Ulcinj will delight lovers of old streets, romantic balconies with a huge number of flowers and, of course, beautiful views of the fortress walls and seascapes.

Today, historians claim that the Illyrian tribe of Olciniatas once lived on this territory, in whose honor the city is named Olcinium. But still, the founders of the first city on this site are the Romans in the II century BC.

During Roman rule, Olcinium became the main city of the whole region, and the construction of the Old City with fortifications and defensive structures began.

Indeed, due to its geographical position, relief, it has always been popular place for conquest. The fortress walls of the Old Town of Ulcinj were often destroyed during the centuries-old history, but, fortunately, there were always those who rebuilt the walls, restored and gave the city the opportunity to continue to live.

Already at the end of the 12th century, as part of the Serbian Zeta state, Ulcinj became one of the main cities on the coast. Representatives of the aristocracy and those close to the court liked to build villas and residences here. Many wives, sisters and relatives of the ruling dynasty lived here, lived out their lives and are buried here.

According to one of the legends, even the Mongols besieged Ulcinj in the 13th century, but they never managed to conquer the city. But the Venetians succeeded, and from the beginning of the 15th century to the end of the 17th century, it was they who ruled here. During their reign, Ulcinj, after Venice and Dubrovnik, had the third largest fleet, and pirates attacked the city quite often.

During the prosperity of the slave trade, at some point, about 100 Negro slaves lived in the city, who, after liberation, took the names of those families in which they served, and became ordinary citizens of the city.

Interestingly, in 1571, when the Turks captured the city, another Spaniard, Miguel Cervantes, captured after a battle with the Spaniards in the Mediterranean, also entered the city. And here he remains imprisoned for 5 years, during which he writes the novel Don Quixote.

At that time, the city was still called Cita di Dolcinio, and Cervantes gives the name Dulcinea to Don Quixote's beloved, who does not reciprocate his feelings.
From the end of the 16th century to late XIX the Turks ruled here. The city was already liberated by Montenegrin princely troops after a two-year siege.

Thanks to the historical events that took place in the vastness of Ulcinj, a multi-ethnic and multinational structure of the population was formed here, which at all times was able to find a common language, protect the city and rebuild it, it was especially useful during and after World War II.

In memory of those years, many commemorative plaques are hung around the city, some of which can be seen while walking around the Old Town.

In general, the Old Town is the concentration of the cultural and historical heritage of Ulcinj. If you enter its northern gate, then you will immediately find yourself in the upper part of the Old City - the “museum quarter”.

It is here that the church-mosque, which now houses the museum of local lore. In the museum you can see all the archaeological materials found on the territory of the Old City.

Among its collections, of particular interest are an antique pedestal with an inscription in Greek, an antique cameo with the image of the goddess Athena, an Ionic capital, parts of a 9th-century church cup from the Small Church (Mala crkva) and many objects from the period of Turkish rule.

Immediately behind the local history museum is the Balsic Tower (Kula Balšića) of the 12th century, which now houses an art gallery. And right in front of it you can see a small quiet square. Once it was a square where slaves were traded (Trg robova), and its second name is Cervantes Square (Trg Servantesa).

It is still surrounded by casemates of revelin - a small defensive structure. Directly opposite is the high wall of Balani (zid Balani), built by the Venetians. Here you can also find a spring built by the Turks in 1749.

Walking along the numerous streets of the Old City, you will inevitably find yourself in the lower part of the Old City. Here, opposite the southern entrance to the city, is the foundation of the church of the Virgin of the XII century, which was later converted into the Catholic Cathedral of St. Mark. Not far from here is the reservoir of the Old Town, which was built under the Venetians.

A little further away is an 18th-century Turkish gunpowder warehouse. After walking a little more along the streets of the lower part of the Old Town, you will see the Venice Palace (palata "Venecija"), more like just an old building, which has always been the residence of the city manager, since the reign of the Italians.

And you can finish your tour of local attractions at Dvori Balšića located not far from Venice. This complex consists of several buildings of the Venetian type, and its central part is the oldest.

They say that once you get to the Old Town of Ulcinj, you will come back here again and again, enchanted by it.

Ulcinj is the warmest resort in the south of the Montenegrin coast, bordering Albania. I am very glad that I had the opportunity to live in this place for a while. Despite the fact that the town is quite small, the entire territory of the Ulcinj Riviera is 255 km2. In my opinion, Ulcinj is not at all like other cities in Montenegro, it is a unique example natural beauty and has its own flavor, like, probably, any city located on the border of mixing cultures. Looking ahead, I’ll say that it is here that the longest sand beach in Europe. Green-eyed Boyana, not the cleanest, but still a river with its own charm. Centuries-old olive groves and lush vegetation. It is also very warm here, since there is nowhere further south in Montenegro. Ulcinj is a city of medieval pirate tales, oriental flavor and European architecture.

How to get there

If you have already asked yourself the question: “How to get to the city of Ulcinj, Montenegro”, then I hasten to please you: this is not as difficult to do as it seems at first glance. Despite the remoteness of the city from the main airports of the country, the road from them, on average, will not take you more than two hours. Throughout the journey, you will be surrounded by amazing landscapes of the resort of Montenegro, such that time on the road will fly by unnoticed and in pleasure.

In addition to the options described below, you can also come to Ulcinj from Albania, the city of Shkoder, by car or bus, the ticket for which will cost 6€. Along the way you will meet border crossing Sukobin, more like a toll booth. Here you will simply check the documents and put a seal in international passport. Everything goes very quickly, we didn't even get out of the car.

From Italy, you can take a ferry on the Bari-Bar or Ancona-Bar route. The ferry price varies from €40 to €250, depending on the class of accommodation and the season, so it is better to check the current price on the sites that sell tickets for these messages. You can get from Bar to Ulcinj by bus for 2€.

By plane

Ulcinj is the southernmost city in Montenegro, which means that getting there is not so easy. has 2 airports: in Podgorica, the capital of the country, and in the city, in its north. The distance from Ulcinj to each of the airports is approximately the same:

• 84 km - Tivat-Ulcinj;
• 77 km - Podgorica-Ulcinj.

Direct flights Moscow-Tivat are operated daily by such airlines as:

• Aeroflot;
• S7 Airlines;
• Montenegro Airlines.

There are also direct flights St. Petersburg-Tivat, but it is better to check with the tour operator about their frequency or look in the search engine.

There is no direct connection between Russia and Podgorica, if you arrive at this airport, then most likely you are making a transfer flight.

The cost of tickets from the airports of Moscow and St. Petersburg largely depends on the season. On average, during the year, round-trip tickets will cost you around 15,000 rubles, while in the summer, tourist period, tickets for 20,000 rubles will be considered a real find, and their average cost per season will be 23,000-25,000 rubles. Therefore, take care of buying tickets in advance, for example.

You can get to the city of Ulcinj in one of the following ways:

• by bus;
• by private car;
• by taxi.

By train

The train is not the most common form of transport in Montenegro, moreover, it is quite inconvenient. The country has only one railway line connecting Podgorica and, and, alas, we can’t get to Ulcinj by train.

