The beaches and mountains of Montenegro
This tiny nation is one of the world's fastest-growing tourist destinations

Perched by the Adriatic between Croatia and Albania, Montenegro is roughly the same size as Northern Ireland, said Katie Gatens in The Sunday Times. But this tiny country – the smallest in the Balkans – is one of the world's fastest- growing tourist destinations, thanks in part to its beauty.
Its most famous spot, the fjord-like Bay of Kotor, is reminiscent of Italy's great lakes, with its "crumbling" medieval towns and "towering" mountains, and while unregulated construction has blighted parts of the bay, there are still some quiet places on its shores and elsewhere on the country's rugged coast. Inland, where "spectacular" peaks rise to 2,523m, there's much less development, so it's well worth venturing away from the coast – as I did on a self-drive trip with Original Travel.
On the Bay of Kotor, I stayed at an 18th-century palace hotel, the Heritage Grand, in the "unbelievably pretty" town of Perast, and ventured out in a speedboat to explore the surrounding shores. Far south of the bay, I spent a couple of blissful days in the little fishing village of Przno (wonderfully peaceful in May), and visited the historic town of Sveti Stefan, whose fortified island – linked by a causeway to the mainland – has graced a thousand postcards.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Next came a trip inland to Lake Skadar, on the border with Albania, for a boat cruise on which I spotted a host of birds, including Dalmatian pelicans, a rare species with a "mighty" three-metre wingspan.
Deep in the heart of the country, I stayed in Kolasin, the gateway to the Biogradska Gora National Park, a hikers' paradise consisting of lush forests, alpine meadows and snow-capped peaks. The park is named after Lake Biograd, which is its most famous sight, but during a day-long trek to the lake, I only passed one other walker.
And while my last stop, the Unesco-listed Tara River Canyon, was busier, I had a superb time rafting its "topaz-blue" waters and "babbling" rapids – a delectably "hair-raising" conclusion to a wonderful week.
The trip costs from £2,655pp, including flights (originaltravel.co.uk).
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
September 6 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include profiting from authoritarianism, and the National Guard entering the CDC
-
Should Britain withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights?
Talking Point With calls now coming from Labour grandees as well as Nigel Farage and the Tories, departure from the ECHR 'is starting to feel inevitable'
-
5 outspoken cartoons about Epstein survivors taking center stage
Cartoons Artists take on cover-ups, Trump surrounded, and more
-
Rigatoni with 'no-vodka sauce' recipe
The Week Recommends Comfort food meets a clever alcohol-free twist on a classic
-
6 blooming homes for gardeners
Feature Featuring a greenhouse in Illinois and 13 raised garden beds in New Mexico
-
The Roses: Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch star in black comedy reboot
The Week Recommends 'Acidly enjoyable' remake of the 1980s classic features a warring couple and toxic love
-
Film reviews: The Roses, Splitsville, and Twinless
Feature A happy union devolves into domestic warfare, a couple's open marriage reaps chaos, and an unlikely friendship takes surprising turns
-
Music reviews: Laufey, Deftones, and Earl Sweatshirt
Feature "A Matter of Time," "Private Music," and "Live Laugh Love"
-
6 products and apps to help fight jet lag
The Week Recommends Don't let travel fatigue drag you down
-
Woof! Britain's love affair with dogs
The Explainer The UK's canine population is booming. What does that mean for man's best friend?
-
Millet: Life on the Land – an 'absorbing' exhibition
The Week Recommends Free exhibition at the National Gallery showcases the French artist's moving paintings of rural life