This cute little country has some of the amazing places with sea and sun, amazing views, old castles, great food, etc. etc. which we were not expecting to find. The Mediterranean climate is mild. When I was researching a trip to the Balkans, Montenegro was not much on my radar, but we loved it and ended up spending over a week there.

The name of the country can be translated, as the “black mountain”. The population is a little over 600.000.

Some useful words

• Thank you – Hvala
• Hello – zdravo
• Please – molim
• Good bye – Dovidenja
• Yes – da
• No – Ne
• Good – Dobro
• Sorry – Izvini
• How are you? – Kako ste
• Ne wazumijem – I don’t understand
• How much does it cost – Koliko je kosta

Visas

Unlike its neighbor, the more popular Croatia, Montenegro is far easier to visit for many. You won’t need to go through a lengthy Schengen application process (unless, of course, you are one of the lucky ones, who don’t need visa to visit the Schengen area). Montenegro lets citizens of 97 countries visit visa free, while anyone holding Schengen, US or UK visa can also visit without problems. However, if you come from Africa or most parts of Asia, I believe it is far more complicated to get their visa.

When to go

Having a Mediterranean climate, Montenegro could be lovely all year round. Summers are extremely hot though. We visited during mid-September and that was a great time, although still very hot. We got a couple of rainy days though, which is difficult to predict either way

Another reason, why it’s better to not visit in summer, are the crowds. Despite the fact that Croatia is far more popular, Montenegro is crowded by Russians, Turks and others, who would need a Schengen visa for Croatia, while can visit Montenegro without it. So it’s best to aim for the shoulder seasons, like May-beginning of June and September-beginning of October.

Btw the crowds are far bigger in Kotor and, to an extent, Budva. Other towns are far less problematic to visit. If you are in Kotor, definitely stay a couple of days and aim to visit the city in the morning before the cruise ships arrive and enjoy it after the cruise crowds are gone.

Money

Even though Montenegro is not part of the EU, it has adopted Euro, as its currency. As I understand, this fact made prices higher, as usually happens, when a country adopts a strong currency. However, despite this, Montenegro is far cheaper than Croatia for instance, although more expensive compared to other neighbours, like Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Many places across the country can have problems with accepting cards, so try having at least some cash on you. You will find a lot of ATMs, if you don’t like carrying cash around.

Where to stay

Depending what you want to do, there are many options. Hotels are quite expensive, but there are a number of flats, which you can book through different websites.

Let’s start with the most popular destinations – Kotor. Don’t even try to stay in the old town area, it’s just extremely expensive and you would have to drag your luggage through cobbled streets. Try to find something outside the area. We found a lovely flat with an amazing view over the bay for quite cheap. We needed to walk about 10-15 mins from there to get to the old city gates.

In Budva itself accommodations are also quite expensive. After a long research of spots on the coast, we found Sutomore, as the best place to stay to explore the surroundings. Sutomore has one of the cleanest and less crowded beaches, so in the early mornings, or rather evenings we could get into the sea. We stayed near the beach on the hill. From Sutomore, we took buses really easily. It took us about half an hour to Bar. Appr the same time to Petrovac and about an hour to Budva.

In Ulcinj, we found accommodation not too far from the old town also. Same fore Herzeg Novi.

Btw. Ulcinj was a great place to stay before venturing to Albania, as it is the gateway.

While, Herzeg Novi is the best place to stay for venturing to Bosnia and Herzegovina or to Croatia.

Food in Montenegro

Montenegro, as many countries in the Balkans boasts with delicious food.

• They have delicious Bureks, which you will find in every bakery, even those on the side of the road. We found one near Sutomore beach, where we would take the bus from and ate a lot of it I guess this is the main vegetarian dish you will usually find, as Montenegro, as the rest of Balkans, is not very kind to vegetarians.
• Kebab here is called Cevapi. It’s one of the cheapest meals to find.
• Mixed meat grill dishes are quite common.
• Coffee here is mostly offered Turkish style, unless you are in very touristy cities and spots.

Transport in Montenegro – See the dedicated article here.

Best 7-day Itinerary tips:

There are several versions of itineraries depending on your interests and wishes. Our suggestion is the following (depending on where you are coming from you can do it in reverse order):

Day 1 – Herceg Novi – explore the old town and the 2 Fortresses – Kanli-kula or bloody fortress and Forte Mare with great views, walk the seaside promenade

Day 2 – Head to Kotor – it s a 2-hour quite scenic drive. Settle and start exploring the old city, visit the churches – St. Triphon, St Nicholas, visit the Cat museum, and just explore the little hidden alleys, explore the city walls

Day 3 – Climb up the Kotor fortress (St. John’s fortress) and explore it, do a Bay of Kotor boat ride including to Our Lady of the Rocks and to Perast

Day 4 – get to Budva. Explore Budva old town – its city walls, the Citadel, the many churches – St. John’s, Santa Maria Punta, Holly Trinity. Follow the path to the Dancer statue and farther. There are beautiful places and views you will find.

Day 5 – Petrovac – you can get there by boat or by bus. Explore the fortress, the promenade and the rock formations. Then get to Sutomore, seeing Sveti Stefan in passing, and stay near the beach to enjoy the sea.

Day 6 – Enjoy Sutomore beach in the morning and evening. Do a day trip from Sutomore to Bar. Explore its  old town and the fortress. Visit King Nicola’s palace.

Day 7 – head to Ulcinj. Explore its old town and castle. We saw one of the most beautiful sunsets there.

If you have more time, you can do some more of these:

• Stay some more in Sutomore to enjoy the beaches.
• You could dedicate half a day in Podgorica, but unless you fly in and out of it, I wouldn’t suggest it.
• Head to the Lovcen mountain from Kotor.
• Visit the Durmitor National park.
• Explore the shores of the lake Skadar.
• Explore 15^th century Cetinje town and visit its monastery.

Other tips for travelling independently in Montenegro:

• Sim cards are easy to purchase and cheap. You will need an ID for this. We didn’t buy one and were just catching wifi at times.
• Tap water is safe to drink across the country.
• Smoking is allowed inside the buildings. That didn’t annoy us much though, as it was always warm, so we always sat outside in cafes and restaurants.
• There are many stray animals, especially cats all around. They have a lot of flees though, so be careful with them.

