When Belgrade rock musician Momčilo Bajagić Bajaga sang about Montenegro as "a hidden place, between the mountains and the sea, where the nights are warm and dreamy," he probably didn't think this Balkan country would make the list of BBC Travel's 20 best places to travel in 2026.
Hand in hand with the "ever-trendy" capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires, or the Indonesian island of Komodo, home to the largest lizard in the world, Montenegro is recommended to BBC travel readers as a place to visit this year.
"Montenegro is a great example of an emerging destination that may not be on the tourist radar."
"It's far from the crowded areas, but it offers an impressive and unique experience," says Elliot Stein, journalist and BBC Travel editor, for BBC Serbian.
In addition to the Bay of Kotor, the former Yugoslav republic and one of the youngest countries in the world are also represented in the text by the historical capital Cetinje, Lake Skadar, and the Prokletije Mountains.
The list includes three more European destinations - the Hebrides, an archipelago of islands off the coast of Scotland, the Finnish city of Oulu and the Portuguese city of Guimaraes, along with Uruguay, Algeria, Costa Rica, the American city of Philadelphia, the capital of the Dominican Republic - Santo Domingo and others.
Until 2006, Montenegro formed a state union with Serbia.
The capital is Podgorica, covering an area of almost 14.000 square kilometers and home to just over 620.000 people.
Watch the video: Montenegrin mulberry tree from which water springs
'The last European wilderness'
Montenegro, which will celebrate two decades of independence in 2026, is recommended by numerous natural beauties and cultural treasures.
Among them is the Bay of Kotor of the Adriatic Sea, with an interesting, winding shape, on whose shores lie well-preserved Venetian fortifications and the walls of old towns such as Herceg Novi and Kotor, under UNESCO protection.
Although the "bride of the Adriatic", as it is also called, is "beautiful and radiant", the idea of the text was to showcase other natural attractions that Montenegro offers, especially in mountainous areas.
"Many tourists get on a cruise ship that drops them off in Boka, take a walk, and leave the same day, while there are a lot of interesting things happening inland," Stein notes.
Encouraging people to "go off the beaten path," the American journalist specifically highlights Mount Prokletije and international hiking trails. Via Dinarica i The peaks of the Balkans that pass through there, through "untouched nature".
"There lies the heart and soul of Montenegro."
"It's essentially one of Europe's last wild landscapes - you have bears, wolves, many communities living in the mountains," he adds.
Prokletije is one of five national parks in Montenegro, just like Lake Skadar, a "biodiversity hotspot" and a habitat for around 280 species of birds.
"A relatively small country, but a lot of diversity that we try to present to travelers."
- Why Cetinje is the soul of Montenegro and how different views on history color the present
- Sveti Stefan: A locked Montenegrin island with a tourist treasure
- Is Budva the Montenegrin Cote d'Azur?
'List with criteria'
The list took about six months to compile, and in addition to several journalists and associates, leading global organizations involved in sustainable travel were also consulted.
After many meetings and votes, they together selected 20 places "that use tourism for good purposes."
These are locations that "in a time of overtourism", welcome visitors, preserve a unique cultural heritage and environment, and the money earned serves as "support for the local community".
"As an organization, we don't want to send too many people to places where their presence is not desirable or could endanger the local community."
"Travel is beautiful, inspiring, and connecting, but you don't want to be a part of a problem that affects locals on vacation," explains Stein.
Sveti Stefan: An island between legends and truth
The Balkans as, for the most part, an uncut diamond
The Balkan Peninsula is teeming with hidden and undervalued tourist destinations that world travelers have been discovering in recent years.
"The entire region is experiencing a sudden boom and increase in tourism."
"You're becoming more and more famous," Stein points out.
One of the most visited places in the Balkans is Dubrovnik, a city in Croatia with a population of more than 40.000 people.
Due to the ratio between the number of visitors and residents - even 27 to one, the "pearl of the Adriatic" has become synonymous with overtourism in Europe, which is why local authorities have introduced numerous restrictions.
- Montenegro: What's left of the idea of the first ecological country in the world
- An old olive tree in Bar - mother, nurturer and sacred tree
- Illegal fishing in Montenegro: From dynamite to electricity
Albania has also seen a dizzying increase in the number of tourists in recent years, with a record number of visitors in 2024. 11,7 million foreigners.
It is the only destination from the Balkans that is still being considered for inclusion on the BBC travel list.
"It's still cheap compared to places like Venice or Dubrovnik and it's one of those places that people say is in its infancy, which is always interesting for travelers," explains Stein.
The BBC Travel editor has visited Croatia, Bulgaria and Greece among the Balkan countries, but he also wants to visit Montenegro.
"I hope to visit it soon, to bring my hiking boots, go somewhere high up and hang out with the locals."
"I would love to be a part of that," he concludes.
Watch the video: How Kotor became a city of cats
BBC is in Serbian from now on and on YouTube, follow us HERE.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube i Viber. If you have a topic suggestion for us, please contact bbcnasrpskom@bbc.co.uk
- Has the tourist season in Montenegro failed?
- Prevlaka, the "worm of territory", as a meeting place between Croatia and Montenegro
- Mamula: The light and darkness of the former camp, now a luxury hotel in Montenegro
- Medieval View: Pictograms as the New Face of Durmitor
- By 2050, there will be no glaciers in Africa, but also on Durmitor, warns the UN
- Will a new Dubai emerge in the south of Montenegro?
Bonus video:
