Discovering Kotor: Top 10 Travel Destinations of 2016

According to Lonely Planet's vote, the world's largest private travel guide publisher, Kotor in Montenegro tops the list of tourist cities in 2016. What will travelers find there?

Kotor Travel Guide: Top 10 Destinations 2016

Nestled at the foot of Mount Lovcen amidst the Bay of Kotor, Kotor – a typical medieval city built between the 12th and 14th centuries – boasts impressive landscapes and meticulously preserved landmarks.

From the perspective of Lonely Planet, this is considered one of the most attractive destinations in Montenegro, a southeastern European country with the lowest population density in Eastern Europe – a must-visit destination in the Bay of Kotor, one of the 25 most beautiful bays in the world.

Only about 100km away from the famous tourist city of Dubrovnik in Croatia, the marina in Kotor runs out of mooring space during the peak tourist season every year.

During July and August, the number of tourists in Kotor exceeds even the local population, and the influx of visitors to Kotor is steadily increasing each year.

* Historic Old Town and Cultural Heritage Vibrancy in Kotor

Being one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the world, at the city entrances, from the North Gate to the South Gate or from the sea, there are diverse architectural styles from various occupying forces in Kotor during the medieval era.

From afar, the 4km-long stone walls surrounding Kotor from the Byzantine era remain almost intact, and the St. John fortress perched high above creates a powerful and impressive image, evoking the grandeur of Kotor against invaders.

Passing through this fortress, you can almost hear the vibrant echoes of the bustling past, especially when strolling through the small cobblestone streets in the Old Town, Stari Grad, where many architectural landmarks bearing the influence of Italy, Turkey, Austria... are listed in UNESCO's World Heritage List.

Located near parking lots and facing the sea, the west gate entrance, built in 1540, is always bustling with incoming and outgoing visitors. Just beyond the gate are bell towers, stone houses, ancient palaces... captivating tourists.

If you enter Kotor through the North Gate built in 1555, you must cross a bridge over the canal on the Skurda River. At this entrance, you will quickly arrive at Od RSUs Square and the Santa Maria church dating back to 1221.

The South Gate is less known to tourists but helps them discover Kotor's most unique aspects.

The churches in Kotor are always bustling with tourists, even in places where an entrance fee is required. Among them, St. Tryphon's church, built in 1166 on the ruins of an ancient church from the 9th century.

Sveti Nikola dates back to the 16th century and was once destroyed in the fire of 1896 and rebuilt a few years later in the Byzantine and Romanesque style with two altars, or the small Orthodox Church of St. Luke is always recommended by tourists.

* Explore Kotor from St. John Fortress

To have a magnificent panoramic view of Kotor, every tourist is willing to spend about an hour climbing 1,426 steps on the winding walls like the Great Wall leading to St. John Fortress at 250m high, locally known as Sveti Ivan.

You can visit the small church standing alone amidst the road to the fortress, built by survivors of the plague epidemic in 1572.

From the fortress's vantage point, the image of tranquil docks and flower-filled shores, as well as the still waters of the bay reflecting towering mountains or ancient structures in the city of Kotor nestled against the mountain cliffs, seem to wash away all worries from the hearts of travelers.

* Enchanting Kotor Bay

Many tourists claim they come to Montenegro solely for Kotor Bay, the only narrow bay in the Mediterranean that offers a stunning scene reminiscent of the fjords in Norway.

Kotor Bay with its four small bays stretching 28km inland forms a narrow bay with limestone cliffs enclosing it. Natural channels connect the small bays and run along small towns nestled against lush green mountainsides.

The water in the bays blends shades of light blue and emerald green, along with the narrow coastal roads winding through the bay entrances creating a picturesque view. Hence, artists are always inspired to create before Kotor Bay.

If you have ample time, consider visiting Risan, the oldest town in the Bay of Kotor region (historical documents suggest Risan dates back to the 3rd century BC), and nearby towns like Perast, Orahovac, Moriv, or Dobrota…

Accordingly, the characteristic Mediterranean town of Perast, about a 20-minute drive from Kotor, is a must-visit destination. Photographers adore Perast for its incredibly beautiful views overlooking the Bay of Kotor.

Perast also boasts the artificial island of Gospa od Skrpjela with the charming Our Lady of the Rocks church, built in the 15th century, nestled in the bay like a picturesque punctuation mark on the scenic landscape.

With a ticket costing 2 euros per person, you only need about five minutes by passenger boat to reach the island for a 30-minute tour. During peak season, visitors are only allowed 10 minutes for the tour.

On the top floor of the church is a small maritime museum showcasing treasures found in the area or salvaged from sunken ships.

Additionally, Perast is home to the St. George Monastery on a nearby island…

* Information for You:

- Kotor operates with the euro currency.

- To avoid crowding with tourist crowds, consider visiting Kotor in October. The low-season costs here may surprise you. However, in the summer, Kotor hosts many captivating cultural and tourism events.

- With a Mediterranean climate, winters in Kotor, even in January (the coldest month), rarely experience freezing temperatures. And in July, the hottest month, temperatures hover around 35°C.

According to Tuoi Tre

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Reference: Travel Guide on Mytour