<p>The post Useful tips for planning your trip to Montenegro first appeared on Hit the Road Ket.</p>

We came from Sutomore by bus, spent two nights, and continued on to Shkodër in Albania. So we had one full day in the town plus more time for the beaches. We left with a much warmer impression of Ulcinj than expected going in.

If you are making your way down the coast, do not just treat Ulcinj as a transit point. Spend at least a day here, you won’t regret it. Here’s things to do in Ulcinj in one day, plus practical tips on when to visit, how to get there and where to stay.

What to See in Ulcinj: 1-Day Itinerary

Start your morning by going to the beach of your choice, before the heat sets in. Then you can continue with exploring the old town, where you will have a little more shade.

Ulcinj’s Beaches

Ulcinj has a number of gorgeous beaches. I recommend Liman beaches for their great views or Velika Plaza for the space, but you can choose whichever is close to your hotel.

Velika Plaža (Long Beach) is the one that stretches for several kilometers just south of the Ulcinj center and is one of the longest beaches in the Adriatic. Its scale also makes it slightly less crowded than the more central beaches.

Ada Bojana is an island right near the Albanian border with beautiful sandy beaches and a very relaxed, off-the-beaten-track feel. There’s a nude beach, as well as a non-nude part. While we didn’t make it there, it looks beautiful, if you have more time.

Valdanos Beach sits in a bay surrounded by ancient olive groves. Interestingly, this is the bay where pirates historically hid their ships.

Ladies Beach holds the distinction of being the first women-only nude beach in Europe. It sits between the Small Beach and Long Beach, nestled next to a pine forest. Worth knowing about even if it’s not your thing.

The Old Town and Castle

How to get to the old town: Ulcinj is hilly, so getting between the beaches and the old town may require a taxi or some uphill walking.

The cute old town is the heart of Ulcinj. It sits on a rocky cliff above the sea, and its atmosphere is quite unlike anywhere else in Montenegro, with a feel that reflects the city’s proximity to Albania and its long Ottoman history.

The castle at the top of the old town was originally built by the ancient Greeks, probably around the 5^th century BC. It subsequently passed through the hands of Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, Ottomans and others -the usual Montenegrin history. Inside the old town walls you will find narrow cobblestone streets, ruined churches, a mosque, and a clock tower. The streets are lovely to wander around. Notice the cute windows and tiny balconies, partly ruined alleys and other small details.

As we had two evenings in Ulcinj, on one evening we watched the sunset from the Liman area, with the view of the old town. The second evening we witnessed it from the castle area. I am not sure which of these sunsets was more beautiful, but they definitely were one of the highlights. If you have only one evening, I would have a hard time suggesting one over the other, so do whichever is more convenient. Either way, the light on the sea from these elevated locations is something else.

The Pasha Mosque at the entrance to the old city from the main road is also worth pausing at. It dates to the 19^th century and is a typical Ottoman architecture.

The Museum of Local History (price: 2.5 EUR) is fascinating for its building. It’s a 16^th century church, which was then transformed into a mosque during the Ottoman rule. It houses archaeological findings depicting the life of the city starting from the 5^th century. Even if you don’t visit the museum for the artifacts, you should see the building.

The Cervantes Connection

According to local legend the young Cervantes was captured at the age of 24 during a naval battle and held captive in Ulcinj by local pirates for around five years. The captivity was quite strange – he was apparently allowed to walk freely around the town. While in Ulcinj, he fell in love with a local woman and was inspired to create the famous Dulcinea. Even the name Dulcinea derives from “de Ulicini,” meaning from Ulcinj.

Spanish historians dispute the whole story and say there is no evidence for it. But we decided this story is lovely and gives Ulcinj the mystery you won’t find anywhere else in Montenegro. So let’s be Don Quixotes about it and imagine the windmills, even if it’s not true.

You can even visit Cervantes statue in the old town, one of the more unexpected things you’ll find in a small Montenegrin coastal city.

The Promenade and Cafes

Outside the old town, the promenade runs along the small beachside area and is a lovely place to spend an evening. By nightfall it fills up with locals and visitors alike, and the cafes along the waterfront become very busy. The views out to sea from here are beautiful, and the atmosphere is relaxed.

We sat at one of the cafes – café Timoni – and enjoyed the view, even if the food was not particularly memorable. The vibe more than made up for it.

When to Visit Ulcinj

We visited in September as part of a longer Balkans trip, and as with the rest of the coast, the timing was ideal. The summer heat had eased, the city was calm, and the old town was pleasantly uncrowded.

Ulcinj is a beach destination for many visitors, particularly those from the region, so July and August bring considerably more people. So if you prefer a quieter visit, aim for late September to October or late spring. This timing can be hit or miss for the sea though, as it may be cold.

How Long Do You Need in Ulcinj?

One full day is the right amount of time to see the city itself comfortably. In a single day you can explore the old town, visit the castle, walk the promenade, and see the Liman beaches and the cool views of the town. We used our one full day in Ulcinj to do exactly that before continuing to Albania.

If you want to spend time at the longer beaches like Velika Plaža or venture out to Ada Bojana Island, you would need an additional day or two. We did check out the Velika beach on our first late afternoon there. But for the town itself, one day is enough.

How to Get to Ulcinj

By Bus from the Montenegrin Coast

We arrived by bus from Sutomore, which was straightforward. Ulcinj is the last major town on the Montenegrin coast before the Albanian border, so buses run here from Bar, Sutomore, Budva, and other coastal towns, as well as from Podgorica. As with all bus travel in Montenegro, schedules are approximate. Just show up at the bus stop and hop on the next one heading south.

One important thing to know: the bus station in Ulcinj is not close to the city center. It is about a 30-minute walk, which is manageable without luggage but not ideal if you are arriving with bags. We took a taxi, which we don’t love doing, but it was the practical choice. Keep this in mind when planning your arrival..

See my dedicated article for more information on how to get around Montenegro by public transport.

Getting From Albania to Ulcinj

We took the shared taxi from the bus station, which worked fine. Compared to minibuses, the border crossing was faster with a smaller vehicle than a full bus. From Shkodër, minibuses to Tirana run regularly and are easy to find.

