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The winter in Manchester was dragging on so I sought escape to sunnier climes.

Spain seemed an obvious place for a relaxing break. But just one image in a web search turned this into… Montenegro.

I picked a small historical town for a week’s holiday. So is it worth ditching the usual hot spots? FIND OUT MORE BELOW

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Montenegro is a small country which sits between Croatia and Albania on the Adriatic Sea, with a modest population of 617,000.

It has been welcoming tourists since the days of Yugoslavia from the 1970s and this has been a mainstay of the country’s economy since independence in 2006.

I flew direct from Manchester to Tivat, a town on the Bay of Kotor which is an arm of the Adriatic that snakes inland and is surrounded by steep mountains. Think a Norwegian fjord.

The image of Perast which spurred me to booking my trip was of the Hotel Heritage Grand, an exquisite five star property at the heart of the town, consisting of smart modern buildings, a restored palace and even an old church. 

I had a vast, comfortable room to myself, feasted on the sumptuous breakfast buffet and took relaxing dips in the indoor spa pool and rested on the sun loungers by the water’s edge.

Clamber Perast’s stairs and you’ll enjoy views like this

The hotel staff offered a consummate and friendly level of service, with even the manager stopping to chat on her rounds. 

If that isn’t for you, there are more modest accommodation options available in Perast, should you decide to make this town your base.

In short, it’s beautiful with its bayside setting and mountains in all directions. Honey-coloured stone from its Venetian heyday still stands, including the lofty St Nicholas belltower. Stairs lead up to an elevated view of Kotor Bay.

Even in early April, day trippers visit Perast making the waterfront quite busy. But after they melted away, I enjoyed relaxed dinners in the many waterside restaurants while watching some colourful sunsets.

Forget Spain?

If you’re looking for lively nightlife, Perast might disappoint you. It’s a peaceful spot and lends itself to relaxed, early nights or sitting outside nursing a coffee.

If you stay in Perast, you’re very close to a famous Kotor Bay attraction. A tiny island topped with a blue-domed church – Our Lady of the Rocks – is just a short and cheap boat ride away from the shore.

The island also boasts its own little lighthouse and can get very busy, so it’s worth taking the trip just after breakfast.

Is it a good move to swap a Spanish getaway for this Montenegrin town? True, you won’t get acres of golden sand here or raucous nightlife. But it boasts a majestic waterside setting and has a timeless elegance.

If, like me, you enjoy exploring and finding plenty to photograph, then Montenegro offers more. I’ll tell you about that in upcoming posts.