Montenegro A fairy tale, not a journey

Montenegro more than compensates for its compact size with the blue Adriatic Sea and the Bay of Kotor, majestic mountains, dizzying canyons, fast-flowing rivers and crystal-clear lakes, the lush bloom of oleanders, camellias and bougainvillea. If there was a paradise on earth, it would be in this country.

A bit of philosophy

It is not surprising that Montenegrins know how to enjoy life. Their attitude to what is happening can be easily expressed by the phrase samo polako, which has several meanings at once: from “don’t take it to heart” to “business can wait”. Relaxation is felt both in seaside resorts and in mountain villages – in a word, everywhere. And looking at the inhabitants of the country, it is difficult not to follow their example.

Another motto of Montenegrins is sve može, or “everything is possible”. There is a joke among the locals that anyone could fly a plane, even if they have never done it before (similar to our “it’s not the Gods who burn pots”). Thanks to this confidence, they are open to life, are friendly to people and willingly respond to requests and suggestions. And this is one of the secrets of their hospitality.

Adriatic Saint-Tropez

Despite all its authenticity, Montenegro has long been appreciated by fans of luxury holidays. After all, the historical resorts and modern tourist areas of Porto Montenegro, Lustica Bay and Portonovi create ideal conditions for such guests. And local airports also serve private flights

Lustica Bay is a project of the investment company Orascom, founded by billionaire Sami Sawiris, located on the picturesque Lustica Peninsula, where the Bay of Kotor meets the Adriatic Sea. Taking care of the sea and nature in general, Sami Sawiris made sure that the complex does not harm the environment and fits organically into the landscape, echoing the old towns on the coast with its architecture.

For guests, all the infrastructure has been created here, including a first-class marina, a heliport and an 18-hole golf course designed by Gary Player, whose portfolio includes more than 400 works on five continents. During the game, views of the sea and the bay open up. A promenade with boutiques of luxury brands, restaurants and the Chedi hotel - everything is provided in this town.

Regulars of fashionable Mediterranean resorts will appreciate the Portonovi area on the shores of the Bay of Kotor. There are high-class restaurants and cafes, a marina for yachts and superyachts up to 120 m, a yacht club, a beach club, Europe’s first One&Only hotel, where the Chenot Espace wellness centre offers detoxification and restoration according to the Chenot method.

Porto Montenegro in Tivat was built on the initiative and with the financial support of Jacob Rothschild, Bernard Arnault and Peter Munk. Its 450-boat marina accommodates yachts up to 250 m. The local yacht club hosts regattas. There are tennis courts, the luxurious Regent Porto Montenegro hotel and the new SIRO Boka Place for adherents of a healthy lifestyle.

For complete privacy, stay at the Mamula Island Hotel on an islet near Herceg Novi. It is located in a restored 19th-century Austro-Hungarian fortress. Sami Sawiris saw the island fortress during a helicopter tour on his first visit to Montenegro. At that time, the country's authorities planned to open a museum here, and only 10 years later they gave permission for construction on the condition that the architectural value of the site would be preserved during the work.

Mamula Island offers rooms in historical and modern styles with a jacuzzi and telescopes. The hotel's spa center has a bathhouse, Finnish and herbal saunas, a halochamber, a floating capsule and an experience shower. Its procedures are developed taking into account the achievements of neuroscience, and you can also have a check-up here.

Back to the roots

Montenegro offers endless opportunities for active recreation. Here you can explore sunken ships, underwater labyrinths and caves, go hiking, rafting, descend into canyons and caves, horseback riding, master survival skills in the natural environment (bushcraft), rise above the coast and mountains on a paraglider, watch 350 species of birds, including flamingos, which is a rarity for Europe. Along with the Tara River Canyon, the deepest in Europe, there is an equally beautiful canyon on the Piva River. And the Piva Lake (reservoir) located here is the second largest after Skadar Lake, and it is the largest reservoir of crystal clear drinking water in the world. You can appreciate the beauty of the lake and the river that winds among the green hills during a zipline flight. 

The aforementioned Skadar Lake is not only one of the largest bird sanctuaries in Europe, but also a popular place for wine tours. Some wineries have eco-hotels. On the mountain slopes near the lake are the beautiful terraced vineyards of the Lipovac estate, where they organize tastings of seven wines. And the best way to admire the lake is from the Pavlova Strana observation deck.

An unforgettable entertainment for lovers of panoramas will be the Kotor cable car - the pride of the tourism industry of Montenegro. In 11 minutes it rises from Kotor to Mount Lovcen in the national park of the same name, opening views of the bay, the serpentine road built by the Austro-Hungarians and the Austrian fortress Gorazda. Both on the way and at the upper station, you can clearly see the airport, Kotor in the embrace of the mountains, cruise liners and sailboats near the shore. At the top, there is a tourist area with a restaurant and "Alpine slides" with a kilometer-long route. At the bike rental point here you can also take a bike and go to the mausoleum of Petar II Petrovic Njegos on the top of the mountain, from where you can see all of Montenegro, especially beautiful from this angle at sunset.