10 Things To Do In Montenegro

A guide to Montenegro

If your dream short break involves natural beauty, a place steeped in history, great food - particularly seafood - and a little bit of adventure, then Montenegro should go straight to the top of your Travel Bucket list.

I was invited to explore Montenegro with Jet2 Holidays who have direct flights from London Stansted Airport .

In four days, I completely fell for this Balkan country with its backdrop of mountains, Adriatic coastline, medieval villages, national parks and incredible food. Plus it’s just 2 hours 55 minutes from the UK.

Take a boat trip to Our Lady of the Rocks & Perast

We had a private boat charter (but group tours are available) for this memorable trip from Kotor old town, along the coastline before looping around Our Lady of the Rocks, which is one of two islets (the other is St George) off the coast of Perast. Our Lady of the Rocks is home to a pretty Catholic church with museum attached.

2. Watch the sun set in Perast

Perast is a tiny town just a 1.5 Km walk end to end but every step is picturesque and charming and well worth stopping to visit. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect evening for a wander, followed by dinner on the waterfront watching the sun set.

3. Dine on the Waterfront at the Conte Restaurant, Perast

The Conte Restaurant has outdoor dining right on the waterfront edge, with views of Our Lady of the Rocks as well as being a prime spot for watching the sun set behind the sea and mountain view. Not only a great location but the food will not disappoint. Our set menu included a prawn gnocchi, seabass, and an iced almond parfait.

The night fell as we sped back to the old town and our bus ride back to the hotel.

4. Climb the Ladder of Kotor

Are the 1350 steps of the ladder of Kotor worth it for the views? I’d say absolutely! They are steep, crumbly and slippy in places and if you go like me in 35 degree heat at 4pm you will not look great when you return. But seen from this height you get to appreciate the city planning, the triangle shaped fortress with the city’s back to the mountain, three fortified entrances, ready to defend itself. The pretty roof tiles and views of The Church of our Lady of Remedy really isn’t to be missed. It’s €15 for the entrance fee

As for Kotor itself, it’s a medieval cat lovers dream - they are lazily stretched out on every available perch, nook and unoccupied chair. There’s even a cat museum - it’s quite small but stuffed full of all things cat.

When you get back to the bottom of those steps, you’ll find Mortiz Eis ice cream waiting for you, there are a few of them within the city. The blood orange was exceptional and the salted caramel a good second choice but there’s an array of flavours from walnut to pistachio.

If you wanting something more substantial or planning dinner Scala Santa is a rustic, green shuttered restaurant with outdoor wooden tables and a good menu featuring fresh seafood, salads and pasta, I had the brushetta to start with clam linguine to follow and it was very good. We were there Sunday evening and as night drew in a violinist appeared on the square steps and it made for a very pleasant holiday atmosphere.

5. Visit Herceg Novi

Herceg Novi is a coastal town with a lot packed into it’s small foot print. Set at the foot of Mount Orjen it’s just over an hour by car from the old town of Kotor.

Visit Kanli Kula the fortress with an open-air amphitheatre (€2 entrance fee) for impressive views (on a clear day you can see Italy), the pretty tiled roofs of the town below and immerse yourself in the history of the 1539 built fortress.

The old town is worth exploring for it’s cobbled streets, The Clock Tower; one of the towns famous landmarks, built in 1667. I love a food market and if you are there on a Saturday morning you can stock up on fruit, veg, cheese, olive oil and fish from the stalls just off the main square.

Stop for coffee at The City Cafe, try and get a table outside on the balcony for more beautiful views.

6. Lunch at Konoba Skver

Lunch at Konoba Skver is worth the visit to Herceg Novi alone if the above hasn’t convinced you. The menu is filled with freshly caught fish and we were treated to dish after dish of superb cooking. The tuna tartare on a tower of ripe, chopped avocado was so moorish set alongside a mountain of homemade pickled ginger. Yellow risotto, black rice, a sizzling pan brought direct to the table of prawn and octopus in a light garlic sauce, with thick cut steaks of tuna and swordfish as our mains. I’m sure dessert was equally incredible but we were too full on the savoury to try them.

Next door is an open air pool, looking out on to the marina and was busy with water polo practice. Montenegro is pretty well known for it’s water polo team and basketball - fun fact!

