The most stunning view of the picturesque Bay of Kotor, a dramatically beautiful landscape in southern Montenegro near the Adriatic Sea, is definitely from high above. It doesn't really matter whether you head for the small viewing car park on the serpentine road into the mountains or climb the old fortress wall of the historic town of Kotor, which gave its name to the bay. From both places, the deep blue water, the steep and rugged karst mountains around it and the tiny villages along the shoreline will enrapture you, I promise!
I was particularly enchanted by the medieval town of Kotor with its remarkable old town and the aforementioned defensive wall. I would now like to share my favourite moments, as well as many good tips around the Bay of Kotor, with you.
The view from the vantage point on the serpentine road
And here from the defensive wall on Mount San Giovanni
Like a fjord in Norway: the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro
It is truly unbelievable what magic this extraordinary landscape near the Dalmatian-Montenegrin Adriatic coast exudes. Strictly speaking, the Bay of Kotor is not one big bay, but rather four individual basins connected by narrow straits. Almost 30 kilometres deep, the Adriatic digs its way inland in numerous twists and turns, forming the picturesque basins of Herceg Novi, Tivat, Risan and Kotor!
Deep blue water & steep mountainsides
Have you ever seen one of the narrow fjords in Norway? You can imagine a similar landscape here: deep blue water framed by steep rocky slopes. The pretty little villages, whose narrow streets you can stroll through in the summer even in the evening with a T-shirt, are a bonus. The two inner bays of Risan and Kotor are even UNESCO World Heritage Sites because of their rich history.
If you have enough time and want to drive around the entire bay of Kotor, plan on 3 whole days!
The individual villages around the bay are too tempting to simply drive past them and leave them to the left because you don't have enough time. Discover the old cobblestone streets, try out the ice cream parlours and restaurants, and be sure to go for a swim at the numerous bathing spots. The water is wonderfully refreshing, especially in the hot summer months. Speaking of water activities, I can fully recommend these:
→ A kayak tour gives you a completely different perspective of the bay.
→ Explore the bay by the Adriatic Sea on a stand-up paddle board.
Impressive how the mountains frame the bay
Take your time exploring the enchanting landscape
Stroll extensively through the pretty villages
There are many places to swim
Narrow roads lead once around the bay
View over to Perast
Kotor Old Town: the historic fortress wall on Mount San Giovanni
For me, by far the most beautiful place in the entire Bay of Kotor is the medieval town of the same name, Kotor. This is due in no small part to the almost 5-kilometre-long defensive wall that encloses the historic old town like a protective cloak and winds its way up the steep San Giovanni mountain behind the town centre to a height of 260 metres. You have to pay an entrance fee of 8 euros (as of September 2019) to enter the old fortress wall. But you'll be rewarded at the top with a truly priceless view.
Unfortunately, I haven't counted the exact number of steps that lead so steeply up to the defiant castle ruins in Kotor. One thing is certain: especially in summer, the walk is a sweaty affair!
Take your time and enjoy the different perspectives
If you want to take the ascent slowly, enjoy the views from the various terraces and also have a little longer for a photo stop, then I would advise you to plan around 3 to 4 hours. Once at the top, you can also walk along a small circular path behind the castle ruins to the little chapel of Sveti Juraj, as well as to a tiny restaurant where you can recharge your batteries with an ice-cold beer and traditionally made cheese.
I couldn't get enough of the view over the deep blue bay, framed by the steep mountains. The higher you go, the more breathtaking the view. But also the little church Gospa od Zdravlja, about halfway up the path, looks really beautiful against this panorama!
My tip: Make sure you have enough water to drink (in case of need, you can also buy a small can of soda from the guys who are always waiting for thirsty people along the way with their coolers) and, most importantly, enough sun protection. From around 10 am, the entire slope is in the blazing sun. A hat is therefore also a very good idea.
