00:07What's up guys? We're here in Montenegro. We've been traveling around here for a couple of weeks,
00:11and in this video we're going to show you the best places to visit in the country, so I hope
00:15you enjoy it.
00:23Located in the western Balkans of Europe, Montenegro is perched between Croatia, Albania, and Serbia.
00:30Even though the country is rather small in size and population, it has incredible diversity.
00:36From the jagged mountains in the east, to the sparkling Adriatic coastline in the west,
00:41and the medieval towns scattered all across, there's a lot to see in this country.
00:46Add to that a lovely Mediterranean climate, and you can imagine why we consider Montenegro
00:51to be Europe's most underrated destination. The name Montenegro translates to Black Mountain,
00:57calling for mystery and adventure. In this video, we highlight 12 beautiful places to visit
01:03in this magical country. Make sure to watch until the end, because we also share a few travel tips,
01:09as well as itinerary options that you can use for your own trip. Now let's dive in.
01:14We are Zak and Ina. We make helpful videos about destinations around the world,
01:19so you can easily plan your own adventures.
01:33Situated in the south of Montenegro, near the Albanian border,
01:35Stari Bar, or Old Bar, is the predecessor of the port town of Bar. Founded by Illyrians around 800 BC,
01:44this ancient town was ruled by different groups over centuries, such as the Byzantines, Slavs,
01:50Venetians, and Ottomans. Today, nearly all of the 240 buildings lie in ruins, and the site can be visited
01:58for a small fee. Step inside, and you'll find a small museum, many churches, a Turkish bathhouse,
02:06a fortress, and a fortress. After a few hours of exploring, you can take a break outside the walls,
02:12where there's a selection of bars, restaurants, and souvenir shops.
02:31Of all the towns along the Adriatic coastline, Sveti Stefan is the most unique. This small,
02:38fortified island village is Montenegro's most photographed place for a good reason. From the
02:44steep slopes of the mainland, you can admire the island villas, surrounded by azure waters,
02:49and connected only by a narrow causeway.
03:05So unfortunately, you can't actually enter the town here. It's closed off for tourists, unless you
03:10pay to be a guest. But there's a good viewpoint right behind us here, that you can go to.
03:30At number 10, we have the Lipa Cave, which can be found near Montenegro's old capital city of
03:36Satine. This is one of the country's largest and most accessible caves, which is impressive since
03:43it's millions of years old. You can only visit with a guide, but tours leave multiple times per
03:49day and last about an hour each. After a short train ride, you'll wander around the illuminated
03:55passageways of the cave to admire the stalagmites, stalactites, and natural pillars. Unfortunately,
04:02we weren't allowed to take any videos inside the cave, but we took some pictures to show you what
04:06it looks like. You can find the opening times and tour hours at their official website in the
04:12description below. Known as the Balkans' largest lake, Skatar is divided across both Montenegro and
04:25Albania. The Montenegrin side is by far the largest one, with approximately 400 square kilometers being
04:32protected by a national park. Home to over 180 different bird species, this is a true birders'
04:39paradise. Most travelers just come to enjoy the breathtaking vistas, and driving around the lake to
04:45the viewpoints is an experience in itself. But if you're looking for a little more adventure,
04:49we recommend going on a boat tour or kayaking. These are best undertaken on the northwestern side of
04:56the lake, where serpentine loops stop near a charming village.
05:26The bustling seaside city of Budva might be Montenegro's most popular destination to visit.
05:32Cramped with high-rise hotels, buzzing beach bars, and clanging clubs, it's also nicknamed
05:38the Montenegrin Miami. During the summer, the beaches are filled with sunbathers and package holiday
05:44makers. And while most of the city looks modern and new, there's also a beautiful old town,
05:49or Starigrad, at the southern tip. Get lost in its marbled streets and find hidden squares,
05:56churches, and a fortress.
06:06It's nice and cozy here because the alleys are so narrow.
06:28Located in the northeast of the country, Tara Canyon is another impressive place to visit in Montenegro.
06:34With canyon walls reaching over 1,300 meters or 4,265 feet in some places, this is Europe's largest and
06:43deepest canyon. The canyon is best explored from the water level, and rafting is the most popular
06:48activity here. But if you're visiting in the late summer or fall like we did, the river won't be
06:54high enough to raft. In that case, you might want to take in the views from the Tara Bridge,
06:59or from one of the ziplines over the canyon.
07:25At number six, we have Dermitor National Park, which lies on the edge of Tara Canyon.
07:30Here, the landscape is made up of dramatic limestone peaks and glistening glacial lakes.
07:37From December to March, Dermitor serves as a major ski resort. But during the summer and fall,
07:43it attracts hikers and nature enthusiasts.