By bus

If you, once at the airport in Tivat or Podgorica, decide to take a bus, be prepared for the fact that in both cases you will have to walk. All shuttle buses are passing through and do not go directly to either of these two airports. In this case, you will need to go to the track and catch the necessary transport there. All buses are quite comfortable and run every 30-40 minutes on average.

From Tivat to Ulcinj

In order to get from the airport, you need to go to the main highway, it is called "Adriatic Highway" or "Jadranska magistrala", it's about 100 meters from the airport, then turn left, and about the same amount go towards the city. After passing this distance, you will find yourself at a stop, 2 yellow "mushrooms" will indicate this to you.

Wait for any bus right here and, as soon as you spot one, wave to the driver to stop. You can also catch a bus just by going to the track. Drivers are quite loyal to this, and in most cases they stop to pick up passengers.

The most important thing is to correctly determine the direction. Since you need to get to Ulcinj, stand at the stop from the airport side.

If there is no bus for a long time, you can walk in the direction of the city about 800 meters to the bus station of the city of Tivat. And from there take a regular bus to the desired city.

From Podgorica to Ulcinj

The procedure is almost the same as on the route from Tivat, but it will take a little longer to walk on foot, about 1.8 km to the main road. There is only one road, so you won't get lost. Just go straight until you cross the bridge and see a large supermarket in front of you. Alternatively, you can ask someone to give you a ride these 2 km. In order to take the bus towards Ulcinj, you need to go to the side where the supermarket building stands.

In both cases, be sure to check with the driver if he is going to the city we need, if everything is in order, feel free to pay for the fare, it's about 6.5 € in both cases, sit back and enjoy the views outside the window.

In the opposite direction, you act the same, except that you do not have to catch transport on the go, as buses in all directions depart from the Ulcinj bus station. The only thing, do not forget to warn the driver so that he makes a stop at the place you need.

In general, all drivers speak their native language, but phrases related to transport and the route are understood in English, and some even in Russian. In any case, don’t worry too much, you will definitely be able to find a common language with the driver or ticket attendant (we had one on the bus). To be sure, you can of course learn a few phrases, like:

• Jedna karta do - one ticket to...
• Da se zaustavi - make a stop.

By car

If you have a private car during your stay in Montenegro, then it will not be difficult to get to the place you need. Roads in Montenegro are in very good condition.

You can also rent a car. A representative of the company, at your request, will drive the car directly to the airport, and from there you can safely head to Ulcinj.

Rental prices vary greatly. It all depends on the class of the car, the company of the tenant and the rental period.

A middle-class car with an automatic transmission outside the tourist season will cost around 15€ per day, while in the summer this amount will rise to 30€.

A few tips to keep in mind when renting a car:

1. A car with a manual transmission is significantly cheaper than an automatic;
2. The longer the lease term, the less daily fee for the car;
3. Some rental companies provide a free car delivery service to the airport, and some do it for an additional fee;
4. Typically, rental companies, after the expiration of the rental period, take cars back at airports or major cities such as Kotor, or. But you can arrange with a company representative to pick up the car in Ulcinj for a fee. This can be more beneficial as you won't have to spend on gas and you won't have to think about how to get back.

The road will take you about 1.5 -2 hours.

On the route from Podgorica, on the section of the E80 motorway, you will meet a paid section of the road - passage through the Sozina tunnel, 4,189 meters long. By the way, it is considered the longest in Montenegro, and is a landmark of the country.

The fare on this section of the road for a car is 2.5 €.

The payment point consists of 6 gates with cashiers who work in both directions: that is, for entry and exit. He himself is located only on one, northern, side of the tunnel, closer to Podgorica.

Euros and bank cards are accepted as payment. You can also purchase a monthly subscription if needed. Cashiers give change easily even with large bills such as 200€ and 500€.

You can also choose a bypass route through the "Paštrovska Gora" mountain range.
The road in this section is a serpentine, and its length is 22.5 km more than the alternative. But the pass offers a beautiful view of the mountains and the sea coast.

Approximate price of gasoline:

• 95 - 1€/liter;
• 98 - 1.1€/litre;
• diesel - 0.9 € / liter.

In addition, you can use the taxi service.

What is what, but there is certainly no shortage of taxi drivers in Montenegro. The average cost of a trip from the airport to Ulcinj will be 60-80€. You can take a taxi at the airport or order in advance on the website of the trucking company. There are a lot of them, and it will not be difficult to find a similar one. For example, we used the services of kiwitaxi a couple of times, quite conveniently.

The fare in a taxi, among other things, depends on the number of passengers, so it is not always profitable to cooperate with fellow travelers at the airport. However, if you are traveling alone by joining a group of two with a small amount of luggage, you have a chance to save on your trip.

Also, if you are coming from Ulcinj, you can ask one of the locals to order a taxi for you.

By ferry

Despite the fact that Ulcinj is a maritime city, there are no ferry connections with other major cities.

In Ulcinj there are a large number of motor boats and boats that can take you to the islands, hard-to-reach beaches and back for a small fee, you can negotiate the cost directly with the owner of the boat, but renting a yacht for the whole day will cost from 400 €. Additionally, you will need to pay for the services of the team, port fees, fuel and, if necessary, food.

Clue:

Ulcinj - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 1

Kazan 1

Samara 2

Yekaterinburg 3

Novosibirsk 5

Vladivostok 8

When is the season. When is the best time to go

Ulcinj is the warmest resort on the entire Montenegrin coast. Temperatures are above zero throughout the year, rarely dropping below 10°C.

The hottest months are from June to September, when the average air temperature is around 30°C. The swimming season can start as early as April and last until November.

During all these months, Ulcinj will delight you with the warm sea and the hot sun. Tours from Russia for this period can be picked up.

However, from an economic point of view, the summer months are the most disadvantageous time, since it is considered the tourist season and prices for housing and services rise by 2-3 times.

So, for example, rental housing, the cost of which during the year does not exceed 15 €, in the tourist season will increase to 40 € for sure.

The same applies to renting a vehicle in the summer. For 30€ per day you can rent the most modest economy class car or a car with a manual transmission, while, for example, in April you can rent a nice jeep or convertible for the same price.

The most optimal in this regard is September: the air temperature does not change sharply and stays around 27-30°C. However, the influx of tourists is significantly reduced, and prices are falling. Plus, by September, a large number of fruits and berries ripen, for example, pomegranates, which are still quite green in summer.

Ulcinj in summer

The period from July to August is the peak of tourist activity. Crowds of vacationers fill the resorts of Montenegro, and because of this, there is an increase in prices in almost all areas: food, accommodation, transport.

On the main resort beaches, it becomes more difficult to find a place to relax, and the radius of your personal space becomes smaller.

The average summer temperature in Ulcinj is around 30°C.

Ulcinj in autumn

Many mistakenly believe that the holiday season in Ulcinj, and indeed in Montenegro, ends with the summer. However, it is not. I think that September is, on the contrary, the best time to come here. There will be an order of magnitude fewer tourists, and the weather will still be sunny and friendly. In addition, the autumn time is a period of ripening of a large number of fruits, so in November it is quite possible to bask in the sun, sipping freshly squeezed orange or pomegranate juice, snacking on kiwi, hanging in clusters right from the veranda in your villa.

