Kotor - For several years now, Kotor has attracted a multitude of tourists from all over the world. As a city that is over 2000 years old, it is truly a fortification masterpiece that has drawn a notable crowd due to its anthropological importance within the region.
Located in a surreal and unique atmosphere within the Boka Bay that is essentially trapped in time, Kotor majestically tells ancient legends of some of Europe’s most amazing folklore. Surrounded by dark mountains, the city is remarkably beautiful. Kotor’s Old Town is a stunning Venetian maze of cobblestone streets. If you decide to discover this picturesque region for yourself, do not forget to bring your camera! We guarantee that you will be impressed with Kotor and the entire Boka Kotorska Bay.
As Montenegro’s busiest tourist destination, Budva is certainly a city that should be on every traveler’s list. Budva’s Old Town is another Venetian maze of cobblestone streets, anchored by the 15thcentury citadel.
A tourist Mecca, Budva comes to life most avidly in the months of summer. Beautiful and modernly-equipped beaches offer an unforgettable atmosphere. Excellent hotels, villas, and apartments attract a myriad of satisfied tourists. Due to its good location, you can travel to any other place within the proximity of Budva in a relatively short amount of time.
Enjoy a delicious breakfast on the Riviera, swim along the coast in some of Budva’s most popular beaches (Mogren, Becici, Fine Sand, Jaz, Trsteno, Sveti Stefan, Budva), have lunch at Lovcen National Park or Skadar Lake, and allow Montenegro to show you its wild side by going on a hike in the lavish mountains of Durmitor National Park.
One of the most famous and prestigious places in Montenegro - Sveti Stefan (St Stephen) - is only fifteen minutes away from Budva.
The tiny island of Sveti Stefan is situated just off the Montenegrin coast, which used to be a renowned fishing village. Today, it’s an outstanding luxury resort ready to meet all of your holiday needs.
The island itself is very small, connected to the mainland only by a narrow bridge with its stone houses all tightly packed together on top of its majestic rocky peaks. Guests can stay in individual rooms as well as entire villas, with private pools and terraces that offer a magnificent view of the sea. The island is a perfect blend of rustic and elegant landscapes. But that’s not all, Aman Sveti Stefan offers two pools open to all guests, a spa with an infinity pool, a gym, and several exquisite restaurants.
Skadar Lake, also known as Lake Scutari, Lake Shkodër, and Lake Shkodra, is located in the Zeta-Skadar valley. Indescribable, and unique in every way, it has a surface area that seasonally fluctuates between 370 to 530 sq. km. As a matter of fact, it is the largest lake on the Balkan Peninsula. When driving through the newly built Sozina tunnel, the lake is only a short twenty-minute drive away from the Adriatic Sea. The river Bojana creates a connection between Skadar Lake and the Adriatic Sea through a large mountain mass that separates the two. Two-thirds of the lake belong to Montenegro, while one-third belongs to the Republic of Albania. The 400-sq. km Montenegrin side of the lake was declared a National Park in 1983.
The region of Skadar Lake is an area Montenegrin visitors and tourists must come see to believe that a place of such unbelievable natural beauty indeed exists. Today, Skadar is also renowned as one of Europe’s top bird habitats. It’s a beautiful area with steep mountains, island monasteries, and clean waters. This region’s main towns are Virpazar and Vranjina, and if you’ve got wheels, you can easily explore all of the other scenic tiny villages in this area. Lake Skadar is perfect for nature-lovers, or simply those who want to relish in a bit outdoor activity. Whether you’d like to go bird-watching, unveil cultural and historic monuments in the region, or participate in sports events, you will never lack memorable places to see or activities to do.
The sea, the lake, and the mountains are all located in a circumference of 150 km, making the national park very accessible. Legend has it that the lake was created by the tears of a pixie. After one look at this magical lake, you’ll likely start believing in fairy tales too.
Perast is one of the most beautiful, little places in Boka Bay, located just a few kilometers from Kotor. It looks like a piece of Venice that broke off and floated down the Adriatic. This tiny town boasts sixteen churches and seventeen former grand palazzos. Perast’s most famous landmarks are actually right in the middle of the waters - two picturesque islands named Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Škrpjela) and the Island of Saint George, both of which have quite the story behind them.
Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Škrpjela) sits on a manmade island. The story begins on July 22, 1452, when two sailors returning to Perast from a difficult voyage discovered an icon of the Madonna and Child resting on a rock in a shallow part of the Bay. Upon realizing that they had found a miracle, they vowed to build a church on this exact spot. The sailors dropped stones on the spot where the icon was found, slowly creating an islet, which led to the eventual creation of a small chapel. It soon became a tradition for sailors to drop stones in the water around the chapel before a voyage, in order to contribute to the strength of its foundations and to ask the Virgin Mother to bring them home safely. The tradition of dropping stones at the site remains alive today and forms an integral part of one of Europe’s oldest sailing regattas: the Fašinada. At sunset on July 22nd, countless local boats are decorated with garlands that sail out into the Bay to drop a stone around the island.
The Island of Saint George is another islet off the coast of Perast within the Bay of Kotor. Unlike Our Lady of the Rocks, it is a natural island. The island contains the Saint George Benedictine monastery from the 12th century, and the ancient graveyard reserved for the historical Persat nobility, located further out from the entire Bay of Kotor.
Many small restaurants on the Perast coast will offer you great fish specialties. Often called the quietest town in the Bay, Perast is definitely something special and unique, even for the most travelled tourists. And as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is a must-visit!
