The small Balkan nation of Montenegro, on the Adriatic coast, could solely have a inhabitants of simply over 600,000 and it could solely take 3 hours to drive from north to south – but it surely punches far above its weight on this planet of tourism.
The jewel within the crown of this lovely nation is the Bay of Kotor. Assume Norwegian fjord, meets Croatian climate, with fortified cities and limitless pure magnificence.
The slender bay is surrounded by monumental mountains on all sides, with the historic port city of Kotor nestled into its south-western nook – now a UNESCO World Heritage web site.
Constructed initially by the Romans and fortified by the Venetians, it’s one of the vital spectacular, and nonetheless full, fortified cities in the entire of Europe.
The attractive city is shrouded by big mountains, with mountain climbing paths winding their means straight out its rear and straight up into the excessive peaks.
The Outdated City’s community of tight alley methods are lined by lovely sandstone buildings, church buildings, tasty native eating places and craft retailers. It’s a postcard excellent setting and a spot we’re very keen on.
So be a part of us as we discover the very best issues to do in Kotor….
Finest Issues To Do In Kotor
#1. Wander the Outdated City streets
The Outdated City of Kotor is a densely packed, historic neighbourhood, which is surrounded by water on three sides and has steep mountains to its rear.
It nonetheless has its full set of walled fortifications, which wrap round three sides of the Venetian masterpiece, with three unique gated entrances – incomes it UNESCO World Heritage standing.
Stroll inside and also you’re handled to one among most spectacular fortified cities in Europe, with plenty of attractive squares and a big community of slender streets and alleyways.
We suggest getting misplaced within the labyrinth of passageways and taking in a shocking piece of residing historical past, full with tasty eating places, craft retailers, bars and cafes.
Many historic walled cities have hollowed out as locals have been priced out attributable to mass tourism, however not Kotor.
The city may be very a lot nonetheless a residing, respiration and dealing city, which nonetheless has a substantial amount of authenticity. Our first port of name could be to frequent your self with this lovely a part of the area.
#2. Hike up above Kotor Outdated City
One in every of Kotor’s, and the encompassing bay’s, largest attracts is the realm’s gorgeous pure magnificence.
The entire area is outlined by its mountainous panorama, with dramatic, Alpine fashion, peaks falling sharply right down to the ocean.
The surroundings is totally breath taking and it rivals any southern-European coastal setting.
The huge variety of excessive peaks makes it excellent mountain climbing territory and the realm is actually equipped for it, with many tons of of kilometres of mountain climbing paths weaving up the mountains straight from the centre of Kotor.
There are routes for a lot of completely different skills, from all day or multi-day adventures, to brief household hikes.
Irrespective of which you go for you’ll be handled to jaw-dropping views over the city, the bay and across the surrounding mountains.
One of the well-liked known as “the ladder of Kotor”, which leads up the mountain to the left of a river, by the northern entrance to the Outdated City.
The trail snakes up the mountain facet and there are numerous stopping factors or locations to show again, together with a small mountain hut the place an aged native couple promote drinks and meals, in a location which supplies panoramic views throughout the bay.
You possibly can flip again right here if you wish to or proceed on, snaking larger and better up the mountain facet and off into the forests and nationwide parks behind.
Which ever choice you go for it will likely be a very memorable day.
#3. Go to the city’s fortress
Sitting excessive up above the Outdated City is Kotor’s imposing fortress, known as San Giovanni – an astonishing feat of engineering, with fortifications weaving their means up the mountain, at not possible angles.
The location has been fortified because the 6th century and has been tailored, added to and renovated many instances over the continuing centuries.
It’s a magical place to discover and an unbelievable lasting of instance of the turbulent instances the area has gone by.
It prices round $10 to go to the fortress by the official principal gate and then you definately weave your means up the mountain from contained in the fortress’s partitions.
Nevertheless, many individuals get pleasure from strolling up the mountain facet on the “ladder of Kotor” path, which we’ve already talked about, after which climbing in by the fortress’s rear – one for the adventurous souls amongst us.
Which ever route you select, you’ll be handled to lovely views throughout the Outdated City and the Bay of Kotor.
