Kotor
Kotor is a coastal town in Montenegro. It is located in a most secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The town has a population of 13,510, and is administrative center of Kotor municipality. The old Mediterranean port of Kotor, surrounded by an impressive city wall built by House of Nemanjic, is very well preserved and protected by UNESCO. Between 1420 and 1797, Kotor and its surroundings were under the rule of the Republic of Venice and the Venetian influence remains among the architectural influences.
“In spring or Autumn, the most beautiful seasons throughout Montenegro, the city (Kotor) is held spellbound while the sun slips minute by minute down the jagged face of rock, bathing granite and marble in a honeyglowed.”
The Boka Kotorska (Gulf of Kotor), one of the most indented parts of the Adriatic Sea is sometimes called the southern-most fjord in Europe, although it is actually a submerged river canyon. With the nearly overhanging limestone cliffs of Orjen and Lovcen one of the great Mediterranean landscapes is created. In recent years, Kotor has seen a steady increase in tourists attracted by both the natural beauty of the Boka Kotorska and the old town of Kotor itself.
History of Kotor
Kotor, first mentioned in 168 BC, was settled during Ancient Roman times, when it was known as Acruvium, Ascrivium, or Ascruvium and was part of the Roman province of Dalmatia. Kotor has been fortified since the early Middle Ages, when Emperor Justinian built a fortress above Ascrivium in AD 535, after expelling the Goths , and a second town probably grew up on the heights round it, for Constantine Porphyrogenitus, in the 10th century, alludes to Lower Cattaro. The city was plundered by the Saracens in 840.
In 1002, the city suffered damage under occupation of the First Bulgarian Empire , and in the following year it was ceded to Serbia by the Bulgarian Tsar Samuil, but the locals revolted, in alliance with Ragusa (Dubrovnik), and only submitted in 1184, as a protected state, preserving intact its republican institutions, and its right to conclude treaties and engage in war. It was already an episcopal see, and, in the 13th century, Dominican and Franciscan monasteries were established to check the spread of Bogomilism.
In 1185, on his campaign to annex Zeta, Serbian Duke Stefan Nemanja entered Kotor triumphantly which surrendered to him peacefully. He spared the City and built in it an impressive Chateu. In the 14th century the commerce of Cattaro, as the city was then called, rivaled that of the nearby Republic of Ragusa, and provoked the jealousy of Venice. The downfall of Serbia in 1389 left the city without a guardian, and, after being seized and abandoned by the Republic of Venice and Kingdom of Hungary in turn, it passed under Venetian rule in 1420.Kotor was besieged by the Ottoman Empire in 1538 and 1657, visited by the plague in 1572 , and nearly destroyed by earthquakes in 1563 and 1667. Under the Treaty of Campo Formio in 1797, it passed to the Habsburg Monarchy, but in 1805 , by the Treaty of Pressburg, it was assigned to the French Empire ‘s client state, the Kingdom of Italy, although in fact held by a Russian squadron under Dmitry Senyavin. After the Russians retreated, Kotor was united in 1810 with the French Empire’s Illyrian Provinces. In 1814 it was restored to the new Austrian Empire by the Congress of Vienna. In 1838, The Palace of the Serbian Gathering was built in Kotor as a three-story house as well as the Serbian Library. The following 1839, the Serbian Vocal Society Unity ( Jedinstvo ) was founded. In 1848, the Serbian People’s School under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Orthodox Church was founded in Kotor.
The Serbian Library became the Slavic Library in 1849 to attract local Croats, Slovenians and Czechs. In 1854, the Serbian Memorial Music School was built, in 1862 the Serbian National Guard; in 1868 the Serbian National Charity Society Saint George ; in 1869 the Serbian Orthodox School, while the Serbian Orthodox Episcopate was established in Kotor in 1870 and the Schematism of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Boka Kotorska and Dubrovnik was first printed in Kotor, in 1874. The attempt to enforce compulsory military service , made and abandoned in 1869 , but finally successful in 1881 , led to two short-lived revolts among the people of Krivošije on the western branch of mount Orjen, during which Kotor was the Austrian headquarters.
