Montenegro - September 2016

The Bay of Kotor

The Bay of Kotor

Kotor

Budva

Chilling in Kotor

Budva old town

It may have only been a standalone country since 2006, but what Montenegro lacks in age it more than makes up for in beauty and charm.

Previously a part of Yugoslavia and then Serbia and Montengro, the small country of under 650,000 boasts some of the most beautiful coastal towns in all of the Adriatic Sea area.

Lonely Planet has recently ranked the fortified town of Kotor as its top destination to visit in 2016 and it’s easy to see why.

Kotor is situated in a fjord like bay with the towering limestone cliffs of Mount Lovćen looming all around, providing a stunning backdrop to be absorbed from the various settlements dotted along the water’s edge.

The compact old town area wows visitors with its quaint, cobbled streets, ancient churches and array of quirky boutiques.

Although Montenegro receives a far smaller number of visitors than its illustrious neighbour Croatia, the bargain prices and breath taking scenery make it every bit as appealing.

We were fortunate enough to join an organised tour and spend a morning taking in the bay in all its glory.

We enjoyed a hearty lunch and leisurely stroll around Kotor before moving onto the slightly more developed and marginally less picturesque Budva.

Budva’s walled old town is smaller than that of Kotor and its surroundings are somewhat marred by hotels and development built to cater for its annual influx of primarily Russian citizens.

That said, Budva still possesses a charm and visitors are able to bathe or swim on sandy coastline that backs on to the crumbling old town walls, allowing for some incredible ocean views.

The Montenegrin economy may still be finding its feet but its mini tourism boom bodes well for the future. With thousands of visitors unable to resist its awe-inspiring scenery and cheap prices, the country should well end up cropping up on more and more travel itineraries over the next few years.