Pearls of Adriatic:
KOTOR and BUDVA
Deep blue sea, an emerald green nature, friendly people, cities preserving history and snowy mountains embracing the sea… Here is Montenegro, a small country full of surprises in the Balkans.
Montenegro is one of the rare oases in Europe where you can get away from the hectic tempo of life taking long walks in the nature and have a calm vacation by the sea. Travellers have always been inspired to explore this small country by its fabulous nature, sights changing at every step, and rich cultural diversity.
Montenegro attracts people looking for different summer destinations with the 73-km Adriatic coast, 6-month sea season, more than 100 beaches, historical port towns, restaurants serving yummy seafood, and unlimited entertainment offers. We introduced the readers of THE LOOK with Kotor and Budva, two cities that come to minds when one says Montenegro.
Town of museums: Kotor
With a history of 2000 years, Kotor attracts tourists from all over the world by its Venetian palaces, churches, museums, and squares reviving the history. The town breathing the unique and magnificent atmosphere of the Boka Bay seems to be stuck in time. High mountains surrounding the town, the smell of the sea that comes from the bay, cobblestone pavements of the old town reminiscing labyrinths will whisper old legends and fairy tales to your ears.
There are a couple of places travellers should not miss in the town of old Kotor among the sea walls. When you enter the main gate of the old town, which is in the UNESCO World Heritage List, The Clock Tower dating back to the 8th century welcomes you. The Prince's Palace and Napoleon Theatre are outstanding structures with their impressive architecture.
Being the most known historical site of the town, St. Tryphone Cathedral was built on an old church in the 12th century. This cathedral was dedicated to the patron saint of the town and is one of the oldest cathedrals of the Adriatic coast. Another symbol of the town, St Luke Church grabs attention with its Romanesque architecture and murals.
280 m above the sea, Castle of San Giovanni is an ideal place to watch the town and give you a bird's eye view of the Kotor Bay. Despite being difficult to climb the castle, the amazing view is worth seeing.
Do not leave without tasting seafood while travelling the Adriatic coasts of Montenegro. Montenegro cuisine offers a fusion of the Balkan and Mediterranean cuisine, but seafood is something else. Grilled fish, fish soup, risotto, and pasta with seafood are in the menus of many restaurants in Kotor and Budva, but of course with white Krstac and red Vranac, quality wines unique to Montenegro. Rumour has it fish swim three times; first in the sea, then in olive oil, and then in wine.
There are boutique shops and design workshops waiting to be discovered on narrow streets and in buildings in Kotor. Famous clothing and shoe brands of the world and Europe as well as jewellery shops, antique shops, and souvenir shops offer you an enjoyable shopping experience. But be careful! It is easy to get lost on the narrow streets and forget about time. Maybe it is best to get lost in time and space to enjoy Kotor since it is quite suitable for this.
Town of summer festivals and entertainment: Budva
How about having some fun after Kotor? Then let's check out Budva, a town you should definitely not miss.
Luxury and beer and skittles, glamorous lives, hotels accommodating celebrities, Europe's best beaches, Sea Dance festival where stars like Madonna, Rolling Stones have given gigs, fashion shows by world-famous designers, concerts, parties...
Welcome to Budva!
Kotor offers you the comfort of the Mediterranean whereas Budva offers the hospitality of the Mediterranean. Tourists not being able to resist the amazing beaches, great hotels, peaceful villages, and the attraction of nature flood the town that offers culture, history, and fun simultaneously.
Surrounded by walls from the Middle Ages on a peninsula, the historical town of Budva hosts today and past with its castle, towers, small squares, and narrow streets. With a history of 2500 years, Budva is one of the oldest settlements of the Adriatic. Among religious structures worth visiting are St Ivan Church believed to be built in the 7th century in the old town, Saint Maria Monastery dating back to 840s, and Holy Trinity church, a more recent structure.
Budva turns into a town of theatres with theatre shows, gigs, and art exhibitions in summer months. That's why, the festival which has been held in July and August since 1987 is named Budva Theatre City. Activities from music to dance and fine arts carry on all through summer in Budva.
More than 30 beaches in the Budva Riviera are a cause for tourists to choose Budva. Jaz Beach, Mogren, and Petrovac are ideal to enjoy the sea and entertain yourself, but for a privileged experience, you can go to Sveti Stefan, an island 10 km from Budva. Just like Margaret, the English Princess, Sophia Loren, Carla Bruni, Claudia Schiffer, and countless celebrities did. Many celebrities have preferred to spend their vacation in this Middle age town situated on a rocky island and made this a unique resort since the 1960s.
After a day spent at the beach and shady streets in Budva, if you are ready to be carried away with music coming from night clubs and discos, clubs like Top Hill, Trocadero, and Opera invite you to dance. When stars appear in the sky, Budva turns into a town of entertainment.
Kotor and Budva, the pearls of the Adriatic, are definitely promising options for people wishing to combine history, culture, fun, sea, and nature in one journey.