Stop #2: Kotor, Montenegro

Leg #2: Shkoder, Albania –> Ullincj, Montenegro –> Budva, Montenegro –> Kotor, Montenegro

Transportation:
Took 9am Taxi from Shkoder to Ullincj, Montenegro
–Arrived around 10am
–Cost 5€
Took 10:30am bus from Ullincj to Budva, Montenegro
–Arrived around 12:30pm
–Cost 7€
–Baggage Fee .5€
Took 12:45pm bus from Budva to Kotor, Montenegro
–Arrived around 1:15pm
–Cost 3€

Take a taxi to cross the border. We found a taxi the same price as a bus so we took a chance – and it paid off big! The line to cross the border was super long but the taxi we took was apparently BFFs with the border officials. He drove past a mile long line of cars right up to the front. Got out of the car, took our passports and some bread & Coke to the border official he knew. A few minutes later he came back out and we took off. If we had taken a bus, we would have been stuck there for hours. But because our taxi driver crosses every day, he knows how to get across quickly! Plus he doesn’t mind getting around the waiting cars any way he can! The other tickets we purchased when we got to the bus station. It worked out well we didn’t have to wait long at Ullincj or Budva.

Lodging:
Old Town Hostel
–3 Nights
–46.50€/person for 3 nights

Old Town Hostel was great. We stayed in a group dorm (10 people) which will always be awkward. Even though the beds were full each night, the room was spacious enough that you felt like you had some personal space and weren’t sitting on top of everyone. The hostel had a great old quirky vibe to it. The only complaint is that a permanent stench seems to come from the 2 bathrooms.

Food:
Meals – 16.99€
Coffee – 3.6€
Snacks – 8€

We did splurge on frozen yogurt (2.2€) & Chinese (4€). Cafe Sara had good pizza but don’t sit under the water fans unless you like to get a little wet!

Tourist Things:
Souveniers – 6.4€

Kotor Total: 95.49€

Things you should do if you find yourself in Kotor:
1) Hike up to the fortress. It is 3€ but we missed the memo that it opened midmorning. Since we heard it was a pretty big hike, we decided to go early while it was still cool and we beat the money collectors. Since they just sit at a table in front of an entrance with no gate or lock, we didn’t realize we were supposed to pay. So if you go early, you can get in free. If you go for the views, you only need to go halfway up. Once you get to the church, the view doesn’t really change that much. The hike can be pretty intense and the steps you climb are uneven so if you have trouble walking/climbing, I would consider skipping it or plan extra time for resting.

2) Walk along the city wall. This is free! While it’s not overly impressive it is fun to do & gives you a different view of the city.

3) Watch the sunset at the harbor. It is free & beautiful! Each night, we would buy bread and cheese from the grocery store, head down to the docks & eat our dinner as we watched the sunset.

4) Get lost. This, obviously, is free. But there are so many cool, windy, twisty roads that take you every which way through the city, that it is fun to go exploring!

Check out our time in Kotor in photos!

Go to Stop #3: Dubrovnik, Croatia!