Bar
Bar is a seaport in Montenegro located 61 km / 38 miles to Kotor city. Although situated on the shore, it’s not as popular or as touristy as other coastal towns of Montenegro.
What to see in Bar: Old Town Antivari, the Aqueduct, Stara Maslina – the old olive tree, King Nicola’s Palace, Skadar Lake, Church of St Jovan Vladimir, Old town Stari Bar.
If you’re staying in Budva Riviera you can make a daily trip to Bar which is only 30 km / 19 miles to Budva.
How to go to Bar from Kotor
You can catch a bus to Bar Montenegro from Kotor Montenegro. There are buses starting at 7:30am to 9:30pm. It takes about 2 hours to get to Bar from Kotor.
If you have a rental car, see the below Kotor map and the way to Bar from Kotor Montenegro.
From Kotor to Bar it takes about 1,5 hours by car. It is possible to have a daily trip to Bar to see the Old Antivari, the Aqueduct, The old olive tree Stara Maslina, King Nikola’s Palace and then have a rest at Skadar Lake.
Old Town Antivari: It is 4 km / 2,5 miles to Bar town centre. The foundings prove that there were settlements in this area dating back to 800 BC. Since then it had been a town of many rulers and kingdoms. In 1878 the town was destroyed during the war between the Ottomans and
Montenegrins. In 1979 it was badly affected by the earthquake. After the earthquake people left the town to live by the sea.
Old town Stari Bar: It is the old town Antivari. The name Antivari derives from the Latin name Antibarium given to the town during Byzantine Empire. Stari Bar is the Montenegrin name of the town which means Old Bar.
In 1040, after the town had been a part of Byzantine Empire, Stefan Vojislav added the town into his state. In 1090 the town became a part of Nemanjic Dynasty. In 1360 it was taken over by the Serbian Empire. Then in 1443, until it was taken over by the Ottomans in 1571 it remained a town of the Republic of Venice. Between 1571 and 1878 Antivari or the Stari Bar had been under the rule of the Ottomans. After the was between Montenegrins and the Ottomans which lasted for 2 years the town became a part of Principality of Montenegro in 1878.
As the earthquake in 1979 damaged the Aqueduct which was the only water supply of the town, people had to leave the town and founded the new town of Bar by the sea.
The Aqueduct: It had been the water supply of the old town Antivari or Stari Bar. It is on the north of the old town. The Aqueduct in Bar is the only aqueduct in Montenegro which could survive to date although it was damaged by the earthquake in 1979. It was built in the 16th century by the Ottomans.
Stara Maslina – the old olive tree: It is the old olive tree in Bar Montenegro. The old olive tree Stara Maslina is known to be older than 2000 years. It is on the way to the old town Antivari or Stari Bar.
King Nicola’s Palace: In 1885 it was built by Nikola I Petrovic Njegos as a present for his daughter Princess Zorka and her husband Prince Karadordevic. Today the palace is used as a venue and the city museum.
Skadar Lake: Lake Skadar is one of the top attractions in Montenegro. It’s just 30 minutes from Bar town centre and worth seeing for the National Park as well as the lake itself. You can read more about the lake on our Lake Skadar page.
Church of St Jovan Vladimir: It is a Serbian Orthodox Church which is located in the town centre of Bar. It was built between 2006 and 2016 in honor of St John Vladimir who was the first Serbian saint and protector of Bar.
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