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If you are looking for a place to have a quiet holiday without a visa, accompanied by green roads and sea views, how about turning your route towards Montenegro in the Balkans? Since it has not yet joined the European Union, you can travel for 90 days without a visa. Even though the Euro is used, a holiday budget that is relatively affordable compared to other European countries is sufficient.  

There are many places you can see in Montenegro that have dream-like views. Especially if you have never been there before, we recommend that you get your ticket, grab your backpack and hit the road without wasting any more time, before Montenegro joins the EU. 

Before our travel suggestions, let's talk about the travel phase to Montenegro. 

 

How to Get to Montenegro?

To go to Montenegro, you need to choose the Istanbul-Podgorica flight, which takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. You do not need a visa for this international visit. A passport, international travel stamp and plane ticket will be enough. 

 

Places to Visit in Montenegro 

Montenegro, a heaven on earth rising on the Adriatic coast, has many different stops to discover, even though it is a small country.  The country, which has a population of approximately 630 thousand  , is frequently visited by tourists during the summer season. If you wish, let's take a look at the places to visit in this young country, which gained its independence in 2006. 

By the way, the Stari Grad signs you will see on the roads during your visit mean Old Town. It is called this way in almost all Slavic countries, just so you know.  

 

Podgorica

Podgorica is a city that will open its arms to you as soon as you get off the plane. When you land, you will find yourself in a tiny airport. Montenegro is a small country, but if you want to travel comfortably, we recommend renting a car. Although Kotor is the first thing that comes to mind when Montenegro is mentioned, Podgorica is the capital of this country. 

This stop, a bit far from the seashore, is a place surrounded by greenery. The history of Podgorica, a medieval city, dates back to the 14th century. The Ottomans conquered the city in the 15th century and managed to maintain their presence here until the 19th century. For this reason, you can see Ottoman works in many different parts of the city. Especially in the Stara Varos neighborhood, it is possible to find architectural works left to the city by the Ottomans, such as mosques and clock towers.

 

Places to Visit in Podgorica

1. Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ (Saborni Hram Hristovog Vaskrsenja):  This cathedral, which is the largest Orthodox temple in Montenegro, has a magnificent architecture. 

2. Gorica Forest Park:  Gorica means “small hill”. You can take a pleasant walk in the lush green paths of this forest park. Its nature is really impressive. We definitely recommend stopping by while you are in Podgorica.
3. Stara Varos:  You will feel a lot of Ottoman influence here. You can also visit small cafes and shops.  
4. Petrovic Palace:  Don't expect a big palace, you can think of it as a country house. You can choose the palace, which is located in a big garden, to visit contemporary art exhibitions.
5. Niagara Falls:  Yes, there is a Niagara Falls outside the USA and it is worth seeing.

Note:  If you are considering camping, you can consider the lush green world of Skadar Lake National Park, which is also close to Bar and Croatia. 

 

Places to Eat in Podgorica

Montenegro's cuisine has been shaped by Balkan, Ottoman, Russian and Italian influences. You can find the best examples of this in Podgorica. If you go to Skadar Lake National Park, which is a little outside of Podrica, we definitely recommend you visit Plavnica. In the city center,  you can go to Lanterna for delicious pizzas, Maša for seafood  , and Kod Feta , famous for its pies, if you want to eat something traditional  . 

 

Budva

After Podgorica, you can turn your route to Budva. Swinging on the Adriatic coast, Montenegro's summer city Budva is one of the most touristic cities. With its narrow cobblestone streets, nightlife and beaches, you can visit both natural and historical places in the city. A turquoise sea and a green landscape await you. 

There are historical artifacts unearthed from the Roman-era necropolis that can still be seen just outside the old city walls. We can say that the Budva Museum houses many archaeological treasures from the classical period, as well as the unearthed artifacts. 

Josip Broz Tito's summer house is also located in Budva, which was visited as the holiday centre of Yugoslavia before its dissolution.  

 

Places to Visit in Budva

1. Stari Grad:  This part of the city, known as the old town, is on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. You can feel like you are on a movie set as you wander among the cafes, narrow streets and rows of shops.  
2. Dancing Girl Statue:  This statue, which is the symbol of Budva, is located near Mogren Beach. Don't forget to take a photo of this statue, which has various legends about its existence.
3. Roman Necropolis:  There are remains of Roman tombs and a chapel here. Artifacts found during archaeological excavations are exhibited in the Budva Museum. 
4. Sveti Stefan Island :  One of the most interesting places in Budva is undoubtedly Sveti Stefan Island. It has a view that looks like it came out of a fairy tale. In the 15th century, the Venetians built castles around it to protect it from the Turks and pirates. Yes, the Venetians also lived here for a while. We can call this place a medieval village in Budva. Since the island is run by a hotel, you can enter the island with the excuse of eating at the restaurant or you can join a boat tour and discover its two beautiful beaches. It is a place worthy of Instagram that you will look back on again and again when you go to Budva.
5. Sveti Nikola Island:  This is a beautiful island that is known in Europe as the Hawaii of Montenegro. You can choose this place to swim. You can also use boats to get to the island. 