Ulcinj in spring

Ulcinj in winter

In winter, when average temperature At 10°C you definitely won’t be able to sunbathe, although if you are tempered and the water temperature of 11-15°C does not scare you, you can swim all year round. Of all the seasons, winter is considered the rainiest, so be sure to bring a raincoat with you. But in the most "non-tourist season" you will get very good service in cafes and hotels. The waiters will be sincerely glad to see you, and they can even give you a compliment from the institution. Solana Lake is located a couple of kilometers from Ulcinj, and it is at this time of the year that you can see a huge number of birds flocking for wintering, including pelicans and even flamingos.

Ulcinj - monthly weather

Clue:

Ulcinj - monthly weather

Districts. Where is the best place to live

Ulcinj is a resort city in the south of Montenegro. Despite the fact that this is a fairly calm and provincial town, its different areas differ significantly from each other. The vast majority of guest houses here, there are very few expensive tourist complexes and luxury hotels. But this is even a plus, since every tourist will be able to stay in the area that he likes. Personally, I prefer to look for hotels on, but you can compare prices from different sites.

The city itself can be divided into four large parts: Liman, Center, Old Town and the business district.

Liman

This is the northwestern hilly part of Ulcinj. There is practically no inexpensive housing on this side of the city, most of the buildings are cozy private hotels and villas, surrounded by olive groves and with panoramic views of the Adriatic coast. Some Liman hotels have private, uncrowded beaches, so the sea here is very clean. Prices in the local hotels are not very high, but above average along the coast.

For whom

• for people who prefer relaxing holiday away from busy tourists.

Central part of the city

Despite the mountainous terrain, it does not differ in spacious streets full of air. There is a very dense building, and often one house immediately adjoins another wall to wall, spacious terraces and courtyards are a rarity. But the choice of housing here is very large. Private hotels, guest houses, hotels - all the local apartments have a fairly reasonable price. Within walking distance are a large number of cafes, restaurants, shops, tourist attractions and other joys of the resort industry. Also here is the promenade of the Small Beach and the market.

For whom

• for families traveling with children;
• old people;
• for tourists who prefer accessibility and value for money.

Old city

A colorful area surrounded by medieval fortifications. The historical center of modern Ulcinj is a landmark of the city and a favorite place for tourists to walk. Prices for apartments here are much higher than in the central area, since the Old Town is one of the oldest architectural and urban units of the Adriatic, and a special urban landscape opens up from the walls of the fortress.

For whom

• For aesthetes, connoisseurs of history and world culture.

Also in Ulcinj there is business district, it makes no sense to look for accommodation for a tourist in it, since it is located quite far from the main attractions, in the southern part of the city, about an hour's walk from the coastline. However, it is quite useful to know about its existence, since it is there that the bus station, post office, as well as offices of tourist and mobile operators are located.

Speaking about the districts of Ulcinj, one should also mention the Great Beach and the area of ​​the island of Ada Bojana. Geographically, they are not part of the city, but, as a rule, they are always mentioned, since they are part of the Ulcinj Riviera.

great beach

It is a landmark not only of Ulcinj, but of the whole world, as it is the largest sandy beach in Europe. Its length is approximately 14 km, and its width is 60 meters. You will not find hotels on the coast itself, right off the coast, since capital construction is prohibited here. The predominant type of accommodation is camping. However, despite this, the coast is still partly the property of hotels located along the highway, and therefore all the amenities necessary for relaxation, such as sunbeds, playgrounds, changing rooms, showers and rescue towers are available here.

For whom

• For lovers active rest and camping.

Ada Bojana

An island of artificial origin, washed by the Bayana River on both sides, and Adriatic Sea from the third. Rest in the resort itself is quite expensive, but always unforgettable.

You can also rent private accommodation (you can see offers), wooden houses are rented on both sides of the river, or live in a tent in a camping area, this will be a more budget option.

What are the prices for holidays

Vacation prices here are quite reasonable and, of course, largely depend on the season and on what level of comfort you prefer. For example, we managed to fit a monthly accommodation with travel, meals, transport and housing for 1000 € for two, and this is at the peak of the tourist season.

In my opinion, listing the cost of goods and services in a long list does not make sense, since prices can change. Here are some of the top ways you can save money:

• Do not book accommodation in advance. Ulcinj has a huge number of private apartments and guest houses. Therefore, do not be afraid that you will stay on the street, although this is not a bad option. Arriving at the place, just walk the streets central region, go to private hotels and houses in which rooms are rented, talk directly with the owners, and you will be able to save a lot.
• Take a tent with you. Camping is very common on the beaches of the Ulcinj Riviera. For a couple of euros, you can stay in a tent camp with all amenities like a shower, toilet, and in some cases even electricity. You can also put up a tent on a wild beach absolutely free.
• Plan your vacation. If you want to relax in the city and on the beaches in the vicinity, then do it consistently. Go to the beach for a couple of days and don't pay rent.
• Do not rent a car for the entire stay. This advice is rather a continuation of the previous paragraph. Rent vehicle either at the very beginning of your holiday, or vice versa at the end. Firstly, you will immediately no longer have a question of how to get from the airport to Ulcinj, or in the opposite direction, and secondly, you will just have a car to explore all the beaches in the area, and when you arrive in the city, you simply won’t need it .
• Try to travel to the nearest beaches by hitchhiking, in Montenegro it is quite safe.
• Buy food at restaurants or bakeries and drinks at the supermarket. The fact is that mid-range restaurants offering inexpensive food have a high cost of drinks, for example, ordering a burek or a large calzone for 1 €, in the same restaurant you will give 1.5 € -2 for a cup of espresso with a volume of 40-50 ml. €.
• If you have the opportunity to cook, then buy all the food in the markets or in the supermarket.
• Make friends with locals or people who know the local language and ask them for simple favors: order a taxi, buy fish, suggest profitable places and much more. In Montenegro, as elsewhere: for their own cheaper.

Main attractions. What to see

Old city

The district, the historical core of Ulcinj, which can also be conditionally divided into two parts: lower and upper city, often called "The Citadel". This place may be of interest not only to avid tourists, but also to connoisseurs of classical literature, because it was here that Miguel de Cervantes, the Spanish writer, was imprisoned, and it was this Citadel, according to legend, that inspired him to create the image of the beautiful Dulcinea, beloved of the legendary Don Quixote.

Also on the territory of the old city are Archaeological and Ethnic Museums.

In general, having visited this architectural ensemble, we did not regret at all, because in addition to museums and beautiful architecture, we saw a Turkish fountain of the 16th century, a city lighthouse and a magnificent panorama of the city.

Entrance to Old city free for everyone, except for the territory with museums, here you have to pay 1 €.

olive grove

It is located near the walls of the old city. The olive garden can be called a city park or a pleasant place for leisurely walks. It is the symbol and spirit of the city.