In 1893 the Serbian Memorial Women Primary School was opened; in 1895 the Serbian Tamburitza Orchestra; in 1897 the Serbian Music; in 1899 the Serbian Workers’ Cooperative; in 1901 the Serbian Credit Union. In 1903 the Unity was cancelled as it joined the Union of Serbian Vocal Societies. The Serbian Falcon Society was founded in Kotor in 1910. In 1912, a massive celebration was held to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Serbian National Guard in Kotor. In World War I, Kotor was the site of some of the fiercest battles between local Montenegrin Slavs, and Austria-Hungary. After 1918, Kotor became a part of Yugoslavia and became known as Kotor. After 1945, it became a part of the then Socialist Republic of Montenegro within Yugoslavia’s second incarnation.Up until the beginning of the 20th century, Croats (including Bokeljs )constituted the majority in Kotor as well as in other places around the Gulf of Kotor, with the other major ethnic group being the Serbs. During the last century the percentage of Croats in the area declined sharply and today, Montenegrins make up the majority in all communities. Kotor is still the seat of the Croatian Catholic Bishopric of Kotor, which covers the entire gulf.
The old town of Kotor
The old town of Kotor (Kotor stari grad) is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in this part of the Mediterranean. It was succeeded in preserving its original form, so typical of towns between the XII and the XIV century.
The asymmetric structure of the narrow streets and squares, combined with the numerous valuable monuments of medieval architecture, contributed to Kotor being placed on UNESCO’s “The world natural and cultural inheritance” list.
The cultural inheritance of this town is enriched by the unique architectural styles and the ambient atmosphere. The fortification system of Kotor, which protects it from the sea, is actually a wall 4.5 km long, 20 m high and 15 m wide, and is preserved as one of the world’s historic values.
Tourism in Kotor
Kotor is a major tourist destination. It has one of the best preserved medieval old towns in the Adriatic, listed with UNESCO world heritage sites. It has numerous other sights, such as Cathedral of Saint Tryphon in the old town (built in 1166), and ancient walls which stretch 4,5 km directly above the city.
Sveti Ðjorde and Gospa od Škrpjela islets off the coast of Perast are also among more popular destinations in Kotor vicinity. Nightlife is another thing which attracts tourists to Kotor. Old town is filled with pubs, taverns and cafes, and there are some excellent nightclubs in Kotor. With the opening of Maximus nightclub, it has once again become the focus of nightlife of Montenegro’s coast. Summer events, such as Summer Carnival or Bokeljska Noc, are visited by thousands of tourists. These are the most visited happenings in Montenegro during the summer, with over 30,000 people partying in Kotor during Summer Carnival. Kotor is not a premium destination for sunbathing, as there are no sandy beaches, and water is not of reasonable quality in this part of the Boka Kotorska. However, the drive is no more than half an hour to some of the beaches on the Budva Riviera.
Transport in Kotor
Kotor is connected to the Adriatic Motorway and the rest of the coast and inland Montenegro by Vrmac Tunnel. Inland is reachable by detouring from Adriatic motorway at Budva or Sutomore (through Sozina tunnel). There is also a historic road connecting Kotor with Cetinje, which offers spectacular views of the Boka Kotorska.
Tivat Airport is 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) away, and there are regular flights to Belgrade, Moscow and Paris and dozens of charter planes land daily on Tivat airport during the summer season. Podgorica Airport is 65 kilometres (40 mi) away, and it has regular flights to major European destinations throughout the year.
Understand
Kotor is situated in a most secluded tip of Boka Kotorska bay, in the northern part of the Montenegro coast on the Adriatic Sea. Kotor has developed around Stari Grad (local language for “old town”), the city’s old town and best known landmark, which is listed with UNESCO World heritage sites. Kotor Bay is the deepest natural fjord-like bay in the Mediterranean Sea, and the scenery around it (including the steep mountains which come almost straight down to the waters edge) is spectacular.
