Learn more about Montenegro Tourism Montenegro is the new ‘it’ destination, so if you’re a keen traveler, this country can’t be ignored. Montenegro is full of majestic mountains, crystal clear beaches and rolling green hills, so if you’re looking for a natural yet charming escape, it can be an exciting paradise. This country is small in size, but it’s a good example of how good things come in small packages.
The country is slowly coming into the limelight, but one thing hasn’t changed: its friendly people. The locals are always willing to help you with anything you need, including directions, tips on tourist spots and more. Whether you’re looking for charming hospitality or beachside companionship, you can expect countless greetings that are proof of the Montenegrins’ warmth.
Montenegro is a European country, so you may need a visa or travel permit to enter, but this will depend on your country of origin. Thanks to our advanced platform, we can help you with that. All you have to do is visit our homepage and select your country of origin and Montenegro as your destination. In a few seconds, you’ll see if you need a visa. Don’t forget that you may also need a Montenegrin Health Declaration.
The Montenegrin Health Declaration is a travel document that allows you to enter the country while the coronavirus is still present. You can find out more about the application process by reading this article to the end or by checking out our FAQ page. We want to give you our top tips for making the most of your visit to Montenegro.
The first place we would like to recommend you visit is Kotor. This town is nestled between rugged mountains and a friendly corner of the bay, meaning you will enjoy stunning views from almost anywhere. Kotor is a medieval-inspired city that many Montenegrins are proud of, thanks to its surrounding hillsides and historical museums. It is also full of antique churches, cafe-filled squares and Venetian buildings.
There is one place in Montenegro that cannot be overlooked and that is Lovćen National Park. It is located just behind Kotor and is famous for Lovćen Mountain, the black mountain that gave Crna Gora (Montenegro) its unique name. Many Montenegrins love this place for everything it represents, including the Njegoš Mausoleum. This mausoleum is Lovćen’s main attraction and it’s not for nothing that it sits atop Jezerski Vrh (1657m), the country’s second highest peak.
Speaking of interesting buildings, you shouldn’t miss the Ostrog Monastery near Nikšić. This structure is built on a cliff 900 meters above the Zeta valley. It’s the most famous pilgrimage site in the entire country and that’s the main reason it attracts up to a million visitors a year. This monastery was founded in the 17th century by Archbishop Vasilije of Herzeg, and as you might guess, he is buried here.
If you’re an adventurer, you should definitely visit the Tara Canyon in Durmitor National Park. This canyon is famous for the Tara River, which originates in the north of the country and merges with the Piva River to form the Drina River, one of the longest and most water-carrying rivers in the Balkans. This fascinating phenomenon in nature is a must for almost everyone.
Are you more interested in charming villages and towns? Then we recommend you to visit Perast, a mixture of Venetian and Adriatic culture. This small town has only one main street, but to compensate it has 16 churches and 17 large palazzi (palaces). It has a unique beauty that can be useful for relaxation, because it will definitely not resemble the noisy big cities.
The Adriatic coastline has a special place in Montenegro, because it reflects the incredible beauty of this country. Therefore, we remind you to visit places close to this coastline, such as Sveti Stefan, for example. Sveti Stefan is a fortified island village connected to the mainland by a narrow passage. You cannot forget to enjoy it with its 15th century villas and of course take lots of photos.
Also, do not forget that Montenegro can offer you an incredible project called Porto Montenegro, based on a settlement around the marina and the main port for yachts. The main investor of this project is Peter Munk, a Canadian businessman who is looking for the best place to attract people with fancy hobbies like yachts. This is still a project in progress, but once it is ready, you will definitely enjoy it, even if it is just to walk around and enjoy the luxury of the villa.
The last place we want to recommend you is the Prokletije National Park, a huge wilderness area that forms the border with Albania and Kosovo. This park is the southernmost and highest part of the Dinaric Alps, so you will enjoy an eerie landscape with snow-capped mountains.
Brief history of the country
Montenegro was part of the Roman Empire for several centuries. Later it became part of the vast territories ruled by the Byzantine Empire. In the 6th century, Slavs settled here, but in the 12th century, Serbs took power in the region. At the end of the 15th century, Montenegro was conquered by the Ottoman Turks. Although the country was close to Russia in terms of financial dependence, political decisions were made by Austria. In 1851, the struggle for unification and independence began.
In 1878, part of the territory of Greater Bulgaria was annexed to the Principality of Montenegro. During World War I, Montenegro was under the occupation of Austro-Hungarian and German troops. In 1918, it became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.
In 1929, Montenegro became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, but during World War II it was occupied again, first by the Italians and then by the Germans. As a result of a vote in 1949, Montenegro became part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Following the dissolution of Socialist Yugoslavia (1992) and Federal Yugoslavia (2003) and the dissolution of the federation with Serbia (2006), Montenegro declared its independence. In the same year, it was admitted to the United Nations (as the 192nd member) and to the Council of Europe in 2007.
Montenegro Today
Montenegro has been a candidate country for the European Union since December 2010. It has also been a member of NATO since 2017.
The turbulent history of this country has brought the influence of many nations to present-day Montenegro, especially in the fields of architecture, art, culture, education and cuisine.