Kraken Underwater Wine Cellar
Kraken underwater wine cellar is a floating wine bar in the middle of the sea, and it’s without a doubt the coolest thing you can do in Montenegro. The idea for the bar came from the team reading about shipwrecks where wine bottles would be found perfectly preserved at the bottom of the sea. So they used the same logic and decided to try and replicate it for themselves, by ageing wine bottles under water. They found that the wine aged much quicker, and most importantly, tasted delicious, so they turned it into a business. The wine is aged for 1 year, 20 metres below the surface, and you can try it for yourself by visiting their floating bar. You’ll need to book a table in advance for this as it’s really popular. You’ll be given a 2 hour time slot where you can try the wine, enjoy local food, and and of course jump off the side to take a dip in the sea. On a clear day you’ll even be able to see the wine under the water!
Kotor Old Town
Kotor Old Town is one of the best preserved medieval old towns in the Adriatic and is a double World Heritage Site, for both cultural and natural value. Construction began in the 6th century, but most of what you see today was built between the 9th and 14th centuries during the Venetian rule. The town is enclosed by city walls, along with bastions, gates and towers. Inside the walls, there’s narrow streets, ancient churches and historical squares. It’s an incredible place and I’d recommend setting aside a few hours to explore it with no real agenda. But if you do prefer to learn about the things you’re looking at, you can book a free walking tour. Make sure you visit the rooftop at Hotel Hippocampus. I had breakfast there, and it has amazing views over the town.
The Kotor Fortress
The Kotor Fortress, also known as the San Giovanni Fortress, sits above Kotor old town and is part of its city walls. The hike to the top of the fortress is one of the best things to do in Montenegro. It starts in Kotor old town, and you’ll need to climb 1,350 steps to reach the top. I’d recommend starting the hike as early as possible, especially if you’re visiting during the summer months, as it’s a very exposed trail and it does get extremely hot. Entrance costs €15, which I think is very expensive, but if you’re back down before 8am there’s nobody on the turnstiles so you can technically do it for free.
Perast
Perast is a small fishing village about 20 minutes from Kotor that feels like a fairy tale town. Most people only visit Perast for the day but I’d really recommend at least staying overnight, or even better, basing yourself here for a few days, which is what I did. I stayed at the Heritage Grand Perast which was in the perfect location in the middle of town. It has a swimming pool right next to the sea, as well as a great restaurant and a beautiful courtyard where there’s often live music in the evenings. Although Perast is much quieter than Kotor (which is why I loved it so much), it still has great restaurants and a lively atmosphere in the evenings. I ate at Trattoria Rosmarino twice during my stay. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, and they serve fresh seafood with views over Perast and the mountains. I also loved Eho, which is in the middle of town, and is a slightly fancier restaurant, with delicious cocktails.
