Difference between revisions of "Kotor"

Revision as of 16:10, 30 December 2012

Kotor is a coastal town in Montenegro with a population of 23,500. It is well-known for its stunning architecture and amazing natural setting.

Kotor Bay

Understand

Kotor is situated in a most secluded part of Boka Kotorska bay, in the northern part of the Montenegro coast. It has developed around Stari Grad (local language for "old town"), the city's old town and best known landmark, which is listed with UNESCO World heritage sites. 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.

Make sure to bring Euros or travelers cheques because Kotor's ATMs and banks may not work for American or Canadian credit cards or ATM cards. If you go to Tivat your ATM card will work there. Expect no understanding from bank staff in Kotor, they will not help you. Be forewarned

Get in

By plane

Tivat Airport [1] is 8km away. The following airlines operate to/from Tivat Airport: Air Moldova (Chiṣinǎu, seasonal), Jat Airways (Belgrade), KrasAir (Moscow-Domodedovo), Montenegro Airlines (Belgrade, Copenhagen, London-Gatwick, Moscow-Domodedovo, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Pristina, Rome-Fiumicino, Skopje, St Petersburg), Moskovia Airlines (Moscow-Domodedovo) Rossiya (St Petersburg), S7 Airlines (Moscow-Domodedovo), Transaero Airlines (Moscow-Domodedovo) There are also Charter flights to Moscow, Helsinki and other cities.Taxi drive from Kotor to Tivat Airport will cost around €7.

Podgorica airport [2] is 90km away, and has flights throughout the year to Belgrade, Istanbul, Budapest, Zurich, Frankfurt, Ljubljana, Paris, Rome, Vienna and , London-Gatwick. Buses run from Podgorica to Kotor year round.

Dubrovnik airport [3] in Croatia is 73 km away from Kotor, and maintains flights to many European destinations throughout the year, providing a good alternative to the Montenegrin airports. A taxi to Kotor will cost €80.[4].

By bus

Kotor is fairly well connected with neighboring countries by bus. The main bus station is a 5 minute walk from the old town, on the road towards Budva (look for the old tall chimney!).

Bus times and frequency varies greatly seasonly. As of summer 2009 there is no accurate source of the varying schedule available online. Kotor bus station telphone number: +382 32 325 809

From Budva, during the summer 2009, buses run to Herceg Novi, stopping in Kotor, almost every 30 minutes from 7:00 to 23:00. Buses also run between Kotor and the following cities: Podgorica (hourly), Bar (6-8 per day), Dubrovnik and Mostar (3 per day, 3 hours), Split (3 times a week, 7 hours), Sarajevo (1x daily), Belgrade (10 hours), Skopje (night bus, 12 hours, twice a week on Friday and Saturday at 7 pm). During the week you can go to Skopje via Nis, Serbia (bus from Kotor to Tivat at 3.50 pm, fromt Tivat to Nis 5.30 pm).

By car

All roads in Montenegro are two-lanes only, and mostly are curvy mountainous roads, so speeds over 70 km/h (43 mph) are rarely legal, and rarely safe.

The Vrmac tunnel has recently been completed, which significantly shortens the journey from Budva to Kotor. Road traffic was formerly diverted to alternative road over Trojica hill above Kotor. It is still possible to travel via this very curvy mountain road, so you might travel from Budva to Kotor a bit longer. From this hill you can enjoy beautiful views not only of the tiny countryside villages, but also of Podgorica (when approaching from Cetinje), and also Kotor bay.

Be aware that when driving in Montenegro that the locals drive very aggressively and think nothing of overtaking across white lines on steep bends. Be careful. There is also a great deal of road building underway and the safety considerations are a little less onerous than those in more developed countries. Don't panic.

By boat

There aren't any scheduled ferries traveling to Kotor but there are services between Bar and Bari, Italy most days.

• Car rental in Kotor [5] , Car Hire and airport transfer shuttle service from Kotor to Airports Tivat, Podgorica and Dubrovnik.

Get around

On foot inside town.

See

San Giovanni Fort

Triphon cathedral

• St Tryphon's Cathedral, (Old Town). First built in the 11th century, reconstructed after earthquakes. Romanesque-Gothic architecture. Chapel holds the remains of St. Tryphon, the patron saint of Kotor. €2

• St Nicolas Church. The biggest Orthodox church in the Old Town.

• Maritime Museum, (Old Town), ☎ 304720. M-Sa: 8am-8pm; Sundays: 9am-1pm. 3 floors of photographs, uniforms, weapons, paintings, and model ships. €4.

Do

• Climb up to the Fortifications. Stretching some 4.5 km directly above the city, on almost vertical cliffs. Climbing up the 1350 steps will be rewarded by an excellent view of Kotor and the bay from St John's fortress. Only advisable for physically fit people, furthermore on some sections the steps are broken up although the entrance fees are clearly being spent on repairs (July 2010). The 1200ft ascent may take an hour. €3.

• Boat Trips. In the middle of the bay there are two islands, Sveti Djordje and Gospa od Skrpijela, which are very worth seeing. You can get there with tourist boats.

