Kotor in Montenegro is famed for one of the most beautiful sail ins that you can do on a cruise. It really does deserve this reputation but before you set your alarm for the crack of dawn to witness this spectacular arrival it’s best to check the weather forecast.
This is popular cruise stop but only has a small cruise dock with most ships mooring in the fjord and Tendring passengers ashore.
Once ashore you have options. You can take an excursion up the Fjord with boats and excursion leaving from the adjacent harbour. Popular trips include the blue cave or the stunning Our Lady of the Rocks Church or even the WW2 Submarine Tunnels. Of course these options may not be available if the weather is poor or conditions in the Fjord are stormy.
In the underpass leading you from the cruise dock to the old town you are engaged by countless taxi drivers offering tours and trips to popular nearby towns like Budvar and Pireste.
Keep going and you’ll encounter the picturesque old town itself with its complete circuit of medieval walls. The old town is known as Stari Grad and you enter via the historic Sea Gate that dates from 1555. Here is the tourist information office and it is also the place where you can book or join walking tours.
The old town is fun to explore with narrow streets filled with historic churches, museums and many medieval buildings.
The town is rich with cafes, bars and restaurants too and it’s nice to sit and soak up the charm of the place.
The town has a fairly small footprint and it’s all on the flat. But there are plenty of shops and plazas to explore and you can easily while away a few hours meandering the streets
It’s really worth exploring the churches like this one St Luke’s. These are incredible places.
You will notice that Kotor has a lot of stray cats .. however the cats are seen as a lucky symbol for the local population who ensure they are fed and watered. They are also popular with tourists too and you can buy snacks from vending machine to spoil your favourite puss. Cats really are a thing here and there is a Cats Museum and numerous cats of Kotor gift shops where you can treat yourself to that ideal feline souvenir.
One of the most popular activities is to climb up the mountain to the rear of the town to Kotor old fortress, known as the Fortress of St John. This costs €8 pp although the times when the toll booth opens appear limited and at other times like early morning and late evening it’s free. That said this is not an easy climb up to the fortress. And you’ll climb 260m above the town below via zig zagging paths made of rubble and steps. It’s definitely not for people with mobility problems and takes well over an hour to reach the fortress even if you are fit and have the feet of a mountain goat. However the views from the fortress are simply stunning.
It’s best to take water and maybe some snacks to ease the climb but at the fortress a local will sell you bottled drinks and cans of beer if that’s what you need.
Coming back down is of course less strenuous and at the bottom you can enjoy a fantastic ice cream or a drink and meal in one of the many excellent bars and restaurants.
There is more than enough in Kotor to fill your day ashore and if you weren’t able to enjoy the morning sail in because of bad weather then hopefully you’ll be able to witness this breathtaking scenery as you sail away.
Kotor was totally stunning and a whole lot of fun too….
Thank you Kotor … It’s easy to see why travellers rave about the beauty and friendliness of Montenegro.
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24 сен 2023