It is no coincidence that in the very heart of the city, surrounded by three olive trees, there is a monument to millstones. After all, olives and oil are the pride of the townspeople.

And it is this place that can be called the central intersection that unites four main streets: the descent to the great beach and the old town, to the olive grove and Valdanos beach, to the exit from the city, to the Great beach and Ada Bojana.

Beaches. Which is better

I dare say that 80% of all attractions in Ulcinj are just beaches, and you can talk a lot about them. Having visited each of them, we were convinced that they are all completely different, despite the fact that they are located in the same strip of the Ulcinj Riviera. They differ in various ways: there are sandy and pebbly beaches, wild and with all the amenities for a comfortable stay, as well as hidden in small bays and huge ones with access to the open sea. One way or another, you will definitely find your beach here.

Conventionally, they can be divided into two main types:

City beaches

These include: Liman I, Liman II, Small Beach, Women's Beach and a series of private beaches owned by nearby hotels, such as: Skalic, Birici, Ludvig, Maslinjak, Borova Noise (Borova suma), Opalice (Opaljice), Dzhemina (Dzemina), Lyana (Ljana), Albatross (Albatros).

and country beaches

which include: Great Beach (Velika Beach; Velika plaza), Valdamos and Ada Bojana. You can read more about each of them in my article.

Churches and temples. Which are worth a visit

Ulcinj is a city on the border of two cultures, and hence religions. Here it is quite normal to hear the call to prayer resounding from the height of the minaret of some mosque to the sounds of Orthodox bells.

Sailor Mosque- the oldest mosque in the city, reconstructed in 2012, after being destroyed in the early twentieth century. It is located in the central area of ​​Ulcinj, on the promenade of the small beach. Its minaret, due to its height and good location, is used as a lighthouse.

West of the walls of the old city is located saint's churchNicholas, it has been rising on this very spot since the end of the 19th century, its predecessor was the monastery of the Holy Archangel, the appearance of which dates back to the 15th century. It was built in memory of the fallen defenders of the independence of Montenegro. An interesting fact is that according to Turkish law, whose people besieged this city, not a single building in the city should have been higher than the minaret of the mosque. In order to circumvent this law, and make the church of St. Nicholas spacious, the builders resorted to tricks and erected the building deep into the earth. Another interesting fact about this building: different time within its walls were Orthodox church, a mosque and even a museum.

Ali Pasha Mosque built at the beginning of the XIV century in honor of the admiral who conquered the city, and named after him. It is located at the very walls of the old city. On its wall you can read: "for the happiness and prosperity of the people, to be for a long time", which is probably why this is the only place in the country where there is a hammam. Such is the allegory: "Don't worry people over trifles, but worry only in a traditional bathhouse."

Clock Tower and Bazaar Mosque Ottoman Empire. The tower got its name thanks to the Italian clock, specially brought and installed on it, to remind citizens that it was time for prayer or the beginning of the working day. The tower was a symbol of the captured city, and to this day is the embodiment of Turkish culture in the city.

Bregut Mosque- the largest in Ulcinj. Its construction dates back to the end of the 14th century, and is associated with the name of Captain Ahmet Juli.

In the walls of the old city you can see the ruins Churches of the Virgin, I don't know why, but this is probably not the best location for a church. After all, it was here that in different periods there were also the churches of St. Marko and St. John of Ulcinj, but all of them were destroyed for one reason or another.

Museums. Which are worth a visit

If you want to culturally enlighten yourself and arrange a tour of local museums, then you won’t have to walk much, since all the main ones are located almost in one place, within the walls of the old city.

Collection Archaeological Museum- these are antique objects found during archaeological excavations in Ulcinj and its environs. Interestingly, the museum is located in the building of the church of the mosque of St. Mary.

Ethnographical museum located in the former customs building. Its exhibits allow you to get a visual representation of the peoples who inhabited these places, their daily life, clothing and culture. Here, in tower Balchishi, exhibitions of artists, sculptors and even poetry evenings are held.

Entrance to the area where the museums are located costs 1€ per person.

tourist streets

We can say that in Ulcinj there are two tourist streets: central and perpendicular to it embankment of a small beach. Both have sidewalks, but are not considered purely pedestrian, in fact they are highways with little traffic. However, on the second of them during the tourist season in the evenings, from 20.00 to 1.30, access for motorists is closed.

The central street goes downhill and connects the business district and the embankment. On it there are shops, cafes and a large, by the standards of the city, grocery supermarket "Solaris".

The embankment of the small beach is a place of abundance of public catering. There are a huge number of cafes and restaurants, but by and large they all offer the same assortment. Just a huge number of people sitting idle on the concrete fence that separates the beach from the sidewalk, with their backs to the sea. Why they do this is a mystery to me.

Between these streets is a small market with all sorts of consumer goods. Here you can buy beach accessories, souvenirs, clothes and some other nonsense.

What to see in 1 day

If you are in Ulcinj for just a day, then the main thing you should do is to feel the atmosphere and color of this city.

Immediately upon arrival, at 10-11 o'clock, look into the old city, after all, a local landmark. I won’t say that a rich program awaits you here, but this place is very sincere. The citadel can also be called the observation deck of the city, because the center of Ulcinj is in full view from here. Being here, you can immediately feel what this city is like.

After enjoying the panorama of the city, go for a walk along the central promenade along the Small Beach. Here you can also have lunch in one of the many cafes, try some Ulcinj cuisine, such as burek or kadaif, or just eat local ice cream.

After lunch, let yourself relax and head to the beach. The most interesting are Women's Beach and Albatros Nudist Beach. I recommend that you choose one of them.

After 18.00, when the heat subsides, go to observation deck, a hill in the central part of the city of Ulcinj, to see the panorama of the city from a slightly different angle. There is a concrete monument. This is a monument to freedom, according to the original plan, it was supposed to be a star, reminding residents of the day Ulcinj was liberated from German invaders. The monument itself is not of particular interest, since it was not completed to the end, however, the views and a walk along the upper part of the central city are worth spending a little time on them.

All this is within walking distance, and you do not have to use transport.

What to see in the surroundings

In the area, the best thing to enjoy is nature. Visit Solana lake, this place is amazing in its beauty, since it is here that a huge number of birds flock to spend the winter. You know, these are the same "Warm Lands" known to us from childhood. Flamingos, pelicans and a large number of various birds fly here. Getting here is quite difficult. It used to be a state protected area, but now it is a private area. However, there are ways, for example, there is one that conducts excursions, or recruits volunteers to protect these places from poachers.

Or just go to one of the beaches, because they are what the southern Ulcinj coast is famous for.

Food. What to try

As they say: "How many people, so many opinions", but I personally advise you to definitely try Burek (Börek). This is a national dish of puff pastry stuffed with meat or cheese. Burek can be in the form of a round pie, or "sausage", twisted twice. In general, I liked that one and that option. This dish is rather dry, so it is usually served with yogurt, which tastes like sour cream, but more liquid. In restaurants, it is usually brought already chopped and poured with this very yogurt.

