The Best Places to Visit in Montenegro
GettyNjegoš Mausoleum
This mausoleum, atop one of the highest peaks in Lovćen National Park, was completed in 1974 to house the remains of Montenegrin poet, philosopher, and icon Petar II Petrović-Njegoš. Inside, visitors will find a 28-ton statue of Njegoš as well as his tomb; the site also has a 360-degree stone viewing circle from which you can see more than half of the entire country. (On clear days, you may even be able to spot Croatia and Albania.)
GettyIsland churches of Sveti Đorđe (pictured) and Our Lady of the Rocks, Perast
These two islets can be found off the coast of the tiny town of Perast, but only Sveti Đorđe was naturally formed (Our Lady of the Rocks, or Gospa od Škrpjela, was created by—you guessed it—a bulwark of rocks). Sveti Đorđe has a St. George Benedictine monastery from the 12th century, while nearby Our Lady of the Rocks has an 18th-century church housing an icon of the Virgin Mary.
GettyBiogradska Gora National Park
Though it's actually the smallest of Montenegro's—count 'em—four national parks, Biogradska Gora is home to one of Europe's three remaining virgin forests, which have mature ecosystems as a result of being more or less untouched by man. The park also has 150 kinds of birds, ten kinds of mammals, 86 kinds of trees, and nine glacial lakes within its 5,400 acres.
GettyKotor's Old Town
Backed by steep limestone cliffs—and located on the shores of the only natural fjord of its kind in the world—Kotor's UNESCO-protected Old Town draws visitors for its picturesque location, sure, but also for its history. Getting lost here is not only encouraged, but expected: Centuries ago, Old Kotor was built like a maze to confuse invaders.
GettySveti Stefan
A playground for celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, and Kirk Douglas in the 1960s, Sveti Stefan today is off-limits to anyone not staying at the luxurious Aman resort on the islet. Also the name of the onshore township connected to the island by a causeway, Sveti Stefan has few bad angles, and is one of the most photographed spots in Montenegro.
GettyDurmitor National Park
Best known for the Tara River canyon, which has the deepest gorges in Europe, Durmitor was formed thousands of years ago by glaciers. In winter, it plays host to a major ski resort; come summer, it's popular for hiking and rafting. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it reportedly has the largest variety of butterflies on the continent.
GettyOstrog Monastery
Built almost entirely into a vertical rock face, Ostrog is something of an architectural marvel. Dating back to the 17th century, it houses the remains of Saint Basil of Ostrog and is the the most important pilgrimage site in Montenegro.
GettyBay of Kotor
At turns reminiscent of Norwegian fjords and Lake Como, the Bay of Kotor—known in Montenegrin as Boka Kotorska, or more simply, Boka—is, at its deepest, nearly 200 feet. Lined with ancient, picturesque towns including Kotor, Risan, Tivat, Perast, Prčanj, and Herceg Novi, the winding bay has been occupied since antiquity.
GettyLake Skadar National Park
The dolphin-shaped Lake Skadar belongs, in part, to both Montenegro and Albania. (Two-thirds of it are in Montenegro, if you're counting.) It is the largest lake in southern Europe, and the Montenegrin part of the lake was declared a national park in 1983.
GettyBudva's Old Town
Budva may be known for it 17 stunning beaches and nightlife (some people even call it the "Miami of Montenegro"), but we're partial to the Old Town, which is surrounded by stone walls built by Venetians. Though much of it was damaged by an earthquake in 1979, labyrinthine streets and charming squares remain. Be sure to take in the views from the old citadel.
GettyLake Piva
Lake Piva was artificially created along with the construction of Mratinje Dam on the Piva river. (It is the second largest lake in Montenegro.) Take a boat cruise of the lake for access to Oteša cave, and hop out at the Podvođe bend for some swimming.
GettyTivat
A former Austro-Hungarian (and later Yugoslav) naval base in the coastal town of Tivat was once a blemish on the country’s 183 miles of coastline, but in 2009, the area received a $480 million makeover. Today, in parts, it resembles Monaco: Go to yacht-watch and stroll the ritzy promenades.
GettyMorača Monastery
This active monastery in the central part of the country was founded in 1252, and draws visitors for its religious art housed in two churches—the Church of the Dormition and the smaller St. Nicholas’s Church. Notable artworks include Georgije Mitrofanović's The Virgin Enthroned with Child, Prophets and Hymnographers (1617) and Jovan Kir Kozma's Saints Sava and Simeon (1645).
GettyPodgorica
Montenegro's capital and largest city has a population of some 200,000 residents. Its aesthetic reflects its busy history, which saw it controlled by everyone from the Austro-Hungarians to the Turks. Though many head from the airport straight to the coast, the so-called pocket-sized capital is worth at least an overnight for its leafy streets and lively cafes (head for the city's center square, Trg Republike.)
AlamyBlue Grotto
Croatia's blue cave may be more well known, but Montenegro's is equally as impressive. Hop a boat from the nearby Herceg Novi marina April through October for access to this grotto, which gets its iridescent blue color from light that filters in through a small hole, bounces off the sand, and reflects up through the water.