If you’re looking to visit Europe, especially during the summer months, you already know that you’ll be far from alone. While everyone else is heading to Spain, Italy, France and the like, you could be living your best life in Kotor, Montenegro.
Kotor has a lot to offer travelers of all kinds. During our journey through the Balkans, this gem of Montenegro was one of the highlights of the journey. Continue on to see why Kotor should be on your Europe travel radar.
Kotor is in a Beautiful and Unique Location
Kotor is nestled in The Bay of Kotor, often referred to as Europe’s southernmost fjord. Although it technically isn’t a fjord, it’s just as majestic. The area is absolutely breathtaking.
The contrast of the azure blue water against the majestic mountains. The remarkable fortified Old Town. The beauty and uniqueness of it all made Kotor stand apart among the many places we visited during our travels through the Balkans.
🌎 BROS FACT: Beyond the visual appeal of Kotor, the surrounding mountains have staved off strong winds, protecting ships and making the area hospitable and an important trade destination for centuries.
Kotor is Great for Outdoor Enthusiasts
If you have a passion for the outdoors and a variety of activities, Kotor should definitely be on your Europe travel radar.
Here are just some of the outdoor activities that are possible in the Kotor region of Montenegro:
- Hiking – Kotor is full of hiking opportunities in the mountains that lurk over the bay. Get started with a hike up to the Fortress of St. John above the Old Town. At the top? Jaw dropping views of the beautiful landscape of the Bay of Kotor.
- Cycling – There are all sorts of routes ranging from challenging ascents into the mountains with sweeping views of the Bay of Kotor, to leisurely rides along the coast and through the surrounding villages in the hills of the countryside.
- Water Sports – Tour companies and boats along the shore will take you for a cruise on the bay to two beautiful islands, The Island Gospa od Skrpjela (Our Lady of the Rock) and Island Sveti Djordje (St. George). You can paddleboard or kayak on the bay to different hidden beaches and coves. Or hop in the bay for a swim or some water polo, the national sport of Montenegro!
- Rock Climbing – With all those steep cliffs and limestone that are surrounding the city of Kotor, it’s the perfect place for rock climbing enthusiasts and beginners alike.
- Paragliding & Skydiving – For the more adventurous, you can get the best views in the area and your adrenaline thrills at the same time.
- Winter Sports – The nearby town of KolaÅ¡in, located about 2.5 hours north of Kotor, is home to KolaÅ¡in 1450 Ski Resort and offers slopes for skiers and snowboarders of all levels.
🌎 BROS TIP: When hiking up to the Fortress of St. John, there is a secret, more adventurous trail you can take as opposed to climbing up the stairs from the Old Town with all the other tourists. You can hike up in the mountains, past an abandoned church before climbing through a window (photo above left) in the protective medieval wall that meets near the top of the fortress.
Kotor has one of the best preserved medieval old towns in the region
Step back in time as you stroll through the enchanting streets of Kotor’s Old Town. If you didn’t know any better, you would think you were in Venice, and with good reason. The Venetians fortified the triangular shaped city with 3 entrances. They are responsible for building many of the churches, palaces and other structures during their almost 400 years of rule beginning in 1420.
An adventure in itself is wandering around the maze of twists and turns. It’s easy to drift off and imagine what this place was like during the Middle Ages. Take a free walking tour to learn all the interesting facts and history from a local guide. You can find free tours at Guru Walk. And please leave your guide a tip as they do depend on gratuities.
You can also walk the north & west perimeter walls around the Old Town for free. Climbing up the mountain to St. John’s Fortress will cost you a small entrance fee if you go the “official way.” You can avoid the fee by taking the more adventurous route described earlier in this blog.
Here’s just a few landmark sites to keep an eye out for:
- Church of St. Luke (top right below)
- Kotor Clock Tower (bottom right below)
- St. Tryphon Cathedral (left below)
🌎 BROS TIP: What’s with all of the cats? The cats of Kotor have become a unique quirk of the city. Legend has it that since Kotor was an important trading port, ships from all over the world would come in. Cats would jump off the ships and get left behind. They protected the city from rats and snakes and became a symbol of good luck and prosperity. Til this day, locals and tourists take care of the cats. You can even recycle a plastic bottle in exchange for cat food to feed the local felines.
Kotor has an interesting culture and traditions
We happened to visit Kotor during its annual Summer Carnival (Bokeljska Noć) and it was pretty wild! It started in 2001 when it was decided that the winter carnival wasn’t enough, and the people wanted to have one during the sunny summer weather as well.
A celebration with all the bells and whistles including fireworks, international guests from all over the globe showcasing their talents and performing live music and dance, parades, costumes and chaos all in the Old Town every August.
Another compelling reason to put Kotor on your Europe travel radar is the rich culture and history. The people are warm and you can see influences from so many different places including Ancient Rome, Venice, the Serbian Empire, Yugoslavia, the Ottomans and Austria-Hungary.
When it comes to the food, if you like meat and fish you will be in heaven in Kotor. But really, there’s something for everyone. Here are two spots we really enjoyed that were both reasonably priced:
- BBQ Tanjga – Amazing spot and very cheap! You will see the smoke billowing out and smell the BBQ long before you arrive. You can pick out your choice of meats or share a huge sample platter between friends for a meal that will fill you up for the entire day. Located outside the Old Town.
- La Catedral Pasta Bar – Delicious pasta spot and there’s usually a line of people waiting for a table. Always a pretty good sign! Located in the Old Town.
🌎 BROS TIP: Rakija is widely considered to be a national drink of Montenegro, and the same can be said for pretty much every nation of the Balkans. It can be made from any fruit, and is similar to brandy, but very strong. A local told us that his grandmother used to chop wood every morning and any time she got sick, she would never take medicine, only rakija. And there’s a certain type of rakija for every particular ailment. Besides the healing powers, it’ll get you good and drunk for cheap!
Kotor is perfect for budget-conscious travelers seeking to avoid the crazy crowds
Kotor should be on your Europe travel radar because it’s a great alternative to the more popular and more expensive European travel destinations. We spent 100 days traveling the Balkans, and the shift in crowd size and price tags for everything was stark when we left for Western European countries like Italy, France, Spain and the UK.
This statement is especially true during the summer peak travel season in Europe.
And the truth is you still get incredible nature, food, history, cultural and traditional experiences and bang for your buck not only in Kotor, but throughout the Balkans region of Europe. The region has become the last frontier of great value travel experiences on the European continent.
Kotor is close to other incredible destinations
We spent 3 full days and nights in Kotor and felt it was enough time. So for those who are planning to travel to Europe for 1-2 weeks, you definitely have some time to visit some other interesting spots nearby.
- Budva, Montenegro – A simple 30 minute ride south to reach the coastal city of Budva. It wasn’t really our scene, but a close enough trip to check out for a day trip or overnight. They have a smaller Old Town than Kotor that’s worth seeing. But beyond that, expect a comically crowded, rock covered beach lined with carbon copy tourist restaurants catering to Russian tourists.
- Dubrovnik, Croatia – It’s less than a 2 hour ride to the Pearl of the Adriatic. 100% worth a visit if you have the time (and the money).
- Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina – About 3 hours away. Another good spot to spend a couple days and break up your trip. You can raft on the coldest river in the world and if you have the courage you can jump from the famous Stari Most Bridge.
- Shkoder, Albania – A little over 2 hours away, this northern Albanian city is an interesting, off the beaten path location to visit for a few days, especially if you’re itching to hike in the stunning Albanian Alps. There are not many experiences we’d recommend more when visiting the Balkans than hiking from Theth to Valbona.
Check out some posts in the BALKANS region:
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