Things to do in Bar

No. 3 of Best Things to Do in Montenegro

Sveti stefan

Sveti stefan is located on the Adriatic coast of Montenegro and is a small fortified island connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway. In the 15th century, the local Paštrovići tribe built a defensive settlement consisting of 12 stone houses on the island using captured spoils to resist Ottoman attacks, which subsequently developed into a fishing village with a population of approx. 400. In the mid-20th century, the island's residents gradually moved out, and the entire village was transformed into a resort, attracting celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren. The entire island retains its traditional Mediterranean architectural style, with red-tiled stone houses layered along the hillside and winding stone alleys. There are 3 churches on the island, among which the Church of St. Stephen, built in the 12th century, is particularly striking and sits on the high point of the island. The beaches on both sides of the causeway between the island and the mainland have a unique pink hue due to the presence of coral fragments. Villa Miločer on the mainland side was built in 1936 as the summer residence of Queen Marija of Yugoslavia and is surrounded by extensive olive groves.

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Montenegro

Budva Old Town

Budva Old Town has a continuous history of habitation spanning over 2,500 years, making it one of the oldest settlements along the Adriatic coast. From early Illyrian settlements and ancient Greek trading posts to the successive rule of Rome, Byzantium, and the Republic of Venice, the remnants of different civilizations are layered throughout the old town. The entire old town is surrounded by defensive stone walls, with beaches just outside, allowing sea breezes to drift into the stone alleys. The old town is compact, with narrow, cobblestone streets winding through it. Small squares occasionally open up from the alleys, with cafes and restaurants lined up under the arcades. The square enclosed by three churches is the heart of the old town: the bell tower of the Church of St. John is one of the tallest structures in the old town and can be seen from afar; the adjacent Church of St. Mary, built in the 9th century, is one of the oldest surviving churches on the eastern Adriatic coast; the Church of the Holy Trinity is distinguished by its pink and gray striped stone exterior walls. Walking to the citadel at the southern tip of the peninsula, you can climb the wall walkway to overlook St. Nicholas Island and the bays on both sides.

Old Bar Fortress

Old Olive Tree

Old Town of Bar

Old City (Stari bar) is located on a hillside approx. 4 km from the city center and features well-preserved old city walls, stone streets, stone towers, ruins dating back to the 15th–16th centuries, and more.

Čanj Beach

King Nikola's Palace

Church of St. John Vladimir

Sutomore Beach

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Montenegro

Kotor Old Town View

Kotor Old Town Viewhas been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. The entire old town is surrounded by walls approximately 4.5 km long. The stone walls rise from the seaside, zigzagging up the steep mountain to reach the Castle of San Giovanni at an altitude of about 280 m, forming a complete defensive system. The walls were first built in the 9th century and have been continuously expanded over the following ten centuries, with some sections reaching up to 20 m in height. The old town is accessed through three gates, including the Sea Gate. Upon entering, the first thing that catches the eye is the Place d'Armes, where a clock tower built in 1602 stands, slightly tilted due to multiple earthquakes. Walking deeper along the cobblestone alleys, you will pass the Flour Square, the Karampana Fountain, and several palaces of noble families. The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon is the core landmark of the old town, with its solemn and striking Romanesque twin-bell tower facade. The Maritime Museum next to the cathedral tells the history of navigation in the bay from the 9th century to World War II. About halfway up the climb along the walls, there is also the Church of Our Lady of Remedy, which serves as a viewpoint for a mid-climb rest. From the top of the Castle of San Giovanni, you can overlook the red roofs of the entire old town and the panoramic view of the Bay of Kotor.