Montenegro – Miracles, Nature, Beer & More

Montenegro is a scenic country of the South and Southeast Europe on the coast of the Balkans. Here are some of the things to do in Montenegro. 

Things to do in Montenegro

Please bear in mind that these are my favorites and that could be very subjective… There are any number of Montenegro tours available, given the tourist interest in the region, that you can choose from… But I would suggest, do not miss any of the ones mentioned below… 

Aman Sveti Stefan

The luxurious Aman Sveti Stefan, situated on a tiny island about 6 km southeast of Budva. Aman Sveti Stefan is now connected to the mainland by a narrow tombolo but was once an inaccessible island. The beauty of this property lies in its stonewalled medieval architecture, beautiful cottages, cobbled pathways, its Piazza, sober white interiors, cliff-side pool, and the private secluded beach…

Budva

Budva is a part of the Budva Riviera and is filled with sandy beaches, warm people and medieval buildings. On one hand, we have the historical facets of Budva like its old town and one the other, the budding nightlife of Budva. Beach, architecture or party – take your pick… or like me, take all 3… 😉During the day, visit the old town, Sveti Nicola island, Church of St.John and Praskvica Monastery. And later in the evening, get a taste of the renowned Budva nightlife – some of the Clubs are open till 5 am! Lesson learnt – if you party hard till 5 am, you don’t get a hangover next morning… You get it next afternoon… 😉

Tuzi

The town of Tuzi, near Podgorica with the Vodopad Nijagara falls, the Church of St. Anthony, Qazimbeg’s Mosque and the wines in Sipcanik. 

Kotor

The beautiful city of Kotor which, much like the other cities of Montenegro, was a small quaint place characterized by winding streets and squares, with its medieval charm and several Romanesque buildings. Due to the huge inflow of Venetian merchants to this city, it acquired a lot of Venetian characteristics, still noticeable in its buildings and architecture. This city looked straight out of a fairytale – its old town is a UNESCO world heritage site. Other Kotor gems were the Cat museum and Saint Nicholas’ church. Oh, and by the way, the entire city has only one tree and is a popular tourist attraction! 

Perast

Perast is a quaint old town situated on the Bay of Kotor. A short boat ride away Perast is the famous Our Lady of the Rocks.

There are many stories behind the construction of the church on this island but the one that I quite like is the one about the merchant and his brother. The merchant’s brother was on the verge of life or death due to an incurable illness. The merchant prayed that if his brother gets better, he would build a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary here. Miraculously, his brother did get well and a church was built which later acquired fame as a “worker of miracles”.

Since then, every ship that passes by lays anchor and sends offerings to the Church along with prayers for a safe journey. It is a very small church with a room that contains all the offerings people have left behind – all kinds of things ranging from small trinkets like watches and vases to expensive paintings from all across the world… even a picture of Mother Teresa.

A super serene place, legend has it that your wishes come true if you pray for it at the church. And if you are lucky, like me, you would also be able to spot the monks of a little monastery on another island sunbathing on your way to the island! 

Oh, and the local beer – it is to die for. Try it when you are in Montenegro – Niksicko Beer… 😉

For more details on how to get there https://beyonder.travel/holiday-destinations/balkans/

(Experiences and stories from Anand Parameswaran compiled by Nikitha CV)