The Blue Palace is one of those buildings that instantly catches your eye in the heart of Cetinje, Montenegro's old royal capital. Today it serves as the official residence of the President of Montenegro, but its story goes back to the late 19th century and the Petrović-Njegoš dynasty.

Wandering through Cetinje, a town ringed by mountains and packed with historic architecture, it's well worth pausing at this elegant late Empire-style building. Cetinje sits in a small valley near the Lovćen massif, so a stop at the palace pairs naturally with a hike into the surrounding hills - the views over the rugged karst landscape of Montenegro are striking in every season. Summers bring a lively flow of visitors, while winter gives the town a quieter, more intimate feel.

• Cetinje town centre - the palace sits in an easily reachable part of town, just a few minutes on foot from the main parking areas, easy walk
• Cetinje also makes a good base for further hikes up Mount Lovćen

• The building serves as the official residence of Montenegro's President, so interior visits may be restricted
• Built in 1894-1895 as the residence of Crown Prince Danilo

Fun fact: between the world wars the building housed the Cetinje Gymnasium, and during the socialist era it served as a gallery and museum - long before it returned to its role as a representative residence.