Where to Stay in Ulcinj

Ulcinj has a good range of accommodation, from apartments and guesthouses to small hotels. Given that the town is compact and walkable, you don’t need to be right in the old town to have easy access to everything.

You can choose an accommodation with direct access to the beach or stay in the old town area, depending on your preference.

Velika Plaza: Another common location is near Velika Plaza beach. There are resorts, like a very popular all-inclusive Azul Beach Resort or a more affordable AM Palace.

Old town: If you are planning to stay in the old town proper, hotel options are limited, so you will have to find serviced apartments, like Villa Marinero for instance.

Where to Next from Ulcinj

If you are heading south, Albania awaits. Shkodër is the first major stop, with Tirana easily reachable from there. Shkodër deserves at least a couple of hours, before continuing to Tirana.

If you are heading back north along the coast, Bar is the nearest stop and its beautiful old town with the mountain backdrop is definitely worth a day trip.

Further north along the coast, you can visit my favorite Montenegrin city, Budva and continue on to the most popular Kotor.

For something different, Lake Skadar is also an easy detour nearby, especially if you want a break from the coast.

<p>The post One Day in Ulcinj: Montenegro’s City of Legends first appeared on Hit the Road Ket.</p>

If you are traveling around the Balkans, I think Herceg Novi deserves at least a day to explore its cute old town. When we visited, the city was pleasantly quiet, and Kanli Kula, which would be overrun with tourists if it was located elsewhere, was so empty that we practically had it to ourselves.

Here’s how to spend one day in Herceg Novi, followed by practical tips on when to visit, how to get there and where to stay.

What to See in Herceg Novi: 1-Day Itinerary

You can walk in Herceg Novi for the whole time of your stay. We never needed any transport inside the town. However, it is hilly, so if you are visiting the fortresses, you would have to climb uphill. If you have mobility issues, then taxi is your main option.

Kanli Kula Fortress: The Best Views in Herceg Novi

Entrance fee: 4 EUR

Opening hours: 9 am-8 pm, shorter hours in winter.

How to get to Kanli Kula: The fortress sits high above the old town. From the waterside area, you will have to climb quite a lot of stairs and steep streets. If you have any difficulty with stairs or steep roads, it is also accessible by car or a taxi from the main road above.

Start your day with Kanli Kula, which translates rather ominously as the Bloody Tower. The name is entirely earned. Built in the 16^th century during Ottoman rule, this fortress served as a prison, and its dark dungeons can still be visited today. The atmosphere inside is gloomy and menacing.

The fortress also has a large amphitheatre, heavily renovated in the 20^th century and now used as an open-air performance venue. It has lost much of its historical feel, but the original parts of the fortress more than make up for it. Unbelievably, this is a popular wedding venue. Seems people aren’t deterred by the bloody past of this place.

The Old Town

From Kanli Kula, make your way down into the old town and simply wander. We basically did a few circles to look into the small alleys and enjoy the secluded staircases. In September the old town was by far not crowded and very pleasant.

Belvista Square and the Church of Archangel Michael: The Belvista (beautiful view) square is located not too far from Kanli Kula. The Serbian Orthodox church of Archangel Michael here is free to enter. It is a beautiful building and worth a few minutes inside.

The Clock Tower: located close to Belvista Square, this is one of Herceg Novi’s most recognizable landmarks. The tower was first built in the 17^th century during Turkish rule, while the upper part was added by the Venetians in the 19^th century. It’s a lovely sight. I read that it is possible to climb the tower for free, but when we visited, we couldn’t find any obvious way up or anyone in attendance. Worth checking when you are there and let me know if you have better luck.

There are also several other churches, small museums, and cute alleys throughout the old town. Take your time, grab a burek if you spot one, and enjoy the atmosphere.

Forte Mare (Sea Fortress)

Entrance fee: 5 EUR

Opening hours: 9 am-8 pm, shorter hours in winter.

After exploring the old town, make your way to Forte Mare (Sea Fortress), which sits right at the shore. You can either descend from the old town or climb the steep steps up from the seafront promenade; we came from the old town and exited to the seaside, which worked well.

Forte Mare was originally built in the 14^th century by the Bosnian king Tvrtko for protection against invaders from the sea. It has been damaged and rebuilt numerous times over the centuries, taking its current form in the 19^th century.

The views here are not as wide as from Kanli Kula, but the setting right at the water is beautiful, particularly in the late afternoon when the light on the bay is lovely. If your timing works out, it is a beautiful place to catch the sunset. Like Kanli Kula, Forte Mare also works as an open-air venue for theatre and concerts.

The Promenade Walk

On your way down to the promenade, you will come to the ruins of a third fortress – the Citadel, which was almost completely destroyed in the 1979 earthquake. Only ruins remain, but they are worth a glance as you pass.

Finish your day with a walk along Herceg Novi’s lovely promenade, ideally once the afternoon heat has passed. It is a long, peaceful pedestrian path along the waterfront, with the sounds of the sea and beautiful views of the bay. If you feel like stretching your legs, you can walk all the way to the neighboring town of Igalo.

Keep an eye out for Do Do café near Forte Mare. They serve great ice cream and coffee, which is exactly what you want after a day of stair-climbing. Plus, they have wonderful outdoor seats, if you need some rest.

For dinner, my recommendation is Tri Lipe. It came highly recommended and absolutely did not disappoint. It is not the cheapest option in town, but still reasonable. The food and atmosphere are great, particularly if you sit in the cute courtyard. While we didn’t have to wait during our September visit, in summer they are rather busy, so you may need to book ahead or arrive early.

If You Have More Time in Herceg Novi

Spanish Fortress

Opening hours: Currently closed for renovations and can only be viewed from outside.

Entrance fee: free.

If you have more time, the Spanish Fortress is absolutely worth the effort. It is a significant climb from the old town. But you can take a taxi if you would rather not walk.

While in ruins and now being renovated, seeing fortress even from outside is fascinating. Plus, the views from up here are spectacular.

The history of the fortress is quite absurd: the Spanish began constructing it during their one-year rule over Herceg Novi in 1538, and the Ottomans finished it after taking over. Still the fortress is called Spanish to this day.

