{"id":7723,"date":"2022-03-05T08:52:59","date_gmt":"2022-03-05T07:52:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montenegro-urlaub.com\/?page_id=7723"},"modified":"2026-05-04T12:15:30","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T10:15:30","slug":"bar-the-port-city","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.montenegro-urlaub.com\/en\/bar-the-port-city\/","title":{"rendered":"Bar – the port city"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Bar Montenegro \u2013 Harbour City, Stari Bar Ruins & Europe’s Oldest Olive Tree<\/h1>\n
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Location:<\/strong> Southern coast of Montenegro \u2013 approx. 1 hr from Budva, 30 min from Ulcinj<\/p>\n

Highlights:<\/strong> Stari Bar (ruined city), Stara Maslina (2,000+ year-old olive tree), King Nikola Palace<\/p>\n

Special feature:<\/strong> Montenegro’s largest coastal city, ferry to Italy, end of the Belgrade\u2013Bar railway<\/p>\n

Best time to visit:<\/strong> May, June, September \u2013 quieter than peak season, pleasant temperatures<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Bar is the city most Montenegro tourists only see through a car window \u2013 on their way to Budva or Ulcinj. A mistake. Because four kilometres from the harbour, high up on a rocky ridge, lies one of the most fascinating ruined cities on the entire Balkan peninsula. Next to it stands an olive tree older than Christianity itself. And the harbour is the only direct sea route from Montenegro to Italy.<\/p>\n

Bar is split in two: modern Novi Bar<\/strong> on the coast \u2013 harbour, promenade, everyday life. And ancient Stari Bar<\/strong> inland on a hilltop, frozen in time. Anyone who gets to know both will understand Montenegro just a little bit better.<\/p>\n

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Stari Bar \u2013 the Ruined City above the Sea<\/h2>\n
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Location:<\/strong> 4 km from Novi Bar, on a hilltop at the foot of Mount Rumija<\/p>\n

Entry fee:<\/strong> approx. \u20ac3\u20134 (ruins area)<\/p>\n

Duration:<\/strong> 1\u20132 hrs walking tour through the ruins<\/p>\n

Getting there:<\/strong> By car (car park at entrance), taxi, local bus, or 45 min on foot uphill<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Stari Bar is no ordinary old town \u2013 it is a complete medieval city that has lain in ruins since 1878 and was never rebuilt. Venetian walls, Ottoman buildings, Romanesque churches, a mighty aqueduct \u2013 all layered on top of each other, overgrown with grass and time, and pervaded by a haunting sense of melancholy that is hard to put into words.<\/p>\n

The city was first recorded in the 9th century as “Antibarium” \u2013 meaning roughly “opposite Bari” in Italy. Venetians, Ottomans, Serbs, Montenegrins \u2013 all have left their mark here. In 1878 Stari Bar was heavily damaged during its liberation from the Ottomans, and the earthquake of 1979 caused further devastation. The residents moved to the coast, and the ruins stayed behind.<\/p>\n

What you must see in Stari Bar<\/h3>\n

A circular trail leads through the entire site. Highlights include the Venetian city walls<\/strong> with their customs house and Ottoman powder tower, the Citadel<\/strong> with the finest panoramic views over Stari Bar and the sea, the Romanesque Church of St Mark<\/strong> and the Gothic Church of St Catherine<\/strong>, and the Ottoman aqueduct<\/strong> with its 17 stone arches \u2013 one of the best-preserved on the entire Balkan peninsula. The aqueduct once carried drinking water from the mountains to the whole city and remarkably survived the 1979 earthquake.<\/p>\n

The village at the gate \u2013 shopping the old way<\/h3>\n

Just outside the entrance to Stari Bar is a small settlement of traditional stone houses, some converted into little shops and restaurants. This is a great place to buy local olive oil, honey and dried figs directly from producers \u2013 authentic and affordable. Every Friday a farmers’ market is held here too.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udddd Insider tip:<\/strong> Visit Stari Bar in the late afternoon \u2013 when the sun is low and the ruins are bathed in warm golden light, the atmosphere is truly magical. Most day-trippers will already have left by then.<\/div>\n

Who should visit Stari Bar?<\/h3>\n
History lovers<\/span>
\nPhotographers<\/span>
\nCulture enthusiasts<\/span>
\nFamilies<\/span>
\nAdventurers<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Stara Maslina \u2013 Europe’s Oldest Olive Tree<\/h2>\n
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Age:<\/strong> Over 2,000 years \u2013 already ancient during the Roman Empire<\/p>\n

Location:<\/strong> Hamlet of Mirovica, approx. 15\u201320 min walk from Stari Bar<\/p>\n

Status:<\/strong> Protected natural monument of Montenegro<\/p>\n

Remarkable:<\/strong> Still bears fruit today \u2013 the olive harvest is celebrated every year<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Just next to Stari Bar, in the tiny hamlet of Mirovica, stands one of the most remarkable trees in Europe: the Stara Maslina<\/strong>, the oldest olive tree on the Balkan peninsula and one of the oldest living trees in the world. Its age is estimated at over 2,200 years \u2013 it was already old when the Roman Empire was young.<\/p>\n

What makes this tree truly extraordinary: it still produces olives. Every November, Stari Bar celebrates the “Maslinada” \u2013 an olive harvest festival with music, traditional costumes, olive oil tastings and the full works. The gnarled trunk measures over ten metres in circumference, and its silvery-green leaves look exactly as they have for millennia.<\/p>\n

