This Charming Seaside Town In Montenegro Is Perfect For A Scenic Day Trip From Croatia

One of the hottest destinations in Europe is the Dalmatian Coast, that dynamic network of cliffs and inlets along the Adriatic Sea. Each year, millions of tourists make their way to Croatia to walk narrow streets, kayak the sky-blue waters, and admire the terra cotta roofs from quaint cafes. Medieval cities like Dubrovnik and Split are set against tear-jerkingly beautiful backdrops, and you're never far from a grilled fish or bottle of Ožujsko lager. Long after the Cold War and chaotic collapse of Yugoslavia, Croatia has become a magnet for carefree tourists in search of a good tan. Curious? Here are the 11 most beautiful places in Croatia.

But just south of Croatia is another country, so small that many travelers don't even know it exists. Montenegro is wedged between five other nations, and its mountainous terrain is home to only about 600,000 people. Yet Montenegrins have asserted a distinct national character for about 500 years, and ever since becoming a sovereign nation in 2006, Montenegro has put its 182 miles of coastline to good use. More and more travelers are finding themselves in this dramatic landscape, where the eponymous mountains rise all around, and their slopes and valleys are dotted with timeless villages.

One of those communities is Herceg Novi, a seaside town of 33,000 people nestled into the Bay of Kotor. Just a stone's throw from the Croatian border — and a 90-minute bus ride from Dubrovnik — Herceg Novi makes for a scenic day trip from Croatia. The dense old town and ring of land are full of activities, and ambitious travelers can conveniently add another name to their list of visited nations.

Founded in the 14th century, Herceg Novi has a storybook aesthetic, with tile roofs, stone and plaster walls, and a castle-like clock tower in its center. An actual fortress, known as Kanli Kula, stands at the top of a high hill; this semi-ruined structure retains the outlines of its thick walls and towers, but the interior was more recently transformed into an outdoor performance space, with elegant terraced seating crafted from stone.

The venue is used to stage concerts, operas, and other live events, all under the open sky. Kanli Kula was built during the 200-year period of Ottoman rule, after which the Venetians took over; as visitors to Montenegro soon learn, many invaders have claimed the country as their own. The Savina Monastery is a beautiful stone homage to Serbian Orthodox Christianity, and because of Herceg Novi's strategic location, the remains of several additional forts are located across the bay.

Herceg Novi is beloved for its waterfront; you can take a walk down the Pet Danica esplanade or frequent one of the many beaches. Two of the more unusual attractions are coastal but subterranean: Take a motorboat ride to the Blue Cave, a vast opening in the cliffs where the water glows electric blue. Visitors can swim and snorkel inside this surreal grotto; depending on the sun, reflected light may paint the rock faces blue as well. On the other side of the same peninsula is the Submarine Tunnel, a corridor that was burrowed into the cliffs by order of Yugoslavia's communist government. The concrete entrance and vaulted ceiling still look imposing, though nowadays tourists can splash around in this secret hideaway.

Lots of travelers will spend the day in Herceg Novi and return to their Croatian hotels by nightfall. Note that crossing Balkan borders in a rental car can get tricky, and many visitors avoid it; taxi drivers routinely pass between Croatia and Montenegro, and this is a common trip from the airport in Dubrovnik. You could also stay in Herceg Novi; the town is jam packed with hotels and guesthouses, and you should easily find a room for under $100 per night. The town has its share of luxury resorts, if you decide to splurge on decadent rooms and ocean views. 

To explore the country, you could drive or hop a bus to Podgorica, Montenegro's capital, which lies about three hours away. If you want to stick to the Bay of Kotor, the underrated town of Perast offers a relaxed, picture-perfect vacation, and the sunny port town of Tivat feels like a hidden riviera, with its mountain views and mega yachts.

The average elevation in Montenegro is over 3,000 feet above sea level; the highlands are famous for their hiking and rugged biking routes, and many travelers find themselves meandering from village to village. Montenegro isn't a big country, but packs a lot into its 5,300 square miles. And from there, you're just a border-crossing away from Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, or Bosnia.