Boat Trip to the Blue Cave

Price of the boat ride: 15-20 EUR depending on which tour you take.

The Blue Cave is a stunning sea cave in Kotor Bay, one of the most popular excursions in Montenegro. You can visit it from Kotor, as well as from Herceg Novi. We haven’t done this tour ourselves, because I can’t really snorkel, so can’t provide the details, but people rave about it.

The group tour options online depart mainly from Kotor. For Herceg Novi, you can only book a private Blue Cave tour. Or just show up at the waterfront and find boats heading out.

Savina Monastery

About 20 minutes’ walk from the old town, the Savina Monastery is an Orthodox complex dating back to the 11th century. We did not visit ourselves, but it is worth considering if you have extra time and an interest in religious architecture.

Trip to Mostar

We took a tour to Bosnia and Herzegovina from Herceg Novi, including Mostar and Trebinje, which were the highlights. Herceg Novi’s location near the border makes it a great base for the trip. The overall tour took up to 12 hours.

Alternatively, you can head to Mostar by bus and continue your journey onwards to Sarajevo from there.

Trip to Dubrovnik

Given how close Herceg Novi is to the Croatian border, a day trip to Dubrovnik is also very doable. It is a popular excursion from here taking about 1-1.5 hours to get to Dubrovnik depending on the border delays. It will make a long and satisfying day.

Dubrovnik can also be a great gateway to next stops in Croatia through Split and other coastal cities.

If you are continuing your journey in Montenegro, after Herceg Novi, you can continue around the bay to Kotor. This is what we did. You can check out my 2-day Kotor itinerary for more details.

Before you go, here are a few practical things to know.

When to Visit Herceg Novi

If you are coming primarily for the fortresses and old town rather than the beaches, then late spring or early to mid autumn are great. Herceg Novi is a seaside destination, and the waterfront and promenade attract plenty of beach visitors in summer. So while the historical sights stay relatively quiet even in peak season, the seafront area can be busy.

On the other hand, if you are dreaming of crystal-clear water and gorgeous beaches, I’ll be honest the sea in Kotor Bay generally is not as clean or as beautiful as on the southern Montenegrin coast. It’s better to plan your beach days in or around Sutomore, Budva, Petrovac, Ulcinj and so on, rather than here.

We visited in September as part of a longer Balkans trip and the timing was ideal. The summer heat had softened, the skies were clear, and the old town and fortresses were not crowded.

How Long Do You Need to Explore Herceg Novi

One to two days is the right amount of time for Herceg Novi itself. In a single well-planned day you can cover the main fortresses, the old town, and the promenade comfortably. We stayed for a couple of nights, which gave us time to do all of that plus use the city as a base for a day trip to Mostar, which I would highly recommend if you are in the area.

How to Get to Herceg Novi

The most common approach for travelers already in Montenegro is the bus from Kotor, which is how we arrived. The journey takes about an hour to an hour and a half depending on the route and traffic. Buses run regularly between the two cities. As always with Montenegrin buses, schedules are approximate rather than strict. You have to find a bus stop and hop on the next bus.

If you are combining Montenegro with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Herceg Novi is a great gateway to Mostar and vice versa. The journey takes around 4 hours. Buses run daily in the morning at 8.35 from Herceg Novi and at 9.30 from Mostar – check the schedule on Busticket4me. However, they often have delays.

If you are planning a day trip from Herceg Novi to Mostar or the other way round, buses won’t work. You won’t be able to take a bus in the evening – they only run in the morning hours. So for this you would need to join a tour, rent a car or hire a private driver.

Herceg Novi is very close to the Croatian border, and Dubrovnik is only about an hour’s drive away. Many travelers use Dubrovnik Airport as their entry point into Montenegro, which makes Herceg Novi a natural first stop. Buses run between Dubrovnik and Herceg Novi regularly, about 3-4 times a day. Alternatively, you can book a transfer from the Dubrovnik airport to Herceg Novi.

For more information about transport in Montenegro, see my dedicated article.

Where to Stay in Herceg Novi

Compared to Kotor or Budva, accommodation in Herceg Novi is affordable, which is one more reason to like it. You will find a good range of small hotels and apartments, and prices are reasonable even in the summer months.

Given that the town is small, you don’t really need to stay in the downtown area, but finding accommodation closer to the beach is of course nice.

If you are looking for something higher level and pricier, Hotel Talia is a great option, very close to the beach and providing 4-star service.

<p>The post One Day in Herceg Novi: A Gateway to Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina first appeared on Hit the Road Ket.</p>

We visited the town as a day trip from Sutomore, and I was genuinely surprised by how much there was to experience here. If you are already staying along the Montenegrin coast, Bar is absolutely worth a few hours of your time.

In this guide I’ll cover what to see on a day trip to Bar, plus practical tips on when to visit, how to get there and where to stay.

Is Bar Worth Visiting?

Bar is absolutely worth visiting. It won’t give you the polished, photogenic magic of Kotor or the beach energy of Budva, but it has quiet, authentic character, and a hidden gem in the form of Stari Bar. If you are planning your Montenegro trip, I recommend including it in your itinerary. From many parts of Montenegrin coast, such as Sutomore, Ulcinj, Petrovac, or similar, Bar is a very easy day trip.

We loved it, and hubby, who is considerably harder to impress with old ruins than I am, agreed it was one of the more memorable stops of our Montenegro trip.

What to See in Bar: 1-Day Itinerary

The Town Centre and Marina

Bar’s newer town center is pleasant without being particularly remarkable. What it does offer is a slice of authentic, everyday Montenegrin life that you simply won’t find in the more tourist-heavy towns. The streets are quiet, the marina is pretty with the dramatic backdrop of mountains behind it, and you can walk around without anyone trying to sell you anything. There is something refreshing about a town that hasn’t been polished for tourists.

The town also has quite a few bars and cafes, which makes it easy to take breaks during your visit.

