This small fishing village used to be an important naval base. Despite its stunning location, however, it attracted little interest as a tourist destination. This changed in 2006, when a private investor turned the run-down shipyard into the most luxurious marina on the Adriatic Sea – rivaled only by the marinas of Monte Carlo and Saint-Tropez. Visitors can marvel at the yachts of the super-rich and enjoy the classy boutiques and restaurants that accompany flagship tourism development projects like this one.

This museum is devoted to the maritime history of the Adriatic Sea. The collection houses around 300 exhibits dating from 1900 and later. There are also special themed exhibitions. The main attraction is the huge P821 submarine, which was built in 1968 for use by the former Yugoslav Navy. Visitors can look around inside it.

This cultural center for the town of Tivat consists of a museum, a gallery and an events venue. It is housed in a mansion that is around 500 years old. With the help of numerous historical artifacts, the museum depicts the development of farming and fishing on the Adriatic coast. The gallery exhibits are predominantly works of modern art. The center’s events calendar, which features a varied and ambitious program, is worth a look.

Perast is mainly famous for the two small islands just off its shores: Gospa od Škrpjela (Our Lady of the Rocks) and Sveti Đorđe (St. George). These tiny islands are each crowned with a picturesque sacred building. Visitors to Gospa od Škrpjela can look around the fifteenth century chapel. The other island is not accessible to visitors. The islands have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1979.

The foundations of the town date back to the ninth century, and the town walls enclosing the historic center are still standing today. In 1979, many of the town’s buildings were destroyed by an earthquake, but they have since been completely rebuilt. Visitors enjoy the atmosphere in the square by the clock tower and in Kotor’s shaded alleyways. Those who venture the climb up the Sveti Ivan (St John’s) fortress are rewarded by a fantastic view. From the top of the fortress, which is 260 meters above sea level, they can see the bay hemmed in by steep mountainsides.

When traveling along the coastal road from Tivat to Budva (around 25 kilometers), the small island of Sveti Nikola soon becomes visible just off the coast. It is a spectacular view. Budva is one of the oldest towns on the Adriatic coast, and the architecture, which dates back to the era of Venetian rule, is especially picturesque. Visitors can learn more about the town’s history at this museum of archaeology and ethnography – one of Montenegro’s finest.

The small island of Sveti Stefan, originally inhabited by fishermen, can be accessed via a narrow causeway. In 1956, work began to transform the former fishing village into a holiday destination. During the remodeling process, the character of the island and the exteriors of the buildings were maintained. In 2013, the luxury agent Aman became the sole booking agent for accommodation on the island, and day visitors are now charged an entrance fee.

Montenegro’s coastline is around 300 kilometers long, and it has numerous marinas. Visitors can hire yachts at almost all of them – or they can book skippers if they don’t have the necessary sailing experience! The choice of trips available is very broad, ranging from day trips to cruises lasting several days. Either way, the experience is unforgettable, because seeing the coastline from the water is even more breathtaking than the views when driving along the coastal roads.

The Luštica peninsula, which is across the bay from Tivat, is well worth a visit for its lovely beaches and the picturesque Fort Arza. The main attraction here is the Blue Grotto, which can only be accessed by boat. The sunlight draws out shades of blue on the surface of the water and on the walls of the cave. Swimming and diving are permitted. One option is to hire a kayak in Žanjic – or join one of the tours of the caves, which depart regularly from Žanjic in small motor boats.

The road from Cetinje up to this national park winds its way up steep slopes, and it is worth stopping along the way to take in the wonderful views. At some of the viewpoints, it is possible to see far across the Bay of Kotor, the islands that shield it, and a considerable distance inland. Once visitors have reached the top, the main attraction is the mausoleum of the Montenegrin poet and prince, Petar Petrović Njegoš (1813–1851). The restaurant at the summit is a good place to recuperate after the ascent and the many viewing points.

The Relief of Montenegro located in the courtyard of the Narodni muzej Crne Gore national museum in Cetinje, offers a good overview of this wonderful country. Its scale of 1:10,000 helps us grasp just how high the “black mountains” are and also the sheer size of Lake Scutari. Until 1918, the small town of Cetinje was the capital of the Kingdom of Montenegro, hence the well-preserved royal buildings and many museums gracing the town, while on its doorstep, Lovcén National Park awaits nature lovers. The highest point of the Lovcén Mountains close to the town is the site of the Mausoleum of Njegoš, Montenegro’s poet prince. On a fine day, you can see the Italian coast and the Albanian mountains from here.

Europe’s last primeval forest survives on the slopes of this mountain range in the northeast of the country. Bears and lynxes inhabit the area around the Biogradska Lake, the largest glacial lake in Biogradska Gora national park. Visitors should only ever tour the park with an experienced guide because the weather is unpredictable here. The guides at Eco-tours offer multiday trips during which visitors get to sample the local cuisine, succulent lamb, perhaps, gently stewed in milk or cooked in ash.

