30 April, 2018
Ulcinj, Montenegro.
With days that feel like summer tantalising us before the rain returns with vengeance, it's hard not to start daydreaming about getaways filled with sun, sand and icy rosé. Ulcinj, a small Montenegrin town on the Adriatic coast, provides all of these for a price that would be impossible to find in seaside Spain or Italy. The old town's winding medieval streets lined with knotted olive trees meet a shimmering coast that will make you forget that Santorini and Menorca were ever options.
Home to a craggy stretch of coastline bordered by aquamarine waves, this small town is known for both seaside relaxation and hardcore watersports. Rent a kitesurf and jet along the shoreline that professionals hailing from Rio to Melbourne travel to in order to catch the best wind gusts and waves. Decompress with a mai tai at Provocateur Beach Bar before indulging in a four-hour seafood extravaganza come dinnertime.
Ulcinj is one of Montenegro's most beautiful medieval towns, so make sure to take a few hours off from sunbathing for a leisurely lunch at the former Venetian Palace, where you can now rent a room. For a slightly more unusual activity, check out Ulcinjska Salina to catch a glimpse of flamingos sunning themselves.
That friend who is just as happy spending hours lying on the beach as trying their hand at a new watersport, who will join you in a book and early bed or dance until sunrise.
Watersports pros and in-the-know former Ibiza-goers who got sick of the crowds.
Your highest heels - the bouncers at most of the city's nightclubs won't look twice if you aren't dressed to the nines.
Fly into Podgorica Airport. Once you've touched down, hop on the bus to Ulcinj (which has very frequent departures) to get there in an hour and 45 minutes.
