Small places and villages in Montenegro

#1.Mirište

Mirište bay has beautiful beaches made from sand, pebbles and concrete that is surrounded by olive trees. There are steps leading down from the olive trees to the beaches that have areas for swimming. This is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. There are all the needed facilities, sunbeds, umbrellas etc. The water is clear and inviting.

There are sigh-seeing places nearby as well as restaurants and shops. The bay is on the Herceg Novi Riviera between the Zanjice valley and the Cape of Mirište. It can be reached by boat or by car.

 

#2.Rijeka Crnojevića

Rijeka Crnojevića is a beautiful old town next to the Crnojevića River with many historical buildings and structures.  Here you can see some of the buildings dating back to the time of Ivan Crnojević in the late 1400s.

This town was a major harbor and part of the trade route in Montenegro and although parts of the route are overgrown you can still see the ruins of old fortresses and bridges here. This town also had the first printing press and pharmacy although it’s mostly only the basements and ruins that remain. There is a walking trail that will take you past all these sights. The Obodska cave is also in this area.

A popular tourist attraction is the bridge over the Crnojevića River also referred to as Danilo’s Bridge. This is an arched stone bridge with a small house on the one side. This bridge was erected in the 1850s as a dedication by Prince Danilo to his father. There’s also the house of Saint Petar that is still preserved in its original form, although it was once used as a sawmill.
A well-known restaurant, Stari Most, overlooks this bridge and is especially popular for its fish dishes. Other than hiking and sight-seeing there’s also camping, kayaking and swimming available here.  It is also a popular area for artists. Rijeka Crnojevića is located about 30km outside of Podgorica and 16km from Cetinje.

 

#3.Virpazar

During spring, Virpazar, in the Crmnica region, is surrounded by water and turns into an island that is connected to the mainland by three bridges. This little town is a popular tourist destination with its own visitors’ center and organizes many events like sports, games, literary evenings, performances, festivals as well as events for artists.

This area is very fertile and especially popular for grapes, olives and a locally made brandy. At the restaurants you can enjoy succulent fish dishes, the best wines of Montenegro and of course the locally produced brandies.
Virpazar is located to the north of Lake Skadar and many boat excursions start from here. Lake Skadar also has many fish including bleak, which is a European freshwater fish that is used to produce artificial pearls. In addition, it is an important bird reserve, one of the largest in Europe, with over 270 species of birds.
Close to Virpazar you can hike up to Besac Castle that was built in 1478 by the Turks. This structure has a courtyard surrounded by walls and towers. It is possible to climb to the top of this castle for a stunning view of the surrounding areas.

 

#4.Godinje

The village of Godinje dates back to the times when people lived in isolated communities in the mountainous areas of Montenegro. The Lekovic and Nikač clans had made this village their home and for many years the last name of Lekovic dominated the village.

The main attraction of this village is its architecture. For protection, the houses were built adjoining each other and a system of underground passages were built that connected the entire village. There were also secret passages leading to areas where the animals were kept.This area is also known for its wines and brandies. Their drinking water is from a fresh spring that has never dried up. There are many interesting stories concerning this village, its traditions, its folklore and its history and the Godinje Tavern, Konoba, is the place to visit to listen to some of these tales.

 

#5.Žanjice

Žanjice is in the bay of Mirište and is an upcoming tourist hotspot. There are bars, restaurants, café’s supermarkets and shops. Many of the restaurants specialize in seafood and local wine.

The Žanjice beach is one of the most popular beaches on the Luštica Peninsula. This is a 300m long pebble beach with crystal clear waters. You can swim in the sea or relax in one of the deckchairs. From this beach you can also take a boat trip to the Blue Cave, Mamula Island, the Island Church and even to Herceg Novi that is only about 15 minutes away. This is a great location for scuba-diving. You can even take a scuba diving course, that will give you an internationally accepted license once you successfully complete the course.
You can also hire catamarans, canoes, pedal boats, jet skis and windsurfing boards. There is also fishing and night fishing on offer. Away from the beach the area is surrounded by lush vegetation including olive trees. There’s hiking, biking and mountain pathways where you can walk or ride a bike.