Kotor is also unique because it is the only town on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea to be located by name in historic and strategic maps. Old Kotor was built like a maze for protective purposes and it is very easy to get lost here. In fact, even the locals get lost. Take a wrong turn and you will wind up far from your destination. This can happen even with a town map in hand. However, looking for landmarks, such as the 12th century St. Tryphon Cathedral, will help—and these landmarks are listed on nearly every tourist map.
The population of Kotor is multiethnic: less than half are Montenegrins, less than a third are Serbians, and a tenth are Croatians. Kotor is still the seat of the Catholic Bishopric of Kotor, which covers the entire area surrounding the gulf of Kotor.
Talk
The Montenegrins’, Serbs’ and Croats’ languages are all mutually intelligible and derived from Serbo-Croat. The dialect and the vocabulary of the local people are heavily influenced by Italian. Locals usually speak and understand Italian, Russian and English.
Get in
By plane
Tivat Airport is 8km away. The following airlines operate to/from Tivat Airport: Air Moldova (Chiṣinǎu, seasonal), Jat Airways (Belgrade), KrasAir (Moscow-Domodedovo), Montenegro Airlines (Belgrade, Copenhagen, London-Gatwick, Moscow-Domodedovo, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Pristina, Rome-Fiumicino, Skopje, St Petersburg), Moskovia Airlines (Moscow-Domodedovo) Rossiya (St Petersburg), S7 Airlines (Moscow-Domodedovo), Transaero Airlines (Moscow-Domodedovo) There are also Charter flights to Moscow, Helsinki and other cities. Taxi drive from Kotor to Tivat Airport will cost around €7.
Podgorica airport is 90km away, and has flights throughout the year to Belgrade, Istanbul, Budapest, Zurich, Frankfurt, Ljubljana, Paris, Rome, Vienna and , London-Gatwick. Buses run from Podgorica to Kotor year round.
Dubrovnik airport in Croatia is 73 km away from Kotor, and maintains flights to many European destinations throughout the year, providing a good alternative to the Montenegrin airports. A taxi to Kotor will cost €80, when you arrange the transfer at least a day before. Taxi drivers at the airport use a approximately price of 100 euros. There is a large border crossing and a small border crossing, the small crossing is a 7 km detour but less busy and may prevent waiting up to two hours. Taxi drivers might ask for more money (e.g. 10 euros extra) to go via the small border, even though it is in their interest to do so.
By bus
Kotor is fairly well connected with neighboring countries by bus. The main bus station is about a 10-minute walk south of the Old Town, along the road towards Budva (look for the old tall chimney!).
Bus times and frequency varies greatly seasonally. As of summer 2009 there is no accurate source of the varying schedule available online. Kotor bus station telphone number: +382 32 325 809
From Budva, during the summer 2009, buses run to Herceg Novi, stopping in Kotor (trip costs around 3€), almost every 30 minutes from 7:00 to 23:00. Buses also run between Kotor and the following cities: Podgorica (hourly), Bar (6-8 per day), Dubrovnik and Mostar (leaving at 14:30), Split (3 times a week, 7 hours), Sarajevo (1x daily), Belgrade (10 hours), Skopje (night bus, 12 hours, twice a week on Friday and Saturday at 7 pm). During the week you can go to Skopje via Nis, Serbia (bus from Kotor to Tivat at 3.50 pm, fromt Tivat to Nis 5.30 pm).
By car
All roads in Montenegro are two-lanes only, and mostly are curvy mountainous roads, so speeds over 70 km/h (43 mph) are rarely legal, and rarely safe.
The Vrmac tunnel has recently been completed, which significantly shortens the journey from Budva to Kotor. Road traffic was formerly diverted to alternative road over Trojica hill above Kotor. It is still possible to travel via this very curvy mountain road, so you might travel from Budva to Kotor a bit longer. From this hill you can enjoy beautiful views not only of the tiny countryside villages, but also of Podgorica (when approaching from Cetinje), and also Kotor bay.
