(Photo: Danilo Dado Pavlović) Bar is an area characterized by the astonishing beauty of nature combined with archaic architectural gems. The city has two faces and both are reflected in the water - the entire municipality is located between the shores of the Adriatic Sea and Lake Skadar. Mount Rumia rises between them. Towards the lake, its rocky slopes are replaced by vineyards and chestnut forests, while thousand-year-old olive trees cover the area towards the sea.
This area has almost everything that the Mediterranean has to offer, and the unique natural and cultural diversity makes it one of the best destinations for active vacations. Whether you are interested in adrenaline activities or just want to relax in nature, Bar will offer you an unforgettable experience. In particular, it should be noted that in the next three years, the construction of seven high-class hotels is planned, which will also make this city an attractive destination.
Lake Skadar - cruising, kayaking and bird watching
A cruise on Lake Skadar offers the opportunity to enjoy its natural beauty, marshy banks covered with reeds, water lilies, numerous islands and cultural-historical monuments. Hidden beaches and lake swimming are an integral part of this adventure. The tourist offer also includes traditional wooden boat rides. Fishing villages with authentic architecture, beaches, bays and a variety of flora contribute to the wealth of this region.
Cruises on the lake are organized by licensed entrepreneurs, and departures are from the port of Virpazar. This place offers local gastronomic specialties in several pleasant restaurants, as well as the possibility of accommodation in authentic rural surroundings or in modern apartments. Seasonal events dedicated to wine and fishing, as well as fun and cultural events, are held in Virpazar.
(Photo: TO Bar / Jovana Nenezić)
If you are a fan of kayaking, here you can rent all the necessary equipment and head to the beaches ideal for taking a break from paddling and enjoying the sun. There are also several old fishing villages, almost abandoned today, which are worth exploring.
Lake Skadar is home to 280 bird species, which is about 50% of the total number of European species, and is one of the richest wetlands in Europe. A rare specimen of the Dalmatian pelican is the symbol of the National Park. The best time for birdwatching is winter or autumn, when large flocks of migratory birds fly across Lake Skadar. Those interested in birdwatching must inform the National Park Skadar Lake at least one day in advance.
Mountaineering in the Crmnica area
Crmnica is the name of the area covering the western shore of the lake. She is a world of her own! The Crmnica landscape is undulating, with steep hills. There are picturesque villages on the slopes, and winding roads lead into the plain that covers the area all the way to the lake shore. There are 120 kilometers of hiking trails here. All are adequately marked, maintained and easily accessible. All you need to do is - to choose! Don`t miss to try the traditional Vranac wine in the small wineries you will come across along the way.
Rumija - walking and hiking
Rumija rises to an altitude of 1,593 m above sea level, and from the top of the mountain there is a unique view of the entire coast and central Montenegro. For the inhabitants of Bar, it is of exceptional importance, from a historical, cultural and spiritual point of view.
The network of hiking trails is properly marked and well maintained so that you can use them independently. Trails are classified by difficulty in three categories: blue - easy, red - medium and black - hard. All trails, except some shorter sections at higher altitudes, are covered by a mobile phone signal.
Cycling paths
Around Lake Skadar, there are several cycling paths, of different lengths and levels of difficulty, that lead through the picturesque landscape of the lake`s hinterland on roads that are not burdened by traffic. The mild climate makes it possible to use most of the trails all year round. The routes of these trails generally follow the tourist panoramic route and are not specially marked.
(Photo: WOW Montenegro)
The track at Sutorman has an exciting incline that will test everyone`s cycling skills. Every year, a mountain bike competition is held here.
"On two magical shores"
For those who want to get to know the attractive hinterland of the municipality of Bar by car, the panoramic route "On two magical shores" is the right choice. It leads through the picturesque landscapes of the southern coast of Lake Skadar, over mountain passes and through the city of Bar.
You will be moving mainly on local, less frequented roads that allow a unique experience of authentic natural and cultural landscape. There are viewpoints with tourist signage and relevant information at several prominent points.
You can start your adventure on this 115 km long circular route at any time and in any direction.
Canyoning
The offer of canyoning in the hinterland of Bar is a relatively new and increasingly popular activity. It is reserved only for those with experience, who come accompanied by a licensed guide, whose services and equipment can be obtained through local hiking clubs.
(Photo: Darko Pepđonović)
Rikavac Canyon, which is located near Stari Bar, is the most interesting. It is one kilometer long and has six verticals. There is also the Međureča canyon, which is two kilometers long, and the journey through the canyon takes about three and a half hours. It has 12 verticals, the highest of which rises to 32 meters. The hot river is seven kilometers long and the journey takes 10 hours. There are 30 verticals waiting for you in the canyon, the highest of which reaches 22 meters. In addition, there are also the canyons of Suva Rijeka and Nikezića Stream, which can only be visited by professionals.
Sport climbing
Although it has only recently gained popularity, sport climbing in Bar is increasingly attracting tourists. This is because of the great climbing locations. In Bar, there are currently three climbing areas and one bouldering zone. All three climbing areas are located just a few kilometers from the city and are easily accessible.
(Photo: Danilo Dado Pavlović)
In Bar, you can enjoy a walk through the old town, a mountain run, but also a cruise on the Adriatic Sea, sailing or scuba diving. However, Bar is an ideal destination and when we are talking about the virtual world - it is a kind of gaming capital.
Bar - gaming city
Bar, as a "gaming city", hosted the Adria conference last year in July, and the largest Fifa23 tournament in October and the first Montenegro Future Festival. This year, it hosted the largest global game-making hackathon, "Global Game Jam", which was organized in over 150 countries at nearly 800 locations and in which over 35,000 developers worldwide participated and 6,000 games were created.
In May, it will host the new MFF, during which the "European gaming summit" will be held - the largest gaming conference in Europe, while in October, a new MFF is expected, which will include two major tournaments in efootball and the ea fc24 game and a festival of pop culture. , science and technology.
In this spirit, Bar will be promoted at the festival in Pula, Jahorina and many other regional and European festivals. During April, it will be negotiated that in 2025 Bar will host the blast of the biggest Counter Strike 2 tournament.
At the end of the year, it is planned that the OGM of the European Federation will be organized in Bar.
All this indicates that Bar is an ideal place for organizing gaming tournaments, festivals, but also as a "boot camp" destination and a place where world teams can move their representative offices and lead them from here.