Montenegro is an amazing country that attracts tourists with its luxurious Adriatic beaches, beautiful nature and historical monuments. Despite the small size of the country, everyone can find a corner to their liking. Very open, friendly and independent people live here, who will be happy to introduce you to their homeland. Welcome to Montenegro, it is looking forward to you!
Montenegro on the map
Geographical location of the country
Montenegro is situated in south-eastern Europe and on the western Balkan Peninsula. Its western coastline is washed by the Adriatic Sea. The length of its coastline is 293 km. There are lots of small beaches, spread out at the foot of the densely forested mountains.
It is the smallest country in the Balkans, bordering Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania. Montenegro has the shortest border with Croatia – only 14 kilometres. And the longest borders are with Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, they are more than 200 km long.
Italy is also relatively close to Montenegro. It is only 225 km away by sea.
Dangers for tourists
Montenegro is considered one of the most prosperous in terms of crime countries of the Balkan Peninsula. There are virtually no criminals, tourists can safely leave things on the beach or open the car – nothing is lost.
Of course, there are pickpockets, but their number is minimal. As a rule, illegal activities are handled by migrants from neighbouring, less prosperous countries of the region.
Moreover, no serious crimes are committed against tourists. Although, there are sometimes showdowns between locals. Their roots lie in the times when blood feuds used to flourish in the country.
Other hazards in Montenegro are also minimal. The climate is excellent and there are no dangerous infections or fevers. The animal life is quite devoid of dangerous species, though scorpions and snakes may be poisonous, and you may step on a sea urchin on the beach.
Holidays
Montenegrins are a cheerful and sociable people, who love and know how to relax. The country has many official and unofficial holidays, which are divided into secular and religious ones.
Secular holidays include Republic Day on April 27 and Independence Day on May 21, Guerrilla Day and Statehood Day.
Since the country has a big number of orthodox Christians, many Montenegrin church holidays are well-known to us. These are Christmas, which locals call Bozic. There is New Year on January 1 and Old New Year on January 13. This is Easter, which is celebrated according to the orthodox calendar at different times.
Among the holy prophets, the country especially honours the Evangelist Mark, whose day is commemorated on 8 May, and Basil of Ostrog, who is considered the patron of the republic.
There are also a number of festivals. These include the Winter Snow Race, the Spring Mimosa Festival and the Camellia Days. In summer, the Mediterranean Trophy, a competition for the luckiest fisherman, is held.
Things to do in Montenegro
Small Montenegro offers tourists a wide range of entertainment and leisure options. Here are the main ones:
- Beaches. The country is characterised by a large number of beautiful and comfortable beaches, among which there are sandy ones, and there are also pebbly ones. The beaches have the usual amusements: banana, tubing and others.
- Diving. Widely popular entertainment in the country. The underwater world off the coast is rich and varied, and experienced instructors can quickly teach you how to scuba dive.
- Boat trips. Also, a very popular pastime at the local resorts. You can rent a yacht or boat for cheap, and either just sail along the coast or go fishing.
- Rafting. Although most holidaymakers prefer the sea, some are drawn to the less traditional options, such as white water rafting on the Tara River on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Hiking in the local canyons. The country is full of beautiful mountains, cut by river canyons. They are very popular to visit. The canyons of the Tara and Morača rivers are especially famous.
- Pilgrimage. There are many holy places in the republic that are of interest for orthodox believers from other countries. For example, Cetinsky and Ostrozhsky monasteries.
- Bars and restaurants. In the country, there are many cozy eateries for all tastes and purses. In tourist cities, many bars are open all day long with great live music which creates a romantic mood.
- Gastronomic Tours. Montenegro’s cuisine is typical of that of the Balkan countries, but it has a number of special features which make it attractive. Here you should certainly try the local wines, pizza, chopped pleskavica, and charcoal meat.
Information on Montenegro
If you are planning to visit Montenegro, here are some of the most important things to know:
Language
Montenegrin has been the official language of the republic since 2007. It is one of the many languages of the Serbo-Croatian group. Before 2007 the official languages of the country were Serbian, and a little earlier – Serbo-Croat.
Even now, after the recognition of Montenegrin as an official language, the vast majority of the population considers Serbian their native language. Only 20% of the population consider Montenegrin their native language.
Population
Montenegro is not only a small country, but also the smallest among the Slavic states. According to the census of 2011 the population of the republic is 620 thousand people – the population of a medium-sized town in other countries.
Among them, almost half of Montenegrins, a third of Serbs, as well as representatives of other nations of the peninsula: Bosnians, Albanians, Croats, Roma.
More facts about Montenegrins, their character and the local coloring can be found in this article.
Currency
Small Montenegro has not had its own currency for a long time. In previous centuries the Turkish lira, the Austro-Hungarian krone, the French franc had been circulating in the country. At the beginning of the XX century, an attempt was made to create its own currency, which was named Perper. But Perper lasted only nine years and was replaced by the Yugoslavian dinar.
While Montenegro was part of Yugoslavia, there was no question of a national currency. After gaining independence, German marks were used in the country, and since 2010 – the Euro.
The peculiarity of the country is that it does not issue euros itself, but uses money coming from abroad, including from tourists.
