Delicious local produce
Local food is one of the pleasures of a trip to Montenegro. One of the specialities to try (and to bring back vacuum-packed in your suitcases) is dried ham called Montenegrin prosciutto(Njeguški pršut). As a Mediterranean country, olive oil and olives are of excellent quality, especially in the south in and around Bar. Dried figs(suve smokve) are also delicious and keep well in the suitcase.
Whether from the north or the south, the quality of Montenegrin artisan cheeses is undeniable, as the animals live in the wild. Cow's milk kajmak is creamy and goes well with many dishes, but is also eaten as a spread on bread. In northern Montenegro, you'll find "whole cheese" made from cow's and sheep's milk. In the south, you can try goat's cheese koziji sir. A little further inland, the cheeses of Pljevlja, Kolašin and Cevo are delicious. Finally, Njeguši cheese is reminiscent of our mountain tomme.
Montenegrin grape vinegar, which is particularly acidic, is produced all over the country. It's easy to find in souvenir stores, but we recommend buying it at small markets. You can also pack a bottle or two of wine, preferably a good local red vranac, but also a delicious brandy, Rakija, typical of the Balkans.
Brojanica and spirituality
For a typical gift, a brojanica is a small, richly decorated prayer-counting bracelet, available for women, men and children, and can be used as jewelry. You'll easily find them in churches and monasteries, which also sell honeys, jams, olive oils, brandies, sweet wines and natural cosmetics.
Local craftsmanship
If you're looking to furnish your home with traditional curtains or rugs, stop by Niti in the northeast, known for its handmade furniture and the ćilim is a woven rug with geometric patterns and shimmering colors and its clothing.
Another souvenir: the kapa, a traditional red and black headdress. The black of the kapa represents the past and the red the battles fought against the Ottomans. The kapa is now part of Montenegro's national costume. You'll also find period jewelry and costumes in antique stores in Kotor and Pranj.
To keep warm at home in winter, don't leave without handmade wool socks called popke or priglavci (knitted in the north, in Pljevlja).
Kitchen utensils and musical instruments
In the markets of northern towns like Rožaje and on the coast, you'll also find olive wood objects and utensils for your home or for a decorative gift. If you're a coffee lover, take an interest in the džezva, a traditional copper vessel with a long stem used to make Turkish-style coffee, which can be bought with a packet of freshly ground local coffee.
For music lovers, you can opt for a gusle (or gusle in Montenegrin), which is a single-string fiddle, the traditional Serbian instrument used to accompany heroic epics and poems.
