![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SDUTW5ZPFBBXPFKBOQ4LYZ3WAQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=771c29a011c2605850da4571a05cbae41e3d13647131ca7a9bf102259bf95f5a&width=400&height=225)
Podgorica, the capital of Montengro, by night. Photo: Sergej Zabijako / National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro
Rolling hills, blue skies and endless pristine waters await in Montenegro
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WBKK423QXFHC5JFGOEWRH3H6D4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c8e23d53c34d326c781dc4ac1ffbfdf214f0122c8fab290c65a27d0a3b438cbf&width=400&height=225)
Traditional wooden boats at Skadar Lake
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Pluzine near Piva Lake, Montenegro
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Herceg Novi is Montenegro's sunniest city
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An Orthodox church in Herceg Novi
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Family-run oyster bays are dotted along Boka Bay
A picture perfect moment on Skadar Lake
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Watching over Skadar
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Rafting on the River Tara in Montenegro. Photo: National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro
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If local legend is to be believed, Skadar Lake is made of fairy tears
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QDROFHCYSNE7LHLRNFHUMQEIEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=eec2aad8a59e30854348823a718eb9f11468b7f21a0902d865a624df52e75cd4&width=400&height=225)
Waking up to a view of Boka Bay
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Herceg Novi, the city is deemed Montenegro's sunniest with over 200 days of sunshine per year
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A view over Perast
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Montenegro is often said to be the home of Europe’s southernmost fjord
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A view of the Lady of the Rocks island from Perast
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A bridge over the piercing blue River Tara which snakes between Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina
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The newly opened One&Only Portonovi in Montnegro is the luxury hotel groups first resort in Europe. Photo: One&Only Resorts
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The Old Town of Perast
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Porto Montenegro is fast becoming the Monaco of the Balkans. Photo: Sergej Zabijako / National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro
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The drama of Skadar Lake is visible no matter which way you approach
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SDUTW5ZPFBBXPFKBOQ4LYZ3WAQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=771c29a011c2605850da4571a05cbae41e3d13647131ca7a9bf102259bf95f5a&width=400&height=225)
Podgorica, the capital of Montengro, by night. Photo: Sergej Zabijako / National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro
Rolling hills, blue skies and endless pristine waters await in Montenegro
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WBKK423QXFHC5JFGOEWRH3H6D4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c8e23d53c34d326c781dc4ac1ffbfdf214f0122c8fab290c65a27d0a3b438cbf&width=400&height=225)
Traditional wooden boats at Skadar Lake
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Pluzine near Piva Lake, Montenegro
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Herceg Novi is Montenegro's sunniest city
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SH4AHIM74JBCJM3VBKZDATQG34.jpg?smart=true&auth=19db68461c883a6b5fd38ac9da53a4e49036d370a92ba5e1251828f0862e2d33&width=400&height=225)
An Orthodox church in Herceg Novi
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Family-run oyster bays are dotted along Boka Bay
A picture perfect moment on Skadar Lake
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M26TRDCIZ5FK7KQHIDD7GNJTAY.jpg?smart=true&auth=218a4e05d3fc534f7872033ff00ceb34c527cdac2a4163d46d1e9db8a827d477&width=400&height=225)
Watching over Skadar
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Rafting on the River Tara in Montenegro. Photo: National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro
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If local legend is to be believed, Skadar Lake is made of fairy tears
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QDROFHCYSNE7LHLRNFHUMQEIEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=eec2aad8a59e30854348823a718eb9f11468b7f21a0902d865a624df52e75cd4&width=400&height=225)
Waking up to a view of Boka Bay
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZNIVBDL7W5HPPOL2UL3WEVAKRE.jpg?smart=true&auth=ff41680fb404115f9baa09d5072f3c4e9a1ee9e96f0311291c4c9b458188b117&width=400&height=225)
Herceg Novi, the city is deemed Montenegro's sunniest with over 200 days of sunshine per year
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZP4GRPPDJJCCXDCUCKJH25VYBA.jpg?smart=true&auth=2f781cf9b9a7e60a2136deea1113d848ffc99a8e09602ad843f6e11e351343f9&width=400&height=225)
A view over Perast
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Montenegro is often said to be the home of Europe’s southernmost fjord
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EOMT6BSEBVH3VPQALKVAQTFERM.jpg?smart=true&auth=7a502e89a41808e076daa880e10df88a3dc2ffe16dafbcad41654fa06b35e05e&width=400&height=225)
A view of the Lady of the Rocks island from Perast
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DZFRK3OLOJDW5KGLYSKAXJGX4E.jpg?smart=true&auth=bfff7c031097e1a3f051cf00b6896d89aecf6d2f5dfbf6bf501f67321a968770&width=400&height=225)
A bridge over the piercing blue River Tara which snakes between Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QCNQOTC5WZDEJFGEJADIN7IF6U.jpg?smart=true&auth=0cb5746c10767dbd32e02f239b0e5b77006fe310c27e17aecfc527ae8509b540&width=400&height=225)
The newly opened One&Only Portonovi in Montnegro is the luxury hotel groups first resort in Europe. Photo: One&Only Resorts
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NZWFTX7CMRCARFC7ZXZXLLTXKY.jpg?smart=true&auth=d0c2c15c5ae42d7fc94d6d16a6db8eb507e72b781c8dc85a8310913594f9165d&width=400&height=225)
The Old Town of Perast
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Porto Montenegro is fast becoming the Monaco of the Balkans. Photo: Sergej Zabijako / National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W3BI6ROINFCNFA3KRQM5GVZK2U.jpg?smart=true&auth=48916b61602c7ac26f7e83975b02d46af367f9d1d357ab077c48fa22e881924f&width=400&height=225)
The drama of Skadar Lake is visible no matter which way you approach
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SDUTW5ZPFBBXPFKBOQ4LYZ3WAQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=771c29a011c2605850da4571a05cbae41e3d13647131ca7a9bf102259bf95f5a&width=400&height=225)
Podgorica, the capital of Montengro, by night. Photo: Sergej Zabijako / National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro
Montenegro: a tiny European treasure on the Adriatic Sea
What one of the world’s youngest countries lacks in size, it makes up for in nature, legends and centuries-old architecture
![Hayley Skirka](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5aa171d9-e19e-4724-894f-afdab957726f.png?smart=true&auth=0060497e4d6de279036bf67ee0e69c23726110ddc9067f6419a245b2b05cf91d&width=70&height=70)
Hayley Skirka
15 September, 2021
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