Stari Bar: The Old Town and Fortress

How to get to Stari Bar: Stari Bar is up to an hour walk away from the port area and from the modern town center. It is a pleasant albeit uphill walk if you don’t mind the distance. A cobbled street lined with small yards with trailing vines leads up to the entrance, which makes a lovely approach. The uphill walk is not especially strenuous, if you are relatively fit and takes about half an hour at a comfortable pace.

If you don’t walk though, your options are limited. There should be buses from the Bar train station running uphill, they cost 1 EUR. Otherwise, the taxi drivers ask exorbitant amounts to take you uphill (I heard amounts like 15-20 EUR one way, which is crazy for such a short distance).

Entrance fee: 5 EUR

Opening hours: 8 am-8 pm in summer, shorter hours in winter.

How long do you need to explore Stari Bar: We loved this beautiful place, so spent about three hours in Stari Bar and did not feel rushed. If you really want to linger and explore every corner (and stop in the hamam for a few rounds of echo testing, as we did), that is a good amount of time. If you are short on time, you can get a good sense of the main highlights in an hour or so, though I would be sad to rush it.

Stari Bar is on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list. Unlike the old towns of Kotor or Budva, which are full of cafes, restaurants, and people, Stari Bar is something else entirely: a ruined, largely abandoned fortified city at the foot of a mountain, slowly being reclaimed by nature. The fortress has lovely cobblestone paths and ancient arches. It is also unique, as it’s built at the foot of the mountain and provides truly amazing views.

What I particularly loved about it was that there were so few people there. The site is large so the few dozen people we encountered really didn’t bother at all. So we happily wandered through the ancient streets at a slow pace.

Highlights of Stari Bar

Once you pass through the entrance gate, you step into history. The fortifications were first built here in the 6^th century, and the site grew and changed hands over the following millennium and a half. Romans, Byzantines, Slavs, Venetians, Ottomans all left their marks here. Most parts you see today are from 11-12^th century. The 1979 earthquake caused significant damage.

Nowadays, nature took over parts of the old town – grass grows between the stones, trees push through ancient walls, and the whole place has a romantically overgrown quality. But the walls, arches and buildings that remain are beautiful even in their ruined state.

The Clock Tower/Watchtower is the most recognizable structure in Stari Bar. Scientists believe it may originally date back to the Middle Ages, though it was destroyed and rebuilt by the Ottomans in 1752, damaged again toward the end of the 19^th century, and underwent restoration in the early 20^th century and again in the 1980s. It dominates the skyline of the old town and makes for a striking photo.

The Turkish Hamam is one of the coolest parts of the entire site. This Ottoman bathhouse was built in the 18^th century, and its distinctive round shape has survived remarkably well. When you step inside, try calling out. You will get an amazing echo. So basically, you can practice your singing without anyone disturbing you. Yes, there was literally no one here, except us, so needless to say we had a lot of fun.

Remains of Monasteries and a Mosque: you will find the remnants of a couple of monasteries that were at various points converted into a mosque. It’s one of those interesting places, where you clearly see the layers of history under different rulers.

The Small Museum: there is a modest museum within the old town that provides additional context on the site’s history, buildings, and artifacts.

The Aqueduct: Near the old town you will also find a reconstructed aqueduct. The original Roman construction was completely destroyed; what you see today is a later reconstruction, but it adds to the lovely views.

If you want more detailed information about the history, buildings and museum of the Stari Bar, head to the official website of Stari Bar.

The Olive Tree: Just near Stari Bar, you can see an olive tree that is said to be 2,000 years old. There is a 1 EUR entrance fee to visit the enclosure. We skipped it, as it didn’t feel worth our time, and there are more interesting things to see nearby.

Once you’ve had your fill of the old town, head back down to the modern center for a very different but equally charming stop.

On the walk back down from Stari Bar to the town center, there are a few cafes along the main connecting street. We stopped at one and had a Turkish coffee. This is not my usual preference, but there wasn’t much else on offer. Don’t expect a specialty coffee scene here. If you need a proper coffee fix, save it for the town center.

King Nikola’s Palace

Entrance fee: 8 EUR. Gardens free.

Opening hours: In summer daily 9 am-5 pm in summer. From mid-November to mid-April only open weekdays till 3 pm.

Back in the modern town center, head to King Nikola’s Palace built in the 19^th century. King Nikola built the palace for his daughter and her family. From the outside it is not particularly impressive, but the small museum inside is very charming. It houses a collection of folk costumes and historical items that give a good sense of Montenegrin royal and folk history. We loved the old furniture, including the piano, which particularly etched in my mind.

While not a grand or sprawling palace by any means (don’t expect Versailles) this palace is cute and definitely worth a stop.

The Church of St. Jovan Vladimir

Entrance fee: free.

This is a modern Orthodox cathedral, built only a few decades ago, so it doesn’t have the historical gravitas of Bar’s ancient sites. That said, it is a fine example of contemporary Orthodox church architecture, and if you happen to be passing by, it is worth a quick look.

We were lucky enough to witness a wedding ceremony during our visit. It was a small, intimate gathering. The ceremony closely resembles other Orthodox Christian services, with its circling of the altar and chanting from the priest so it wasn’t a surprise for me personally, but for anyone less familiar with the tradition it would be an interesting thing to observe.

Is a Day Trip to Bar Enough?

A day trip is more than enough to explore what Bar has to offer. Of course, you can stay longer if you want a quiet and relaxed vacation.

We spent over 6 hours in total in the town. That gave us plenty of time to see everything we wanted at a comfortable pace and take a lot of photos. The town itself doesn’t have an overwhelming number of sights, but what it does have is genuinely impressive and deserves a slow, unhurried visit rather than a rushed one.

One thing that really shows how under the radar Bar is, is that there aren’t many proper tours of the town. Your best bet is to visit independently or hire a car.

When to Visit Bar

We visited in September and honestly it was ideal. The summer heat had softened, the skies were still blue and sunny, and the town was quiet without feeling abandoned. There were very few tourists around, quite the contrast to the crowds we had encountered in Kotor and Budva later on our trip.

In general, late spring and early autumn are probably the best for Bar. You get comfortable temperatures for walking around and avoid summer heat. The only possible downside of these seasons is the chance of rain. But these occasional showers are not too cold or too long.

Summer is perfectly fine too, though July and August can be too hot, especially in the old town where you will be walking under the sun with little opportunities for finding shade.

