Kotor

Sailing in is one of the highlights of this cruise stop: Spectacular! The more than an hour sail-in is like a trip on the Rhine and a cruise to Geiranger fjord combined...truly a highlight!

The Gulf of Kotor, one of the most indented parts of the Adriatic Sea, is sometimes called the southern-most fjord in Europe, although it is in fact a submerged river canyon.

As you proceed through the bay, the captain will blow the ship’s horn, resulting in an unbelievable echo which lasts for almost fifteen seconds.

Cruise ships docks at Kotor pier about 300 feet from the town center and one of the three gates to enter the UNESCO old town. Taxis are generally available at the pier, but be sure to negotiate the price prior to leaving.

if more than one ship in port, other ships will be anchored and will tender you to the center of town. The tender ride takes anywhere from 5 minutes to 20 minutes depending on the size of your ship and will drop you off at the above pier.

Printable map to take along.

Montenegro is a country with deep blue sea, crystal clear rivers, mountains that reach the sky, dense forests, and beautiful lakes. It is bordered on the southeast by Albania. On the south, it is separated from Italy by the Adriatic Sea. Its western neighbors are the former Yugoslav republics of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The old town of Kotor is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in this area of the Mediterranean. It has succeeded in maintaining its original form, typical of towns from the 12th-14th centuries. The only car in the old walled section is a replica of a small Fiat Cinquecento with a mini-trailer, used to collect…

The bay is the deepest natural fjord in the Mediterranean Sea, and the scenery around it (including the steep mountains which come almost to the waterfront) is spectacular.

The Fort: It is quite a hike but for those who love to hike it is great.

Kotor itself is a small town, so pretty much everything is within walking distance. Enter the old town via any of the three gates then explore the maze of narrow passages between the houses.

There is a hop on/off tour which goes from Kotor to Bajova kula, Perast,and Risan and includes a Kotor walking tour. (25 Euro)

Consider an excursion around Montenegro. A taxi will cost about 60 euro per hour. Make sure the driver speaks some english.

Due to the many "fjord" type roads renting a car here is not recommended.

If you are up to it: there is a winding path up the mountain behind Kotor’s old town. It’s an ancient stone pathway consisting of over 1,500 steps that take you to an old fortress at the top. At every twist and turn, there is a view more spectacular than the one before of the bay and old town below. Wear good shoes! It costs 15 euros per person to access the walk to the fort.

The Church of Our Lady of Remedy which you reach after maybe 400-500 stairs is equally beautiful and is less of an hike!

Shopping in Kotor offers endless possibilities. The Old Town shopping area is within walking distance of the pier with stores and souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants. Some shops close for the obligatory lunchtime between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Tourist-oriented shops usually stay open throughout the day.

There is an open market just outside the old town, there you can buy almost anything from fresh vegetables to sunglasses.

The local currency is the euro. Montenegro however is not part of Euro Zone, in fact not even part of the EU. Smart thinking of the government!

Official languages Montenegrin Serbian, Bosnian, Albanian and Croatian.

Fast and free WiFi at the dock near the port office.

Free WiFi is available at many cafe's and the prices of drinks are very reasonable to boot and the squares they occupy are one of the nicest you will ever see.