Bijela Holidays

Bijela is part of the Bay of Kotor, which Montenegrin locals have dubbed their version of the Norwegian fjords. The title comes courtesy of steep mountains, which wrap themselves around the water like natural walls. The town itself is right on the waterfront, so almost every hotel, bar and restaurant is in prime position to soak up the panoramas.

This place isn’t a long-established holiday spot, so you’ll get a good look at the country’s authentic appeal. Traditional tavernas, bakeries and souvenir shops spread out around the town centre, and the shorefront’s accessorised by a few pockets of sand and shingle. Most of the hotels are terracotta-topped townhouses, but you’ve got a couple of sleek modern numbers to add to the mix, as well.

There are some nice walking trails around the foot of the surrounding mountains, but the main daytripping fodder is across the bay in Kotor. The scenic drive takes about 45 minutes, and follows the shoreline, so you’ll have great views along the way. When you get there, you can see ancient Medieval walls, a Venetian palace and pretty cobblestoned plazas. You’ll pass a small port along the way, where car ferries cut the corner to save a bit of time.