Date of publication 13/08/2025
Spain, Greece, and Montenegro: three perspectives on the Mediterranean
You might have arrived here searching for hotels in Mallorca or hotels in Crete. Or perhaps you’re planning your next holiday in Montenegro, with the idea of staying in hotels in Herceg Novi. Either way, there’s an invisible thread linking these three beach destinations. Follow it as you read this article to broaden your perspective across the breadth of the Mediterranean journey we’re about to take you on. The silvery shimmer of the waves will gradually bring it into view. Three viewpoints will guide you through Spain, Greece, and Montenegro.
Spain: art, flavor, and Mediterranean heritage
The Andalusian and Balearic Mediterranean: two coasts, one soul
From the Cádiz coastline to Ibiza’s secluded coves, the Mediterranean’s most hedonistic side comes alive on both shores. These destinations share a joyful, spontaneous spirit that keeps you anchored in the here and now, helping you leave everything else behind.
Cádiz offers nearly 140 kilometers of beaches, lined with beach bars, endless nights, and an unmistakable sense of joy—perfect for enjoying the sun and sea with friends. In places such as Tarifa, Bolonia, Los Caños de Meca, or exclusive Sancti Petri—home to some of the best hotels in Cádiz, particularly in the Chiclana de la Frontera area—you can connect with nature while practicing your favorite water sports, especially all kinds of surfing.
Defying the cliché, there are hotels in Ibiza that offer the peaceful retreat you never knew you needed. Yes, your moment of relaxation might come after a night out, but you’ll undoubtedly fall in love with the island’s quieter side. Take Canar, near Santa Eulalia and San Carlos—an area that has preserved its 1960s hippie spirit, surrounded by pine forests, hidden beaches, organic farms, and traditional payesa houses.
From flamenco to Miró: a legacy that breathes identity
Mediterranean culture is also about music with deep roots, avant-garde art, and the subtle threads that connect them. What do expressions like flamenco and the work of Joan Miró have in common? Quite simply, they both embody the same Mediterranean identity. They can be as modern as they are committed to preserving tradition. While flamenco continually evolves from the intergenerational heritage of Andalusia and Catalonia, artists like Miró left their unmistakable mark on places such as Barcelona and Mallorca, where galleries and museums are only the starting point for an emotional journey beyond convention. Today, modernist buildings, paintings, and sculptures enrich this legacy and pave the way for what is yet to come.
The Balearic island is also an ideal destination for a family experience. Stay in the best family hotels in Mallorca to explore its creative side with your loved ones.
Life in the squares: gastronomy, rhythms, and everyday rituals
Fishing villages and Spain’s most charming coastal cities—such as the capital of Málaga province—will quickly become your happy place by the sea. In Andalusia, the Mediterranean is experienced with all five senses in its streets, terraces, and harbors. Markets and food halls form the heart of community life—a meeting point for locals and visitors alike, inviting you to join in their customs without hesitation. Hotels in Málaga give you access to this world of daily rituals, where local life unfolds to a slow and steady rhythm.
And there’s more: these resorts are also the perfect setting to savor the region’s finest gastronomy—always paired with a traditional sweet wine. Málaga’s top 10 restaurants offer flavors of fresh seafood, seasonal vegetables, ajoblanco, and espetos. For more ideas, see this two-day Málaga guide.
Greece: cradle of myths, philosophy, and light
Athens and the islands: between timeless ruins and island life
This leg of the journey through the Greek Mediterranean begins in Athens, surrounded by its eternal ruins. In the vibrant capital, you can visit iconic landmarks such as the Parthenon, enjoy a long, leisurely meal beneath the shade of grapevines, and dance until dawn on open-air terraces overlooking its vast historical splendor.
From there, the islands await—home to some of the best hotels in Greece. From Athens, you can take a ferry to Crete and then travel by the same means to other island destinations such as Milos, Naxos, or Paros. Crete alone boasts over 300 beaches—a Mediterranean natural wonder where there’s no need to check the time, allowing your perception of beauty to expand without limits.
The Greek spirit: hospitality, food, and conversation
Traveling to Greece means coming into contact with its warmth, where hospitality, food, and conversation form a trio that will make you feel at home. Known as filoxenia—which could be translated as “love for strangers”—this celebrated Greek hospitality draws from the ancient concept of xenia, a bond considered a sacred duty for both host and guest. During your stay in hotels in Crete, you’ll have the chance to see how sharing a good conversation over a table filled with delicacies is one of the finest ways to practice it.
Cretan gastronomy is at the heart of this ritual. Traditional dishes such as dakos—barley bread topped with tomato, feta cheese, olives, oregano, and olive oil—or pork souvlaki, an island version of the gyros, offer a delicious way to immerse yourself in its rich culture. Discover more in this Crete travel guide.
