Montenegro is for sure one of the most underrated countries in Europe. It was not even on my list, to be honest. It was simply a part of my Balkan trip. So, I did not expect much. Of course, I did some research. And fellow travelers told me it’s beautiful – a hidden gem in Europe. What I found out is that it is indeed beautiful but not so hidden (anymore?). The number of tourist attractions/activities surprised me.
This is a short guideline about what to do and what to see at Montenegro’s coastline. Montenegro also has a couple of national parks with incredible mountain peaks in inland areas. I did not visit them, but my tip for you, even though Montenegro looks small, has so much to offer.
First of all, I want to say I used public transportation in Montenegro just once. Hitchhiking is incredibly easy, a form of traveling which you can find in this country quite a lot. As a female solo traveler there was no situation where I felt uncomfortable or scared. People invited me to their homes, gave me a piece of advice, or gave me a lift for a part of my trip. All in all, it was an excellent way to travel and learn about this country. If you like hitchhiking – Montenegro, or general the Balkans, is the place to go!
The currency in Montenegro – have your Euros ready. Although Montenegro is not part of the European Union it has the Euro as currency. I was surprised when I heard about that. Montenegro used before it had Euros the German Mark. For me, as an Austrian, paying everywhere with Euros was great.
Herceg Novi
A city for young people – that’s how the town got recommended by one of my hitchhike rides. It is a great alternative to the touristy Dubrovnik, with its unique old town. Herceg Novi has a Spa, Italian-made clothes stores and is known for its culture and film events. Hereceg Novi is lying on a hill. You shouldn’t have a problem with many stairs, to reach the waterfront you have to walk down many stairs, of course depending on where you are staying. I didn’t visit this Montenegrian town, but it got highly recommended by people I met on my hitchhiking journey. A lovely Serbian-Russian couple who live in Montenegro and work in the tourism industry. It seemed like a charming city (it was bigger than I expected).
Bay of Kotor
When I entered the bay, I was amazed by this beautiful landscape. This area is magnificent! A small curvy road runs between the sea and the mountains. You can stay at any of the surrounding towns, do hikes, water activities or enjoy the atmosphere. Or go where everybody goes:
Kotor
Kotor is most probably the most famous city on Montenegro’s coastline. This tiny little city is right next to a mountain slope spreads a unique, authentic vibe. Of course, it can be also get crowded with tourists (especially when cruise ships parked at the bay).
Where to stay: party-hostel-story after party-hostel-story that’s what I heard when people told me about their stay in Kotor, I was lucky with the small Kotorkorea Guest House, a Stonehouse in the middle of the center run by a hospitable Korean couple. It has only one dorm room with six beds, a shared bathroom and a kitchen. I had a great stay in Kotor and at this lovely Guest House.
Sunset hike at The ladder of Kotor – a must! You can either go in the early morning or for an early sunset. Inbetween it would be too hot, there are no big trees, so the track is exposed to the sun. If you go in the evening, don’t forget your torch. Or don’t stay the full sunset and rush downhill (that’s what I did). On the last part of my way done, I went through the castle. From which I did not see much, as it was already dark. Therefore the view of the lighted up city of Kotor was magnificent.
Perast
Just for tourists? Actually yes. There is not so much to see. In Perast there is only the main road and the sea promenade. You can take the bus from Kotor to Perast or go by boat. I took the bus and went back by boat. It was kind of boat hitchhiking as there where no more taxi-boats going back to Kotor. I asked one of the tourist-tours boats. However, I paid 5 € for Perast to Kotor, a good deal.
Budva
By just passing by, I was glad not to spend a night or day here. It seemed like one big hotel complex after another — nothing I wanted to experience during my trip to the Balkans. I was there to see and learn more about the culture.
Petrovac
Petrovac is a little town with a very nice promenade at the waterfront. The second longest beach of Montenegro is just a few kilometers south in Buljarice. Here you can also have a lovely sunset view. Or, if you are more of an adventurous person, go Tandem Paragliding from the mountain Sutorman.
Bar
Bar in Montenegro didn’t get recommended by locals. I went there anyway. It is more of an industrial city. The old town is a bit in the hinterland — worth a visit. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it.
Where to stay: Namaste Hostel. It got recommended by a friend I met while traveling, and now I recommend it. It is far away from everything (except the train station), with a vast garden, hammocks a cozy kitchen. That was one of the hostels where I felt at home. Don’t forget your mosquito spray (the mosquitos here are insane) and check out the wild beaches nearby.
Ulcinj
Ulcinj is a town in the south of Montenegro. Here, near the Albanian border, a lot of Albanian people live and work. Unfortunately, I didn’t visit this area. But I have heard that it is beautiful. Here you can find amazing beaches as well as the longest beach in the country. It was also highly recommended by locals. Although I think it is a bit touristy, probably more spread out.
Summary
All in all, my time in Montenegro will always be in my memory. And I’m sure I will come back one time. Not only its stunning landscape but also the bay of Kotor, the culture and hospitality of the people. Montenegro gets my highest recommendation.
Train from Bar to Belgrade
Ground traveling in Europe is easy. It is sometimes time-consuming, but you can also save money on accommodation while taking a night train. In East-Europe is a rail connection from the coastline to the inland of Serbia. From Bar to Belgrade. This is one of the most scenic train routes—especially the part in the Montenegro Mountains.
I took the night train and booked directly at the counter, a bed in a three-bed female-only cabin. It seemed the most straightforward option as I was already in Bar and stayed near the train station. The train also stops in Podgorica, in case you want to see Montenegro’s capital city.
From Bar to Belgrade is quite a journey, around 9 hours. For me taking the night, train was the more comfortable option, even though I missed the views. The trains were old trains from Germany or Austria. Even my train ticket was partly written in German. The beds were basic and I slept well. We had a longer stop at the border and policemen came on the train to checked everyone’s identity document only at the border.
Arriving in Belgrade, I felt a bit lost. I haven’t exchanged my money. Therefore, I could not use public transportation and had no idea where I could take a taxi and pay by card. The train station in Belgrade is, unfortunately, a bit outside of the city center. There is no ATM around, neither a money exchange store nor free Wifi. Those’s some things you should keep in mind before you go on this journey.
These are all personal recommendations and not paid advertising.
