Boka Bay — the Bokokotorski Zaliv in Serbo-Croatian — is a deeply indented, fjord-like bay in south-western Montenegro formed by the submergence of the valley of the Crnojevića river and its tributaries in the last glacial melt. It is the southernmost fjord in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site candidate. The bay is subdivided into four smaller bays: Herceg Novi (outer), Risan, Perast, and Kotor (innermost). Sea conditions inside the bay are dramatically calmer than the open Adriatic — wind, waves, and currents are all dampened by the surrounding mountains, making it ideal for kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, and leisurely swimming. Water temperatures inside the bay run 1–2°C cooler than the open Riviera coast because the mountains shade the bay longer each day and tidal exchange is restricted. The picturesque medieval towns of Kotor and Perast, the island churches of Our Lady of the Rocks and St George, and the characteristic stone villas of the Venetian-era merchant families make the bay a primary cultural tourism draw alongside its nautical activities.
Related terms: Promenade (Šetalište), Breakwater (Lukobran / Mol), Montenegrin Coast (Crnogorsko Primorje), Bura (Bora) Wind, Maestral (Maestro / Mistral) Wind