Be aware that when driving in Montenegro that the locals drive a bit aggressively (although not as much as Italian drivers) and think nothing of overtaking across white lines on steep bends. Be careful. There is also a great deal of road building underway and the safety considerations are a little less onerous than those in more developed countries.
By boat
There aren’t any scheduled ferries traveling to Kotor but there are services between Bar and Bari, Italy most days.
Cruise ships plying the Adriatic Sea call regularly on the port of Kotor during the tourist season, with a total of about 350,000 passengers in 2014. Both the sail in and sail away offers not-to-be-missed views of the spectacular Bay of Kotor. The ships either dock at or tender to the long pier that juts out directly in front of the Old Town. Passengers are funneled out of the same port gate, with the Old Town just five minutes away. There is an ATM in a freestanding orange kiosk to the left of the port gate as you leave, and the official taxi stand to the right. After you cross the busy harbor-front road (watch for the brown Kotor sign and use the crosswalk), it is a short walk to the area in front of the Sea Gate of 1555 (the main entrance to the Old Town), where you will find a TI kiosk with free wifi.
Get around
The medieval walled Old Town is shaped roughly like a triangle. The side facing Kotor Bay and the north side fronting the Skurda River are both heavily fortified with a thick wall. The third (east) side backs into the cliff face with a meandering defensive upper town wall (a short version of the Great Wall) climbing the mountainside. There are three entrances to the Old Town, including the western Sea Gate of 1555, which serves as the main door. The southern gate is at the south apex of the triangle, on the road to Budva. The northern gate leads to a bridge that crosses the Skurda River.
The main TI is in the area outside the Sea Gate of 1555 (facing Kotor Bay) to the Old Town. This should be one of your first stops. Open daily 8:00 – 17:00. Pick up a free map. Free wifi hot spot TOKOTOR.
The best way to get around is on foot inside the compact old town, especially since cars cannot get into the old town. There are some golf carts that are used as taxis and/or city tour.
If you are cycling, there is a bicycle shop which has a few basic spare parts and equipment: STIHL Moto Shop, Dobrota bb., tel. 032 332 065, on the main road a bit after the old city of Kotor towards Perast {GPS 42°26’11.5″N, 018°46’02.0″E}.
See
Old town — The Old Town is the most famous part of Kotor, where the Kotor history, culture, and tradition are being preserved. The old town of Kotor has a great number of monuments of the medieval architecture: churches, cathedrals, palaces, and museums. They are complemented with the multitude of narrow streets, squares, and markets. The main and the biggest square is Trg od oruzja (Square of arms). That square was and remained the main place for gathering. In addition, there are some significant cultural monuments like: Tower watch (VIII century), Cathedral of Sveti Tripun (XIII century), Church of Sveti Luka (XIII century), Prince’s palace (XVII century), Church of Sveta Marija (XII century), Church of Our Lady of Health (Gospe od Zdravlja) (XV century), and Napoleon’s Theater (XIX century). Old Kotor has also numerous palaces like: Bizanti, Buca, Pima, and Grgurin (which houses the Maritime museum). The old town of Kotor today is considered to be the best preserved medieval urban entity in the Mediterranean. There are three entrances to the Old Town, the main one is the Sea Gate of 1555. Free.
St Tryphon’s cathedral — (Old Town). First built in the 11th century, reconstructed after earthquakes. Romanesque-Gothic architecture. Chapel holds the remains of St. Tryphon, the patron saint of Kotor. €2.
St Nicolas church — The biggest Orthodox church in the Old Town.
Maritime museum — (Old Town), 304720. Mo-Sa: 8am-8pm; Sundays: 9am-1pm. The memories on those long gone sailing days and years, the successes of the famous Kotor seaman, artists, ship builders, crafts man, states man, and diplomats, intermediaries between west and east, are kept in the Maritime museum, which is housed in the baroque palace Grgurin. In the museum, one can find three floors of portraits of the famous captains, models of old galleys and sail boats, navigational instruments, photographs, uniforms, weapons, paintings, and model ships. €4.