Bar is not the kind of destination you visit in winter. This coastal town is quiet as it is, but in winter it has even less going on.

The town is usually not very crowded, so you don’t really need to be much concerned about avoiding the crowds, but outside the summer popular seasons, it’s still quieter. You can even have parts of Stari Bar to yourself.

Getting to Bar

Bar is a transport hub in more ways than one. It has the port and the train station but also is a gateway to the southern part of Montenegro and to Albania, which gives it a slightly more lively, workaday character than you might expect from a small coastal town.

By Bus

Bar is well connected by bus from the other coastal towns in Montenegro. From Budva, Kotor Ulcinj  and other cities there are regular connections, and the journey is scenic along the coast.

Buses in Montenegro don’t run on tight schedules. There are several different bus companies operating on the same routes, and in practice you go to the bus stop, wait, and hop on whatever comes. It works out fine, we did this dozens of times. You could technically check bus schedules on Busticket4me. But I wouldn’t buy bus tickets online, as you have to have your ticket printed and some bus drivers may not even accept it, unless you exchange it for paper ticket at a bus station.

We came to Bar by bus from Sutomore. We hopped on one of the passing buses on the main coastal road and arrived to the Bar bus station.

By Train

There are two trains running daily during the summer months only – mid-June to mid-September. The full route would take about 11-12 hours, while only a bit more than an hour from Podgorica, but delays are quite common. You can find the train schedule on the Montenegro railways official website, but from Prijepolje, not all the way from Belgrade.

You can’t book the tickets for this train online. You will have to buy them at the train station with cash. You might find some available tickets on the day of travel, but that’s not guaranteed. Therefore, if you want to take it, make sure to book at least a few days in advance. This was the major reason why I didn’t consider taking this train from Podgorica.

By Car

If you are renting a car, reaching Bar is straightforward. The coastal road and the main highway both connect here easily, and having a car also makes it simple to combine Bar with a beach stop at Sutomore or Susanj on the same day.

By Ferry

Bar’s port receives ferries from Bari, Italy. Nowadays, only one ferry company runs on this route once a day. If you are combining Montenegro with a broader Balkan or Adriatic itinerary, this is a scenic and practical entry or exit point.

If you want more detailed information about transport in Montenegro, check out my dedicated article.

Where to Stay in and around Bar

My main recommendation is to stay somewhere with beach access, either at Susanj beach or in nearby Sutomore. Bar is not primarily a beach destination, but Montenegro’s coast is beautiful, and the best way to enjoy a day here is to combine a morning or evening at the beach with a few hours in Bar proper. We did exactly that and it made for a very satisfying day.

We were based in Sutomore, just a short ride away from Bar. I would highly recommend it as a base for exploring the area, if you want to combine beach time with a day trip to Bar. Sutomore has decent beaches, and is quieter and cheaper than the more popular resort towns further north.

If you do want to stay in Bar specifically, the town has a range of accommodation options, but mostly apartments rather than hotels.

Check out Hotel Agape, it has a great location in central Bar and is very highly reviewed.

Continuing Your Montenegro Trip

If you’re continuing south, Ulcinj is a great next stop and feels quite different from the rest of the coast. If you’re heading north instead, Budva is the obvious choice, with a much livelier atmosphere.

<p>The post Day Trip to Bar: An Overlooked Coastal Town in Montenegro first appeared on Hit the Road Ket.</p>

It’s hard to say, when was the city first settled, but some say it dates back to 2^nd century BC. The legend has it that the town was built with the support of a Greek fairy, who advised the settlers to build their town at the shore.

If you are a budget traveler, don’t even try to stay in the old town area, it’s just extremely expensive and you would have to drag your luggage through cobbled streets. Try to find something outside the area. We found a lovely flat with an amazing view over the bay for quite cheap, I think it was something around 25 EUR per night. We needed to walk about 10-15 mins from there to get to the old city gates.

Also, keep in mind that the food places inside the old city are somewhat expensive for budget travelers. We mainly grabbed burek and coffee and ate proper meals outside the old city. The main place we ate at was a place located inbetween the old city and the bus station. The place is called BBQ Tanjga. They have only a few places, but we would get a takeaway.

Day 1

Dedicate your first day in Kotor to exploring its cute old city. It has three major gates, do explore each one. Near the major one – the Sea gate, you will find the Main square with the huge clock tower of 1602. From the main square, chose whichever direction you wish and start exploring. If you go eastwards, you will get to another major square, where the 12^th century St Triphon catholic monastery. I heard that you can climb up the tower here, but on the day we were there, it wasn’t possible. By the way, we wondered into one of the yards nearby this church and saw this lovely place (pictured below). It wasn’t closed and there was literally no one around. So we relaxed here with our bureks that we grabbed along the way.

There are several other highlight points you should see. The orthodox St Nicholas church is also quite impressive. Others include St. Luke’s church, the St Mary, St Claire’s, etc. Just walk around and peak into them.

Go on with discovering the walls of the city, but don’t climb up the fortress yet, unless of course, you want to do that on the first day and explore the city later. Just climb on different parts of the walls, where you are allowed to, it’s definitely worth it Don’t be afraid to get lost and just wander around, having general idea in mind in order not to miss any parts.

Also, if you are a cat lover, don’t forget to pass by the Cat museum. It is located in a lovely area, so do explore it well. Cats are abundant in the city, as in the whole of Montenegro.

Overall, the small city offers numerous photo opportunities at every corner, in the little hidden alleys on on the city walls.

Day 2

Kotor has a beautiful fortress (St. John’s or San Giovani) with stunning views. the fortress was being built for quite some time – from 9^th to 15^th century. Originally there was a castle here even in the 5^th century.

Granted, it is quite a climb, but you have stairs and you won’t be slipping at least. There are over 1300 steps here, so be prepared and take breaks It took us about an hour, but we were taking tooons of photos on the way Try to avoid the hottest parts of the day, as you will hardly find any shadows. Also, try not to wear the shoes that may be slipping off your feet.

Entrance to start climbing costs 8EUR. I was told that if you get there outside the working hours – meaning before 8am and after 8pm, then you can enter without a charge. We haven’t tried this, so not sure how true that is.

