Why Montenegro's Bay of Kotor should be your next Balkan escape
Not so long ago, Montenegro was an unsung star of the Balkans. Its well-known Adriatic neighbour of Croatia swoons visitors with its atmospheric ports, idyllic national parks and dazzling islands. Meanwhile, Europe's most mountainous country is only just catching up.
But hear this: change is afoot, especially in the Bay of Kotor, or Boka Bay as it's also known, whose dramatic fjord-like landscape, framed by sharply rising peaks, is a true showstopper.
Within this UNESCO-listed region, you'll find sensational boat trips, a fabulous, fortified town and a recently opened cable car that takes you to the 'black mountain' that gave Montenegro* its name.
Getting to Montenegro: find great value breaks to Montenegro with easyJet holidays*, which offers accommodation in towns and resorts along its coast.
The air has health-boosting properties
If your travel planning happens to be driven by a destination's air quality, you'll appreciate that people have been coming to Boka Bay for its healing air since Venetian times.
In 1970, the Montenegrin government even declared Kotor Bay a 'natural climatic health resort' thanks to its unique microclimate: a combination of mountain vapours and ion-rich seawater.
Whether you have a respiratory-related illness, an allergy or simply want some R&R, check out the Health & Wellbeing Retreat De Mar, Vrmac in Donji Stoliv.
It's at the foot of Vrmac Hill where a lung rehabilitation centre once operated and sits within the Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort* whose spa and long stretch of shingle beach are dreamy, too.
Kotor Old Town is a trove of ancient relics
Yes, Dubrovnik is wonderful, but the medieval old town of Kotor* is an enchanting scaled-down alternative.
While it doesn't receive quite as many visitors as Croatia's famed walled city, its Venetian plazas, historic palaces and treasure-packed churches have started to attract throngs of cruise ship passengers, with the town getting particularly packed in the summer months.
So, plan your trip around the ship schedules to explore its winding streets, intricate stone masonry and former merchant homes, still marked with their family names, without the crowds.
See the many silver artefacts and carved rose window of St Tryphon Cathedral, marvel at the impressive altars of St Luke's Church, and snap the town's prized Clock Tower. Notice its tilt? It's been hit by many earthquakes in its time.
If you're feeling fit, hike the 1,300-plus steps of the San Giovanni Fortress walls, which wind around the namesake hill's slopes and, some say, form the shape of a winged lion. Then pop Marshall's into Google Maps and cool down with its signature salty pistachio gelato.
Ascend Mount Lovćen's cable car
Thrills and spills are all for the taking in Kotor. Especially since a two-mile-long cable car opened last year at Mount Lovćen, Montenegro's landmark 'black mountain'. Keep an eye on the weather before you book: the slightest touch of cloud cover can cause this attraction to close.
But on a clear day, you'll enjoy staggering views over the bay from its 10-person gondolas. At the top, you'll alight into a rocky playground where trails lead to epic lookout points and an alpine coaster wooshes you close to the mountain edge.
You'll also spot its new amphitheatre, set to host a range of outdoor performances. If you want to delve deeper into Lovćen National Park, take a minibus transfer to reach a high ropes adventure attraction with zip lines.
You can also take the 400-plus steps to the mausoleum of prince bishop Petar II Petrovic Njegoš, widely considered the highest tomb in the world.
It brims with water-based adventures
Seeing the Boka Kotorska from its cerulean waters offers a different perspective on this peak-filled country. But it also uncovers some unexpected historical finds.
Set sail on a boat tour to sites like the Blue Cave, a natural grotto that's been carved into the Luštica Peninsula's limestone cliffs, and whose neon blue waters offer a refreshing dip.
To the west of this peninsula is the restored Mamula Island fortress, now home to a swanky hotel, and at its tip, you can float through the abandoned Yugoslav Navy submarine tunnels that stretch for some 100 metres into the rock.
If you're keen to stop by picture-perfect Perast*, hop in a water taxi and explore its legend-filled Our Lady of the Rocks, or Gospa od Skrpjela.
Legend has it that 15th-century sailors created this teeny island after finding an icon of the Madonna in the waters. They dropped rocks on the site every time they returned from being at sea. Today its 17th-century church brims with silver tablets depicting maritime images, plus a tapestry woven with gold and silver fibres.
Its east-meets-west food scene is a joy
The food in Kotor is a joyful mix of Mediterranean and Eastern flavours. You'll find restaurants serving up fantastic saffron- and pistachio-infused pasta dishes and just-caught seafood.
You'll also find street food stalls and traditional konobas (taverns) where traditional Balkan dishes like ćevapi (grilled minced meat) sandwiches, brodet (fish stew) and the cornmeal-based Kačamak might be served, washed down with homemade wine and brandy-like rakija.
Sweet toothed? There are many deep-fried goodies to try from priganice (fritters) to chocolate-filled krofne (doughnuts). Flaky, baklava-style pastries come in both sweet and savoury form: try cheese- or mushroom-filled burek. And don't forget the cheese and prosciutto, which Montenegrins are particularly proud of.
While exploring Lovćen National Park, head to the country's 'birthplace of prosciutto,' the mountain village of Njeguši. Alongside the birth home, now a museum, of the once-ruling Petar II Petrovic Njegoš, there are places to buy and try cheese, prosciutto and other local produce.
If you have more time...
Beyond the sparkling waters of Kotor Bay, Montenegro's rocky hinterland is ripe for adventure: consider taking a day trip deep into the Dinaric Alps to reach Durmitor National Park in the country's north.
This UNESCO-listed park is known for its namesake limestone massif, glacial rivers and lakes and dramatic canyons: the rushing waters of the Tara Canyon are a hotspot for rafting, while a cross-gorge zip line offers a thrilling ride.
Climate in Kotor
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum daytime temperature °C |  7 |
 8 |
 12 |
 16 |
 21 |
 25 |
 28 |
28 |
24 |
18 |
13 |
8 |
| Hours of sunshine (daily) | ||||||||||||
| Days with some rainfall |  13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
 11 |
10 |
 7 |
7 |
8 |
11 |
14 |
13 |
| Sea temperature °C |  14 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
 19 |
 22 |
 25 |
25 |
23 |
 21 |
18 |
 16 |
The above guide shows the climate in Kotor. Find out more about conditions across the country in our complete guide to the climate in Montenegro.
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