Do
Climb up the Upper Town Walls — daily 8:00-20:00. Stretching some 4.5 km directly above and east of the Old Town, on almost vertical cliffs, is the meandering upper town walls. It looks a little like a short version of the Great Wall. Climbing up the 1350 steps will be rewarded by an excellent view of Kotor and the bay from the Church of Our Lady of Health (half way up) and the St John’s fortress on top. Only advisable for physically fit people, furthermore on some sections the steps are broken up. Choose your footware wisely (sturdy shoes preferable over sneakers and definitely no flipflops). If you walk early in the morning (e.g. between 7:30 and 9:30), the steps and Fortress is less crowded and you will be walking in the shadow (which is advisable in the summer). The 1200ft ascent may take an hour. There are two access points to the Upper Town Walls, one near the northern gate by St. Mary’s Church, and one closer to the southern gate to the Old Town. €3 May-Oct, otherwise free.
Paragliding — from the top of the high surrounding cliffs. An amazing experience with a stunning view!
Hike to Krstac — Leave from the north gate of the old city and walk right until you see the path. If you continue straight, the path takes you to a small waterfall with crystal-clear water. (Note: In the summer the waterfall runs dry, but the sturdy rocks make for some nice mountaineering!) If you veer right, the path takes you past mountain goats and up rocky switchbacks with commanding views over the old fort and the bay. After you reach the top (in about 2 hours), the hike takes you through dense forest where you eventually reach Krstac (total time 3.5 hours). There is a restaurant here where you can refuel for the trip back.
Visit the Austro-Hungarian Fortresses — There are many stunning old fortresses lying abandoned in the hills and mountains within a few kms of the Bay of Kotor. Each one is worth visiting and makes a wonderful hike.
Eat
There is a wide choice of places to eat in Kotor. In old town you can find almost anything – from classy restaurants offering fresh seafood and national cuisine to fast food offering pizzas, barbecue, etc. There is a large produce market outside the city walls. Hamburgers there cost €1. There are also a few restaurants offering fresh, authentic food outside the city walls that cost less than those in the tourist center (see Restoran FK Boljel and Restoran Erak below).
Bastion Restaurant — (Near St. Mary’s church, at the harbor), 322116. Busy lunchtime venue. Great fish. A bit more expensive than most restaurants, but definitely worth it. According to our accommodation owner, the prime minister eats here when he is in town. You might need a reservation if you want to sit outside on the deck. €6 to €30
Cesarica — (close to Hotel Marja in the Old Town). Serves excellent and cheap Dalmatian food. Try the cuttlefish risotto, it’s amazing! main dishes from €5 to €15.
La Pasteria — (directly opposite St Tryphons Cathedral). You’ll find great sandwiches and fine pizzas with original prosciutto from the nearby village of Njeguši. Probably the best Italian food in Kotor!
Rendez Vous — (In the old town). Friendly waiters, great pizza and free wifi. They don’t mind if you use the terrace as an internet cafe, as long as you order something.
Forza — (near the clock tower). The most popular pastry shop in Kotor.
Pronto Pizza — (In Old Town; around the corner from Montenegro Hostel). The pizza here is sold by the slice and are usually fresh and hot. There are a lot of fast-food Pizza places available around Old Town that don’t look nearly as fresh. Usually only one topping available: ham and mushroom combos. 2 EUR.
Forza Mare — Dobrota. Sea side restaurant and hotel,very popular in area out of town in Kotor.
Babilon — Dobrota, affordable prices,on perfect location.This is must visit restaurant with first class sea food menu.
Drink
Again, old town is the hotspot for relaxed drinking espresso in the shade of the medieval walls. There are many cafes in the old town, but still it’s hard to find a place to sit in the sunny day.
Espresso will cost from €1.00. Coke and other soft drinks and juices will cost from €1.00 up to €2.00.
You should also try out famous Montenegrin wines, “Vranac”, “Pro Corde”, “Krstac”, “Cabernet”, “Chardonnay” and “Nikšićko” beer. Montenegrin brandy, called “rakija” is good choice to “warm up” before going out in the evening, especially grape brandy “Montenegrin loza”, “Prvijenac” or “Kruna”.
