How to Choose a Tour
There are various types of excursions in Bar, with sightseeing tours being the most budget-friendly option. These tours typically take place in Old Bar, which locals often refer to as "Pompeii," possibly due to its antiquity and historical significance. Old Bar is situated approximately 4 kilometers from the city center on Rumija hill.
You can reach Old Bar by car, following the signs, or by taking a bus. Once there, you'll be guided through Old Bar, where you'll encounter picturesque ruins of ancient churches such as St. George's Cathedral, St. Katharina, and Veneranda churches, as well as gates dating back to the 10th and 11th centuries, among other historical treasures.
Guides in Bar
If you prefer to save money on a guide during your tour of Old Bar, you'll find signs everywhere. It's advisable to wear flat-soled shoes, as you'll be walking on ancient stones, and it's a good idea to bring water to avoid overpaying for refreshments. The entrance fee to the Old Town is typically 3 EUR, and children often enter for free.
Another popular type of tour involves bus trips from Bar to the canyons of Montenegro. These excursions typically cost around 55 EUR, which often includes lunch and entrance tickets to the reserves. During these tours, tourists traverse almost the entire length of Montenegro from south to north.
Highlights of the tour include witnessing the breathtaking canyons, crossing the renowned 172-meter bridge engineered by Djurdjevic, visiting the "Black Lake" and "Durmidor" reserves, as well as exploring the Moraca Monastery, one of the most famous Orthodox churches in the Balkans.
Monastery Tour
The third type of tour involves a visit to the Orthodox Miracle-working Monastery of Ostrog, which is one of the most popular tours in Bar among Russian tourists. On the way to the monastery, you'll pass by the largest lake in the Balkans, Skadar Lake, which is a unique national park where you can spot rare pelicans and capture romantic photos with lilies.
To reach the monastery, you'll need to navigate a narrow serpentine road that leads to the temple perched on a 900-meter cliff. During the visit, you'll have the chance to admire frescoes dating back to the 17th century, explore the relics of the monastery's founder, St. Basil Ostrozhsky, discover the tragic history of St. Stank, collect miraculous water from the spring on-site, and even receive a complimentary bottle of oil. The approximate cost of this tour is 20 EUR per person.
Prices
It's worth noting that the prices for excursions in Bar offered by various operators are quite similar. Opting for the services of larger Montenegrin tour operators like Monteline, MediteranStar, and Gardasevic is usually the most advantageous choice. Smaller companies may sometimes "forget" to include lunch or museum admission tickets in the initial price, potentially leading to significant additional costs.