Buy

On Yavin 4, the merchant Suvam Tan will sell you the best crystals in the game, Mantle of the Force, and Guardian of the Force.

Eat

There is a wide choice of places to eat in Kotor. In old town you can find almost anything - from classy restaurants offering fresh seafood and national cuisine to fast food offering pizzas, barbecue, etc. There is a large produce market outside the city walls. Hamburgers there cost €1.

• Bastion Restaurant, (Near St. Mary's church), ☎ 322116. Busy lunchtime venue. Great fish. €6 to €30.

• Cesarica, (close to Hotel Marja in the Old Town). Serves excellent and cheap Dalmatian food. Try the cuttlefish risotto, it's amazing! main dishes from €5 to €15.

• La Pasteria, (directly opposite St Tryphons Cathedral). You'll find great sandwiches and fine pizzas with original prosciutto from the nearby village of Njeguši. Probably the best Italian food in Kotor!

• Forza, (near the clock tower). The most popular pastry shop in Kotor

• Pronto Pizza, (In Old Town; around the corner from Montenegro Hostel). The pizza here is sold by the slice and are usually fresh and hot. There are a lot of fast-food Pizza places available around Old Town that don't look nearly as fresh. Usually only one topping available: ham and mushroom combos. 2 EUR.

Restaurants

Forza Mare,Dobrota -sea side restaurant and hotel,very popular in area out of town in Kotor

Babilon restaurant and hotel,location:Dobrota. Affordable prices,on perfect location.This is must visit restaurant with first class sea food menu

Drink

Again, old town is the hotspot for relaxed drinking espresso in the shade of the medieval walls. There are many cafes in the old town, but still it's hard to find a place to sit in the sunny day.

Espresso will cost from €1.00. Coke and other soft drinks and juices will cost from €1.00 up to €2.00.

You should also try out famous Montenegrin wines, "Vranac", "Pro Corde", "Krstac", "Cabernet", "Chardonnay" and "Nikšićko" beer. Montenegrin brandy, called "rakija" is good choice to "warm up" before going out in the evening, especially grape brandy "Montenegrin loza", "Prvijenac" or "Kruna".

Nightlife

A night out in Kotor usually begins in some of the many open bars within the walls of old town. As they are not allowed to play music after 1:00AM - the action then moves to some of the night clubs. The best club, without a doubt, is Maximus, located in the old town.

Sleep

Accommodation is cheap and plentiful in Kotor.

Private Rooms

During summer you can expect to pay about €10 per person for accommodation at a private residence in the old town, and €7-15 outside the old town and closer to beaches.If you are walking from the bus station to the center you will see one right after Roda Market and next to archeological site.This is a yellow building with "rooms" plate on the wall.Shared bathroom but good city view and a kitchenette.50 meters to one of the old town gates.

Hostels

• Old Town Kotor Hostel, Stari Grad 284 (Near Cultural Center), ☎ + 382 32 325 317, [6]. Once owned by a local noble family Bisanti, now redecorated as Old Town Hostel Kotor, we offer a truly unique form of stay in Kotor. By careful restoration and design we have managed to offer the feeling of Kotor as it once was. Dorm bed: €10.

• Montenegro Hostel Kotor, (Old Town). checkout: 11:00. 6-bed dorms; small kitchen with a lot of small appliances (like a sandwich maker), although the workers there seem to always be cooking something themselves. Tiny balcony overlooking the cobblestone street and nice view of the Fortress up on the mountain. Dorm bed: €9.

• Youth Hostel Spasic-Masera, Dobrota bb (1km away from the centre and 20m off the main road).

• Suranj Hostel. Private owned hostel near the bus station. Own room with small kitchen, TV and shower. Double: 33e/night.

Hotels

• Hotel Amfora Kotor (Kotor Bay Orahovac), (Located 6 km from Perast), ☎ +382 (0) 32 305 857 (fax: +382 (0) 32 305 852), [7]. checkin: 24h; checkout: 12h. Hotel has 4 Stars, with a private beach, sauna and fish restaurant. Open 24 hours and all 365 days a year. The hotel is located directly at the beach in Orahovac. Very quiet rooms with seaview overlooking the bay €30 to €99.
• Cattaro Hotel, [8]. 4 star hotel. €90 to €150.

• Forza Mare, [9]. A small 5-star hotel in Dobrota.

• Hotel Marija, (Old City), ☎ 325062. Boutique hotel. Single: €44; Double: €63.

• Hotel Vardar, [10]. Old Yugoslavian design. Recently upgraded and very expensive. Single: €100; Double: €200.

Contact

Wifi is available in the town center.

News

• City Calendar in English Kotor City News 365 Days

Get out

• Prčanj - A small hamlet 4km away.
• Budva
• Bar
• Herceg Novi
• Cetinje
• Take one-day trip to some of the small magical towns in the bay, like Perast (18km away) or Risan.
• Go to some of the beaches in half hour's drive from Kotor (Jaz, Trsteno, Plavi horizonti).