About Bar

Bar lies on the southeastern stretch of Montenegro's coast. The municipality of Bar encompasses a coastal strip, mountains and the shore of Lake Skadar. Virpazar is a separate settlement in its lakeside area. A mountain belt separates the coastal city from the lakeside region.

Bar itself has a Mediterranean climate, with long, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Higher parts of the municipality have mountain climate characteristics, while continental influences are stronger near Lake Skadar and temperature changes are more pronounced.

Stari Bar, the old fortified town, was built on a rise at the foot of Mount Rumija. Its walls and the remains of churches, palaces and olive mills preserve traces of different periods, while the aqueduct from the Ottoman period shows how water was brought into the fortified town.

War damage in the 19th century left the town unsuitable for continued settlement. Residents first moved to Podgradje, a settlement outside the walls. Later, the city expanded around Pristan, the harbor in what is now Novi Bar (New Bar).

The growth of the coastal city was linked to the construction of its harbor. In 1906, a contract was signed in Cetinje for the construction and operation of the harbor in Bar, also covering planned links toward Lake Skadar.

Today's port area consists of breakwaters, piers, operational quays and cargo terminals. Cargo handling and storage, together with connections to land transport, give Bar an economic role that is evident in the appearance of its waterfront.

The first regular passenger train left Belgrade for Bar in 1976. The railway connected the coastal city to the interior, while the combination of railway and port infrastructure strengthened its role as a place where sea and land transport meet.

King Nikola's Palace at Topolica is part of the former royal complex by the sea. The residential architecture from the 19th century and the surrounding park preserve the character of the royal family's residence.

The former residence now houses the Bar Local History Museum. The museum preserves archaeological finds, historical material, objects from the lives of people in the Bar area and works of art.

Stara Maslina, the Old Olive Tree, grows at Mirovica and is protected as a natural monument. It belongs to Zutica, an olive variety grown along Montenegro's coast.

The House of Olives (Kuca Maslina) in Stari Bar connects this tradition with present-day production. As well as caring for the Old Olive Tree, it provides olive processing and oil packaging services, expert support for producers and space to showcase local products.

The Vladimir Popovic Spanac House of Culture hosts theater, music and film programs. The Velimir A. Lekovic Gallery on the waterfront presents contemporary art through solo and group exhibitions.

The Barski Ljetopis festival brings together theater, literature, music and visual art. It uses the House of Culture's hall, the summer stage and the stage in the Old Town, so its program takes place both along the coast and in the historic core below Mount Rumija.

The palace at Topolica, the walls of Stari Bar and the Old Olive Tree at Mirovica represent royal, urban and olive heritage in different locations. Individual sites and their distinctive features are covered in more detail among the attractions of Bar.

Staying by the coast or near Stari Bar means being based in different parts of the city. Guides to where to eat in Bar and where to stay in Bar help you choose specific places in the part of Bar where you want to spend your time.