Travel Guide: What is there to see and do in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro




Travel Guide: What is there to see and do in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro



Kotor


Nestled in between Croatia, Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Albania, Montenegro is a small Balkan gem with plenty to explore. With medieval towns, lakes, mountains and canyons, you’ll want to check it out on foot, so don’t forget to pack your walking shoes.
Now thanks to budget flights from London to Tivat, the Bay of Kotor in the southwest of Montenegro is waiting to be explored. Here is our guide to the top things to do when you get there.

Kotor Old Town

Just half an hour from Tivat airport is the UNESCO Heritage town of Kotor, a labyrinth of winding streets and old stone stairways leading to churches, prisons and palaces. You can spend hours here just sauntering, drinking in the atmosphere and absorbing sights such as the cathedral of St Tryphon with its silver altar and mysterious frescoes.
One of the alleys radiating off the main piazza takes you to the start of the ascent to the 9th century St John’s Fort. Climb 1,350 steps to the fortress which looks out over Kotor and the Bay of Kotor, dominated by cliffs.
Kotor

Afterwards grab a local Niksicko beer at one of the many cafes and bars that are dotted around the old town. Don’t be surprised if you are joined by a cat or two – Kotor is home to thousands of the creatures.

Perast and Mamula

Perast

Take a boat ride around the bay stopping at islands en route and some of the pretty towns that dot the Adriatic coast. You can pick up the boat trips from Kotor city park, a short walk from the old town. Also known as Boka Bay, it looks like a fjord and is full of surprises.
Perast, although small, has 16 churches and a distinct Mediterranean atmosphere. The medieval town also has nine defensive towers built by the Venetians in the 15h and 16th centuries and and 17 formerly grand palazzi.

A few minutes away is the man-made island of Our Lady of The Rocks. Fishermen created the island from rocks to house an icon of The Madonna and Child which was washed up here and which they believed was a good luck charm There is a little blue domed chapel on the island decorated inside with icons and tapestries.
Next door is the island of Saint George. You may also stop at Mamula Island, a former Austro Hungarian prison island, Montenegro’s answer to Alcatraz.

Blue Caves

The Blue Grotto is one of many attractive caves in the Bay and most boat tours make a stop here so that travellers can take a dip in the azure waters. There are also a number of submarine pens to be seen here – caves used to hide submarines from the enemy during WWII. The entrances to them are camouflaged with foliage and boats glide through beneath dripping stalagmites. It is a huge relief to see the sunshine at the end of the tunnel.

Porto Montenegro

By contrast to the simple dwellings and small buildings that dot the coast, Porto Montenegro is a leading superyacht marina and comes with all the associated glitz and glamour.
It is worth a visit just to gawp at the mega yachts here, owned by the likes of the late Austrian Formula One driver Niki Lauda and several Russian oligarchs. There are some chic cafes and restaurants here, ideal for people watching.

What else does Montenegro offer?

Although Kotor is a good base for a long weekend or short break, those with more time can head out to explore some of Montenegro’s other attractions.
Montenegro-Budva

Durmitor National Park is not only the largest national park in Montenegro, but also one of the most famous around the world. With a large number of natural attractions, Durmitor  attracts many tourists each year.
The peaks of the great mountains (Durmitor massif), unique canyons, clear rivers, glacial lakes, beautiful dense forest… On Durmitor, you can’t help but enjoy your surroundings. There are various species of flora and fauna and some of them are endemic (1325 species of plants – 122 endemic, over 150 herbs, 40 edible mushrooms, 130 bird species, etc).National Park

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Top 10 things to do and see in San Diego, California

Image
Top 10 things to do and see in San Diego, California Sitting cheek by jowell with the Mexican border, in sight of the Laguna mountain range and the Pacific Ocean, this San Diego offers an Hispanic heritage, with a huge dollop of Californian cool and a laid-back vibe of anything goes. And as it is San Diego’s 250-year anniversary this year there has never been a better time to visit the land where California was born. First time tourists to San Diego will find this beach city gloriously yielding in terms of attractions. Within its confines are 100 neighbourhoods, 70 miles of coastline, 33 beaches and 120 craft breweries (wine takes a back seat here). There’s nightlife, heaps of culture and living history to keep you busy. 1 Seaport Village This quaint waterfront shopping and dining area located Downtown on West Harbor Drive is probably a great place to start. There are 54 unique shops including a fun magic shop and plenty of eateries. Supping a coffee while looking at passing yachts...
Read more

Top 10 things to see and do in the volcanic Azores archipelago: Sao Miguel, Faial and Pico islands

Image
Top 10 things to see and do in the volcanic Azores archipelago: Sao Miguel, Faial and Pico islands Lying in the middle of the North Atlantic are nine volcanic islands that make up the Azores archipelago, an autonomous region of Portugal. Get there in May and the lush land lights up with the pinks and blues of the long stretches of hydrangeas in Sau Miguel. At any time you can see the basalt lined vineyards growing out of the dark land of Pico Island and watch the steamy plumes escape from the calderas Lagoa des Furnas. 1 Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel It may be the Azores’ most populated and developed city, but with delightful cobbled streets, 16th century churches and a charming seafront promenade, visitors to Ponta Delgada will feel like they’ve stepped back in time. Gaze through the iconic city gate, Portas da Cidade, at the imposing church, Igreja Matriz de São Sebastião, and marvel at how islanders have ingeniously incorporated their volcanic surroundings into everyday life. For these ...
Read more

7 fantastic pop-up beaches in London this summer

Image
fantastic pop-up beaches in London this summer  7  Would you like to feel the sand between your toes but don’t have time to get to the seaside? No worries, you can still have instant gratification because this summer, London has 7 amazing urban beaches where you can enjoy that seaside vibe. There’s bound to be one near you. The Beach Brent Cross Brent Cross Beach Combine your shopping with seaside frolics at the Brent Cross beach. Relax and tan while the kids build sandcastles or go swimming in sandside pool. And when you want a change of scene there’s over 25 different rides that rival those of any funfair. Running until September 8th, the opening hours will be extended to Mon – Sun, 12pm – 10pm Where:  Brent Cross Shopping Centre, NW4 3FP Fulham Beach Fulham Beach in London Pick up a cocktail from one of the two bars and lay down on a cabana or daybed on Fulham Beach. You can literally eat drink and be merry with small plates or a Nutella s’more’s pizza and toasted...
Read more