Nightlife
A night out in Kotor usually begins in some of the many open bars within the walls of old town. As they are not allowed to play music after 1:00AM – the action then moves to some of the night clubs. The best club, without a doubt, is Maximus, located in the old town.
Stay safe
Montenegro is generally a safe country, and this region is no exception to that. Still, be aware of beggars and pickpockets especially in the old town.
Sleep
Accommodation is cheap and plentiful in Kotor. A lot of the cheaper hostel rooms and guest houses have a shared bathroom. Since most buildings in the old town are narrow, shared bathrooms are often not on the same floor.
Private Rooms
During summer you can expect to pay about €10 per person for accommodation at a private residence in the old town, and €7-15 outside the old town and closer to beaches.If you are walking from the bus station to the center you will see one right after Roda Market and next to an archaeological site. This is a yellow building with “rooms” plate on the wall.Shared bathroom but good city view and a kitchenette. 50 meters to one of the old town gates.
Villa Dragan — Novo Naselje E-20 (10 minute walk from old town, 5 minutes from bus station), +382 67 65 65 14. Range of clean and comfortable options including single room or self-contained apartment with en-suite and kitchen facilities. Friendly family (lots of free coffee and home-made lemonade!) and Dragan can collect you from bus station. €10.
Hostels
Old Town Kotor Hostel — Stari Grad 284 (Near Cultural Center), + 382 32 325 317. Once owned by a local noble family Bisanti, now redecorated as Old Town Hostel Kotor. By careful restoration and design the owners have managed to offer the feeling of Kotor as it once was. Dorm bed: €10.
Montenegro Hostel Kotor — (Old Town). checkout: 11:00. 6-bed dorms; small kitchen with a lot of small appliances (like a sandwich maker), although the workers there seem to always be cooking something themselves. Tiny balcony overlooking the cobblestone street and nice view of the Fortress up on the mountain. Dorm bed: €9.
Youth Hostel Spasic-Masera — Dobrota bb (1km away from the centre and 20m off the main road).
Suranj Hostel — Private owned hostel near the bus station. Own room with small kitchen, TV and shower. Double: 33e/night.
Montenegro Hostel 4 U — Dobrota Donji put bb, Kotor, Kotor, Montenegro 85339, +382 67 67 50 70 (montenegrohostel4u@gmail.com). checkout: 10.00am. A great little hostel located just in front of the beach, a few minutes walk of the old town. Kitchen and common room, WiFi and public computer. The hostel has its own jet ski, canoes, kayaks, bicycle renting for €6 etc. A/C, fridges and lockers in all dorms. The staff is very friendly and helpful. {GPS 42°25’49.3″N, 018°46’03.6″E} [Aug 2013] Dorm bed: €8-10, room for 3 people: €30.
Hostel Centrum — Stari Grad, 459. checkout: 11.00am. A nice, small hostel located in the old town, steps away from the St. Luca Church. Friendly staff, and a fantastic view from the 2nd floor bathroom window! Dorm beds: €11-14.
Hotels
Hotel Amfora Kotor — (Kotor Bay Orahovac), (Located 6 km from Perast), +382 (0) 32 305 857 (fax: +382 (0) 32 305 852), [10]. checkin: 24h; checkout: 12h. Hotel has 4 Stars, with a private beach, sauna and fish restaurant. Open 24 hours and all 365 days a year. The hotel is located directly at the beach in Orahovac. Very quiet rooms with seaview overlooking the bay €30 to €99.
Cattaro Hotel — 4 star hotel. €90 to €150.
Palazzo Radomiri — 4 star hotel, housed in a magnificent early 18th century Baroque palace that has been transformed into a charming boutique hotel, Palazzo Radomiri is directly on the coast with its own mooring facilities. €100 to €150.
Hotel Monte Cristo — 4 star hotel in Kotor’s old town, situated in a building from 13th century, that once belonged to Kotor’s first bishop, this tastefully restored hotel features individually decorated rooms with stylish wood furnishings. It also has an idyllic breakfast terrace.