 

Places to Eat in Budva

If you want to go somewhere with a wide menu,  you can choose Konoba Bocun  . For relatively affordable and delicious food,  you can go to Kafe Alinka, a Russian restaurant  .

 

Beaches to Visit in Budva

There are many beaches in Budva. You can swim from anywhere. Of course, we have chosen the most beautiful beaches for you. If you wish, try these beaches. Entrance to the beaches is generally free. There is a fee for sunbeds and umbrellas. If you do not want to pay for these, you can find shady places at the bottom of the rocks and spread out your towel. 

🏖️  Mogren Beach 

🏖️ Milocer

🏖️ St. Nicholas Island

 

Bar

The city of Bar is also one of the points where the Ottomans ruled. The city, which blends different cultures, is located on the Adriatic coast like Budva. It is possible to have a peaceful holiday in this beautiful city, where Mediterranean and Balkan cuisines are enlivened. We are sure that the beautiful sea, clean air and small sweet streets will do you good. 

Note:  Did you know that you can travel from Montenegro to Italy by ferry? There are ferries from Bar to Bari. If you want to continue your trip in Italy, you can use this route. 

 

Places to Visit in Bar

1. Church Of Saint John:  This building, which is a Serbian Orthodox Church, has an impressive architecture. It is a place you should definitely visit when you come to Bar. If you are especially interested in frescoes, you should definitely visit it. 
2. Oldest Olive Tree (Mirovica):  The tree, estimated to be over 2000 years old, is said to be one of the oldest living trees in Europe. If you want to see this natural beauty that contains history, you can stop by. There is a fee of 1 euro to visit, let's say it before you go (2023).
3. Stari Bar:  The so-called Muslim quarter of Bar is located at the foot of Mount Rumija. We recommend visiting Stari Bar, where you will find a wonderful view, an old Ottoman castle and small shops.

 

Beaches to Visit in Bar

Bar has a wonderful nature. It has stone beaches and a clean sea. Here are the free beaches you can visit to catch the wonderful views:

🏖️ Strbina Beach

🏖️ Veliki Pijesak Beach

🏖️ Maljevik Beach

 

Places to Eat at the Bar

Konoba Bedem  has both delicious seafood and vegetarian options.  The Sons Eatery  is a new restaurant serving Anatolian flavors with a modern twist. The waiters also speak Turkish. Both of these restaurants located on the Stari Bar side will make your stomach happy.

 

Perast

Offering the most beautiful views of Montenegro, Perast is located very close to Kotor. This small medieval town with its fairytale-like atmosphere will be a feast for your eyes. We definitely recommend you to visit Perast, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. 

 

Places to Visit in Perast

1. St. Nikola Church:  Also known as Siveti Nikola Church, it has a wonderful view. We recommend that you go up to the church, which has a bell tower with the largest bells in Europe, enjoy the view and take lots of photos. 
2. Lady of the Rocks:  This is a church island. In other words, the island consists of a church. The walls of the church, which also has a maritime museum, are covered with gold coins minted by sailors returning from their expeditions. It is possible to reach the island by renting a boat. Since it is a religious place, if you do not dress in a way that covers your arms and legs, you may not be allowed in. Therefore, if you want to go, we recommend that you dress accordingly.
3. Saint George Island:  This natural island with a monastery is closed to visitors, but you can take a boat tour around it. Even seeing the Lady of the Rocks and the neighboring islands in the Bay of Kotor from a distance is a unique experience.

 

Places to Eat in Perast

For fresh and delicious seafood, you can choose Konoba Skolji, and for delicious pizzas with a magnificent view, you can choose Caffe Restaurant Djardin. 

 

Kotor

We wanted to save Kotor, which we can say is the most popular stop in Montenegro, for last. Kotor, which looks like a painting with its view of the Bay of Kotor extending to the mountains, has a fascinating atmosphere. Since it is a port city, you can always see large cruise ships on the shore. The city center is like an open-air museum. 

 

Places to Visit in Kotor

1. Stari Grad:  The city center, built by the Venetians, is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. White stone walls, courtyards, secret passages... This is one of the most beautiful places to explore on foot. You will want to take photos of every place as you walk around. 
2. Kotor Fortress (St. John's Fortress):  If you want to see one of the best views of Kotor, it's time to work your legs. At the end of the 1,300 steep steps, you'll say "Good thing I did!" 
3. Saint Tryphon Cathedral:  This cathedral with its impressive architecture, which has a museum on the upper floor, is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Built in the 12th century, the religious structure has seen earthquakes and wars, but still manages to preserve all its beauty. 

 

Places to Eat in Kotor

If you are looking for a restaurant with a wide range of options in Stari Grad,  you can go to Pržun  , most of the waiters speak Turkish. If you want to eat delicious Mediterranean food,  you can visit Konoba Ruma  . 

 

Beaches to Visit in Kotor

Kotor, located on the Adriatic Sea coast, has stone beaches. Since many cruise ships dock on the coast, we recommend that you choose Budva for a seaside holiday. If you absolutely want to swim in Kotor, you can choose Kotor Beach.