Don’t forget to take water with. They sell it there, but it’s obviously extremely overpriced.

Btw there is another way from the back. They say it’s an easier climb, but at some point you will have to climb a wooden ladder and get in through the window. Keep in mind, you can’t buy tickets there. When you get to some point, they will ask for a ticket and unless you bought one at the ticket booth, you won’t be allowed in, so make sure to buy the ticket first.

Slightly less than halfway to the fortress, you will find the church – Our Lady of Remedy, where you can rest in the shadow. It’s a small Catholic church built in the 16^th century.

When you reach the top, don’t forget to explore all small corners of the fortress. It is impressive. Interestingly although there were many people enjoying the views, there were very few actually exploring the castle. You will find the Montenegrin flag here and it makes a beautiful backdrop for your photos

After visiting the castle or before – whatever you prefer – take a boat to Our Lady of the Rocks and Perast. You can also do this by bus, but by boat is so much more fun. For getting a boat, just show up at the harbor and ask around about the prices. They also do tours to the Blue cave from here, sunset tours, etc. We opted to combine sightseeing with boat trip.

After about half an hour on the boat, we got to the island of Our Lady of the Rocks. Near it is the St. George’s island, where visitors are not allowed to stop. We walked around the tiny island, which is lovely. The small chapel costs 2 EUR. It was rather crowded at the time we were there, so we had to wait to get a chance to enter.

After this, you will get to Perast, which is a village built by Illyrians in the 14^th century and then prospered under Venetians.

Perast is a car free area. It’s a cute little city/village with a number of churches, old palaces and museums. Not too far from the marina is the St Nicholas church. It was built in the 17^th century. Next to it is the 55-meter Bell tower. To climb the tower you just have to pay 1EUR. Don’t miss this, as from there you can see views over Our Lady of the Rocks and the St. George’s island nearby and it’s beautiful.  

For the views, you can also climb up to the main highway. We got a great view of the area, while on a mini-bus from Herceg Novi to Kotor.

Another church with great views is Our Lady of the Rosary. You can climb up the tower of this 17^th century catholic church. The Zmajevic palace next to it is closed to the public.

if you have enough time on your hands explore its city museum, which is located in the 18^th century palace. Btw. Palaces are not as magnificent, as you would imagine, but lovely big houses. There are other prominent palaces to check out, such as Smekja palace, which houses a hotel now. Overall, just wander around the waterside and the town and enjoy it. We did regret that we didn’t have more time for this cute town.

Btw. You can take a boat from Perast to Our Lady of the Rocks and back from the marina.

<p>The post Visiting Kotor – 2 day itinerary first appeared on Hit the Road Ket.</p>

It is said that the city dates back 2500 years. The 1979 earthquakes effected the town significantly, but it was subsequently rebuilt.

The most popular beaches include Jazz beach and the Mogren beach. The 2 Mogren beaches are connected by the tunnel, it’s very interesting to explore these rocky shores. There is also Greco beach, but that one is definitely not the nicest. If you are looking for cleaner and nicer beaches, try exploring somewhat farther ones, like the one in Sutomore.

Besides, if you are a budget traveler, Staying in Budva can be rather expensive. So try to find accommodation in the nearby areas. We opted for Sutomore, which is about an hour’s drive from Budva and very close to Petrovac. Sutomore has a nice clean beach (definitely cleaner than the Budva ones) and also far quieter, which makes it perfect for those people, who don’t visit beaches to party. For parties, Budva beaches, particularly Jazz beach are the best.

Budva has a lovely promenade, which stretches all the way to Sveti Stefan.

Explore the old town of Budva

Budva is said to be first built by a Phoenician king or by Greeks.

The citadel or fortress is not to be missed. It provides lovely views over the old city (head to the stories to see what I mean ). Originally, here was a 12^th century church at this location. The fortress itself was built for defense in the 15^th century and was renovated fairly recently – in 1936 by the Austrians. It houses a very interesting museum and a library. The library was totally cute. When we visited, there were a couple of photoshoots going on there

Several churches are particularly interesting for their beauty and history – Catholic St. John’s is the oldest among them dating back to the 7^th century; Santa Maria Punta dating to 9^th century was used by Franciscan and then Benedictine order and now hosts events; Orthodox Holly Trinity was built in the beginning of the 19^th century.

Also, just wander around this cute city, which although crowded by tourists, is very charming. You will find many narrow cobbled streets with cute souvenir shops and cafes. You can even find more secluded spots, where you will be alone, away from the hustle and bustle.

Visit the Dancing girl statue and the rocky shores of Budva

If you walk towards the West of the old town, you can find gorgeous places with lovely views of the city. First, follow the path to the Dancer statue. This is a cute little statue of a dancing girl. So many people take her pose totake photos The statue has a sad legend behind it. A ballerina, who was in love with a sailor would go to the shore to wait for her love. But he never returned and she died of the broken heart (the legend doesn’t specify, if she killed herself or died). There are also a few other legends – the young couple’s boat crashed, and only woman made it out of the sea. After that the story is the same, she died. Another story says that the statue was dedicated to the local wealthy girl, who died in the sea. There is one more similar story, that the statue is of a famous gymnast. Either way, the statue is cute, and it became a romantic symbol of the city. Locals say that touching the statue can bring you luck. So you can try But be careful while climbing, as the rocks are slippery.

Then go farther to find beautiful rocks. I absolutely adored this area for photos. Farther on, you will find Mogren I and Mogren II beaches, which are far less crowded than the beaches immediately next to the old town and very cool.

Take a boat to Sveti Stefan and Petrovac

There are a number of options for the boat tours from Budva or Petrovac. Just show up at the shore and ask.

While taking a boat trip from Petrovac to Budva, we encountered very unpleasant obnoxious tourists. During the boat trips, I always love sitting at the edge of the boat, which allows me to get the best view. We got on the boat early and took our seats. Later a huge group came, squeezed on the bench next to us and started to push us, basically kicking. It was hard to make them understand to stop pushing. They also were talking so loudly, it was crazy.

