5 travel tips and sights in the Bay of Kotor

While I had the opportunity to take part in a press trip to Queensland in September, the friend at home didn’t have to twiddle his thumbs. At the same time, he explored the Bay of Kotor on the Adriatic coast.

Montenegro first came to our attention as a potential travel destination in 2015 during a weekend trip to Dubrovnik. At that time, we realized that it is only a stone’s throw (just under 100 kilometers) from Dubrovnik to Kotor and that numerous beautiful towns and beautiful bays are waiting to be discovered on the way. And so a tip in advance: Since the most direct way to the Bay of Kotor is via Dubrovnik anyway, it is worth combining the two destinations with a road trip along the Adriatic coast.

The friend spent a total of three nights in Perast and from there explored the highlights around the Bay of Kotor. From this trip, he brought us five travel tips that (at least for me) make us want to finally discover this region for myself. Maybe this is a suitable destination for a long holiday weekend in spring 2019?

Travel tip #1: Stroll through the old town of Kotor

The picturesque town of Kotor has held the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979 thanks to its unique location and numerous well-preserved architectural monuments. In the meantime, Kotor has changed from an insider tip to a magnet for visitors. Similar to Dubrovnik, the number of tourists in the alleys depends on the presence or absence of a cruise ship.

Don’t miss the viewpoint at the fort above the city (entrance fee 8€; unlike Croatia, Montenegro has the euro as its official currency). If you follow the narrow streets uphill, you will reach the church “Our Lady of Health” after a few minutes. You should definitely hold out until this first viewpoint. If you still feel fit, you can reach the higher viewing platform at the fort in 15 minutes from here. Now only a cruise ship in the harbor can prevent the great photo. Unfortunately, there was a ship there during our ascent and we had to wait a bit until we managed to take the classic postcard photo.

 

Travel tip #2: Boat trip through the Bay of Kotor

One of the top things to do around the Bay of Kotor is a boat trip. Various tour operators offer half-day and full-day trips with stops in picturesque coastal towns and at the well-known sights such as the prison island of Mamula, the Blue Grotto or the Church of Our Lady of Skrpjela. In terms of landscape, the Bay of Kotor is reminiscent of a Norwegian fjord. The inner bays of Risan and Kotor are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Beachclub Adriatica in Kamenari can also be reached directly by boat. With its location directly on the Bay of Kotor in the shade of gnarled olive trees, the restaurant is a worthwhile lunch stop. As a speciality there is spaghetti, which is prepared in a large Parmigiano loaf. It goes well with a local beer. Trebjesa Brewery is the only brewery in Montenegro and produces the Nikšićko beer served here.

Travel tip #3: Visit to Our Lady of Škrpjela

The island, with the German name Maria vom Felsen, was artificially created by sinking old ships filled with stone. The associated tradition of “rock throwing” is still alive today. Every year on 22 July, locals throw stones into the sea as part of the “fašinada” festival, thus increasing the island’s surface area in the long term.

On the island there is a beautiful chapel from 1630, which was renovated in 1725. There is also a museum.

Travel Tips #4: Roam Perast Early Morning

One of these picturesque places on the shores of the Bay of Kotor is Perast. With its sheltered location at the foot of Mount St. Elias, it is blessed with a particularly mild climate and the most hours of sunshine in the region. In this respect, Perast is a popular starting point to explore the Bay of Kotor.

Perast unfolds its full beauty in the early hours of the morning. Even if you’re not a morning person, set your alarm early and take a walk along the waterfront before breakfast. What a magical start to the day!

 

Travel Tips #5. Spend the night in the Palace of Perast

A nice base for a long weekend on the Bay of Kotor is the Iberostar Grand Perast hotel. The new 5-star hotel is located in a renovated old palace, which is one of the most photographed buildings in Perast. All 48 rooms and suites are differently designed. The prices for an overnight stay in a double room including breakfast fluctuate seasonally and start at around 220 CHF in the area of superior double rooms.

Fantastic is the breakfast on the terrace with a great view over the Bay of Kotor. We recommend the house speciality Egg Benedict with Ayvar and ham.

But the hotel also convinces with good local cuisine and an unagitated modern design, which fits well into the historic rooms.

For bad weather days (which are statistically rare), the hotel offers a SPA with hammam and sauna. However, due to the wonderful late summer weather, I preferred the sun loungers directly on the Bay of Kotor.

A dip in the clear waters of the Bay of Kotor is wonderfully refreshing after an intense day of sightseeing. And then there are only a few steps to enjoy a fine meal in the hotel restaurant and admire the sunset at the same time.

Please note: Nicolas was invited by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts to take part in this research trip. All impressions and opinions are, as always, ours.