Burek is a fairly inexpensive pleasure, its cost in a restaurant is 1.5 €, and in local bakeries it can be found for 0.5 €.

There is also a burek with spinach, but it is not available in Ulcinj, the only time we managed to buy it was in Zabljak, in the local supermarket. So if you come across a burek with such a taste, do not miss the opportunity and immediately try it.

In Ulcinj, you can try Albanian dishes that are not found in all cities of Montenegro, such as kadaif (kanafeh) - a traditional dessert resembling baklava with a layer of fatty cream.

In addition, it is important to know that during the ripening season, certain fruits appear on the shelves in abundance and become many times cheaper. So, for example, spring is a paradise for lovers of kiwi and oranges, they are harvested twice a year, even in late autumn, along with pomegranates. As for summer, in June you can enjoy fresh berries: strawberries, cherries, cherries. July is just a fruit paradise, eat everything: plums, apples, mangoes, pears, apricots, green figs. But by August, among other things, the figs will already be soft, ripe and purple. Therefore, eat as much fresh fruit as possible, recharge with vigor and vitamins.

You can buy fruits in the city market. In addition, here you can find a lot of other tasty things: vegetables, herbs, milk, oils.

If you want to dine in a romantic setting with a beautiful view and feel the atmosphere of Montenegro, then you should visit the Antigona restaurant in the old town (Antigona restaurant). It is located at Stari Grad 40, Ulcinj.

The food here is quite tasty and the prices are reasonable. If you don’t particularly show off, then you can have dinner together for 18 € -25 €. However, if you start trying all sorts of delicacies, you can leave a more substantial amount.

In general, despite the prices, the atmosphere is still captivating. You can arrange a good evening for yourself, enjoying a delicious dinner, right on the outdoor terrace, breathing fresh air and admiring the panorama of the Adriatic coast.

Pizzeria "Grot" located on the main pedestrian street on the left side, if you stand facing the sea. Unfortunately, I do not remember the exact address, I can only say that this cafe is located above the Beki hairdresser. Be careful and you definitely won't miss it.

Just a pizzeria with a delicious assortment, but the interior is quite interesting, albeit caveman.

Budget

Most of the catering establishments in Ulcinj are fast food. To be honest, I am not a particular fan of such food, and moreover, I am an ardent supporter of a healthy diet. However, I can only say good things about such cafes: the price, taste and portion size are definitely pleasing.

It makes no sense to advise any specific cafes, since there are a lot of them, especially in the central part of the city, and in most cases they have exactly the same menu with identical prices:

• 1€ - Burek;
• 1€ -2.5€ - Burger;
• 2€-3€ - Shawarma;
• 0.5€ - 1€ - Big piece of pizza;
• 1€ - Calzone (very large and hearty);
• 1,5€ - A national dish resembling a pancake pie;
• 3€ - for a portion of cevapcici of eight pieces with vegetables (meat sausages), you can order half a portion.

But in such establishments there is a little trick: the food in them is cheap, but the drinks are expensive, in comparison with the above prices. So, for example, a glass of fruit drink will cost 1.2 €, and coffee 2.5 €.

There are also small shops with pastries, they usually have a sign "Bakery" or "Pekara". Here you can buy all of the above without overpaying for the service. They usually have tables where you can eat freely, or you can take it with you.

In the evening, after 18.00, additional mobile carts selling ice cream, fried corn and freshly dug juices open on the embankment.

By the way, about the ice cream. It is very tasty and quite inexpensive, only 0.5 € per ball. And the flavors are incredible. Once I even ate facebook-flavoured ice cream, which was blue in color and resembled Booblegum gum.

Intermediate level

To be honest, I would not recommend any restaurants in terms of food or service. Especially middle class establishments. They fall short of the "luxury" category, but their prices for the most ordinary products are quite high. Let me give you an example: once in a restaurant I ordered a salad called "Paradise" worth 2.5 €. I won’t say that I expected a divine salad, but what they brought me, I expected to see even less. The fact is that "paradaz" in the local language means tomato, and my salad turned out to be an ordinary tomato cut into 4 parts and sprinkled with salt.

Soups, by the way, are rarely cooked in such establishments, so when ordering a first course for 1.5 € -3 €, be prepared for the fact that they will bring you a portion of instant soup from the nearest supermarket.

Expensive

Almost all establishments serving seafood can be classified as expensive restaurants. The price for them is very high, especially for fish, the cost of which can reach 45€ per serving.

Examples of such restaurants:

• Dulcinea / Dulsinea (Old Town);
• Lovac / Lovac (In the southern part of the city, between Ulcinj and the Great Beach);
• Taphana / Taphana (Old Town);
• Antigone / Antigona (Old city).

By the way, in the restaurants of the old city there is always a waiter who speaks Russian.

It is also important to know that often the cost is calculated by the weight of the fish that has not yet been cleaned, that is, having paid for 500 g, you will receive only 300 g.

Holidays

Traditional fair of schoolchildren- an event when small shops open on the embankment of a small beach selling souvenirs and fakes made by schoolchildren of the city. Oddly enough, it is held at the end of December, almost a week before the New Year holidays. The purpose of the fair is to raise funds for the needs of the classes and demonstrate their talents, since in addition to souvenirs, children are preparing a cultural program: they sing and dance.

In general, fairs are quite common for Ulcinj, at the end of August, for example, we had a chance to visit the handmade fair of local craftsmen, which was held in the same place, on the city embankment.

Safety. What to watch out for

Ulcinj is quite safe. Once we even spent the night on one of the city beaches just in a sleeping bag, and, fortunately, no unpleasant situations happened to us here. However, as probably everywhere else, you should be careful and take care of your belongings, there are plenty of pickpockets everywhere.

I also want to draw your attention to the fact that almost all the infrastructure on the beaches is paid, and even if you see a lonely standing straw umbrella, sitting in its shade, you will most likely have to pay about 2.5 € to a person who came running in 15 minutes with cash register.

Things to do

Shopping and shops

You will definitely not find big malls or branded stores here. And people come to Ulcinj far from shopping. Even Italian things sold in many cities of Montenegro cannot be found here. There is a flea market in the city, it works only two days a week: on Tuesday and Friday. Here they sell all sorts of little things that have already served their own: old rags, car parts, helmets, indoor plants, homemade carrots and old coins. In general, if you are a lover of various kinds of antique trifles, then you can look here, suddenly you are lucky and you will find a real treasure. It happens.

Clubs, bars and nightlife

The lack of quality nightlife everyone suffers, Ulcinj is no exception. There are practically no such establishments as nightclubs, and those that exist finish their work already at around three in the morning. In the evening, the phenomenon of sitting on the concrete fence of a small beach, which I talked about earlier, becomes especially popular with tourists. The girls dress up in all the most beautiful that they brought with them, and just sit in front of cafes and restaurants, maybe in the hope that they will be called there, I don’t know.

In the central beach area there are several establishments positioning themselves as nightclubs:

• night club"Renome";
• night club "Libertas";
• night club "Galera";
• disco bar "H2O".

