The Balkan Peninsula is exotic, for which you don't have to travel far. And at the same time, it is understandable to a Russian person - language, faith and, most importantly, hospitality are similar. For many Russians, Montenegro has truly become a second home - the visa-free regime and affordable real estate have made it very popular.
The most visited city in Montenegro is Budva. In Budva, a calm beach holiday is perfectly combined with rich evening entertainment. The city is open to young people, couples with children, and lovers of luxury life. Budva is a very democratic city. In it you can find hotels or villas from budget to royal ones. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to book everything in advance. You can fly to Montenegro and rent your favorite apartment on the spot. Please note that even in expensive hotels there is no “all inclusive” system, the maximum is half board (breakfast and dinner). But tourists recommend not to take food in hotels, but to go to restaurants and cafes.
Food in Montenegro is a cult. Even in the most unremarkable public catering, you will be offered fresh dishes; here they prepare portions to order from fresh products. But at the same time, fish is expensive here - the Balkans is a farming peninsula, animal husbandry is developed here. Many meat dishes are grilled. The portions are huge. For example, if you order such a popular dish as grilled meat mix ("mixed meso"), feel free to take one plate for two or three. The garnish is always attached to meat or fish (usually vegetables or French fries), you do not need to order it separately.
Fish is best tasted in specialty fish restaurants. On the waterfront near the Old Town there is a fish restaurant Jadran with a real Adriatic flavor and amazing fish dishes. The menu is small, but the restaurant's policy is such that all the wishes of the client are fulfilled here. For the budget traveler, Fish & Grill is an excellent option to try fresh fish - a small tent near the market, where fresh fish can be grilled and wrapped at the customer's request. In the same way, you will have meat cooked in Mesara tents - an inexpensive and tasty fast food option.
Budva has a very long beach - more than one and a half kilometers. The beach is rocky or pebble. For example, the central beach - Slavyansky, has a rocky entrance to the sea and the depth begins within a couple of meters from the coast. Near the Old Town in the bay there is a small pebble beach called Mogren. But due to the fact that the beach is hidden behind rocks, the sun hides there earlier, but it is not so hot during the day. All beaches in Budva are urban, paid and free. On a paid beach for 6-10 euros, you will receive two sun loungers and an umbrella for use for the whole day. Of course, there are no such facilities on the free beach. But all the beaches are clean, there are rubbish bins and paid toilets. There are playgrounds for children in the shady part behind the beach.
In Montenegro, beach holidays are successfully combined with sightseeing. The country has many national parks, monasteries and beautiful old towns. The most popular way to get around the country is by renting a car. A half-hour drive from Budva, in a picturesque bay, the city of Kotor is located. The city has well preserved ancient buildings and a fortress. A walk along the embankment opens up a beautiful view of the Boka Kotorska Bay. It is better to park the car right at the entrance to the city - in the center there is a problem with parking.
5 kilometers from the center of Budva is the island of St. Stephen - a former fishing village, which now houses the most expensive hotels in Montenegro. You can get to it through Milocer beach - "royal beach", with a botanical garden and a former government residence (now there is a hotel). Skip a small promontory for stunning views of St. Stephen's Island. You cannot go to the island itself, it is open only for guests. But opposite the island there are many quite democratic cafes where you can sit with a cup of good coffee until dusk and wait until the evening lights of the island come on.
