Kotor in Montenegro

Kotor is located along one of Montenegro's most beautiful bays. It is a city of traders and famous sailors, with many stories to tell and the old Mediterranean port of Kotor which is surrounded by an impressive city wall built by Serbian House of Nemanjić, is very well preserved and protected by UNESCO.

The Old City of Kotor is a well preserved urbanisation typical of the Middle Ages, built between the 12th and 14th century. Between 1420 and 1797, Kotor and its surroundings were under the rule of the Republic of Venice and the Venetian influence remains dominant among the architectural influences.

Through the entire city the buildings are criss-crossed with narrow streets and squares and to me one of the most fascinating things were the ancient walls which stretch 4,5 km directly above the city.

Inside you will find amogst many things the Cathedral of Sveti Tripun, a monument of Roman culture and one of the most recognisable symbols of the city. The Church of Sveti Luka (13th century), Church Sveta Ana (12th century) Church Sveta Marija (13th century), Church Gospe od Zdravlja (15th century), the Prince’s Palace (17th century) and the Napoleon Theatre (19th century) are all treasures that are part of the rich heritage of Kotor.

The Bay of Kotor (Boka Kotorska), is by many considered one of the most indented parts of the Adriatic Sea and it is sometimes called the southern-most fjord in Europe (though it is actually a submerged river canyon), and because of its unsurpassable beauty, it got the epithet of the Bride of Adriatic and with the nearly overhanging limestone cliffs of Orjen and Lovćen is one of the great Mediterranean landscapes that has been created.

Kotor is a major tourist destination of Montenegro where both carnivals and fiestas are organised each year to give additional charm to this most beautiful city of the Montenegrin littoral.

Nightlife is another thing which attracts tourists to Kotor, though I didn’t stay there by night and have therefore no knowledge about it. Old town is filled with pubs, taverns and cafes, and there are some excellent nightclubs in Kotor.

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 Bay of Kotor. However, the drive is no more than half an hour to some of the beaches on the Budva Riviera.

Kotor is connected to coast and inland Montenegro by the Vrmac Tunnel. Inland is reachable by detouring from Budva or Sutomore (through Sozina tunnel). There is also a historic road connecting Kotor with Cetinje, which offers spectacular views of the Kotor bay. Tivat Airport is 5 km away, and there are regular flights to Belgrade and Zürich, and dozens of charter planes land daily on Tivat airport during the summer season. Podgorica Airport is 65 km away, and it has regular flights to major European destinations throughout the year.