Spring in Montenegro and The Bay of Kotor

As one of Europe’s smallest countries Montenegro maybe petite in size but it holds its own in terms of being a great destination for either a chilled mini break or a longer more active trip.  For anyone that likes to enjoy time outdoors Montenegro offers a plethora of activities ranging from, hiking and trekking, sailing, cycling, cultural heritage and experiences and stunning beaches.  Montenegro has been on my “to visit” list for a couple of years and I absolutely loved our time there and could of easily filled a week with a combination or sightseeing, shopping, activity and relaxing. 

We spent three nights at the wonderful Regent Porto Montenegro which is nestled in the heart of Porto Montenegro’s prestigious yacht marina and within close proximity to the UNESCO protected medieval towns of Kotor and Perast.  Porto Montenegro is full of designer boutiques, restaurants and bars and is the perfect place to watch life go by in and around the marina.  The weather was glorious, there were no crowds, after all we were visiting at the end of March!

Montenegro is a top destination for sailing with a number of marinas and ports to cater for boats of all shapes and sizes. The Bay of Kotor (also known as Boka Bay) is popular for its calm waters, stunning scenery and remarkable ports which can be found not only in Porto Montenegro but in Tivat and the historic town of Kotor.If sailing is not your thing then there are many lovely sandy beaches with crystal clear waters as well as unique stone beaches to relax on.

The Bay of Kotor is also well known for both its historic and artistic landmarks and our Tuk-Tuk ride along the narrow coastal road was a fun way to explore the area and the small coastal towns of Perast and Prcanj.  A stop for a traditional lunch in Monastery Prcanj was certainly a very different experience and we learnt all about local cuisine and cooking techniques. Afterwards we stopped at Fjord Verige to visit the tiniest church I’ve ever been in, Lady of Angels church, from which we had magnificent views across the bay to myth-shrouded island, Our Lady of the Rocks.     Kotor itself is a medieval town and UNESCO World Heritage Site and its Old Town offers an array of galleries, museums and restaurants.

Rugged mountains with stunning vistas surround Montenegro and these mountains are ideal for hiking and trekking with trails that accommodate those looking for easy strolls or full / multi day challenging treks. However, if you are more interested in gastronomy and excellent wines then I highly recommend the Savina Winery in Herceg Novi which has a small vineyard that produces some amazing wines and has a beautiful terrace with outstanding sea views.   It was the perfect place to sample excellent wine, local delicacies and spend our last few hours in sunny Montenegro before flying home from Dubrovnik.  A great benefit of visiting out of the peak tourist season is there is less traffic on the roads making it a lot easier and quicker to get around and there tends to be fewer queues at the boarding crossing between Montenegro and Croatia. 

Helen visited Montenegro at the end of March.