When it comes to booking a holiday, finding the perfect destination that ticks all your boxes can be a challenge. However, one woman insists that an often overlooked European country has everything you could possibly want.

Just a three-hour flight from the UK, Montenegro offers stunning hiking trails, charming towns, beautiful beaches and majestic mountains. Despite its small size and relatively recent independence – sandwiched between Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, Albania, and Herzegovina – tourists are hailing it as an “underrated” gem worth exploring.

Travel content creator Em, who visited 12 countries last year, is adamant that Montenegro is her “favourite place ever”. Known for her budget travel tips on TikTok, Em recently revealed she managed to fly there and back for just £35 with Wizz Air in June.

She also recommends taking a day trip to Kotor, which she admits is slightly pricier but “a little bit more expensive but 100% worth the visit”.

Em was taken aback by how peaceful it was, commenting: “I feel like if this was in Greece or Italy, it would be absolutely packed. The only thing I would say is make sure to bring water shoes as some of the stones can be quite sharp and I’m pretty sure I saw a sea urchin.”

She added: “We loved wandering around the Old Town and you can walk up on these old city walls. Make sure to grab a €3 slice of pizza from Luka’s for lunch.”

The internet is teeming with excitement for Montenegro, the hot new summer destination according to enthusiasts online. One admirer gushed: “Montenegro best summer destination in Europe without a doubt.”

Another shared: “Glad we did Montenegro two years ago… our favourite country in the world.”

And it’s clear the Balkan hotspot is ticking boxes on travel bucket lists, as one eager commenter noted: “Montenegro has been on my bucket list for years.” Another said: “Montenegro has been on my wish list for a while.”

How to get to Montenegro from the UK

Travellers are spoilt for choice with direct flights taking off from London Gatwick Airport, London Stansted Airport, and Manchester Airport according to Booking.com, which boasts a listing of 19 airlines jetting off to this sought-after getaway.

If you fancy a flight path straight into the heart of Montenegrin culture, set your sights on Podgorica Airport, situated in one of the nation’s most cosmopolitan cities. Alternatively, consider touching down at Dubrovnik Airport in Croatia to dip into Montenegrin territory with ease owing to the plentiful UK flights to Dubrovnik.

Once you land in captivating Montenegro, traverse its terrains by car, coach or if you’re feeling adventurous, lace up and strike out on foot.