But the boat trip was amazing. I always enjoy any boats, even when I encounter weird people To be honest, we were not as impressed with Sveti Stefan, not the least because the island connected to the mainland with the bridge is now a 5-star resort and can be visited only with restaurant reservation, which I think is simply unacceptable. I believe historical places should not be turned into huge resorts and should be accessible for anyone. There are pink sand beaches on each side of the passage to the island. But those also belong to the resort. We saw Sveti Stefan from the sea, while passing it by boat, as well as from the roadside, but didn’t attempt to go close to it. It has a stunning shape though and can be lovely for photos.

We saw the tiny islands of Sveta Nedelja and Katic, which are are very close to Petrovac and you can circle them by the boat. The small church located on the rocks on Sevta Nedelja is very cute. As so many other places in Montenegro, this church was also significantly damaged during the 1979 earthquake and rebuilt afterwards.

Visit Petrovac

Petrovac first appeared in the 4^th century, when Roman villas were built here. It was called Castel Lastva (after the small castle you will find here) till the beginning of 20^th century, when it got its current name. At this time it was also really small with less than 300 inhabitants.

Currently, it is a nice seaside town with a small castle, the promenade and the beautiful rock formations, like the ones you can see in Budva. The small town has olive and pine forests around. There are several popular beaches here, such as the city beach itself, Lucica beach.

Definitely, visit the XVI century castle built by the Venetians, you will find lovely views to the rocky shores and the sea. Originally it served to protect the area from the pirates.

<p>The post Visiting beautiful Budva – 1 day itinerary first appeared on Hit the Road Ket.</p>

Besides, if you don’t have a problem with a Schengen visa, you could fly into the Dubrovnik airport and get to Montenegro from there, as Herceg Novi is really close to this airport. There are buses running from Dubrovnik to Herceg Novi and to Kotor.

You can also travel from neighbouring countries by buses or mini-buses.

There are buses between Ulcinj and Shkoder in Albania. Then from Shkoder you can travel onwards to Tirana. When crossing the border with Albania on the bus, someone will take your passports, I didn’t wanna give mine, but there is just no other way. After a while they return with passports and the bus moves. When you arrive to Shkoder, the bus station is basically the buses and minibuses parked at the roadside.

Another way to travel on this route is by shared taxi. They will ask for a per person payment. On our way back to Montenegro from Albania, we apparently travelled on some sort of a holiday, so we found no bus. We had to negotiate with the taxi driver (there are plenty around the place, where the buses and mini-buses stop) and get a shared ride.

There are also bus connections between Herceg Novi and Mostar (as well as Trebinje) in Bosnia and Hercegovina. If you want to travel from Kotor to B&H, then you better not take the direct bus, which goes via Podgorica, but rather go to Herceg Novi first and take a bus from there.

Buses

Buses are the most common form of transportation. They run quite often inbetween the cities. Buses are operated by different companies, as they are not nationalized. Therefore, just don’t care, which company is it, find the one going to where you need.

If you are visiting the coastal towns, this will be your main form of transport as well. The prices range from 3 to 10 EUR depending on the length of your journey. It should be noted that you may have to add 1 EUR per piece of big luggage, but in our experience it depends on which company you end up with.

Buses are usually quite all right and often air-conditioned. They are very rarely full. I remember having to stand on the bus only once.

There is no need to book your bus journey in advance. We only bought our tix from Kotor to Podgorica just in case, when we arrived in Kotor. For all other journeys we bought tix on the spot before the journey and never had any problems. If you absolutely need to get to the airport or be somewhere at a specific time, still buy the tix in advance either at the bus station or online. There is no official website for getting bus tickets online, given that the bus network is not centralized, and many different companies run them. However, this website https://busticket4.me/ is as official, as it can get for getting tix. I would still buy them on the spot.

Our way of taking a bus was different depending on the city we were in. For instance, Kotor, Budva and other bigger cities have designated bus stations, from where you can take the relevant bus, the schedule, etc. In other smaller cities, like Sutomore, Petrovac, etc, you will have to go to the main road, find a spot, where the bus can stop and just hail one, when it is passing.

Bus schedules are not too easy to find online. The closest you can get is again https://busticket4.me/ . But either way, buses run inbetween cities quite often from early morning (5 to 6 am) to quite late (8pm is the latest on bigger distances, but on smaller ones, you can even find buses at 10pm). So, you shouldn’t worry much about bus schedules, unless you need to find a bus at a very specific time and to a specific destination last minute.

There is basically no transport inside the cities. Only Podgorica has a bus network, but they are infrequent. Anyway, you won’t need any transport, unless you stay far from a bus station or a city center. As for other small cities, they are very much walkable and you definitely need not transport.

Another easy option to get around the country, especially if you want to visit less visited spots, would be to rent a car. The driving is not too crazy and it shouldn’t be extremely difficult for you to do this, if you know how to drive.

It should be noted that there is a railway network linking Podgorica with Bar, however, train system is not often used, it’s underfunded and not too reliable.

How to travel from Podgorica airport to Podgorica and other cities – from Podgorica airport you don’t have many options. You will have to go to Podgorica bus station and then get a bus to your destination from there. The airport is not directly served by public transport, however, if you are up for it you can walk to the train station, which is about a km away or to the main road to catch a bus to Podgorica. There are a couple of official taxi counters with fixed rates, while the taxis outside can end up cheaper. Either way, it would make 8-12 EUR, depending on your haggling skills.

How to travel from Tivat airport to Kotor – unfortunately, there are no public transport options. There are a number of taxis, which ask exorbitant prices. To Kotor it shouldn’t cost more than 10EUR. If they ask for more, just find another. I have also heard of taxi scams, some people have been asked exorbitant prices at the end of their journey and when they refused to pay, the taxi driver just drove off with their luggage.

How to get from bus stations to city centers – almost all city bus stations are 10-15 mins walk away from the city centers. In Kotor, it’s about 5 mins away, in Podgorica, about 10, we just walked to our accommodation. In Herceg Novi and Budva it’s also a short walk away, similarly in Bar and Petrovac. The only exception is Ulcinj, where we had to take a taxi from the station to the center, as it was a long walk with the luggage – over half an hour.

<p>The post Transport in Montenegro first appeared on Hit the Road Ket.</p>