Montenegro was quite unfamiliar to us, and we hadn’t had much time to explore the place in advance. We looked at accommodations in Kotor Bay, but near the center of Kotor, there wasn’t anything reasonably priced and comfortable available, so after some quick googling, we ended up in Tivat.
We booked a nice-looking Airbnb apartment in Tivat, which was by the sea and close to the center. The apartment had a kitchen and a balcony, so we could cook and admire the nice sea views. After a long drive, we also enjoyed spending time just at our accommodation and on the nearby beach, so this was a good accommodation choice for us this time.
We stayed here for 4 nights, but we would recommend spending 1-2 nights in Tivat itself. However, as a base, the location was quite good, as it only took about 15 minutes (10 km) to drive to Kotor.
There was a nice little beach bar on the beach next to our accommodation, and the water on the beach was crystal clear, so what more could you ask for?!
However, it’s worth noting that the beaches in Montenegro often consist of small rocks instead of soft sand, so it’s a good idea to bring along something like a thin mattress or other additional cushioning if possible.
Our accommodation was only half a kilometer from the center, which was really nice as it was easy to go to eat, shop, and enjoy the atmosphere of the beach promenade. In addition to modern construction, the center also had old fortress buildings, and near the harbor, there was a nice park where it was pleasant to walk. Mostly, we focused on relaxation and enjoying the turquoise sea, peace, and sun here.
Day Trip to Kotor
We took a day trip to Kotor, which is indeed only 10 km away from Tivat. The road from Tivat to the Kotor Bay side goes through a mountain via a tunnel about 1.5 km long. As we were driving towards Kotor, traffic started to jam and came to a complete stop when we were in the middle of the tunnel. This was partly a bit scary, as there was no information about whether it was a normal traffic jam, an accident, etc., and how long it would take. Some cars even made U-turns when they got tired of waiting. Eventually, we got through, and the congestion was probably just due to the amount of traffic. It’s also possible to reach the Kotor side by driving along the coastal road, bypassing the peninsula.
Once we got through the congestion to the Kotor Bay side, we headed towards a popular attraction, the Kotor Serpentine Road. This was a really winding mountain road up to the mountain next to Kotor Bay. The road is in good condition and easy to drive, although you sometimes have to dodge other cars in the bends. The views over Kotor Bay from the top were truly spectacular. You could see the whole grandeur from up there. We took some pictures and enjoyed the views for a while until thunderstorms began to approach, and we decided to head back down.
Kotor Old Town
Luckily, the thunderstorm bypassed the bay, so we parked the car below and went on foot to explore Kotor and its old town. There was a good large parking lot in the center, which cost a few euros for a day’s parking. You can find the parking lot here.
We walked along the promenade towards the old town. Passing through the gates of the old town feels like stepping back in time. Inside the walls of the old town, there are labyrinthine narrow streets, beautiful buildings, and lovely little shops and cafes. You could easily spend a few days here. You can also walk on top of the walls and get a nice view of the city and the Bay of Kotor. Explore and adventure bravely through the streets, and you’ll find some nice places. We enjoyed watching the beautiful sunset over the rooftops from the top of the walls, which dyed the entire sky a beautiful pink.
After the last night, an early morning dawned for us as we were planning to drive around the Kotor Bay and visit the Ostrog Orthodox Monastery, a monastery carved into the mountain. Everyone in Montenegro was really nice and friendly. All in all, the country seemed really safe and nice to be in; for example, children were playing together on the streets in the early evening.
In the next post, we’ll continue the tour around Kotor Bay.