All the way to the top of the defiant castle ruins
You have to climb 260 metres
To enjoy this view
I would have loved to stay right up there
Every new angle opens up a different view
A popular place to enjoy the view
The picturesque steeple of the Gospa od Zdravlja Chapel
If you count the steps, please tell me how many there are
Such a beautiful panorama
Bay of Kotor: majestic churches, clock towers and cute cats
As an absolute cat lover, what strikes me most during my walk through the cobblestone alleys of the old town of Kotor are the many velvet paws that roam the car-free streets here. Whether they all belong to certain families or whether they are little strays, I don't know. But all the inhabitants take good care of the animals. Cups filled with fresh water and bowls full of food are everywhere. In the old town of Kotor there is even a small cat park and a cat museum. Cool, isn't it?
The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon (Sveti Trifun) with its majestic entrance façade is also well worth seeing. It is not only one of the most important buildings in the Bay of Kotor, but also the largest preserved Romanesque church on the entire eastern Adriatic coast. Be sure to take a look inside the church, because there you will find not only the relics of Saint Tryphon, the patron saint of the city, but also a very important art collection.
Saint Tryphon's Cathedral is still considered the most beautiful church in Kotor!
At Journaway you can book great individual Montenegro tours, always including Covid 19 insurance cover!
The Church of St. Nicholas & the Renaissance Clock Tower
In the main square of Kotor, you can also admire the striking three-storey clock tower from the Renaissance period around 1600. Interestingly, the main square, also known as Arms Square, is located just behind the main entrance gate of the city wall. In 1979, a major earthquake shook the foundations of the city, destroying or at least damaging many of the historic buildings. If you look closely, you can see that even the clock tower is no longer standing straight.
Personally, I found the Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas the most beautiful. Its interior is not too ostentatious, but still decorated in rich gold. During your visit, the huge images of saints from both sides of the church walls watch over your every step. Are you someone who likes to get lots of information about what you've seen? Then a guided tour of the city might be a good idea for you. There is, for example, a Free Walking Tour in a larger group, but for free, or this walk with lots of information in a small group in the Old Town.
Saint Tryphon's Cathedral is considered the most beautiful church in Kotor.
Stroll through the alleys of the old town
There are lots of cats in Kotor
There is even a cat park and a cat museum
The clock tower has been leaning since the last earthquake
Here is the way up to the fortress wall
The Church of St. Nicholas from inside
Oversized images of saints hang on the walls
Between the old stone houses you can really forget the time
Kotor is really a place worth seeing
Local handicrafts & Montenegrin delicacies in Kotor
The old town and also the bay of Kotor may be many things, but it is definitely not a place you come to for an exhilarating shopping experience. Since the historic centre is not particularly large, the choice of shops and markets is inevitably very limited. Nevertheless, there are a few good addresses where I was able to buy nice souvenirs for my loved ones at home, as well as some delicious Montenegrin specialities and a nice souvenir of this trip.
A few little treasures hiding under the red roofs
The Green Market outside the city walls
If you are outside the city walls at the small marina and look towards the San Giovanni hill, you can't miss the small green market. Here, the inhabitants of Kotor sell delicacies typical for this region, such as the local smoked ham pršut, which is said to rival even the famous Parma ham from Italy, hearty cheese from their own cultivation or the plum brandy Šljivovica, which is traditionally drunk in the north of Montenegro. Either for you, or for the family at home: a perfect souvenir from the Bay of Kotor!
Marina on the right, Green Market on the left
Here you can buy authentic "souvenirs".
The locals sell local delicacies here
The small market in the ruins & oriental lamps
Also inside the old city wall, a small market beckons in a very stylishly dilapidated backyard. The plaster and paint are crumbling off the walls, where once windows protected against wind and rain, now only empty openings in the stone remain, wild plants grow out of the ruined walls. The atmosphere here reminds me a little of the ruin bars in Budapest, one of my absolute favourite cities in Europe. You'll find numerous small stalls and booths with the typical mix of cheap souvenirs and beautiful local handicrafts, but it's more the flair of the location than the goods that are convincing.
