Recently, the opportunities to go somewhere on vacation from Belarus without a visa have significantly decreased. Choosing between Cuba and Montenegro, we decided on the second one. Still, summer is not the best time to visit the Caribbean island, because it is the rainy season there.
To be honest, I was initially upset, because in my dreams I was already lying on the white Cuban sand, drinking Mojito. But, as it turned out, there was nothing to be sad about, because Montenegro fell in love with me forever and irrevocably.
About the road
Our route to our destination was as follows: the plane Minsk-Stambul, then the plane Istanbul-Podgorica and then a transfer from the capital of Montenegro Podgorica to the resort village of Becici. The whole trip took almost a whole day, but the transfer at Istanbul airport was only about four hours. The airport is so big that it wasn't even enough to get around.
About the spa village
Becici is not far from the larger Budva. It can be reached by cab for €5-6 or even on foot. In the village you can find stores with everything you need, restaurants, entertainment, both water and land, both "peppery" and more relaxed.
About the beaches
The village has wide beaches and the Adriatic Sea is marvelously beautiful. But be prepared that the coast here is pebbly. Therefore, it is better to get special shoes in advance.
The sea here is the cleanest I have ever seen, but it is also cool. However, this is more of a plus than a minus. After all, the temperature sometimes reaches +35 degrees. And what could be more pleasant in such weather than a refreshing sea surrounded by the splendor of the mountains.
Despite the crystallinity of the water, the depth increases after a few meters. Therefore, children and inexperienced swimmers enjoy the sea near the shore.
There are areas on the beach that belong to specific hotels, so it is not possible to stay here. You need to find an area that is accessible to everyone. Here you can rent a sunbed and umbrella for €8-10, or you can lay out something of your own. There are many bars nearby where you can have a snack. Also the sellers of aromatic corn are ready to please from the very morning.
What to see in Becici:
Of course, the main attraction is the beach. Here life is buzzing in the early morning, at lunchtime and especially in the evening. After sunset, the coast is filled with noise, fun, street vendors, carousels - in general, the standard set of a tourist spot. However, there are other locations that are worthy of attention.
The Orthodox Church of St. Thomas the Apostle was built in the 14th century. But, unfortunately, what we see now is a rebuilt church. The original church was destroyed at the beginning of the last century. It is surrounded by sprawling spruce and cypress trees, and it is very pleasant to stroll through the small church grounds on a hot day.
I recommend getting to the old olive tree, which is about 2000 years old. The path will lead you directly to the olive orchard where our attraction grows. It is 11 meters high and the trunk is 4 meters in diameter.
On the way back you can visit the mill where olive oil was pressed. It is now a museum with free admission - all the tools are signed.
A pedestrian tunnel cut into a steep cliff connects Becici and Budva. In addition to being able to reach the city in a quick way, here you can also view the caricatures inside.
Other activities are also available: boat or water scooter rides, paragliding with stunning views, diving. You can choose excursions from various agencies. Including even a trip to neighboring Albania. In my opinion, the prices are quite reasonable.
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What to see in Budva:
Budva's old town just takes your breath away. I can safely call this place the heart of the city. This historical splendor was founded in the 15th century. And what seems incredible, it was the whole city with a population of about 1000 inhabitants. Now the Old Town is just a part of the party Budva on a small spit. It is a delight to the eye when walking here during daylight hours: a lot of very cozy and winding streets, beautifully decorated souvenir stores, every corner is a treasure trove of incredible photos. But at night in the lights of illumination the Old Town simply mesmerizes and turns into some magical place.
The Citadel is located on the territory of the Old Town. It is a whole complex of buildings, which includes gates, ruins of St. Mary's Church, squares, fortress walls, buildings of the former barracks. You can also visit the Budva Gallery and Museum, where rare copies of books, maps, pottery, ancient coins and models of ships are kept. On the first floor of the building there is a restaurant, you should definitely look at the observation deck, which offers a mind-blowing view of the city and the sea. The entrance fee was €3.5 in 2021.
The Church of St. Mary is located right in the wall of the fortress. It has the shape of an irregular rectangle and a rather unusual main entrance on the side. Today the church is not active, but is used as a museum.
And here is the Church of St. John, the oldest church in Budva. The church houses an icon of the Mother of God with Christ, known as "Our Lady of Budva" or St. Mary of Pontus, who protected the city from troubles, diseases and pirates.
The Church of the Holy Trinity is in Byzantine style. It can be fully enjoyed from the observation deck of the Citadel.
The sculpture "Dancer from Budva" has become a trademark of the city. If you touch it and make a wish, it will definitely come true.
Mogren beach is popular with tourists. The walk from the Old Town to the beach takes 20 minutes along a very beautiful path.
Budva is also quite a party town. If you want, you can not only experience the beach vacation, but also the nightlife.
In addition to Budva, we went to another amazing town - Kotor. There are actually a lot of kitties here. In a very small area I counted as many as 9! We got here in 40 minutes by bus from Budva station for about €4.
What to see in Kotor:
Like Budva, Kotor has a marvelous Old Town, which is located on the shore of the Bay of Kotor. It is already about 2000 years old. Behind the walls there are towers, churches and palaces.
You will meet the Gurdic Gate (South Gate) if you walk towards the Old Town from the bus station. It is the only one in the city equipped with a lift bridge and is a monument of a 13th century fortification. You can also get inside the Old Town through them.
There are also more Sea Gate (Main Gate) and River Gate (North Gate) in the city.
The streets of Kotor are something unique in their own way. You can spend hours wandering through the winding streets, looking at every building and taking pictures of all the beauty.
You should pay attention to the squares and temples of Kotor. In principle, walking along the streets, you will still come to some square, because there are about nine of them. On each of them there will be a few kitties lounging around. Temples and churches behind the walls of the Old Town are also about nine, but they have all been preserved, alas, in a rebuilt form. The reason for this is the frequent earthquakes.
About the restaurants:
In the old town of Kotor, as well as Budva, you will find a huge number of very cozy restaurants. I think that if you visit any of them, you won't make a mistake. And in the village of Becici I can safely recommend Atlantic. Here is not only very tasty and beautiful, but also polite staff. And lemons grow in the courtyard right next to the tables. And what to say about the incredible local wine!
Montenegro has so many surprises in store for its guests, so don't forget to visit it.
