Bar

Ruined stone houses and a clock tower of Stari Bar rising beneath rocky Rumija mountain

Ochre-yellow Villa Topolica in Bar with a tall palm tree before its entrance steps

Orange sunset glow over the Adriatic Sea seen from Šušanj beach in Bar

Stone church with a bell tower standing among the fortress ruins of Stari Bar

Michal Klajban / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Bar unites Montenegro's main commercial port with a coastal municipality that reaches Skadar Lake. Its identity is shaped by Stari Bar, the ancient olive tree in Mirovica and railway connections linking Bar and Virpazar on the Belgrade-Bar line. Fortified settlements, lake waters and olive-growing traditions give the municipality a distinct range.

Bar today: port, coast and Skadar Lake

Bar has 45,812 inhabitants, according to the final results of the 2023 census, and covers 504 km². Montenegro's main commercial port has a capacity of about 5 million tonnes annually, while the municipality has 65 km of access to Skadar Lake. Part of Skadar Lake National Park has been within the municipality of Bar since 1983, with IBA status since 1989 and RAMSAR status since 1995. Sutomore has a 2 km sandy beach, Čanj's Biserna obala extends 1,100 m, and Murići has a 560 m sandy beach.

What to see in Bar: Stari Bar and the Old Olive Tree

Stari Bar stands on a cliff with its town fortifications and has been on Montenegro's UNESCO Tentative List since 2010. Further fortifications include Haj-Nehaj above Sutomore and the 15th-century Besac in Virpazar. The Zavičajni muzej Bar occupies King Nikola's Palace, built in 1885 to a design by Dr Josip Slade and established as a museum in 1959. At Mirovica, the Old Olive Tree is protected as a natural monument and is more than 2,200 years old, according to estimates. Crkva Svetog Jovana Vladimira, Benediktinska opatija Ratac, Manastiri Donji Brčeli and Orahovo, and the 11th-century Prečista Krajinska in Ostros form part of the municipality's religious heritage. Šetalište kralja Nikole and the renewed waterfront and square in Sutomore provide further settings for a measured walk.

What to do in Bar: Skadar Lake and the Crmnica wineries

Marina Bar offers yacht berthing, while Virpazar is the departure point for cruises on Skadar Lake. Crmnica has 11 wineries across Limljani, Sutomore, Boljevići, Godinje, Virpazar, Polje, Gluhi Do and Brčeli. Vranac crmnički is an autochthonous variety. The wine tradition extends for more than 500 years, and September brings the grape harvest and the Festival of Grapes in Virpazar. More than 100,000 olive trees support the municipality's olive-oil tradition. Rumija rises to 1,594 m and is associated with hiking ascents and traditional pilgrimages.

Where to eat in Bar

Bar's main market in the town centre and the main street of Stari Bar provide fresh goods and local provisions. The local table includes olive oil, honey with wormwood and chestnut, pomegranates and citrus fruits from Ostros and Mrkojevići, and dried figs at the central market. Regional dishes include japraci, stufada, albasan tava, bamije, šestanska čorba, pies, sarma, and dishes prepared with Skadar Lake bleak and carp.

Getting to Bar and when to visit

Podgorica Airport is 46 km from Bar, with a journey of about 55 minutes, while Tivat Airport is 60 km away, at about 1 hour 19 minutes. Bar, Sutomore and Virpazar are stations on the Belgrade-Bar railway, and Bar lies on the Adriatic Highway. With around 270 sunny days annually, the calendar includes Barski ljetopis, Ljeto sa zvijezdama and Barski džir in July and August, as well as the Festival of Boats in Virpazar in July and August. It continues with the Festival of Grapes in September, Maslinijada in November at Stari Bar, Kostanijada in November at Ostros, and the New Year programme in December and January.