Risan/Kotor/Tivat, Montenegro

Montenegro is a breathtaking country.  The black mountains (where the name Montenegro came from) seem to just fall into the Adriatic Sea.  All three cities are along the Bay of Kotor. All three are definitely worth visiting. The small coastline is nestled between Croatia and Albania. Montenegro was originally part of Yugoslavia until the breakup in the 1980-90s, but it wasn't until 2002 that Montenegro became an independent country. Risan is the oldest settlement in Montenegro dating back to the Bronze Age.

The overwhelming vibe in Montenegro is peaceful beauty.  Kotor is a small city, with the "old city" inside.  Old Town is completely walled and filled with lots of shops, restaurants and hotels.  The shopkeepers are super friendly, and they offer some really nice high-end clothing, handbags and jewelry - as well as the usual souvenirs.  (Beware, I hear they also have a lot of knockoffs.)  It also has a lively harbor where you can take boat tours of Kotor Bay as well as Blue Cave and the submarine tunnels. Risan is a village-like town, very small, very quaint. There's a couple of small bodega markets and one small grocer, a few restaurants, some churches, beautiful buildings, ruins, and those gorgeous views of Kotor Bay and the mountains. Just a short cab ride or hour walk takes you to Presat, another village with more of the same.  Presat has a more active harbor where you can take a boat tour of the bay, including a stop at Our Lady of the Rocks (but don't stop at St George's islet, though - it's said to carry a curse if you step foot on it). Tivat is the most cosmopolitan of the three and has a small airport. Gorgeous hotels with gorgeous views. You can't go wrong. Montenegro is also known for its magnificent national park system (Durmitor, Biogradska Gora, Prokletije, Lovcen, Lake Skadar) offering amazing some amazing hiking and camping. Montenegro is great for the outdoorsy set.