#4. Hire a ship
The folks of Kotor dwell and breathe each mountains and the ocean. It’s not solely ingrained within the inhabitants’s historical past, however each are very a lot a part of every day life in the present day too.
The waters within the Bay of Kotor are a hive of exercise day-after-day, with fishermen going out to catch lovely native produce, together with folks commuting to completely different components of the bay by boat and pleasure crafts taking vacationers out for the day
That’s coupled with the arrival of cruise liners in recent times and larger tremendous yachts in the summertime. Why not get a distinct perspective of the bay, and its environment, and head out on the water by boat.
There are a lot of rental firms providing guided excursions across the gorgeous bay, with costs (notably outdoors the excessive summer time season) nonetheless very cheap.
#5. Kayak or paddleboard within the bay
If you happen to choose shifting at a extra leisurely tempo, then head out into the bay on a paddleboard or kayak.
It’s a beautiful approach to get correctly acquainted with the realm and get an actual really feel for the imposing mountains throughout the bay.
The bay’s waters are largely flat, as a result of sheltered and guarded nature of it, other than the wake of passing boats.
It creates a pleasant and protected setting out on the water, which can also be household pleasant. There are a lot of firms providing kayak and paddleboard rental on Kotor’s seashore.
#6. Go to an area mussel farm
Montenegro’s heat local weather and the shallow waters within the Bay of Kotor create excellent circumstances for rising and rearing all kinds of seafood.
Amongst many native specialities are extremely tasty mussels.
The shell fish are on the market everywhere in the area, in lovely native seafood eating places, so that you don’t should go far with out having a style of those beauties.
Nevertheless, you possibly can go one additional and go to one of many many native mussel farms, which encompass the bay – the place you possibly can dine proper by the waterside.
Right here native fisherman exit on small boats and drag up pots, coated in mussels, earlier than cooking them in entrance of you and serving native wine.
A really particular culinary expertise, which we extremely suggest.
#7. Go to a jazz gig
That is one among our hidden favourites in Kotor. Within the centre of the Outdated City, hidden down just a few small alleyways, you’ll come to an open-air jazz membership.
All year long Jazz Membership Evergreen hosts openair concert events at weekends, in a gorgeous sq. which is surrounded by historic buildings.
Even within the chillier months music followers end up to take a seat below heaters with blankets and watch native jazz musicians ply their commerce.
It’s a agency Kotor favorite of ours.
#8. Dance the night time away
If jazz is somewhat sluggish paced for you, don’t fear. Beneath the Outdated City there is a gigantic nightclub known as Maximus, which hosts massive DJ occasions all year long.
These run nearly each night time in the course of the peak summer time season, with huge names within the Balkan digital music scene taking to the decks.
The raves aren’t fairly as frequent throughout winter, however there are nonetheless occasions at the least each different week.
On this quaint Outdated City you wouldn’t know the venue even existed, however below the historic streets, whereas many are sleeping, ravers are dancing by the night time.
#9. Head to the highest of Mount Lovćen
Sitting excessive up within the mountains behind Kotor is Mount Lovćen, one of many tallest mountains in the entire of Montenegro.
It’s a well-liked place to go to, with many individuals selecting to take guided bus journeys to its peak or visiting by automobile.
In the meantime, the fitter vacationers can hike from Kotor’s Outdated City proper as much as the highest of the 1,749m excessive mountain.
So long as the climate is in your facet you’ll be handled to unbelievable panoramic views throughout a big swath of Montenegro and on a really clear day you possibly can even see the coast of Italy throughout the Adriatic.
One other actually memorable place on this lovely area.
#10. Eat the native seafood
We’ve already touched upon the scrumptious mussels you possibly can eat in Kotor, but it surely’s removed from simply mussels that are value sampling.
The realm has a wealthy fishing heritage and nonetheless to today the Bay of Kotor is filled with fishermen taking to the ocean to catch tasty native produce.
There are additionally plenty of massive native fish farms, together with the mussel farms we’ve already talked about.