07:46The star attraction is undoubtedly the stunning Black Lake, which can easily be explored on foot
07:51from the nearby town of Zabalyak. But for more adventure, hike to one of the surrounding mountain peaks.
07:58We hiked to Prutaj Peak, which is more relaxed and less busy than Bulbatov Kuk, Montenegro's highest peak.
08:06Learn all about how to do the Prutaj Peak hike in our other video.
08:16Prutaj Peak, the Duke of Pertaj Peak, the U.S.
08:40Heading back to the coast, Herzeg Novi is situated near the Croatian border at the entrance
08:45to the Bay of Couture.
08:47This beautiful town is home to a quaint old town filled with tiny squares, elegant churches,
08:53and a fortress.
08:55But for the best atmosphere, head down to the waterfront.
08:59There's a large pedestrian-only promenade lined with cafes and restaurants.
09:04There are also some pebbly beaches, where you can enjoy some of the Bay's best and cleanest
09:09swimming.
09:09But be aware that Herzeg Novi is extremely hilly, and to get to the beaches from the highway
09:15you'll have to go down numerous sets of steps, which makes it very challenging for older
09:19or mobility impaired people.
09:28Another beautiful town in the Bay of Couture is Perast.
09:31With similar looks to Venice, Perast has a rich and powerful past.
09:36And in spite of having only one main street, this tiny village boasts many churches and
09:42former palaces.
09:43But its most famous landmarks aren't actually in the town itself.
09:47Two picturesque islands are located right off the shore, both topped with chapels.
09:53You can easily visit them by boat.
10:15The most beautiful town in all of Montenegro, in our opinion, is Couture.
10:20Located in a corner of the bay, Couture is also the most historic place to visit in the
10:25country.
10:26In fact, Couture is ruled by various different groups, such as the Illyrians, Romans, Byzantines,
10:33and Venetians.
10:35These conquerors have left marks behind, such as Renaissance palaces and Baroque towers that
10:40can be found in the walled Old Town.
10:43But besides that, Couture is also known for its majestic fortifications that overlook the town.
10:49Walking up the steps to the fortress is truly rewarding, as it offers magnificent views
10:54of the town and bay below.
10:56Watch our video all about Couture to see the incredible things you can do there.
11:24From Couture, you can easily journey to Mt. Lovchen National Park.
11:29From Couture, you can easily journey to Mt. Lovchen National Park.
11:30This mountain road takes you up to the mountains, boasting spectacular views that stretch the
11:35entire bay to the Adriatic Sea.
11:37And if you continue to the entrance of the park, you'll find an imposing black mountain
11:41that gave the country its name, Mt. Lovchen itself.
11:46Here, you can find the final resting place of its greatest ruler.
11:49And you can actually visit the mausoleum at 1,660 meters or 5,446 feet of altitude.
11:57So we're at the mausoleum, and from here you can actually see other countries.
12:01For example, Bosnia and Herzegovina is just right behind us.
12:05And you can also see Albania, which is right over there where Skadar Lake kind of forms the border.
12:25Finally, we have the most beautiful national park in Montenegro.
12:29The Procletie Mountains are a huge expansive wilderness that form the border with Albania and Kosovo.
12:36Being so scenic and remote, this park is one of the best kept secrets of Europe.
12:41The best way to discover the jagged peaks, valleys, and springs is by hiking one of the many trails.
12:48We hiked the beautiful Voluschnica Loop Trail, which takes you up a spectacular ridgeline.
12:53But there are also shorter and easier hikes to waterfalls and a blue eye.
12:59Check out our other video all about Pucletie National Park and be prepared to be wowed.
13:21As we promised at the beginning of our video, we'll now share three things we learned that will help your
13:26own trip around Montenegro.
13:29First, we recommend getting a rental car, as it's easiest to get around the country.
13:33But drive carefully, as the roads are narrow and windy in many places.
13:38Second, the country is very hilly, and many of the towns are built into the slopes, so be prepared to
13:44walk a lot.
13:46Finally, allow yourself enough time in the mountains, as the weather is very unpredictable there.
13:51Generally, the best time to visit Montenegro is from April to October, though the summer months are hot and more
13:58crowded.
13:59We also included a few itinerary options on the screen here, in case you want to use them to guide
14:04your own trip.
14:06If you're planning your Montenegro trip, we recommend keeping things organized with our interactive travel planner.
14:12Find a discount code below.
14:15We also included important links that you'll need for your trip in the description, such as a full travel guide
14:20with where to stay, where to eat, and an interactive map, so you can get to each spot that we
14:25mentioned.
14:26We'll catch you on the next adventure.
14:28Part 2
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