Local tradition holds that disputes were once settled beneath its branches \u2013 a peace tree in every sense of the word.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udddd Tip:<\/strong> The Stara Maslina and Stari Bar are easy to combine \u2013 they are close to each other and can be explored together in half a day. From the tree back to Stari Bar is about 15\u201320 minutes on foot through olive groves.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Novi Bar \u2013 the Modern Harbour City on the Coast<\/h2>\n

Novi Bar is what most visitors see first \u2013 and what many don’t quite know what to make of. Large harbour, fuel tanks, cargo ships. No postcard material. But look a little closer and you’ll find a relaxed, green coastal city with real Montenegrin everyday life \u2013 far less touristy than Budva, and all the more authentic and affordable for it.<\/p>\n

King Nikola Palace \u2013 history right on the waterfront<\/h3>\n

Along the seafront promenade stands the elegant King Nikola Palace, a 19th-century residence now serving as a museum and cultural centre. The building is a reminder of Bar’s importance as a royal city of Montenegro \u2013 a quiet and little-visited counterpoint to the busy harbour.<\/p>\n

Church of St Jovan Vladimir \u2013 Montenegro’s largest Orthodox church<\/h3>\n

The modern Cathedral of St Jovan Vladimir is the largest Orthodox church in Montenegro \u2013 celebrated for its stunning Byzantine-style frescoes and mosaics. Even for non-churchgoers, the interior is well worth a visit.<\/p>\n

Beaches around Bar<\/h3>\n

The town beach of \u0160u\u0161anj is just a few minutes from the centre and perfectly fine for a swim. Quieter and more attractive beaches can be found in the neighbouring villages of Sutomore and Canj \u2013 though these can get busy at weekends in summer. Our tip: visit on weekdays or outside peak season.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udddd Insider tip:<\/strong> The socialist-era department store “Robna ku\u0107a” in the town centre \u2013 a relic of the Tito era with its futuristic architecture. Not a tourist attraction as such, but a fascinating time capsule that sets Bar apart from every other coastal city in Montenegro.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Arriving in Style \u2013 Train from Belgrade & Ferry from Italy<\/h2>\n

The Belgrade\u2013Bar Railway \u2013 one of Europe’s most spectacular train journeys<\/h3>\n
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Route length:<\/strong> approx. 476 km, journey time approx. 11\u201312 hours<\/p>\n

Construction:<\/strong> 24 years, opened in 1974<\/p>\n

Engineering feat:<\/strong> 435 bridges and 254 tunnels through the Montenegrin mountains<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Bar is the terminus of the legendary Belgrade\u2013Bar Railway \u2013 one of the most impressive train routes in all of Europe. 24 years to build, 435 bridges, 254 tunnels. The line winds its way through the heart of the Montenegrin mountain world and offers views that no road can match. If you want to discover Montenegro in a completely different way, this train journey is an experience in itself.<\/p>\n

Ferry to Italy \u2013 Bar as gateway to the Adriatic<\/h3>\n

Ferries run from Bar directly to Bari and Ancona in Italy \u2013 a convenient option for anyone wishing to reach or leave Montenegro by sea. The overnight ferry to Bari is particularly practical: board in the evening, wake up in Italy \u2013 with a car or motorbike if you need one.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Visiting Bar \u2013 Getting There, Tips & Best Time to Go<\/h2>\n

Getting to Bar<\/h3>\n
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From Budva:<\/strong> approx. 1 hour by car<\/p>\n

From Ulcinj:<\/strong> approx. 30 min by car<\/p>\n

From Podgorica:<\/strong> approx. 50 min (Podgorica airport as alternative to Tivat)<\/p>\n

By train:<\/strong> Daily connections from Podgorica and Belgrade<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Best time to visit Bar<\/h3>\n

Bar is considerably quieter than Budva \u2013 even in peak summer. May, June and September are ideal: pleasant temperatures around 24\u201327\u00b0C, little crowding at Stari Bar, lower prices. Those visiting in November may catch the Maslinada olive harvest festival in Stari Bar.<\/p>\n

The perfect half-day in Bar \u2013 our suggested plan<\/h3>\n

Morning: explore Stari Bar (1.5 hrs), then walk or drive to the Stara Maslina (30 min on foot through olive groves), lunch at the village just outside Stari Bar, afternoon back in Novi Bar for a coffee on the promenade and a look at the King Nikola Palace. That is a perfect, complete half-day.<\/p>\n

Combination tip:<\/strong> Bar pairs beautifully with Lake Skadar \u2013 only 30\u201340 min away. Morning in Stari Bar and with the olive tree, afternoon boat tour on Lake Skadar. One of the finest day trips in all of Montenegro.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Conclusion: Bar is Underrated \u2013 and That’s its Greatest Strength<\/h2>\n
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Bar is no glamour destination. No Sveti Stefan, no Kotor. But that is precisely what makes it valuable: a real Montenegrin city with real history, one of the oldest trees in Europe, a ruined city that has not been turned into a tourist trap, and a harbour that actually works. Bar shows Montenegro as it truly is.<\/p>\n

Our advice:<\/strong> Allow at least half a day. Stari Bar and the Stara Maslina together \u2013 that is something you won’t forget.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Your base for the region<\/h3>\n

From our apartment “Gl\u00fccks-Griff”<\/strong> in Becici near Budva, Bar is about 1 hour away \u2013 perfect as a day trip, easily combined with a visit to Lake Skadar. Back in the evening to your sea-view pool terrace.<\/p>\n

Our Apartment “Gl\u00fccks-Griff” in Becici<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n