This hotel occupying a magnificent building in the middle of a luxury marina looks very like a Venetian palazzo. The hotel has multiple swimming pools for its guests, but the main attraction is the outdoor infinity pool with its unique views of the majestic mountains and the gorgeous blue of the Adriatic Sea. After a luxurious dip in the pool, a meal at the hotel’s own Murano restaurant should go down a treat: The menu lists a seasonal selection of wild asparagus, chicory and other local fare.

This fortified town on the Adriatic coast is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a visible Venetian influence, but it is also famous for its many street cats, which are cherished and protected by the townsfolk. This prompted Piero Pazzi from Italy to set up the Cats Museum a few years back: On a piazzetta not far from the cathedral, this small, but surprisingly entertaining museum pays homage to cats with collections of antique pictures, 19th-century postcards, books, posters, postage stamps, drawings and medallions. And there also are some cats living there, of course.

Ivana Marković was born on Lake Scutari and in 2013, at age 12, she founded the family company Golden Frog Boat: The boatmen are her father and uncle, and Ana, her 24-year-old sister, does the morning shift. While other companies noisily ferry crowds of up to 100 people across the lake, Golden Frog Boat tours use traditionally built boats that carry a maximum of 12 people. Mom’s snacks, all local fare, are included in the price. All boat trips start from tiny Vir Pazar and can be booked on the website or via Whatsapp.

Lake Scutari is southeastern Europe’s largest lake, and the border between Montenegro and Albania runs right through it. The tiny island of Beška is on the Montenegrin side. The center of spiritual life in the Principality of Zeta was located on the island in the 15th century. For more than 300 years, the island lay deserted, but then industrious Orthodox nuns came along and turned it into a Garden of Eden. They planted 180 fruit trees, and the air is fragrant with the mingled scents of sage, mint, rose and laurel. The churches were renovated with the aid of financial donations. Today, the island is inhabited by 15 nuns, who work and pray here all day long. Visitors are welcome to drop by and are offered fresh pomegranate juice, raspberry cake, painted icons and rosaries. On request, the nuns will also pray for guests.

This small, predominantly Muslim town with its 12 kilometers of sandy beach is a veritable paradise for wave riders, although horseback riders who love to feel the wind on their face won’t be disappointed here. The Ulcinj Salina, one of the largest salt production facilities in the Mediterranean, is an important stopover habitat for European birds, which come here to rest and breed on their way from northern Europe to Africa. The Salina was sold to private investors in 2014, and if the projected golf courses and resort are actually built, it could mean the end of the flamingos and Dalmatian pelicans here. The German-Montenegrin environmental organization Martin Schneider-Jacoby Association is working to save the Ulcinj Salina. Anyone wishing to help is welcome to do so, even if it just means paying a visit to this unique place.

The Montenegrino, which is part of the four-star Montenegrino Hotel, is the finest restaurant in town. It serves Montenegrin and Eastern European specialties. The traditional Montenegrin soups come highly recommended, as does the seafood. There are also dishes for vegetarians to enjoy.

This restaurant is housed in an eighteenth century Baroque mansion, which is on Perast’s waterside promenade. From the patio, there is a stunning view of the Bay of Kotor. The restaurant serves excellent Mediterranean and European cuisine and is a particularly good choice for a romantic evening for two.

As might be guessed from the name, this restaurant is located near a bastion in the wall surrounding Kotor’s historic old town. It is best known for its fish dishes and its regional specialties.

This is the hotel restaurant at Hotel Palma. The menu offers fish soup, mussel risotto, seabass and sea bream. In short, a wide selection of premium quality seafood is served at remarkably reasonable prices.

In this region, the word Konoba (which means “tavern”) refers to a small, rustic restaurant that serves simple, traditional cuisine at a fair price. The Bacchus, which is a short distance from the waterside promenade, is also popular with locals. The house specialty is squid stuffed with crab.

A fun gastropub in the town center of Tivat. The well-sheltered terrace is a good place to enjoy beer on tap and unique, creative cocktails.

With its sea view and hippie vibes, the Clubhouse is a relaxed place to spend the evening. It is slightly south of Porto Montenegro and is popular with young people. DJs play here on weekends.

At this luxury club in the luxury marina of Porto Montenegro, partygoers can enjoy house and pop music while looking out over the yachts of the rich and famous.

This club in Kotor’s historic old town is one of the region’s few “real” discos. From 11 pm, partygoers (predominantly young people) gather to enjoy techno, Balkan pop and international pop. The events schedule often includes concerts.

This pub restaurant is located on a picturesque street in the old part of Kotor. The menu lists a selection of Mediterranean and international dishes. Pržun attracts a mostly young crowd that comes together at the tables out front to eat or enjoy a cocktail.