Guest Writer By Darcy Fowler, Guest Writer
Montenegro is often celebrated for its stunning Adriatic coastline and dramatic mountain vistas, but our recent trip to Budva proved that this small Balkan nation offers far more than what you’d expect. Our journey quickly evolved into a blur of unique nightlife experiences, beautiful beaches and high-octane mountain rollercoasters in Kotor. This trip was filled with stunning Old Town backdrops and the best local food we could find, all experienced over four action-packed days.
Continue reading to find out more about my trip to Montenegro and why it’s a must-visit for any avid adventurer who wants to share a unique experience with their friends.
Day One
Day one wasn’t really a day, as we arrived late in the evening when the sun had already set. However, it was a unique experience the moment we got there. The drive was about 40 minutes long from the airport, so we had plenty of time to get some recommendations from our driver who picked us up in his camper van. As it was well into the night, we got to see Budva from the top of the mountain and its night life on the drive down. We also saw Top Hill, the nightclub that overlooks the town of Budva, and you can hear the music from miles around, not to mention the nightclub lights that light up the sky.
Once we arrived at our accommodation, we dropped off our bags and walked down into Budva. We had to have our flashlights turned on for our phones so we could see where we were going, but once we got into Budva, there were plenty of streetlights on. We found a spot where we could quickly grab some food.
Once we finished our food, we headed towards some of the local bars. We weren’t planning on staying out late, as we wanted to save ourselves for the next day. That being said, we got back at roughly 12 AM before sitting on the balcony and talking until 3 AM, eagerly anticipating the rest of the trip.
Day Two
On the first proper day of the holiday, we decided to go to the beach and spend the day there. The beach that we went to was Felsentor Beach and because we went there in June, the beach was full of tourists from all over Europe. Heading into the sea, climbing onto the rocks and then cliff jumping were among the highlights.
Not long after, I decided to have a couple of drinks while my friends were enjoying themselves in the sea. The bar was located at the top of the hill, where it overlooked the sea, and it was a great place to relax while sipping on a few cocktails. We spent pretty much all day here before heading back to our apartment.
Once we arrived at the apartment to shower and get changed, so that we were ready to explore the nightlife of Budva. The only issue was that the temperature was still in the high 20s, so it was extremely hot and arguably too hot to be dancing due to the humidity.
For food, we went to one of the local restaurants again called Fontana, nothing too expensive, but enough food to set us up for the night. Again, we explored some of the bars along the strip and stayed out quite late. We also had a few drinks at the Cosmopolitan cocktail bar, which is located just outside the walls of the Old Town, a fantastic setting for the evening.
Day Three
The third day of our journey was an action-packed day and night, where we headed to Kotor. We spent a while getting to the destination, as it felt like an hour drive on the coach. Here we got on the cable car and headed up the mountain to see some fantastic views and, more importantly, the Mountain Rollercoaster, which you would’ve likely seen on TikTok or Instagram. This was a fantastic experience in itself before we headed back down the mountain to explore Kotor.
As my friends love the beach, we headed towards the one in Kotor, which is small but we still enjoyed a quick dip in the sea. We had a couple of drinks at the bar near the beach before going on a boat tour. This took us to see the Lady of the Rocks, which is a man-made island, and then after that, we headed towards Perast, which is a lovely little town on the coast and enjoyed some Gelato.
Once we finished our boat tour, we spent time exploring Kotor, where we indulged in some local Montenegrin food before heading back to Budva. As always, we did our usual routine, where we got ready and went out for the night.
Day Four
Day four was our final day, and this was when we headed to Porto Montenegro in Tivat. Here we had a walk along the coast with our backpacks on as we knew we would be out for the day. The backpack was well packed with snacks, drinks and Killa nicopods. It’s a very luxurious port with plenty of yachts and people doing flips into the sea. Not to mention the luxury fashion brands and high-end sports cars that all seem very fitting for the port. We had pizza and spent most of our time at the port before heading back to Budva.
In the evening, we went to a fantastic restaurant called Aquarius and it was certainly the best food we had there. We even enjoyed a few cocktails here before we headed out for our final night in Budva, a country that I would very much like to visit again.
Final Thoughts
Montenegro proved to be a country rich in beauty and unique experiences, making it a destination I would enthusiastically recommend and one I look forward to visiting again. It has everything you need from a European getaway and you’re sure to get a taste of everything, no matter the city you visit in Montenegro.