Do you like dazzling clear water? Distractingly beautiful green mountains/fjords/cliffs? How about charming ancient cities made of sandstone? If you answered yes, then you may like Montenegro! This small country is packed with rich history and one of the most dramatic coastlines I’ve ever seen.

When we decided to make a quick stop in Montenegro on our trip to Croatia, the general reaction was, “Why Montenegro?” My response was, “Why Not?” 

I won’t lie – Montenegro wasn’t on my radar. A year ago, I couldn’t name a single city there. As the youngest country in Europe and third youngest country in the world, this mysterious Balkan Nation intrigued me. What was Montenegro all about? We were going to find out.

The Run Down:

Time Spent in Montenegro: 2 Days – 1 1/2 in Kotor, half day in Sveti Stefan

For the Traveller Who Likes: Beautiful places that won’t break the bank.

A two-hour drive from Dubrovnik, Kotor is the most visited city on the Bay of Kotor. Although there are no major attractions, it has a well-preserved Old Town, beaches, and access to the Adriatic Sea. The Bay of Kotor also boasts the honor of almost being Europe’s southern-most fjord. Let me explain – it’s not technically a fjord, but geologically it closely resembles one.  Whatever it is, it’s gorgeous.

Our home base was an AirBnb apartment right outside of Kotor’s Old Town. Like Croatia, we had to find accommodations that offered onsite parking, as no cars are allowed inside the Old Town walls. We could walk into Old Town in 15 minutes and to the beach promenade in 5.

One thing I noticed during our trip was how hospitable our AirBnb hosts were. Robert, who owned the apartment we stayed in, gave us some homemade Ćevapčići when we showed up. We chowed down on these skinless sausages our entire stay…and didn’t feel guilty about it.

What We Did:

Day 1 – Old Town:

Like the name suggests, Old Town Kotor is OLD. Ancient old. Like most old European cities, this meant it was oozing with charm. Inside the city walls, we were greeted with cobblestone streets, medieval churches, and narrow alleys perfect for wandering down. Cafe tables filled up ancient squares and balconies blossomed with flowers. This is the type of place where there are no “must-sees” for tourists–choose your own adventure and soak up the atmosphere. We spent the morning visiting a farmer’s market and drank coffee on a patio.

In spite of the charm, there is one caveat I have to mention: Kotor is becoming a popular stop for cruise ships. We saw Old Town go from sleepy to crowded in a matter of minutes. Luckily for us, we had plans when the cruise passengers disembarked – a boat tour.

Boat Tour – Our Lady of the Rocks and Perast

Tired of walking? Head out to sea! One of the best ways to explore the Bay of Kotor and the surrounding area is by boat. We reserved our boat tour in advance, but based on the amount of people hawking these excursions, they seemed to be fairly common. Our tour included stops at Our Lady of the Rocks, the Blue Grotto Cave, and the neighboring town of Perast.

Our Lady of the Rocks

Our Lady of the Rocks is a centuries old manmade island with an interesting history. The only structure on the island is a church that was built in 1667. I won’t go into too much detail, but legend has it that sailors discovered an image of the Virgin Mary and a child in the water at that very spot. So naturally, they decided to throw rocks into the water to create the island. This tradition of throwing rocks into the water is carried on to this day!

Like I said, the only structure here is the church and the ubiquitous gift shop attached to it. You can go inside for a tour, but I decided to walk around the island to take in the views.

Perast:

Boasting UNESCO Heritage Site status, Perast is another city where every church, staircase, and glimmering view of the sea is picture perfect. Controlled by Venetians for centuries, Perast is often referred to as a “mini-Venice.” Walking around here is like going back in time – there is virtually no traffic, just the sounds of the sea. We strolled along the seaside and ate some ice cream treats we purchased from a vendor.

Cruising around the bay was definitely a highlight – we even got to jump into the water in the Blue Grotto!

What We Didn’t Do But Should Have Done:

Ok, so we didn’t do the one thing that makes every list of The Top Things To Do In Kotor – the hike up to the Castle of St. John. I know, I better have a good reason. It was hot – the thought of climbing 1,350 steps up in the heat didn’t seem like fun, even if the views were worth it. What did we do instead? Went to Sveti Stefan.

Now that I’ve been to Montenegro, is it still shrouded in mystery? Well…sort of. Two days in a country barely scratches the surface. However, with access to the Adriatic and affordable accommodations, I have a feeling it’s only going to rise in popularity.