Ulcinj

Montenegro's southernmost coastal town, Ulcinj has a café and restaurant scene that punches well above its size, alongside a beach, a lake, and Ada Bojana Island. The old castle, parts of which date back two millennia, reflects a layered history: Illyrian, Roman, Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman. Under Ottoman rule — which lasted more than 300 years — hammams, mosques, and a clock tower were built; the town counts dozens of mosques today. In 1673, the self-proclaimed Jewish messiah Sabbatai Zevi was exiled here from Istanbul.

• Population10,828
• Nearest water2.9 km
• Nearest mountain2.8 km