My tip: A super nice shop is Efesya Souvenirs Kotor. If you've always wanted a great oriental lamp made of coloured glass for your home, or if the colourful ceramics from the Balkans put you in a good mood, then you'll definitely find what you're looking for here.
An atmosphere like a bar in ruins in Budapest
An unusual setting for a market
Aren't these lamps absolutely gorgeous?
Bay of Kotor: delicious food in the old town of Kotor
A nice and highly recommended restaurant in the middle of Kotor's lively old town alleys is Bokun. If you're lucky, you'll get one of the coveted outdoor tables and can watch the colourful hustle and bustle around you while you feast. I highly recommend the stuffed squid with sinfully delicious garlic butter on creamy parmesan risotto. So delicious!
If your Montenegro holiday falls in the summer, you'll probably be craving a refreshing ice cream during the hot afternoons, won't you?
One of the most beautiful places to stroll and sit in the old town of Kotor is directly in front of the Palata Pima city palace, which was once very magnificent. Admire the architectural features of the historic buildings at length and enjoy a delicious ice cream on a stick opposite the (also highly recommended) bakery.
My tip: You can also get to know the old town of Kotor during a culinary walk through the local food. Wine lovers will also get their money's worth! I always highly recommend food tours, so maybe this is something for you too?
→ Private walk with wine and food tasting
The stuffed octopus is really tasty
Feasting in the middle of the narrow streets of the old town
Enjoying a refreshing ice cream in front of the Palata Pima
The Palata Pima was once a magnificent city palace
Perast: sleep & feel good in the bay of Kotor
We were on a road trip in Montenegro, so this time we chose a campsite rather than a hotel. But next time I would definitely book the absolutely beautiful Monte Bay Retreat in Perast. The view from the small infinity pool over the roofs of the little town and over the Bay of Kotor must be really fantastic!
Perast is the second prettiest place, right after Kotor. Here, too, take at least half a day to stroll along the shore, eat ice cream and in the evening enjoy one of the delicious traditional dishes in one of the numerous restaurants. Parking is a real problem in Perast. From early afternoon onwards, you have almost no chance of finding a decent parking space. But if you live in Monte Bay, for example, you won't have this problem.
The two small islands of St. George (Sveti Đorđe) and St. Mary on the Rock (Gospa od Škrpjela) lie picturesquely in the water in front of the Perast waterfront. While one is a well-known place of pilgrimage, on the other you will find the Perast cemetery. They are both definitely a great photo motif!
Perast with the small island of Sveti Đorđe in the foreground.
It's wonderful to stroll along the waterfront promenade
In Perast, too, you'll find the traditional stone houses
Montenegro sights: Lake Scutari, Tara Gorge & Co.
Make sure you plan enough time for your holiday in Montenegro so that you can also visit the other sights such as the breathtaking Tara Gorge, the beautiful Lake Scutari or the Durmitor National Park in the north of the country. The Tara Gorge is the longest and deepest canyon in Europe and, after the Grand Canyon in America and the Colca Canyon in Peru, the third deepest canyon in the world.
On its river, the turquoise-blue Tara, you can go white-water rafting!
The water lily sea of Lake Scutari is also really beautiful and absolutely worth seeing. If you rent a car in the Bay of Kotor, for example, you can see Lake Skadar at your leisure during a two-day road trip. The road over the M2 and the mighty mountains alone are worth the trip. You will be amazed by the fabulous views. In these travel reports you will find all my tips for Lake Skadar & Co:
→ 7 tips for the most beautiful places & recommended activities at Lake Scutari Montenegro.
→ These 9 Montenegro attractions are not to be missed
On the way to Lake Scutari over the mountains
You'll also pass the small island of Sveti Stefan along the way
Take a boat trip on Lake Scutari...
... and marvel at the view of the mighty Tara Gorge
Durmitor National Park attracts with forests, mountains & lakes
Well, has this article really whetted your appetite for Montenegro and the beautiful Bay of Kotor? Do you still have questions for your travel planning or have you already been here and have more tips? Feel free to leave a comment here on my travel blog, I'm very happy about it!
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