- Let's take a look at the map
- How New Year is celebrated in Montenegro
- To be continued…
- Useful information for travelers
Like other Balkan countries, Montenegro is hospitable, cozy and hospitable, no matter what time of the year you fly to Tivat or Podgorica. Hot summer resorts in winter acquire a special charm, and not only adherents of winter sports rush to celebrate the New Year in Montenegro, but also admirers of delicious food, a cozy atmosphere and leisurely walks along the promenade of the Adriatic Sea, which, even in January, does not lose its charm and special aquamarine shade. …
Let's take a look at the map
On the globe, Montenegro can be found in the central part of the western coast of the Balkan Peninsula. The country's territory is divided into three conditional regions:
- Adriatic coast with a typical Mediterranean climate. Winter is short and mild here. In December and January, the thermometers at the beach resorts of Montenegro do not drop below + 3-5 ° С. The resort of Budva is considered one of the warmest and sunniest cities in the Mediterranean in winter, and therefore a New Year's holiday on the Montenegrin coast will bring you undoubted pleasure even without swimming in the sea.
- The Skadar basin with the lake of the same name is also located in the Mediterranean climate zone. In winter, snow can fall here, but most often precipitation occurs in the form of rain. The average January temperature is + 7 ° С.
- The mountainous part of the country is an area with a large amount of precipitation falling in the form of snow in the winter. Thanks to this, the New Year at the ski resorts of Montenegro meets a lot of tourists every year, including those from Russia. The season starts in early December, when reliable snow cover is established on the main routes. The average daily temperature in January is about -5 ° C on the slopes of Zabljak and Kolashin.
The large number of annual hours of sunshine in Montenegro is another reason to go to the Balkans for the winter holidays. You will be provided with a good mood and a sea of positive for several months in advance!
How New Year is celebrated in Montenegro
The Republic of Montenegro adheres to approximately the same holiday winter schedule as Russia, and therefore there is absolutely no dissonance among compatriots here. First comes New Year, then Christmas, then Old New Year and several other holidays in between.
Montenegrins begin to dress up streets and houses, offices and shops in early December. Festive illumination and decorated trees, New Year's fairs and festivals - all this is present in every town in the country to the fullest.
The first to come to the Montenegrin land is the New Year. He is greeted at generously set tables. The hostesses have been working on the preparation and implementation of the festive menu for more than one day. New Year's dishes of Montenegrins - fragrant smoked hams, homemade cheeses, minced meat sausages "/>
Unlike other countries, Montenegro prefers oak as a New Year symbol. Young oaks are called "badnyak" and on New Year's Eve it is customary to burn it for good luck. Recently, Montenegrins have been using oak branches for these purposes.
After dinner, residents of cities and villages take to the streets and try to get to the main square before midnight, where after the striking of the clock fireworks start and invited professional or amateur musicians, artists or singers perform.
To be continued…
One of the important rules of the festive New Year's table in Montenegro is the absence of poultry dishes. Locals believe that this is how you can let happiness out of your home.
But on January 2, they celebrate domestic birds, arranging the Chicken Christmas holiday. The bird receives a lot of delicious food, and the first guest who comes to congratulate the hosts is declared an anointed chicken and receives special honors, gifts and treats. An important sign of this day is snow or rain. If there is rainfall on Chicken Christmas, the year promises to be fruitful.
The next day off in winter is Orthodox Christmas, which Montenegro celebrates on January 7th.
On the evening of January 13th, it is the turn of the Old New Year. It is celebrated widely and everywhere, and this custom makes Montenegrins in common with Russian residents unusually, because even the combination of the words "/>
Useful information for travelers
In winter, charter flights to Montenegro are canceled and you will have to fly regularly to celebrate the New Year:
Moscow and Tivat are directly connected by S7 and Globus Airlines. Both airlines start from Domodedovo, and the journey takes about 3.5 hours. The price of tickets for the New Year holidays is approximately 270 euros round trip
If you decide to travel to Montenegro by your own car, pay attention to the importance of observing traffic rules. Violation of them can cause trouble with the traffic police. In numbers, the expenses during the trip will look something like this:
- The average cost of a liter of petrol is 1.20 euros. You will find the cheapest fuel at self-service gas stations and at gas stations near large shopping centers.
- There are no toll roads in the country, but you will have to pay about 3 euros to travel through the Sozin tunnel.
- When traveling from Budva to Hertsog Novi, you can take a ferry that connects the banks of the Veriga Strait. The issue price is 5 euros. The time and distance saved are 30 minutes and 40 km respectively.
Remember that the use of radar detectors is prohibited in Europe. Even if they are in the car when they are turned off, you can get a fine from 150 to 1000 euros. But a reflective vest in your car must be mandatory, as well as special devices for transporting children if you are traveling with younger family members.
The ski season on the slopes of the Montenegrin winter resorts usually begins in early December. It is worth booking places in hotels in advance, because pleasant prices for services are increasingly becoming a decisive moment for tourists when choosing a European country where it is worth relaxing during the winter holidays. Montenegro still pleases with the low cost of ski passes and hotel accommodation with a sufficiently high level of preparation of tracks and hotel service.