As for me, they work more in the format of a provincial disco. But if you really want to dance, then it's there. There are no stretching lines at the entrance and strict face control here, you can even dance in beach shales, you are still at the resort.

extreme sports

On the entire Ulcinj coast, all conditions for active recreation are created. Here are common water sports sports like sailing, surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and diving.

On the territories of the beaches there are even clubs specializing in a particular sport. If you want to shine your holiday extreme recreation then join these clubs. This type of recreation is suitable even for a beginner, experienced instructors teach from scratch, the main thing is desire.

The cost of such an individual course (6-8 lessons) will be in the region of 300€-400€, or about 60€ per hour.

It is more profitable to rent equipment, for example, for kitering for the whole day, since the cost of such a rental will be approximately 90 €, while for an hour you can pay all 40 €.

In addition to all this, on the territory of the Great Beach there is a huge number of courts for tennis, volleyball, mini football and other things.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

As in any city, in Ulcinj you can find a huge amount of banal souvenirs: magnets, bells, key rings, plates and other little things. But personally, I would advise you to please your loved ones with a gastronomic gift.

Olive oil and olives

The green and black olives here are different from what we are used to seeing in our supermarkets. Firstly, they are many times larger, and secondly, they are pickled here on their own. They also differ quite strongly in taste, home-salted olives have a bitter, but at the same time pleasant taste.

The olive oil here is natural, as it is produced nearby, in Bar, or it is pressed by local farmers.

There are three types of oil:

• Extra Virgin - first pressing, 5€-8€ per 0.5 liter;
• Virgin - second spin, 3€ - 5€ per 0.5 liter;
• Ordinary - third spin, 1€-2€ per 0.5 liter.

Cheese

There are a lot of varieties of cheese here, for every taste: hard, soft, with olive oil or milk, with the addition of spices. The only advice I can give is: try everything, and decide for yourself which one you like best. By the way, it is quite possible to do this even at the time of purchase. At your local supermarket, you can ask and the clerk will cut you a piece of cheese to sample.

Prices are very different from 1€ to 15€ and more per kilogram. So, for example, our favorite was soft curd cheese, costing 1.5 € per kilogram.

Prosciutto

Traditional Montenegrin dish. It is famous, for the most part, for its cooking technology. This is pork rubbed with coarse sea salt, then smoked on coals and dried in the wind. Sold as a whole piece, or cut into slices in almost any supermarket.

Price:

• 1.5 € -3 € - for vacuum-packed rod slices;
• 8€-15€ per kg.

Honey

In general, I think that honey is one of those products that you should try in all the places you visit. Since every time, personally, it surprises me with completely new tastes and aromas. in this regard is no exception. It is worth trying mountain honey on herbs. Also a very good purchase - a jar of nuts in honey. Pleasure is certainly not the cheapest: 1 € -2 € for a modest jar, but for something more or less decent size you will have to pay 6 € -10 €

Fruits

In the first place among the fruits that you should definitely take with you, I personally would put figs. Although, of course, it is better to eat it fresh immediately and on the spot, since it is very tasty, but you can grab dried one with you, for example. It costs basically 3€-7€ per kilo.

You can also take a pomegranate with you, especially if you leave Montenegro in the summer and did not have time to enjoy this magnificent fruit.

Wine

A bottle of Montenegrin wine will undoubtedly delight your loved ones with taste and quality, and you with a pleasant price. Local wine can be bought from 2€ per bottle. I don’t know much about wines, and I won’t recommend any particular brand, but I can say that I liked even the most inexpensive local wine. If anything, when buying, you can ask the seller for advice, he will be happy to help you decide.

Rakia

Montenegrin vodka rakia is a drink that is very popular among locals and tourists. It is much stronger than wine, and in terms of production technology it is close to moonshine on fruit or brandy, however, according to connoisseurs of this drink, it is much softer and more palatable, and also has properties that are beneficial to health.

The cost is from 18 € per bottle, maybe there is cheaper, but, unfortunately, we did not meet.

Don't worry, you can easily carry all this across the border even in hand luggage, except for oil and drinks, of course. They will have to be checked in as baggage, but I think you know this very well even without me. The only thing I want to draw your attention to is that, according to the rules of air baggage transportation, it is not allowed to carry alcoholic beverages in containers "not intended for retail trade." This means that if you bought homemade wine from the locals and they poured it into an ordinary plastic bottle from under mineral water, there is a chance that it will be confiscated from you. The border guards do not always pay attention to this, however, we encountered such a problem, though not in Montenegro, but at the Mineralnye Vody airport.

How to move around the city

The best way to get around the city is on foot. Firstly, because in Ulcinj, despite its small size, there are a lot of one-way roads, they are quite difficult to understand, and quite easy to get confused. Some of them can only be driven during certain hours. Secondly, as in most cities in Montenegro, the streets are very narrow, and the parking problem is very acute.

In the city itself, tourists usually move on their own two on or rented scooters.

Transport is used mainly to get to the beaches around the city.

Taxi. What features exist

There are almost no taxis to move around the city. Basically, a car is ordered in order to get to the resorts located in the vicinity of the city.

There are two types of taxi drivers: official ones, such as

• +382 19766 - De Lux Taxi;
• +382 19761; +382680–19761 - Kalaja taxi;
• +382 19788 - Kalaja taxi;

And the so-called bombers. In general, we were not advised to travel with them, since there were cases when they took a much larger sum of money from tourists than the trip cost, twisted the counter, and resorted to other types of deception. Well, actually, we didn't go.

However, as an alternative to a car, there is also a water taxi. It is more popular with tourists and can deliver vacationers from the port on a small beach to neighboring resorts, and back for an average of 1.5 € - 3 € one way.

Buses

It is quite inconvenient to use a bus to move around the city, and there are practically no corresponding routes.

In Ulcinj, in the business district, about 40 minutes walk from the coastline, there is a bus station from where buses run in almost all directions. The current schedule and cost of the trip can be found right there, everything is clearly written on the information boards.

Transport rental

In general, if you decide to spend your vacation in Ulcinj, it is better to rent a car at the airport. Even more convenient is to book a car in advance (for example,). Then the question of how to get to the city and the nearest resorts will disappear by itself. We did just that. However, if you realized the need to rent a vehicle while already in Ulcinj, then you have 2 options:

1. Order a car from the tenant company with delivery to Ulcinj. The nearest such company is located in the city, at a distance of 21 km, and there are many more companies in all major cities of the country. The service of delivery or collection of a car is paid, its cost can vary from 30€ to 60€. Alternatively, you can pick up the car yourself, having reached the pick-up point by public transport.
2. Contact the Tourist Information Center. It is located on one of the central streets of the city leading to the embankment, next to a supermarket. There they can give you transport for rent, or tell you what to do if a suitable one is not available. The staff at this center do not speak Russian, but are fluent in English.

In general, renting a vehicle in Montenegro is not so difficult: you must have an international driver's license with you, and the driver's age must be at least 24 years old.

The cost, as mentioned earlier, depends on the season, car class and the number of rental days.