Religion
Montenegro is a secular state, but most of the population are believers. Among them 75% are Orthodox Christians, 3% are Catholics. There are many Muslims in the country, 19% of them. In the census of 2003 only 12 people confessed that they practice Judaism, and 58 Montenegrins are adherents of occultism.
Climate
The coast of Montenegro has a typical Mediterranean climate. This is a subtropical climate, characterized by dry and wet seasons.
Montenegro is very hot and dry during the summer. The temperature during the day often rises to +33 degrees and at night it drops to +20 degrees. In the mountainous regions, where the climate is more temperate, the temperature is lower, reaching +25 degrees during the day.
There is almost no rainfall at this time of year. Only thunderstorms occur from time to time.
The winter in Montenegro is warm and humid. The daytime temperature is at a mark of +10 degrees, at night it can drop to +3. At this time, hurricane winds, heavy rains and rough seas are not uncommon. The mountains can also experience snowfall.
Sea water temperature
For most of the year, the water temperature in the Adriatic Sea is comfortable, but during the winter months it gets very cold and one can’t even swim in it anymore. The sea water, on the other hand, is absolutely gorgeous during the summer.
- The water temperature during the winter is between +14 and +16 degrees.
- In the spring, the temperature rises to +18 – +21 degrees.
- During the summer, the sea temperature is most comfortable at +23 to +25 degrees.
- In autumn, the water temperature gradually decreases to +19 degrees.
It is possible to swim in the sea from the end of April till the end of October.
Natural disasters
Montenegro is considered reasonably safe in terms of natural disaster. There are no active volcanoes and although the country lies in an active seismic zone, no major earthquakes have occurred in a long time. Though, the earthquakes that shook Greece can have reverberations. The last major earthquake here was in 1979.
The most common disaster in Montenegro is forest fire, but these burn in the mountains, away from the resorts, and have little impact on holidays.
Another frequent annual disaster in the country is a gale force wind, known here as Bura. It is typical during the second half of winter and can bring heavy downpours and storms. This also leads to flooding, which mostly affects coastal areas. The small rivers in summer swell up with huge torrents and blow away everything in their path.
You can read about the most devastating disasters in Montenegro’s history in this article.
Political system
Montenegro is a parliamentary republic, headed by the president. The president represents the executive power as well as the government, which is called Vlada.
The legislative power is represented by the parliament, which here is called the Assembly. It is a unicameral parliament with 81 members.
Montenegro is divided into 24 communities, named after the central city.
Cities and resorts
Podgorica is the capital and the largest city of the country. Podgorica is the capital and the largest city in the country. 150 thousand people live there. The city lies 30 kilometres from the coast, and the first mention of it dates back to 1326. There is a lot of ancient architecture of the Ottoman period, the ruins of an old Roman fortress, beautiful churches and mosques. Podgorica has many interesting and unusual monuments, including Vladimir Vysotsky and Nikola Tesla.
Cetinje is the second, unofficial capital of the country. It is home to the residence of the president. Cetinje has 14 thousand inhabitants and has been known as a city since 1440. Tourists are attracted here by the numerous monuments of architecture, among which the Blue palace, Cetinje monastery, National historical museum.
Budva is one of the most ancient cities in the country, founded in V century B.C. It is the largest tourist centre, famous for its numerous tourist attractions. It is the largest tourist centre, famous for its beaches, nightlife and original architecture. The viewpoint of the ancient Citadel affords a mesmerising view of the surrounding countryside and the sea.
Kotor is another ancient town on the banks of the bay of the same name. It has been known since 168 B.C. It’s surrounded by picturesque mountains. The pearl of Kotor is the old town, where medieval architectural monuments are preserved.
Bar is the main seaport of the country and a popular holiday destination. Built in the VI century, it is now a cozy town surrounded by mountains with olive trees growing on their slopes. It is famous for its sea beach and archaeological excavations called the «Montenegrin Pompeii».
Symbols of Montenegro
The double-headed eagle. It is the official symbol of Montenegro, and is depicted on the country’s coat of arms and flag. It symbolizes the unity of church and state and dates back to the coat of arms of the Paleolog dynasty that ruled in Byzantium.
A lion. Depicted on the coat of arms, and in the country itself, there are many monuments with the image of a lion. It symbolises the Evangelist Mark, one of the most beloved saints in the Republic.
How to get to Montenegro
You can reach Montenegro by virtually any means of transport.
The country does not have its own airlines, but regular flights are operated to the international airports in Podgorica and Tivat by almost all major airlines in the world. Each year, more than 2 million tourists visit the country via the airports.
Bar, the country’s largest port, is connected to Ancona and Bari. Cruise liners often call here. You can also reach other Montenegrin ports: Kotor, Risan, Tivat.
Motorways connect the country with the neighboring countries: Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Passenger trains run from Montenegro to Serbia.
How much money to take with you
Prices for holidays in Montenegro vary quite widely, but on the whole they remain very democratic. The country can provide recreation options for almost any budget.
The cheapest tours to the country start at $3,000 for two people for 7 days. But you can save a lot if you travel on your own.
Calculating to spend 7-10 days in the country should be based on a minimum amount for entertainment, tours and meals within $ 300. A little more comfortable rest can be obtained for $ 500 for 7 days. A VIP vacation with meals in restaurants, individual excursions and yacht rental will cost from $4,000 to $8,000 for a fortnight.
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