7. Swim at The Bluelagoon

From the marina in Herceg Novi we took a private boat tour with Skipper Vladimir, the three hour round trip took us along the coast, with sites of interest pointed out on the way.

We peaked inside the now defunct submarine tunnels built by the Yugoslav army during the cold war. Aside from tourists visiting it’s now the occasional site for intimate concerts.

My brave travel companions all took a leap whilst I played paparazzi. The blue lagoon is only accessible by boat and is a must if you visit Montenegro. The famous one can fit several boats inside the cave (see my saved stories on Instagram) and we drove through whilst others stopped to swim, however our skipper took us to a completely isolated smaller version about 10 mins away. Large enough to swim through the caves and experience the iridescent shades of blue beneath the waters surface. It looks like neon lights have been placed below, it’s eerily beautiful. I looked it up to find out how it’s created and it’s sunlight coming through cracks in the caves and reflecting off the sand below. However it’s caused it’s very magical.

Jumping is optional!

8. Eat at Catovica Mlini

Catovica Mlini is a very special dining experience, it’s setting is unexpected, surrounded by lush greenery, a boating lake, walk ways and bridges with mountain views at every turn.

We had the 5 course tasting menu, a seafood selection including tuna carpaccio, octopus and tuna pate, yellow risotto with monkfish, seabass with black rice and an almond tart to finish. Each course came with an exquisite wine pairing. Service was friendly and impeccable and even though we had come from a day in the sea and where windswept from the boat (we changed in the loos!) we couldn’t have been more kindly looked after.

This is a place I would definitely pre-book when I return to Montenegro.

9. Take the Kotor Cable Car & Alpine Coaster

This was a surprise, I did not expect to find myself on a cable car let alone steering myself around the newly opened alpine roller coaster. However despite having vertigo and a fear of most things, the encouragement of the group and the fact the coaster doesn’t go very high or very fast (you control the speed so can stop if you want to) meant I did both. I took many a shaky video - see my Instagram but was too scared to get out my main camera. I know, I know I’m sure you’ll be much braver than me but despite the sweaty palms and shaky legs I can’t recommend both enough, really fun, spectacular views and something different on a trip away. Prices for the cable car €13 one way and the alpine coaster €8

10. Stay at the Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort

The Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort is one of the Montenegro package options with Jet2Holidays.

It has it’s own private beach (just across the road) with the hotel’s Lighthouse restaurant available for lunch and dinner over looking the bay. We had lunch and it was good, the prawn Caesar salad, fresh, filling and it’s a lovely setting to pass the mid day heat.

Our rooms were located in the newer part of the hotel, it’s a little bit of a walk from reception but you are compensated with pool views (2 outdoors, heated and an indoor pool.) The pool view also comes with the incredible panoramic mountain setting and the sun rise over those mountains each morning, was a moment I didn’t tire of.

The room itself is spacious, with a simple modern style, very elegant and comfortable. Staff were always helpful and courteous. Breakfast was included in our stay and there are two dining rooms one that opens earlier and has a slightly pared down choice whilst the main, larger room opens a bit later and you won’t be hard pressed to find something you like, from fresh and dried fruit, an egg order station, hot cooked food that included local dishes, noodles as well as crispy cooked bacon, all the cereals and meats, pastries, breads, juices, coffee you can think of.

We didn’t get to use the spa but it’s there if you need it.

The hotel is well situated to get back to the old town and depending on traffic it could take just an hour to the airport.

Montenegro was a complete surprise to me, I had no expectations but it quickly wooed me with it’s effortless charm, stunning scenery and easy manner. I loved my morning walks along the coast line watching early morning bathers, the sun rise over those incredible mountains and I enjoyed every experience mentioned above.

This was a press trip but my thoughts and opinions are my own and I’d highly recommend checking out holidays to Montenegro with Jet2holidays.

If you fancy a different accommodation or want to travel around Montenegro follow this link for flights to Tivat with Jet2

Jet2 were a friendly, fun (balloon arch at the check in and Jet2 radio as you waited for take off anyone?!) efficient airline, even though due to a storm we were delayed leaving care and information was evident.

Thank you to the Montenegro Tourist Board for organising our itinery.

If you’ve been to Montenegro I’d love tips for different eats, places to visit for my next trip!