THINGS TO SEE AND DO

Our Lady of the Rocks

Located in the serene Bay of Kotor, Our Lady of the Rocks is one of Montenegro’s star attractions. The story goes that this islet was built by two brothers, both local seamen, to protect a painting of the Virgin Mary with Christ, which they discovered on a sea rock in 1452. To protect it, the brothers built a quaint church around the painting, and continued each year to bring rocks to the island to ensure its safe keeping. Even today, that tradition is kept alive by the locals, and each year on July 22 residents sail over to the island bringing rocks with them, in a festival known as fašinada.

Old Town of Kotor

A picturesque masterpiece wedged between the endless azure shades of the water and dramatic craggy mountain peaks, Kotor is a maze of narrow cobbled streets and quaint squares dotted with stores selling local crafts and cafés serving piled-high plates of local seafood with homemade lemonade. With its storied history under the rule of Romans, Byzantines, Austro-Hungarians, and Venetians, ever-present in the historic town’s architecture, each turn provides an opportunity to marvel at Venetian palaces, baroque monuments and ornate stone pillars. Layers of history make their mark on the exterior, while a new wave of upscale cafés and stylish boutiques harmoniously settled within the buildings draw the town into the present: the two worlds integrating with palpable ease.

Porto Montenegro

If Porto Montenegro, Luštica Bay and Porto Novi are the golden triangle of Montenegro’s new era of glamour, Porto Montenegro is the original anchor. Decidedly chic and unapologetically modern, it presents a dazzling first impression for international arrivals sailing in from overseas, with a ritzy French Riviera feel. The waterfront promenade is a sublime setting for relaxation and sunset rendezvous, lined with elegant boutiques, chic cafés, and restaurants in soothingly contemporary hues.

Savina Winery

Get a taste of the local grape at hillside winery, Savina. Having begun as a hobby for the two brothers and owners, Savina is now spread across a multi-hectare vineyard, producing a modest 25,000 bottles of grape per year, which it largely supplies to the growing list of upscale restaurants and resorts throughout the south.