Montenegro. Route from Bar to Kotor

After renting a vessel and safely accommodating on board, spend some time talking to the manager of the charter company. Before sailing from marina Bar, you’ll have enough time to see the city and enjoy dinner in one of the restaurants.

The modern, port city of Tirat often serves as the starting point for travelling over Montenegro, as the biggest airport of the country is located here. However, the city has more to offer than just convenience. First of all, yachtsmen will be impressed by the splendid marina built in place of the old shipyard. Three enchanting islands in the Boka Kotorska Bay are included in Tivat Riviera: the Island of Flowers, the Island of St. Mark and the Island of Our Lady of Mercy. The main sight of the city itself is the medieval Mucha Palace built more than 500 years ago. A picture gallery is now located in one of the five buildings that make up the Palace.

Kotor is located in the secluded part of the Boka Kotorska Bay, between the shoreline and the Lovćen mountain range. It’s much more interesting to arrive here by sea than by land as the bay itself has long been recognized as one of the most beautiful places in all of Europe, competing only with the Norwegian fjords. There are hundreds of yachts gracefully crossing the bay, and passengers enjoy wonderful landscapes all the way to Kotor. There are also reasons to go ashore, for example, the historical center of Kotor listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the City Gates, the Prince’s Palace, the Clock Tower, the Grgurina Palace, the Cathedral of St Tryphon – all that connected by the enchanting maze of narrow city streets. Don’t be afraid to lose your way in Kotor – a little wandering can lead to discovering architecture fraught with invariable charm and magic. Nourish your senses further in any of the local restaurants, ordering authentic Montenegrin dishes or seafood.

Herceg Novi was once known as Castelnuovo – meaning “new castle” in Italian. Today it’s known by several other beautiful names like, “The botanical gardens of Montenegro” or “the city of steps and stairways. The city is located at the entrance to the Boka Kotorska Bay, by the foot of the Orjen mountain range. Travelers come here to walk along the streets of the Old Town, see the Spanish Fort and the Orthodox Monastery of Savina, as well as visit the Mediterranean health and visitor center at the Institute Igalo. Mineral springs, therapeutic mud, clean air and various physiotherapeutic treatments are a Montenegrin recipe for rejuvenation. Besides treatments and sights, there are wonderful opportunities for diving in Herceg Novi – you can explore shipwrecks not far from the shore! And as if you needed another reason to visit, Herceg Novi even hosts a Mimosa Festival in the winter, attracting numerous tourists. What more could you want?

The primary postcard view of Montenegro is a small islet of Sveti Stefan located in Budva Riviera. This place is really unique. It was once a simple fishermen’s village turned into a fashionable resort for the world leaders and celebrities, then it fell into a decline to be revived later like a Phoenix in all its splendour. Local pink sandy beaches, old houses, quiet and medieval atmosphere beckon well-to-do tourists from all over the world. The rest of the village guests are comfortably accommodated on the mainland and visit the islet as a part of a tour. One should see three old churches (Church of Sveti Stefan (or St. Stephen) Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God, and Church of Alexander Nevskiy), Villa Miločer, and Villa “21” where the cost of accommodation is determined at an auction.

Sailing to Bar will be the last stage of the cruise. Here you’ll have to address all formalities in the port and return the yacht to the manager. After that, you may explore the city and take pictures with the city’s main sights as a background to remember the trip.