Montenegro

This new, seventh edition of Bradt's Montenegro is the longest and most detailed guidebook available to one of Europe's hidden corners - an increasingly accessible country whose stark, rugged beauty comprises some of the continent's most exciting coastlines and wildest mountain scenery, complemented by tiny fishing villages, lively beach resorts and small historic towns, all in an area smaller than Yorkshire. With new flight routes, the tourist board working hard to promote the country, considerable investment in infrastructure (notably the Bar-Belgrade motorway) and European Union membership fast approaching (expected 2028), Montenegro's popularity is on the rise. The country's dramatic interior boasts high peaks, crystal-clear lakes and rivers, deep forests and mighty canyons, while the magnificent Lake Skadar is the Balkan's largest inland water body. The Via Dinarica and Balkan Peaks long-distance trails both pass through Montenegro and are drawing increasing numbers of hikers, while adventure sports - climbing, skiing, mountain biking, ziplining, sea kayaking, coasteering and white-water rafting, to name a few - form an increasingly significant part of the country's appeal. Montenegrin wine, too, is attracting a growing band of devotees, while beaches such as Mogren and Petrovac rank among the Adriatic's finest. Published in the year that Montenegro celebrates the 20th anniversary of its independence from Serbia, this new edition of Bradt's Montenegro has been thoroughly updated by Philip Briggs, one of the world's most experienced and prolific guidebook writers. It incorporates all major recent developments, from practical information on where to go, stay and eat to vivid descriptions, historical insights and in-depth background on both well-known and off-the-beaten track sights. It offers details of everything from coastal retreats, the Buljarica wetlands and Ulcinj saltpans to Durmitor and Biogradska national parks, the Prokletije Mountains to cultural big-hitters such as Cetinje and Kotor, and the new Kotor to Lovcen National Park cable car to medieval architectural gems, plus numerous reminders of Montenegro's Ottoman and Venetian heritage. Whether you are a beach lover, hiker, adrenaline-seeker, birding and wildlife enthusiast or foodie, and whether you are travelling in a group or independently, Bradt's Montenegro provides the consummate companion for your visit.