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Kotor

Kotor is coastal town and seat of the municipality of the same name in south-western part of Montenegro, in one of the most beautiful bays in the world – Bay of Kotor, which covers 335 km² and has a population of 22.746 inhabitants. It is located at the end of Bay of Kotor, surrounded by mountains, notably Lovcen National Park, and the sea.

Kotor is well-known town of Bay of Kotor for its cultural inheritance and stunning natural setting that are a part of UNESCO World Heritage Sites List. Old town of Kotor was built between the 12th and 14th century surrounded by walls and with its squares and narrow streets, combined with the numerous valuable monuments of medieval architecture: fortifications, churches, museums, Venetian palaces. The fortification system of Kotor, which protects it from the sea, is actually a wall 4.5 kilometer long, 20 meter high and 15 meter wide, and is preserved as one of the world’s historic values. The construction of the ramparts was initiated in the Illyrian age and they were built and rebuilt up to the 18th century. 

There are two international airports in Montenegro:
– the Golubovci Airport in Podgorica, in the heart of the country, 88 km from Kotor,
– the Tivat Airport in Tivat, the Bay of Kotor, 8 km from Kotor,
– also, Cilipi Airport in Dubrovnik, Croatia, 72 km from Kotor.

 Main landmarks in Kotor:

 

  • The Clock Tower: one of the symbols of the town, located in the central place in the square opposite the main gate, built in 1602;

  • The Cathedral of St. Tryphon: the most significant monument from medieval Kotor, built in the 1166, Roman Catholic cathedral, the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Kotor;

  • The Church of St. Luka: the Orthodox  church on the square St. Luka, built in 1195;
  • The Church of St. Nicholas:  the most important Orthodox Church in Kotor, on the the square St. Luka, built in the early 20th century;
  • St. John’s Castle (San Giovanni Castle): the fortifications date back as far as 532, perched 1200 meters high on the hill of St. John offering  breathtaking view over the Bay of Kotor.

Main annual cultural and entertainment events in Kotor:

 

  • Kotor Winter Fest: festival, including music, workshops, and holiday cheer in the city park and along the waterfront.
  • St. Tryphon Festival: historic religious and cultural event celebrating the city’s patron saint with solemn masses, choir concerts, and the unique performance of the Boka Navy, in February.
  • KotorArt Festival:  significant multidisciplinary festival featuring classical music, children’s theatre, klapa singing, and philosophical debates, in July and August.
  • Boka Night Festival: The summer’s highlight, featuring decorated boats parading the bay, followed by parties, music, and fireworks, celebrating local maritime tradition, in August.

 

More details on official tourism sites and event calendars:

– kotor.travel

 Things to do in Kotor:

  • Boat tours: exploring towns and villages of Bay of Kotor, islands (Vavedenje, Mamula, Prevlaka, St. Marko, Our Lady of Mercy, St. Georg and the Lady of the Rock), and Blue Cove;
  • City walking tours: sightseeing of the town Kotori (Old Town) and nearby towns like Perast, Tivat, Herceg Novi and even cross into Croatia for Dubrovnik, Bosnia and Hercegovina for Trebinje and Albania for Skadar;
  • Nature & Adventure tours: hiking in the mountains, visiting Skadar Lake, or exploring Durmitor National Park;
  • Specific landmarks tours: exploring interesting areas, focusing on history, culture or hidden gems (Ostrog Monastery);
  • Food experiences tours: tasting local Montenegrin delicacies and wines.
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