From past to present: how Greece lives its legacy
Greek mythology is like a story told by the light of a campfire, under a star-filled sky, with the sound of the Mediterranean Sea in the background. Its legends have shaped much of Western thought as we know it today—not to mention its classical language. Delving into these tales, you may find that part of yourself recognizes them. Past and present intertwine in stories that explain the world through moral lessons and metaphor—something that will also captivate younger travelers.
Alongside unforgettable experiences at family hotels in Crete, the island is home to—and often the setting for—some of Greece’s most iconic myths. In the tale of the Minotaur, King Minos ordered the construction of an inescapable labyrinth guarded by a fearsome creature, half bull and half man. Many enemies fell victim to this deadly trap until the hero Theseus defeated the guardian and escaped unharmed. You can visit the ruins of Crete’s labyrinth during your stay, located next to the Palace of Knossos, the king’s sumptuous residence.
Montenegro: Balkan authenticity on the Adriatic
Bay of Kotor: where history meets the sea
On the Adriatic—part of the Mediterranean lying between Italy and the Balkans—the Montenegrin coast shines with its own distinct authenticity. It’s an exclusive yet understated destination, rich in nuances, history, and breathtaking landscapes. The Bay of Kotor, also known as Boka Kotorska, preserves its past as a maritime refuge in ancient times, when the Venetian Empire, of which it was part, fortified it to defend against enemy attacks. Visit to lose yourself while sailing through its hidden corners and exploring its adventurous heritage, staying in some of the most exceptional hotels in Montenegro.
The medieval city of Kotor, perched on a hillside above the bay, is your gateway to old-world elegance. It holds dual UNESCO World Heritage status, belonging both to the Natural and Cultural-Historical Region of Kotor and to the Venetian Works of Defense from the 16th and 17th centuries. Its universal value is measured not only in its cobblestone streets lined with monumental churches, museums, palaces, and centuries-old cafés, but also in the feelings it evokes. Strolling here is one of those unmissable experiences for any getaway.
Living traditions among monasteries and local markets
To continue discovering Montenegro’s cultural richness, we suggest staying in hotels in Herceg Novi, which surround this picturesque coastal city. Its name means “new castle.” Here, just a short distance from the Bay of Kotor, the Mediterranean’s vibrant energy flows between monasteries and local markets. Its beaches are equally remarkable, combining beauty with living traditions at the heart of the destination. A must-visit? The Savina Monastery, an unusual sanctuary located barely two kilometers from the city. It houses three churches that are true masterpieces of Mediterranean architecture in Baroque and Byzantine styles: two dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin, and one to Saint Sava, founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
The less-touristic Mediterranean: nature and culture without filters
Much like everything around her, the image of Elizabeth Taylor in Montenegro has reached us wrapped in an aura of mystery. The star fell in love with this Mediterranean country while escaping other destinations more popular among film icons of the time, such as the French Riviera or Monaco. What she sought was peace and privacy—a retreat from the spotlight during her periods of rest. And that is exactly what you’ll find if you choose to stay in hotels in Budva.
Soon after, Sophia Loren followed in her footsteps, and the Montenegrin Riviera became the epitome of discreet glamour. Other contemporary celebrities, such as Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sylvester Stallone, have also spent time here. This is the Mediterranean’s quieter face—a place of calm where luxury means pleasures like staying in a seaside resort surrounded by nature, letting yourself be cared for, and embracing the dolce far niente so gracefully practiced by its Italian neighbors. It may sound obvious, but this travel philosophy lies at the very heart of the unfiltered (because it needs no filters) essence of Mediterranean culture in its purest form.
Three cultures, one sea: what unites Spain, Greece, and Montenegro
Spain, Greece, and Montenegro—three cultures, one sea. Without resorting to clichés, the Mediterranean way of life shares certain traits regardless of the country. This is the first clue in strengthening the bond and uncovering what truly connects them. We’ve already touched on the hedonism and creativity of destinations like the Balearic Islands and Andalusia; the warmth of the Greek people and the enduring myths of Ancient Greece, from Athens to Crete; and the elegance and natural charm of the Bay of Kotor, Budva, and Herceg Novi, locations that give Montenegro its soul. But there is something more.
What makes the Mediterranean a shared identity?
Places are often defined by their geography. In this sense, the Mediterranean landscape could well be seen as the point of connection between these three destinations—near yet far; different in location, yet with beaches and scenery that, in some way, mirror one another in a shared belief in beauty. But their bond goes further. It transcends the physical and permeates the entire experience.
The Mediterranean identity is light, hospitality, and sophistication. A warm welcome, a knowing glance, a small detail that changes everything—in Spain, Greece, and Montenegro, your coastal escapes will feel different not because of the sights you visit or the activities you plan, but because of their human landscapes. And that’s something no map can capture. Make space for it within yourself with a journey that might begin at those hotels in Cádiz mentioned earlier (as one possible starting point) and will almost certainly end far beyond familiar paths.
