Kotor Named One of Europe's Happiest Places—Here's Why

Montenegro's UNESCO-listed walled city of Kotor has been named one of the happiest places in Europe, according to a recent feature. The accolade fits a local culture that prizes leisure so highly that residents follow what they call "The 10 Commandments of a Montenegrin," including advice like "if you feel like working, sit down, it will pass."

The city's history stretches back to Illyrian founders, with later Roman, Byzantine, and nearly 400 years of Venetian-Ottoman frontier influence shaping its current look: Romanesque churches, Gothic and Baroque palaces, and narrow streets within strong defenses. Arriving by boat offers views of Vrmac's pine-clad ridge, Perast's Baroque palaces, and the island church of Our Lady of the Rocks, with Mount Lovćen looming behind Kotor's walls and the St John's Fortress climbing the slope above.

Inside the Old Town, visitors find a farmers' market beneath the walls, a leaning 17th-century clock tower, the Pillar of Shame obelisk, and Cinema Square's coffee under a poplar planted in 1667. The Kotor Cat Museum supports care for cats said to descend from Venetian sailors' mousers, while the Cathedral of St Tryphon (consecrated 1166) holds a 15th-century gilded altarpiece and a carved ciborium. A cable car climbs over 4,265 feet in 11 minutes for bay views.

The feature also lists local dining spots like Bastion (grilled fish), Il Pescatore (oysters and mussels straight from the water), Galion (waterside Mediterranean), and Senso Bakery (krempita). For drinks, Jazz Club Evergreen offers live sets, while Letrika mixes art and cocktails. Recommended hotels include Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort, Palazzo Sbutega, and Casa del Mare – Amfora, all outside the noisy Old Town.