🏖️ Montenegro: a paradise for gourmets and lovers of comfort
Recently, the opportunities to go somewhere on vacation without a visa for many countries have been significantly reduced. Choosing between a tropical island and Montenegro, we chose the second one. Still, summer is not the best time to visit the Caribbean region, because it is the rainy season there.
To be honest, at first I was upset, because in my dreams I was already lying on the white Cuban sand, drinking a Mojito. But, as it turned out, there was no need to be sad, because Montenegro fell in love with itself forever and irrevocably.
About the road
Our route to our destination was as follows: a plane to Istanbul, then a plane Istanbul-Podgorica and then a transfer from the capital of Montenegrin Podgorica to the resort village of Becici. The entire journey took almost a whole day, but the transfer at Istanbul airport was only about four hours. The airport is so big that it wasn't even enough to get around everything.
About the resort village
Becici is located near the larger Budva. You can get there by taxi for €5-6 or even on foot. In the village you can find shops with everything you need, restaurants, entertainment, both water and land, both “spice” and more relaxing.
About the beaches
The village has wide beaches and the amazing beauty of the Adriatic Sea. But be prepared that the coast here is pebbly. Therefore, it is better to get special shoes in advance.
The sea here is the cleanest I have ever seen, but at the same time cool. However, this is more of a plus than a minus. After all, the temperature sometimes reaches +35 degrees. And what could be more pleasant in such weather than the refreshing sea, surrounded by the splendor of the mountains.
Despite the crystalline water, after a few meters the depth increases. Therefore, children and inexperienced swimmers enjoy the sea near the shore.
There are areas on the beach that belong to specific hotels, so accommodation here will not be possible. You need to find an area that is accessible to everyone. Here you can either rent a sun lounger and an umbrella for €8-10, or spread out something of your own. There are plenty of bars nearby to grab a bite to eat. Also, sellers of fragrant corn are ready to please you from the very morning.
What to see in the village of Becici:
Of course, the main attraction is the beach. Here life is in full swing early in the morning, at lunchtime, and especially in the evening. After sunset, the coast is filled with noise, fun, street vendors, carousels – in general, the standard set of tourist places. However, there are other locations that are worthy of attention.
The Orthodox Church of St. Thomas the Apostle was built in the 14th century. But, unfortunately, what we see now is a rebuilt church. The original temple was destroyed at the beginning of the last century. It is surrounded by spreading spruce and cypress trees; it is very pleasant to walk on a hot day through the small territory of the church.
I recommend getting to the old olive tree, which is about 2000 years old. The trail will lead you straight to the olive garden, where our heritage grows. Its height is 11 meters, and its trunk diameter is 4 meters.
On the way back you can look at the mill where olive oil was pressed. Now there is a museum with free admission – all instruments are signed.
A pedestrian tunnel, carved into a steep rock, connects Becici and Budva. In addition to the opportunity to get to the city in a quick way, here you can also look at the caricatures inside.
Other activities are also available: a boat ride or a water scooter, paragliding with stunning views, diving. You can choose excursions from various agencies. Including even a trip to neighboring Albania. In my opinion, the prices are quite reasonable.
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What to see in Budva:
The old town of Budva simply takes your breath away. I can safely call this place the heart of the city. This historical splendor was founded in the 15th century. And what seems incredible, this was the entire city with a population of about 1000 inhabitants. Now the Old Town is just part of the party scene in Budva on a small spit. It is a delight to the eye while walking during daylight hours: many very cozy and winding streets, beautifully decorated souvenir shops, every corner is a treasure trove of incredible photographs. But at night, when illuminated, the Old Town is simply mesmerizing and turns into some kind of magical place.
The citadel is located on the territory of the Old Town. This is a whole complex of buildings, which includes gates, the ruins of the Church of St. Mary, squares, fortress walls, and former barracks buildings. Also here you can visit the gallery, the Budva Museum, where rare copies of books, maps, pottery, ancient coins and ship models are stored. There is a restaurant on the ground floor of the building; you should definitely look at the observation deck, which offers a breathtaking view of the city and the sea. Entrance is paid and in 2021 it was €3.5.
The Church of the Holy Virgin Mary is located right in the wall of the fortress. It has the shape of an irregular rectangle and a rather unusual main entrance on the side. Today the temple is not operational, but is used as a museum.
But the Church of St. John is the oldest temple in Budva. The church houses an icon of the Mother of God with Christ, known as the “Budva Mother of God” or the Holy Virgin Mary of Pontus, who protected the city from troubles, diseases and pirates.
The Church of the Holy Trinity is made in the Byzantine style. You can fully enjoy it from the observation deck of the Citadel.
The sculpture “Dancer from Budva” has become the hallmark of the city. If you touch it and make a wish, it will definitely come true.
Mogren Beach is popular with tourists. The walk from the Old Town to the beach takes 20 minutes along a very beautiful path.
Budva is also quite a party city. If you wish, here you can not only experience a beach holiday, but also really experience the nightlife.
In addition to Budva, we also went to another amazing town – Kotor. There are actually a lot of cats here. In a very small area, I counted as many as 9! We got here in 40 minutes by bus, which departed from the Budva station for about €4.
What to see in Kotor:
Like Budva, Kotor has a wonderful Old Town, which is located on the shores of the Bay of Kotor. It is already about 2000 years old. Behind the walls there are towers, churches, and palaces.
You will get acquainted with the Gurdich Gate (South Gate) if you walk towards the Old Town from the bus station. They are the only ones in the city equipped with a drawbridge and are a monument to a fortification structure from the 13th century. Through them you can get inside the Old Town.
There are also Sea Gates (Main) and River Gates (Northern) in the city.
The streets of Kotor are something unique of their kind. You can spend more than one hour wandering through the winding streets, looking at every building and photographing all the beauty.
You should definitely pay attention to the squares and temples of Kotor. In principle, while walking along the streets, you will still come to some square, because there are about nine of them. There will definitely be several cats basking on each of them. There are also about nine temples and churches outside the walls of the Old City, but they are all preserved, alas, in a rebuilt form. And the reason for this is frequent earthquakes.
About the restaurants:
In the old town of Kotor, as well as Budva, you will find a huge number of very cozy restaurants. I think that if you visit any of them, you won’t go wrong. And in the village of Becici I can confidently recommend the Atlantic establishment. It is not only very tasty and beautiful, but also polite staff. And in the yard, right next to the tables, lemons grow. And what can we say about the incredible local wine!
Montenegro has prepared a lot of surprises for its guests, so don’t forget to visit it.