Most travellers see Bar from the motorway and keep going. That's a mistake. A few minutes above the modern town sits Stari Bar (Old Bar) — a ruined medieval hill-town inside its own walls — and just outside it, an olive tree said to be among the oldest living trees in Europe. It's an easy, rewarding half-day by car, and it slots perfectly into a southern-coast loop.
Why Stari Bar is worth the detour
Modern Bar is a working port — useful, not pretty. The reason to stop is the old town on the hill, abandoned after earthquakes and conflict and now a sprawling open-air ruin you wander freely: roofless churches, an aqueduct, a hammam, Ottoman and Venetian stonework, all under a steep mountain backdrop. It rarely feels crowded, the views back toward the sea are excellent, and the whole site rewards an unhurried wander rather than a checklist. With your own car you can linger as long as you like, then move on when you decide — not when a coach driver does. If you haven't sorted wheels yet, browse the full fleet; a compact is more than enough for this trip.
Getting there: about 10 minutes uphill
From the centre of modern Bar, Stari Bar is roughly 10 minutes by car — a short, well-signed climb inland. Times are approximate and depend on traffic and season; in peak summer the last stretch and the parking area fill up, so an earlier start pays off.
If you're coming down the coast, you'll likely arrive via the main coastal road through Petrovac and Sutomore. Coming from Podgorica, the Sozina tunnel (a modest toll, cash handy) drops you near Bar in well under an hour. Either way, follow signs for Stari Bar once you reach the town — it's clearly marked.
Parking and walking the ruins
There's a car park near the entrance to the old town, at the foot of the approach. Leave the car there: the lanes up to the gate are narrow, cobbled and partly pedestrian, so there's no sense driving further.
From the lot it's a short walk up past a cluster of cafés and small shops to the main gate, where a modest entry fee applies. Inside, paths are uneven stone and steps — fine in trainers, awkward in sandals or for strollers. Give yourself an hour or two to explore, more if you like reading the information boards or climbing for the higher viewpoints.
The Old Olive of Mirovica
A short distance from the old town, in the Mirovica area, stands the Stara Maslina — the Old Olive — reckoned to be over a thousand years old and one of the oldest olive trees on the planet. It's a genuinely striking sight: a vast, gnarled, hollowed trunk still putting out leaves, fenced and cared for as a local monument. It's a quick, signposted add-on to your Stari Bar stop and worth the few extra minutes. Treat the tree gently — it's protected.
A sensible half-day plan
Here's a relaxed shape for the visit. Times are traffic- and season-dependent — treat them as a guide, not a timetable.
| Stop | Rough time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Modern Bar → Stari Bar | ~10 min drive | Short uphill, well signed |
| Walking the ruins | 1–2 hrs | Uneven stone; wear proper shoes |
| Old Olive of Mirovica | 20–30 min | Short hop, signposted from town |
| Coffee in the lower lanes | as you like | Cafés cluster below the gate |
Morning is kindest in summer — cooler stone, softer light, and parking before the day-trippers arrive.
Pairing it with the southern coast
Stari Bar is best enjoyed as part of a wider drive, not a destination on its own. From Bar the coast runs south to Ulcinj, the most Mediterranean-Ottoman town on the Montenegrin shore, with its fortress old town and the long sands of Velika Plaža beyond — an easy continuation once you've had your fill of ruins. If beaches are your priority, our guide to the best beaches in Montenegro by car maps out where to point the car along this stretch. For everything practical about basing yourself here — pickup, parking and what's nearby — see the Bar location page.
One route note for 2026: if you're driving down from the Bay of Kotor, the Vrmac tunnel has been subject to works and possible closures, so check its status before relying on it and be ready to take the older bay road instead — it's slower but scenic.
Quick practical notes
- Wear proper shoes. The ruins are uneven stone and steps, not a smooth path.
- Carry a little cash. Useful for the entry fee, tunnel toll and a coffee.
- Start earlier in summer to beat the heat and the parking crush.
- Fuel up before quiet inland stretches; with our full-to-full fuel policy you just return the car as you got it.
- Combine, don't isolate — Stari Bar pairs naturally with Ulcinj or a beach day to the south.
Ready to explore Old Bar at your own pace? Free airport meet-and-greet delivery at Tivat and Podgorica, pay at pickup, and free cancellation make it easy to say yes. Pick your car from the Montrent fleet and point it uphill.