Montenegro Natural bliss

Montenegro is a country of contrasts. Mountains covered with forests and enveloped in morning fog, the sea, and between them hotels in picturesque gardens. Exotic plants greet you even at Tivat airport. But the biggest discrepancy is observed in the recreation and philosophy of the local population. Zipline, rafting, kitesurfing - this is how tourists relax. Montenegrins themselves do not like commotion and sudden movements. Their philosophy of life is reminiscent of Scandinavian hygge: the comfort of family dinners, walks in the fresh air, natural materials in the home and clothes, the value of traditions.

Their catchphrase Samo slowly means something between "Don't worry, it's all the little things" and "You have to hurry slowly", which is reflected in long conversations over coffee in open-air cafes and relaxation on the beach. So, when you go to Montenegro, don't plan too much - try to enjoy the moment: natural, homemade, delicious food, clean air and incredible nature, palaces and museums, open-air concerts on the evening promenade. Take your time, you're on vacation.

However you want to see the country, it will also be easy: Montenegro is compact, the distance between neighboring cities is easily covered in half an hour by car.

10 km from Tivat is Kotor, the Old Town of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its history spans over two thousand years. At different times, the Romans, who founded the city, Byzantines, Serbs and Hungarians, Venetians, Austrians and French walked along these roads. The historical center is crowned by the fortress of St. John, to which 1350 zigzag stairs lead. Having overcome them, you can enjoy the views of the city and the Bay of Kotor, full of yachts and boats in summer. The fortress gives special impressions in artificial lighting at night. Some sights have come down to us since the 12th century. Nowadays, the Old Town with shops, galleries, bookstores, cafes is a center of tourism.

In the city of Perast, which is considered the most peaceful in the Bay of Kotor, see 16 captain's palaces, take a boat to the islands of St. George and the man-made Hosp od Shkrpela.

The beauty of the bay is the "city of the sun" Herceg-Novi, located in the valley of the Velvet Mountains. Its historical center is easy to walk around in a couple of hours. One of the oldest buildings is the Forte Mare fortress (14th century). Today, open-air concerts take place on its territory.

On the outskirts of Herceg Novi, visit the Savin Monastery and its winery, which was founded in the 18th century. Taste local Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Rosé Grenache aged in French oak barrels.

There are two wine-growing regions in Montenegro: one on the Adriatic coast, the other near Podgorica and on the shores of Lake Skadar. The leading producer "Plantaže" owns the largest vineyard in the country - Chemovsko Pole - and the wine cellar "Shypchanyk", located 30 meters underground on the basis of a former secret military airport. Considering the smallness of the country, it is only 30 km from "Plantage" to the sea.

10 minutes from Podgorica is the Radevic Estate, whose winemaking traditions go back 28 generations.

Stroll through the historical center of Budva - the main tourist center of the country, a city 2,500 years old. There are 117 sandy and pebbly beaches in Montenegro. 38 of them have been awarded the Blue Flag, and most of them are in Budva.

See St. Stephen's Island, where the most famous stars of our time stayed. There are many panoramic routes for walks nearby.

Visit the town of Bar, the largest on the coast, and Ulcinj, whose Old Town has been a stronghold of pirates since 1571. In Ulcinj there is the longest beach in the country - Velyka Plaža: a wide strip of sand stretches for 13 km from Ulcinj to Ada Boyana. Constant winds make this beach ideal for kite and windsurfing.

But don't just stop at the coast. Visit Cetinje - the historical capital and spiritual center of Montenegro. See the palace of Nikola I Petrovych (Negoš), the Cetinsk monastery, former diplomatic missions and museums.

Climb to Njegos Mausoleum, the highest mausoleum in the world (1,660 m), in Lovcen National Park and 13 km from Cetinje. 461 steps lead to it. There are views of the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, Italy, Albania and Serbia. Here you can have a picnic with wine at sunset.

The road from Kotor to Cetinje was built in 1884; its serpentine contains 25 dizzying turns with enchanting views of the Bay of Kotor. In this direction, visit the village of Negushi - the small homeland of Peter II Petrovich Negos: visit the house-museum of the outstanding ruler and reformer, taste local okist (prosciutto), young and mature cheeses in the family restaurant Kod Pera na Bukovicu, which is over a hundred years old.

From the youngest capital of Europe - the city of Podgorica - it is easy to reach both the sea in the south and the mountains in the north, the ancient city of Doklea, known as the "Montenegro Pompeii", and Lake Skadar, which was once part of the Adriatic Sea. The lake has more than 60 islands and is home to 280 species of birds, including pelicans. This is the largest bird reserve in Europe. You can go boating on the lake, visit fortresses, monasteries and towns on the coast, climb to the Pavlovu Strana observation deck, taste rakia: grape, cherry, plum, see the surroundings on bicycles and, of course, swim in warm waters.