To those in the know, Montenegro remains one of Europe's best-kept secrets. It's a hidden gem of pine-clad mountains, timeless stone villages, endless prairies and the calm, beautiful waters of the Adriatic. Already on the bucket lists of committed hikers and nature lovers, it's being discovered by growing numbers of travellers.

The Venetian-era port towns of Kotor and Budva make for enchanting destinations. In the muddle of medieval stone buildings, you'll discover charming family-run restaurants where the hospitality flows as freely as the wine. In lesser-known coastal towns of Herceg Novi, Petrovac and Bar, you can experience real local life. The coast itself is a varied collection of long sandy beaches, pebbled bays and tiny coves around the dreamy Bay of Kotor. Porto Montenegro is a playground for the wealthy. A marina for superyachts, it's filled with high-end boutiques and upmarket hotels. Inland though, you'll find a more rural, traditional way of life. Rural settlements in the rugged mountains offer a warm welcome to adventurous travellers.