Don’t be disheartened if the heavens open up on Montenegro’s Adriatic Coast. Here’s six things to do in Kotor when it rains.
1. Check out the cat culture
Kotor’s gorgeous medieval walled old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to a thriving community of stray cats. No one knows exactly how they got here in the first place, but they have become an unofficial symbol of the city. The cute Cats Museum is filled with artworks, vintage advertising posters and postcards focusing on felines.
2. Road trip to Perast
Take a quick trip to neighbouring Perast, a fairy-tale medieval town also on the picturesque Gulf of Kotor that’s a 16-minute drive away. The town only has one main street but there are 16 churches and 17 grand palazzos to explore.
3. Search for divine intervention
The medieval walled town’s most imposing building, the Saint Tryphon Cathedral was first consecrated in 1166, and has since been damaged and rebuilt after major earthquakes in 1667 and 1979. Inside it is light and restive; browse the little stalls of religious icons and trinkets just outside its heavy wooden doors.
4. Shop for old things
The streets of the old town are also home to numerous poky little antique shops selling everything from vintage china to maritime pieces to old books. Nice souvenirs to buy are tiny little porcelain cats that you can find for just a few dollars each.
5. Be boutique happy on the inside
The colourful joie de vivre of the lovely interiors in the restaurant of the Forza Mare boutique hotel will obliterate the inclement weather outside; at night it’s all fine dining but during the day you can linger over its signature sublime desserts with a serious coffee.
6. It’s maritime for a museum
Kotor’s gorgeous coastal position and relationship with the Venetians have resulted in a rich maritime history, celebrated at the Maritime Museum of Montenegro. Housed in a gracious former palace, the displays include everything from artworks to maritime memorabilia to fully furnished rooms once belonging to the captains who plied the Mediterranean.
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Temperatures are soaring this summer, breaking records across Europe and the UK.
Euro summer is a feeling like no other. But when a heatwave hits? The dream trip quickly turns into a sweaty mess. Extreme heat is sweeping Europe and the UK this week, with record-high temperatures impacting travel plans across the continent.
And while Australian summers are typically hotter in absolute temperature, many European cities aren’t equipped for high temperatures, resulting in unbearable weather.
Why is it so hot in Europe?
Signs of a hot summer loomed in May, when the mercury hit unprecedented spring highs. Now, extreme high temperature warning alerts have been issued in countries such as Spain, Italy, France, England, the Netherlands and Germany.
France saw its hottest day on record on Wednesday, with an average temperature of 30°C across the day and night. This surpasses the average temperature for June, which is 15°C to 25°C. Dozens of people have died, including 40 from drowning.
In Spain, 212 deaths have been linked to the heatwave.
The UK recorded its hottest June day ever on Wednesday with temperatures soaring to 36.1°C. In an article published by the Met Office – the UK’s national meteorological service – Professor Stephen Belcher CBE, Met Office Chief Scientist, shared his concerns about June’s heat. “To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering. Events like this bring home the implications of climate change, with very high temperatures and humidity bringing significant health implications from heat stress, as well as impacts to a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply,” he said.
Heatwaves are becoming increasingly common in Europe and the UK, neither of which is prepared for such extremes. The World Meteorological Organization reported that in 2025, at least 95% of Europe experienced above-average annual temperatures and that the continent was heating up twice as fast as the global average.
How travel is impacted
A pharmacy broadcasting local weather data. (Credit: Getty/Dragoncello)
During a heatwave, power grids, water systems and transport networks can be affected, resulting in disrupted itineraries for travellers. In France, power outages have left thousands without electricity and early closures have been implemented for two of Paris’s biggest attractions, the Eiffel Tower (early afternoon rather than late at night) and the Louvre (two hours early). Eurostar cancelled its London to Paris and Paris to London services from the 22nd to the 25th, and major UK rail companies have been advising travellers to avoid using trains where possible, or to travel during early hours.
If a heatwave is predicted, being flexible with your itinerary and having fully refundable/changeable tickets is key, as extreme heat can force the cancellation of outdoor activities, impact rail and flight services and change the opening hours of sites and eateries.
Why does summer in Europe often feel hotter than summer in Australia?
People swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris to cool off. (Credit: Rachael Thompson)
With some of the highest UV levels in the world, Australians are no strangers to the heat, adapting well to intense weather. But our infrastructure is largely equipped to withstand soaring temperatures with climate-responsive passive design, refrigerated air conditioning or evaporative coolers, as well as swimming spots aplenty.
Buildings in Northern and Western Europe and the UK, however, are constructed to retain heat and handle frosty winters. The lack of universal air conditioning means it generally feels hotter even though the temperature on your app might not look it. During a heatwave, it can feel like you’re in a sauna as cities act like heat traps.
How to stay cool and prepare for another heatwave
Relief is expected across Europe and the UK later this week, but more heatwaves are still possible in the coming months. Summer heat typically peaks in July and August.
Public transport often doesn’t have air conditioning, and buses in particular can be swelteringly hot. If you’re heading outside or your accommodation has no air conditioning, it’s worth buying a spray bottle and a handheld fan from a pharmacy or tourist stand. Check ahead of time if restaurants and cafes have air conditioning and make a booking in advance. The highest temperatures typically hit between 3pm and 6pm, so aim to head outdoors outside of these hours.
Rising temperatures invite travellers to enter a more intentional era of seeing the world. Now more than ever is the time to embrace lower-impact “coolcations” and off-season getaways.
What to do in Kotor (Montenegro) when it rains | International Traveller
