Raahe Guide Raahen Esittely
Thinking about traveling to Montenegro? Montenegro is a mountainous country in the Balkans in southern Europe, partially bordering the Adriatic Sea, and its coastal plain is quite narrow. Its neighboring countries are Serbia, Kosovo, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania. It has an area of about 13,883 square kilometers, a population of about 618,000, and the official language is Montenegrin.
As a holiday destination, Montenegro is the Balkans at its best: historic cities, beautiful beaches and rugged mountains. And what’s best, Montenegro is a relatively affordable travel destination.
Attractions in Montenegro
After gaining its independence in 2006, Montenegro started emerging on the travel maps as one of the most beautiful summer destinations in the southern Europe. The small Balkan country takes pride in superb beaches, historic towns, and craggy mountains covered with Mediterranean vegetation. Here is a list with top Montenegrin attractions.
Kotor
Kotor is one of Montenegro’s jewels, luring visitors with its amazing coastal views and medieval heritage. The town is perched on the edge of the Bay of Kotor, also called Europe’s southernmost fjord, offering splendid views of the brilliant blue water surrounded by a dramatic mountain scenery. You can embark on a boat cruise to explore the sun-drenched fjord.
Inside the town, stroll the winding alleyways to take in the medieval architecture, paying particular attention to the gorgeous 12th century Cathedral of Saint Tryphon. Don’t miss the chance to have a meal or a drink at one of the traditional restaurants or sidewalk cafés.
Budva Riviera
The best place to experience the charm of the Montenegrin Adriatic coast is the Budva Riviera.
The area offers a handful of sandy and pebbly beaches sandwiched between the clear turquoise sea and the soaring mountains with craggy peaks. The beaches come with restaurants and outdoor seating.
Mogren is one of the favorite beaches, being a stone’s throw from Budva city center and boasting snack bars, sun loungers and picturesque views of the surrounding cliffs.
You can combine your sunbathing experience with a tour of the Old Town Budva dating back 2,500 years. Aside from historical heritage, the fortified city is filled with fancy restaurants, shops and hotels.
Blue Grotto
Just like Croatia, Montenegro has its own Blue Grotto, which is not so popular as the neighbor’s one, but is still a place worth a visit. Carved into one of the Lustica Peninsula’s cliffs, the grotto takes its name from the fluorescent blue hue of the water. The cave is accessible only by boat. Tours run from the town of Herceg Novi between April and October. The grotto is a perfect place not only for sightseers and boaters, but also for divers and snorkelers.
Tara Canyon
Another Montenegro’s natural pearl is Tara Canyon, which is one of the world’s deepest canyons, reaching 1,300 meters at its deepest. Adrenaline junkies can explore it by whitewater rafting along the fast-flowing river. Adventurers can also cross the canyon on a zipline. If you are not an adventurous person, you can admire the canyon from the Ðurdevica Tara Bridge.
Perast
Aside from the town of Kotor, the Bay of Kotor is lined with the picturesque town of Perast. It’s a lovely medieval town with old churches and romantic orange-roofed villas. To capture beautiful views of the bay from inside the town, head to the Church of St. Nikola.
Two of Perast’s churches are snugly perched on tiny rocky islets in the bay and can be visited by boat. You can take an up-close look at the islets or head to a high point on the coast and admire them from a distance as part of the fairytale Kotor fjord scenery.
