Day Tour of Montenegro from Tirana – Budva and Kotor

We will leave Tirana at 07:00 to head toward the North of the country. The North West of Albania is characterized by mainly a flat surface and it is one of the main trading and industrial areas of Albania. Passing through the historical city of Lezha we will be soon by the Buna river. It is the only sailable river and Albania and following its stream, we will head toward the border to continue the tour of Montenegro. Coffee stop by the River.

Our tour of Montenegro continues driving further and leaving behind the Scadar Lake. The next stop will be Kotor. Situated in an unusual gulf, named after its name it has been a very important historical, strategical and trading center. Founded around the 6th century BC, Kotor resembles an Open Book of history when you can spot different tracks and records from different periods of history. In our days most of the influence is from Venetian time, as for a good amount of time it was part of the Venetian Republic.

Our stroll starts from the lower part of the city, the Bay of Kotor and the Marina of the city. We will head toward the Old City going through the “Sea Gate”. It is also a symbol of the city resistance and liberation from WW2 at ’44.
The Old City is very charming. We will walk around the small squares, surrounded by typical quarters and visit some of the Old City Highlights for their architecture, historical values and style.

This Roman Church is one of the 2 Catholic Churches in Montenegro as a major part of the country now follows eastern Orthodoxy. The cathedral was consecrated on 19 June 1166. Compared to other buildings, the Kotor Cathedral is one of the largest and most ornate buildings in Kotor.

The tour of Kotor continues in the upper part toward the Castle of St John. Strolling towards the Cobblestones zig-zags we will reach the Fortress of St John. It was a very important point in the total defensive system of the city.
The walk is around 30 minutes from the lower gate but provides one of the best views of the “Mediterranian Fjords”

Finishing the Tour of Kotor we will continue driving toward the southern part of Montenegro, along some of the picturesque Riviera and tiny rocky beaches.
The city of Budva is also one of the most important touristic cities of Montenegro with a fascinating history, dating 2600 years ago.
The tour of Budva continues in the Old Part of the city with some quick visits at the Roman Ruins and the Budva Fortress by the coast offering spectacular views.
The tiny streets of Budva are very charming. It is worth spending some time wandering around and visiting some of the local shops. Free time for lunch.

St Stefan dates back from the 15th century as a Fishermans family which was fortified for better control to the sea. For the first time, it has transformed to a hotelier complex during the Yugoslavian Communist time, at the reign of Tito. From 2005 it is part of high-end touristic resorts and visits are limited only for the hotel’s customers.

After St Stefan, we will drive back to Albania and this will be the end of the tour.