrance is free, but there is a 5 euro fee per person if you want to rent an umbrella and deck chair. Around Budva, this fee goes up to 35 euros per person depending on the beach you visit. When you are done with the payment and decide where to settle, you can enjoy the crystal clear water of the Adriatic Sea.Compared to swimming and sunbathing, visiting the old town area is more fun for me. You can walk through the narrow streets of old Budva and feel as if you are in a time machine. Everywhere is very well kept and clean. Ornament stores, local cafes, boutiques and street musicians keep this old town vibrant and alive. If you visit during daytime, try the beach club called Astoria to enjoy the water right in front of the old town walls. Rather than only offering beach access, Astoria welcomes its visitors with a Mediterranean-style lunch menu as well. Try the octopus carpaccio and crab salad. You won't regret it! If you go at night, I would suggest you visit the restaurant called Jardan. This sea-front restaurant has incredible seafood. You should try the calamari with poppy seed and also the black risotto with squid. For dinners, there is also live music by the musicians playing in the boat. Since Jardan is full almost every night, I would definitely suggest you to make a reservation. On the way to Jardan you shouldn't miss Budva Hotel. With its unique architecture and retro outdoor lightening, Budva Hotel is one of the landmarks of the town. It is stylish and affordable and is located in the heart of the town.Budva has very high-end venues and hotels as well. The neighbourhood called Sveti Stevan hosts the most expensive hotels and restaurants in the town. Sveti Stevan by itself is a natural beauty. This little neighborhood has one old peninsula with old stone houses and churches, which have been converted into five-star hotels by the Aman Group from Saudi Arabia. As long as you are a guest of the hotels, you can enter the island. Otherwise, you can only enjoy the beach around it or visit the Olive Restaurant with amazing views of Sveti Stevan. There is an Asian chain restaurant, Nobu, in the town as well, but in terms of a view, I would definitely suggest Olive. This food-based restaurant also has Bosnian-type kebabs served with cream and onion. You should definitely try the tuna tartar and sea bass there. It offers a peninsula view of the old stone houses and churches. You shouldn't miss the sunset. Also, you can take the path next to Olive Restaurant to reach the next bay where the Hotel Villa Milocer is located.Since you are in Budva, you should definitely take daytime tours to nearby towns. Kotor is only one hour away by car and has the most amazing fiords you will ever see. You can take a boat tour to enjoy a view of the mountains rising above the water. Kotor's old town is a must-see as well. One of the biggest old town areas of the whole country, here you will feel as if you are in Germany or Switzerland. A famous clock tower and the Kotor Fortress are landmarks of the city. Only half an hour away from Kotor there is little town called Perats, which resembles the southwestern city of İzmir's town of Foça. Old stone houses with huge front yards, purple magnolias, fruit and jam sellers, old fishermen boats and cafes along the water spell an incredible trip, and you should definitely buy the plum jam and fig vodka sold on the street. Right across thewater there is a small island with monasteries, which belong to Hungary. The island is abandoned but is still considered as a holy place. With its rising pine trees and bell towers, it is very photogenic. Although many people jump into the water from the harbour, you can still enjoy the little beach area, which is free. As you can understand, Montenegro has a lot to offer. 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