In the nineteen-sixties and seventies, Montenegro was known as the Saint-Tropez of the Adriatic, attracting celebrities of the likes of Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren or Princess Margaret. Fortunately, it has managed to recover the tourist attraction of yesteryear, thanks to the rise of Sveti Stefan, a charming fishing village with red-roofed houses and located on an islet to the south of Budva. It is precisely in this town where one of Iberostar’s 4 star-hotels in Montenegro is waiting to welcome you.
This town of almost 20,000 inhabitants stands out for its undeniable magnetism. One of its main attractions is the old town, predominantly built in a Venetian style and carefully restored after the 1979 earthquake. There are many stories and legends about its origin. Some historians believe that the area was an island which was later, joined to the coast by a slip of sand. Among the list of sights not to be missed, there are three churches: the church of San Ivan, built in the seventh century; the church of Santa María de Punta, from the year 840, and the church of the Holy Trinity, completed in 1804.
Another place worth visiting in Montenegro is Kotor, a small coastal town nestled in the Bay of Kotor, one of the most rugged spots on the Adriatic. This picturesque town still retains an imposing wall built during the Venetian era, and is a short distance from the southernmost fjord in Europe (although it is actually a river). Surrounded by powerful limestone cliffs, this enclave offers amazing views. Due to its great scenic beauty and its historical value, this part of the Montenegrin coast, was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1979.
Within the Bay of Kotor, the town of Herceg Novi is definitely worth visiting. The town of 20,000 inhabitants has established itself as the main resort in Montenegro, and is home to one of the best Montenegro hotels. With a name that means 'new castle', the town was founded in 1382 by the Bosnian king Tvtrko I, and it has an old walled town that gives it an imposing appearance.
The last of the three unmissable places to visit in the Bay of Kotor is the captivating town of Perast. Located a few kilometres northwest of Kotor, it is characterized by its proximity to the islets of St. George and Our Lady of the Rocks, as well as the presence of beautiful Baroque buildings.
It is also worth bearing in mind that any of these locations is ideal for an excursion to the seductive Dubrovnik, in Croatia, which is considered to be the most attractive tourist destination in the Adriatic. Surrounded by city walls and an old town that was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979 and 1994, this city was an important marine power in the thirteenth century, and has managed to keep its incomparable atmosphere intact.
Inland, we recommend visiting Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro and the most populated city in the country. Within the city limits you can still admire the remains of centuries of Turkish occupation, such as the clock tower.
Finally, Montenegro offers a wealth of natural landscapes, such as the Durmitor National Park (390 km²) where the 2,522 m peak Bobotov Kuk, said to be the highest in the country can be found; the Lovcen National Park (64 km²), the Biogradska Gora National Park (54 km²) and the Skadar Lake National Park (400 m²).
