Oblun Eco Resort

First stop on a whistle-stop tour of this gorgeous corner of Montenegro might be Skadar Lake National Park (half an hour’s drive), where you can take out kayaks on the water, go hiking around the shoreline or visit wineries. To appreciate the drama of the landscape, navigate hairpin bends up to Pavlova Strana Viewpoint (20 minutes) for vistas over river meanders to tree-covered peaks. Spend family days out cuddling rescue donkeys at Donji Martinići (35 minutes), or visiting the deer at K9 Horse Riding and Wildlife Park (five minutes), where you can also trot through the countryside on well-behaved horses. If the kids are keen for days at the coast, head down to the lively pebble strand at Kamenovo (50 minutes) for escapades on pedal boats and games of beach volleyball. To get a feel for the laid-back city of Podgorica (20 minutes), join locals drinking coffee in Independence Square cafés. Have a wander around the historic Stara Varoš, a labyrinth of alleys dating back to Ottoman times and home to a couple of impressive mosques as well as a landmark church tower – one of the few buildings to survive World War II.