On average, car rental costs 25€-30€ per day + a deposit of about 300€. You can find cheaper if you deal with this issue in advance, study the offers of tenant companies, and book transport while still in Russia.

Probably the most important thing to understand is that renting a scooter is cheaper, on average, by only 5 € per day, so if you are not traveling alone, a car will be a more budget option. I think this is due to the advantages in moving around the city.

From personal experience, I can say that traveling around Montenegro in a private car is very convenient. We booked a car in advance and asked to be taken to the airport for our arrival. An employee of the company, a friendly guy, in addition to everything, told us about the features of the rules traffic and routes in Montenegro. A ten-day rental cost us about 250€.

As I said earlier, in Ulcinj there are quite unusual routes for motor transport, and the roads, depending on the time of day or season, can be one-way, two-way, or even overlap. I was quite surprised that almost nothing was said about this on the Internet. Therefore, I will try to describe this moment in as much detail as possible, and you will pay attention to it if you plan to travel around the city by car.

So, for example, the section of the road in the upper part of the central district is one-way from June 1st to September 15th, the movement is carried out from the coastline of the city towards the business center. The rest of the time, from September 16 to May 31, motorists can freely drive in both directions.

The second, no less important point is that the promenade of the small beach during the tourist season is closed daily from 20.00 to 1.30.

Why it is important to know: the fact is that during the day this area is an ordinary highway. Most of the cafes located here have their own parking lots, where you can leave your car if you decide to have a bite to eat. There is also a parking lot where you will most likely leave your car if you decide to go up to the Old Town. All this is quite convenient, except for one "but!". If, due to ignorance, you do not have time to leave this territory before 20.00, then you will not be able to do this until 1.30 at night, and you will find yourself in a trap. This is especially unpleasant if you come from another city for a day just to see the sights of Ulcinj.

If you know that you won’t have time to leave before 20.00, then it’s best to park your car somewhere else, without passing through the territory of the market, since this is where the road is blocked, it looks like this:

Be careful not to get into trouble.

Continue your travels

When leaving the city, a surprise awaits you, from here you can go wherever you want, by the way, have you already decided where? :)

Have something to add?

The most southern and hottest city with oriental flavor in Montenegro is Ulcinj.
While it is raining in the beautiful Bay of Kotor, the sun is shining in Ulcinj.
Already 217 sunny days a year. The climate here is actually milder and warmer.
The Adriatic Sea is of a different color here, the entrance is gentle and long, the beaches are sandy.
Although this city has been part of Montenegro since 1880, it is not felt here.
The Albanian language is everywhere, as are the sounds from the minaret of the mosque with the call to prayer.
1.

Although ... now you will misunderstand me - with 72% of Albanians living in Ulcinj, almost everyone here knows the Montenegrin language, there are Catholics and Orthodox, goods and services are cheaper here, and tourists are always welcome here. One of the proofs is a photo from the terrace of the apartments. It is located in the Old Town, the beaches are nearby, the view is gorgeous, the cost per day on the last day of spring was 25 euros for two. So what do you think?

2. Unexpectedly for myself, yesterday I made a tour of the city. As if forced ... I waited two hours for a friend while he worked. There was a soap dish in the bag, the weather was fine outside, why not find out how people live and how tourists are entertained? Here is a photo against the backdrop of Ulcinj for everyone who has been here.

3. I propose to take a walk around the Old City for a start. In Montenegro, no other city can boast such a luxurious citadel as Ulcinj. The walls are high and strong.

4. Ulcinj is a city with medieval pirate stories, where there were slave markets, where the architecture of Europe and the East was mixed, and from here we have a funny flavor today.

5. I just wandered aimlessly through the streets, eventually saw some of the inhabitants of the Old City. But it turns out that the fortress walls (rather, the past before the earthquake) once repulsed the attack of the Mongol horde.

6. Montenegrins and Albanians still live in the Old Town, although most of the housing is rented out to tourists in the summer.

7. I walked and walked and found garbage in the bay. Ai-ai-ai, to the Ulcinj authorities and those who crap!

8. But the bad can be found in any city, I suggest you continue to admire the beautiful!

9. Then I saw a spiral staircase next to these windows against the wall

10. Went down, and there ...

11. Beach and sunbeds! True, there are already 0 tourists. Either few people know about this place, or it’s too early to draw conclusions about the season ...

12. In general, the city was quiet and beautiful. I loved every flower.

13. At all restaurants, and there are enough of them here, many roses, lilies and other flowers are sure to be planted.

14. Not in the yard, but behind the fence of one house there was a cage for chickens and a rooster.

15. At that moment the house was heated with firewood, they lie on the ground on the right, and smoke comes out of the chimney. There is no central heating in Montenegro, we live in the old fashioned way... True, we have satellite TV and the Internet :)

16. Once people were sold on Ulcinj Square. The slave market existed in the 17th and 18th centuries. Pirates from Tunisia, Malta and Algeria brought slaves, and ancestors still live from black slaves.

17. Ulcinj was recaptured from Venice by the Turks in 1571. Since then, mosques have appeared here. On the right in the photo - just someone's house. I really like how they ennoble everything with flowers.

18. In the Municipality of Ulcinj, many signs and signs are duplicated in two languages ​​- Serbian and Albanian.

19. Renting apartments in almost all houses. No booking.com needed

20. Opposite the fortress walls and literally a hundred meters from the mosque is the Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas. It stands in an olive grove, the building is unusually plastered and whitewashed for us, and across the road is a large cemetery. I was amazed how it still stands there, in other countries such a tidbit by the sea and the Old Town would have been grabbed by someone for a villa or a hotel long ago.

21. The thickness of the fortress walls sometimes reaches 20 m.

22. This was already another entrance to the Old City, immediately behind it is a museum, some of the exhibits lie on the street on the territory of the former slave market. By the way, Ulcinj, after Dubrovnik and Venice, had at that time the 3rd largest fleet, piracy flourished here. Among the slaves there were a hundred blacks. Later they gained freedom, took the names of those families they served and became honorary citizens of Ulcinj.

23. The guy selling tickets became my guide for a while, while there were no tourists. I went to take a picture of those branches on the stones, and he made me take a picture of the entire wall, saying that these huge cobblestones below are already 2500 years old, this is the greatest value of the Old Town of Ulcinj.

24. He was also my photographer :) I am standing at the entrance to the Catholic Church, later converted into a mosque, and now it is a museum.

25. Here it is, the Church of St. Mary, to which a minaret was later added. In the earthquake of 79, it was badly damaged. And to the right of it, such sea panoramas with islands open up.

26. Walking around the Old Town is very pleasant, everything is in greenery and flowers.

27. I liked the exhibition of clothes in the museum, there are Montenegrin and Albanian outfits and wedding dresses with a veil.

28. In the Venetian era, two palaces were built in the Old Town - the luxurious Palazzo Venezia, which served as a residence for the Montenegrin rulers of Balsic, and the large Mljet house Yards of Balsic, now these are cozy hotels. True, which of the houses - I do not know ...

29. Remember I told you about the super location of the cemetery with ancestral graves, and so this was filmed in the same place, a meter further. Gorgeous views from their windows, I envy!