Forza Mare — A small 5-star hotel in Dobrota.
Hotel Astoria — This original 4 star gothic palace dates back from the early 14th century and since then has been cherished as a monument of great historical importance and located in the center of Kotor’s old town. Single : €95; Double : €135
Hotel Marija — (Old City), 325062. Boutique hotel. Single: €44; Double: €63.
Hotel Vardar — Old Yugoslavian design. Recently upgraded and very expensive. Single: €100; Double: €200.
Contact
Wifi is available in the town center. Most restaurants and terraces in old town have free wifi, you will get the password on request if you order something.
Get out
Budva — the Montenegrin touristic metropolis on the Adriatic Sea is located some 20km south of the Boka Kotorska.
Cetinje — the historical capital of Montenegro is located just under Mt Lovćen, the mountain overlooking the Boka Kotorska.
Dubrovnik — the hub of Croatian tourism can be reached from Herceg Novi in less than 40 minutes north of the Boka Kotorska.
Lovcen national park — Mount Lovćen rises from the borders of the Adriatic basin closing the long ang twisting bays of Boka Kotorska and making the hinterland to the coastal town of Kotor. The mountain has two imposing peaks, Štirovnik (1,749 m) and Jezerski vrh (1,657 m).
The mountain slopes are rocky, with numerous fissures, pits and deep depressions giving its scenery a specific look. Standing on the border between two completely different natural wholes, the sea and the mainland, Lovćen is under the influence of both climates.
Risan — visit the site of Roman ruins and some fairly well-preserved mosaic floors that had been in a Roman house during 2nd century A.D.
Herceg Novi — take a walk on the 6km-long 5 Danica’s esplanade to meet with the rich and diverse history of the town.
Perast — a well preserved village, built entirely in barroque style, a UNESCO World Natural and Historical Heritage Site. From Perast there is a boat ride to the man-made islet of Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Škrpjela). Upon returning home safely, seamen dropped rocks and old boats filled with rocks in this place and gradually created the islet as the foundation for the church.
Njegos Mausoleum — The mausoleum of Petar Petrovic Njegos built of limestone and granite can be found on top of Mount Lovcen. It was Njegos’s last wish, the greatest ruler of the Montenegrins who was a bishop and a poet at the same time to be buried there.
Prcanj — small family-friendly place with great view of the Bay of Kotor.
Tivat — a small town, quickly emerging into a major touristic, business and transport centre. Located in the vicinity of the Tivat International Airport, in summer 2014 it became home of a luxury yacht marina called Porto Montenegro.
Mamula — Guarding the entrance to the bay, is this prison island built by Austro-Hungarian general Lazar Mamula in mid 19th century. During the World War II, the fort was used as a prison by the Italians.
The Island Gospa od Skrpjela — (Our Lady of the Rock). The Island Gospa od Skrpjela is one of two gorgeous islands in Kotor Bay, which are situated in the bay across from Perast (in the Kotor municipality). The other island, which also should be visited, is the Island Sveti Djordje (St. George). That island is also called “the island of the dead captains”, because according to a legend one French soldier, by shooting from cannon towards Perast, hit a house of his beloved girl and killed her. That legend was a motive for the master piece “The Island of the Dead” by the Switzerland painter Beklin. The Island Gospa od Skrpjela is an artificial island, made by seaman from Perast and Kotor, who on their big sail boats brought in large boulders. According to stories, fisherman from Perast, after a shipwreck near the island, found an icon of the Holy Mother of God with the Christ on a sea rock, so they vowed to build a church on the island. They built the church in 1630. As the island had to be maintained, seaman continued to bring in stones, so that tradition is alive even today. It is called Fasinada from Perast (July 22).
Plava Spilja — A blue grotto in the bay. It is 5.7 nautical miles away from Herceg Novi. During the summer season, you can take private boats from Herceg Novi to Plava Spilja.
Mount Orjen — Mount Orjen at 1,894 meters is the highest mountain on the Adriatic coastline and dominates the entrance to the Boka Kotorska and it’s surrounding.