Montenegro Coast holidays - travel guide - lifestyle

Shopping

The best shopping on the Montenegro coast is to be found in the town of Budva. The Old Town offers a wonderful choice of shops and boutiques, offering an international selection of fashion, souvenirs, and general shopping. For something a little more relaxed, head to the summer bazaar next to the promenade, which offers a range of souvenirs and beach clothes. If you want a bit more variety, best travel to the country's capital - Podgorica, which has recently opened the country's first international-style shopping mall.

Cuisine

Montenegran cuisine takes it influences from the surrounding regions, as well as its natural resources, and has evolved into a wonderful blend of Mediterranean and Turkish cuisines. On the coast and around Lake Skadar, expect to see fish and seafood a main staple on the menu, while further inland, cured meats, beef and lamb are popular. Traditional meals include 'Japraci' - a stew with beef, rice and peppers, nourishing and delicious, 'Kacamak' - a meal made from wheat, buckwheat or barley, and served with cheese and sour milk, and one of the most distinctive, 'Prsuta', which is cured ham, mainly made in Njegusi. Montenegro produces its own wine, and methods vary from traditional producing to state of the art, and wines range from table wine to wine that is exported internationally. The best known beer is Niksic - mainly referred to as 'Nik', and is very popular. The most common other drink is locally made brandy, which can be made from grapes, apples, pears, or even plums, which are served as an aperitif with 'meze' - cured meat.

Night-life

Of all the coastal resorts, Budva offers the best variety of nightlife. The town really makes an effort during the summer season, and there are open air clubs along the main promenade that are very popular. For the gourmet traveller, there is a wonderful choice of restaurants offering wonderful cuisine - and for a truly special meal, the resort island of Sveti Stefan offers spectacular a la carte meals.