Montenegro

Barely 100 kilometres from tip to toe, tiny Montenegro is still largely unknown to European travellers; a staggering omission when you consider what it offers: mountains as dramatic as the Alps, undisturbed beaches and stone-walled cities as old as ancient Greece.

Montenegro is one of Europe’s newest luxury destinations, complete with glamorous hotels and marinas filled with torpedo-shaped superyachts. Of its natural attractions, the Bay of Kotor (or Boka Bay as it’s also known) takes best in show, its limestone cliffs plunging almost vertically into the Adriatic Sea. At the head of the bay and backed by steep mountains is Kotor itself, one of the best-preserved medieval ports in Europe.

Other highlights include Budva, a mini Dubrovnik with marbled streets and Venetian walls rising from the sea; the small town of Perast, whose magnificent villas were built by wealthy sea captains in the 17th and 18th centuries; Herceg Novi, with its ancient walls, sunny squares and lively atmosphere; and Europe’s largest vineyard, which sits next to Lake Skadar, 30 kilometres from the Adriatic Sea. Also inland is mighty Durmitor National Park, where you can hike through unspoiled pastureland and raft through the colossal Tara Canyon.