From squid and lobster, to white fish and mussels – there are loads of tasty delights which completely should be tried. job then that there are numerous unbelievable native seafood eating places within the space.
#11. Swim & hit the seashore
It will probably get actually quite toasty in Kotor over the summer time months, very toasty actually. Even in spring and autumn it will possibly attain the mid-20s, so cooling off is a should. Fortunately Kotor and the bay have many pretty swimming spots.
You don’t should go removed from Kotor Outdated City to have a dip – the city has a small seashore, which is lined by cafes, eating places and bars.
Right here you possibly can cool off whereas surrounded by lovely mountains on all sides.
#12. Cycle to Porto Montenegro
With such pure magnificence on this space, it could be a disgrace to spend your time travelling round by automobile. One in every of our high suggestions is to cycle across the western facet of the bay and round a headland to Porto Montenegro.
The journey is round 20km in a single course, alongside a reasonably quiet highway lined by historic little villages and tiny ports.
On the finish you’ll attain Montenegro’s showcase port, known as Porto Montenegro. The realm was a former Yugoslav army base, however has been accomplished reworked.
Now it’s a playground for the wealthy and well-known, with superyachts lining its harbour, excessive finish eating places and designer retailers, together with boutique resorts and fancy flats.
Though very completely different to Kotor and its historic Outdated City, you possibly can choose up a really good meal within the space – simply what you want after a protracted cycle.
#13. Go to a legendry meat restaurant
Kotor is house to a legendry BBQ restaurant and meat store known as BBQ Tanjga. It’s a no thrills vacation spot, however you can be handled to one of many tastiest and most reasonably priced meals in Kotor.
The small store and restaurant specialises in tasty native meat produce, with locals flocking to the shop to select up meat to cook dinner at house or for a lunch-time sandwich.
You may also dine at a small variety of tables inside, the place you possibly can eat beastly, gluttonous feasts. The meals just isn’t solely extremely tasty, but it surely’s superb worth too, which isn’t at all times the case round this well-liked area.
The employees are additionally tremendous pleasant and it makes for an excellent, native, eating expertise.
#14. Stand up into the forests
There are loads of uncovered mountains round Kotor, however there are additionally dense forests. Getting up into the forests is an absolute should whereas within the space.
Not solely is it sensible to be amongst the bushes, however the forests are additionally a haven for wildlife.
Our favorite time to go to the forests is in Autumn, as the colors start to vary. There are a lot of mountain climbing routes, which lead by native forests, however our favorite is on the alternative facet of the bay to Kotor Outdated City.
The route leads from the water’s edge as much as Vrmac Fort, which is hidden among the many bushes. Right here you may get lovely views throughout to Tivat and the Adriatic, in addition to down in the direction of Kotor Bay.
#15. Stroll town’s Outdated City partitions
Though town’s Outdated City is an impressive place to wander round at floor stage, it’s much more spectacular when strolling alongside the fortified partitions.
There’s a full walkway, which loops round three sides of the Outdated City, on the highest of the partitions themselves. It’s a good way to see the city, whereas additionally searching in the direction of the ocean.
It additionally provides you an extra appreciation of the immense feat of engineering, which Kotor undoubtedly is.
You possibly can start the Outdated City partitions stroll from both the northern or southern gateway to the city and even higher – it’s fully free.
Last Ideas
Kotor is a city steeped in historical past and formed by its rugged pure magnificence.
Not solely does it have an Outdated City to rival probably the most well-known historic and fortified cities round Europe, but it surely additionally has Alpine fashion surroundings and Croatian’esque seaside magnificence.
It’s a very magical place, which is fascinating and awe inspiring. The realm is formed by its dramatic mountains and the ocean, with many locals retaining their ardour for each.
There aren’t many locations in Europe the place you may get a style of rural mountain life and a small fishing neighborhood on the identical time, whereas additionally absorbing elements of Mediterranean high-life.
It’s a very numerous place, which has one thing for everybody.
We completely love this lovely a part of Montenegro and consider it’ll take your breath away, simply because it has for us.
We hope you loved our information to the very best issues to do in Kotor – all that you must do now’s go to.
