Kotor – Where Is It And What Can You Do There?

Montenegro is somewhere I have wanted to go to for a long time. Every photo I’ve seen of the place is stunning and everyone who I have ever met who’s been there has nothing, but good things to say about it. Because of this I have booked my annual ‘treat week’ away with my sister in September staying just outside Budva, but imagine my delight when I found out I’d won a trip on the Majestic Princess with a call in to Kotor. You can read more about my Princess cruise and the amazing food here.

Many people have likened the scenery in Kotor to that of the Norwegian Fjords and now I have been & seen it with my own eyes I can understand why. I am not the world’s best photographer, but even I struggled to take a bad photo in these beautiful surroundings.

So what can you do if you are visiting this port?  Here’s a link to some organised shore excursions and below are a few ideas that you can do under your own steam:

1: Hop on hop off bus tour.

This takes you on a journey along the gorgeous coastline. You get earphones to listen to the audio guide telling you about the history  of Montenegro and the sights you are passing. The  bus tour starts in Kotor itself then journeys on to another 3 stops – Risan is the place where you can see the Roman mosaics from the second century B.C, which have been preserved from an ancient Roman palace. Perast was my favourite stop & is undoubtedly the most idyllic little town in the whole  bay of Kotor. Bajova Kula is the other stop and there’s a beach where you can hire loungers, swim and get a bite at the restaurant. The cost was only around 20 Euros and you had the option of a free walking tour of the Old Town included.

2: Take a hike up to the fortress.

If you’re feeling energetic enough hiking to the top of the fortress is a must. There is a set trail which starts at the old town, but be prepared for hundreds of steps to get you up there. Your reward is absolutely stunning views over the bay where you can see the fjords in all their glory and the pretty little churches dotted all around.

3: Explore the Old Town.

The Old Town is considered to be the best preserved medieval walled town in the Mediterranean area. There is a real buzz about the place with lots of tourists exploring or locals people-watching in one of the many cafes dotted around the cobbled streets. There are boutique shops, ice cream parlours, souvenir shops and some very nice Italian clothes and shoe shops for those that want to spend their holiday money on a treat!

4: Eat like a local.

I’ve heard Rick Stein say many times that the setting where you eat your food plays a big part in the experience you have when eating. If that’s the case then you certainly won’t have a bad meal here. Due to it’s geographical location you will see a heavy Italian influence on menus with cured meat platters galore and obviously, as a coastal town, seafood is in abundance. The other major influence stems back from the Ottoman occupation, so you will see Middle Eastern dishes such as kebabs, pilav, borek, moussaka and baklava on some menus. For true local dishes Gavice is a traditional favourite snack food on the Montenegrin coast. It’s a little bit like whitebait. They’re small fish that are floured and then fried. Njeguski steak is stuffed with Montenegrin cream cheese and prosciutto, rolled up and usually served with fries and vegetables. another real traditional food is ‘sac’ (pronounced ‘such’) in Montenegrin. The meat, which could be goat, veal or lamb is slow roasted in ashes under an iron dome. This is real fall-apart meat served with roasties.

5: Take to the water (again).

If you have had enough of being on a big cruise ship and want to get more up close and personal with the sea then you can take a boat trip from Kotor. There are loads of small boats touting for business ready to whisk you off to see some of the main sites such as the Blue Cave, Our Lady of the Rocks, Perast and Mamula Island. You can pick these short tours up from 10 Euros per person. Kayaking and water skiing are also available from here.

6: Check out the millionaire’s yachts in Porto Montenegro.

The Bay of Kotor is Europe‟s southernmost fjord and the largest natural harbour in the eastern Mediterranean. The area’s tourist industry is expanding rapidly with many direct flights from all over Europe arriving daily. There has been a new marina built in this beautiful bay with space for super yachts as well as smaller boats to dock as well as offering dry-dock facilities for repairs etc. Therefore the yachting fraternity are now flocking to Kotor to hang out and sip espressos or spritzers in the cool cafes & bars.

I absolutely loved my short visit to Kotor and will definitely be re-visiting during my holiday in September. If you’re lucky enough to be visiting soon I am very jealous, but when I win the lotto and buy a yacht I’ll be sure to float back there in style!