30. I go down to the city, I see how the guys are dismantling the roof of a dilapidated house. They started talking to me in Italian, which means they are Albanians. Everyone posed for me, stopped working :)))

31. The topic of rare cars was not spared. I now take pictures of them at every step and collect a collection.

32. Minibusty Polish Fiat

33. Came to the city beach. The entrance to the sea is very long, but the beach is with white healing sand.

34. It was hot, people were swimming and sunbathing.

36. Organized group kids, brought on a tour from somewhere. They spoke Serbian.

37. I went into a small park, very cozy, with benches and such beauty.

38. Oriental flavor in Ulcinj violates IT made of glass and concrete.

39. I really want to meet this wonderful sculptor who decorated the entire embankment with strange white things)))

40. Another monumental miracle of concrete rises above Ulcinj. Has no value, in my opinion. But it turns out that this is a monument to Freedom! It was installed by the communists more than 30 years ago, now this star seems ugly to the residents of Ulcinj. This is true only one third of the monument, that is, we do not see the final result of the idea, the monument was not completed. It was decided to build it to celebrate the liberation of Ulcinj from the German invaders on November 26, when they left the city. Construction was scandalous, money was collected from civil servants, etc.

41. When they began to leave Ulcinj, a young girl on a bike was attached in front of us. With the right posture, a bag on his shoulder, cut back and forth between the Magina. And someone else is afraid to go to this part of Montenegro, like women are all in headscarves and Muslims will rob them and sell them for organs :))) Down with stereotypes!

42. The road from the city to Velika Plazha (Big Beach) and Ada-Boyana.

43. The last day of spring was great for me, I swam a lot in the sea, managed to get a tan, watched the kitesurfers and took this photo essay for you.

44. A bit of history and thoughts out loud:
Founded 2500 years ago by the Illyrians, passed into the hands of the Romans, then renewed from military destruction by the Byzantine king Justinian, later, under the Serbs in the 12-14 centuries, Ulcinj began to flourish, it even had its own mint. Then the Venetians captured it, making it part of the province of "Albania Veneta", and in the 16th century it was here Ottoman state, and only at the Berlin Congress 134 years ago it was decided that Ulcinj would become part of Montenegro.

I think so, in another 200, or maybe 500 years, Albanian and Serbian can be forgotten in Ulcinj, and Miss Albania contests will no longer be held in the once Montenegrin city. Ulcinj will once again become part of some new empire. Nothing is eternal under the Moon! In the meantime, the entry to Montenegro for our tourists is visa-free, while the prices in Ulcinj for holidays are adequate, while this city pleases with the sun more often than others in the country, hurry up to visit it.

Although Ulcinj is primarily famous for its beautiful beaches, the attractions of this city and its surroundings also attract tourists here. The sights of Ulcinj are quite diverse, as there are many historical, cultural and natural sites.
What to see in Ulcinj? Below we will present you the main attractions of this southernmost city of Montenegro.

MORE INTERESTING ABOUT Ulcinj:

Old city

Located on a small promontory with walls up to 60 meters above sea level, the Old Town of Ulcinj is the number one attraction for everyone who comes to the southernmost city of Montenegro. The old city of Ulcinj is one of the oldest fortresses on the entire Adriatic coast with a history of more than 2500 years. In the Old Town of Ulcinj, traces of the most ancient civilizations that lived in this area have been preserved. The Illyrians, Romans, Greeks and Turks have left many traces of their presence in the fortress over the centuries. Currently, the Old Town of Ulcinj is the center of cultural and historical tourism in the region. In addition to the rich cultural and historical monuments, here are some of the the best restaurants and hotels in the southernmost city of Montenegro. The small streets still breathe the air of the old and charming period, and the locals have not changed their traditions and connection with the sea over the centuries.

The old town of Ulcinj is one of the most authentic places in Montenegro. He makes a big impression. It is worth mentioning that during the golden period of Ulcinj, when pirates ruled here, Ulcinj was the third largest city in the Adriatic. Miguel de Cervantes' book "Don Quixote", according to legend, was written on the basis of inspiration and experience that Cervantes received while in the Ulcinj prison.
Currently, the Old Town of Ulcinj is in the process of being included in the list of UNESCO sites.
In front of the entrance to the Old City there is a burial chamber, which is a special mark of the period of the Ottoman Empire. According to legend, the burial chamber testifies to the duel between two brothers or friends over the love of one woman. According to this story, two men fought to the death, and the winner of this duel was supposed to get the woman he loved. Unable to make a decision or even watch their struggle, according to legend, the young woman jumped out of the house and crashed to her death. Nevertheless, the duel of young people took place. One of them died in battle, and the other died a little later. The burial chamber at the site of their battle represents the holiness that, according to popular belief, radiates and heals.
Numerous locals, as well as tourists who pass through the Old City, throw a coin at the camera for good luck.

Ada Bojana

If you are interested in the main attractions of Ulcinj, then you should not lose sight of the islet of Ada Bojana. This is the southernmost part of Montenegro and Ulcinj municipality. When the boat of Anton Allegretti from Trogir sank near the mouth of the river, no one even thought that 130 years later an island would appear here, which would become the most famous nudist area in Europe.
The island of Ada Bojana is surrounded on two sides by the Bojana River, and on the one hand by the Adriatic Sea. Ada Bojana beach is the second largest beach in Ulcinj. This is a sandy beach that is frequented by nudists and true nature lovers. There are several fish restaurants on the western coast of the island of Ada Bojana and on the banks of the Bojana River, which are ready to serve fresh fish dishes to their guests at any time.

Lake Sas

The city of Sas and the lake of the same name next to it hold many secrets underwater and in ruins. Sas was a very powerful city of Madiaval, which, according to legend, had 365 churches (as well as the number of days in a year), and was destroyed twice during its history. After the first destruction by the Mongol army, the city was able to recover, but after the second destruction by the Turks, the city could not rise again from the ruins.
In recent years, some scholars have raised the theory that the Battle of Troy took place in the area. It is not known for sure whether this is true or not.
Lake Sas, after Lake Scutari, is the richest lake in Europe in terms of the number of bird species inhabited here (about 265 recorded bird species out of more than 500 that can be found in Europe).

Bay of Valdanos

Those tourists who are interested in the natural attractions of Ulcinj should pay attention to the Valdanos Cave, which is the old Ulcinj sailors' bay. Sailors returned here after long and exhausting voyages with food, drink or money from the sale of local products such as wine, olives, olive oil and fish. During the communist regime the bay of Valdanos and the land behind it with more than 60,000 olive trees were confiscated from its owners (bought for a very low prices), and a military center of the former Yugoslav National Army was established on this territory.
Valdanos Bay is a real gem not only of Ulcinj and Montenegro, but of the whole of Europe. It can be said that this is a natural health spa with fresh air, many mineral springs and therapeutic mud. In addition to these advantages, Valdanos bay is also known for its beach. Previously, only locals knew about it, but over time, even tourists discovered this place, and now they visit the area every year.