Kotor, Montenegro is one of the most beautiful Adriatic cities in Europe. With sweeping mountain and sea views, charming Old Town streets, and a central location to other nearby holiday hot spots, Kotor is a must-visit. In this Kotor travel guide, I’ll go over all of the best things to eat, see, and do in this fabulous UNESCO World Heritage Site!
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General information about Kotor
- Currency: Euros
- Official language: Montenegrin (Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, and Albanian are also used)
- Population: 13,510 people
- Founded: 5th century BC
- How long to visit: 2+ days
- Best time to visit: March to September
How to get to Kotor
Kotor is located at the base of Mount Lovćen in the southwest of Montenegro, along the Bay of Kotor. The two closest airports are in Tivat (TIV) and Podgorica (TGD), the capital.
You can find public buses that run to Kotor from other cities in Croatia, Albania, and Bosnia & Herzegovina. In the summer, you can also take a ferry from Bari, Italy to Bar, Montenegro, another coastal city south of Kotor.
Driving times from:
- Tivat: 15 minutes
- Podgorica: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Dubrovnik, Croatia: 1 hour 50 minutes
Things to do in Kotor
Kotor Old Town
Kotor’s Old Town (Stari Grad) is a triangle-shaped fortified city nestled against a range of striking mountains. The city’s exterior walls are still intact and run all the way up the side of the mountain (which you can climb — see “Kotor walls” below!). Because Kotor’s Old Town is so small, I’d recommend spending a bit of time just wandering around. It’s pretty hard to get lost!
Can’t-miss things to see in Old Town:
- Sea Gate: Main entrance to Old Town, built in 1555
- Main Square (Trg od Oružja): Biggest town square with an impressive Clock Tower
- St Tryphon’s Cathedral: The most impresive Roman Catholic cathedral in Kotor with a museum and views over the square (Trg Sv Tripuna)
- Church of St Nicholas: Serbian Orthodox church on St Luke’s Square with large frescoes inside
- Kotor Cats Museum: Dedicated to the street cats of Kotor (the small entry fee goes towards feeding them!)
- Maritime Museum: Nautical history exhibits with model ships and weapons
Climb the Kotor Walls to St John’s Fortress
If you’re going to do one thing in Kotor, make sure it’s the hike up to the Fortress (also known as the Castle of San Giovanni).
Starting at the westernmost part of the Old Town, this 1,355-step walk up the Old City walls takes about 45 minutes going up and 30 minutes going down. About halfway up, you’ll pass the Church of Our Lady of Remedy — the views at this point are already amazing. Keep going up, though, because they only get better from here!
Once you reach St John’s Fortress at the top, you basically have free rein to explore the ruins and soak in the unobstructed views of the Bay. The views from the top are epic and should not be missed.
From 8 am to 8 pm, May to October, you’ll need to pay 8€ to climb up to the Fortress. The walls are open 24 hours a day, so try going earlier or later (or off-season) to avoid the fee.
Get out on the water
No Kotor travel guide would be complete without mentioning the surrounding Bay of Kotor.
Cruising around the Bay of Kotor is one of the best ways to spend a sunny day. You’ll find (what seems like) hundreds of different operators lined up along the water just outside of the Old Town walls. From their promotional posters, it seems like the majority of them take you to the same places. Our tour took us to Our Lady on the Rocks island in Perast, out near Herceg Novi, and all the way to the Blue Cave (which was honestly not as impressive as the one in Croatia).
The coolest part of our tour was the stop at Our Lady on the Rocks island. To get there a bit cheaper, take the local public bus from Kotor to Perast. From there, you can catch a ferry boat to the island for between 3€ and 5€ a person.
Kotor Beach
Kotor Beach is a short five-minute walk north of Old Town. It’s the perfect place to cool off with a swim after a long morning of sightseeing (or hiking up the Old City walls). The beach is made of small pebbles and has both a free section and paid lounge chairs. During the summer, it’s not unusual to see people suntanning along the stretch of paved dock north and south of the beach as well — this is a good option if you’re not a fan of rocky beaches.
Walk and dine along the Bay of Kotor
Just north of Kotor Beach, there is a nice walking path along the water that will lead you to an area with lots of restaurants. This is a great place to come for a sunset walk and dinner on the bay. You’ll find plenty of different food options, with many including a mixture of Montenegrin and Italian cuisines. We opted to eat at Caffe Restaurant Kadena because their tables jutted out on a concrete dock (the vibes were impeccable). The food was also delicious — I got a clam linguine that was to die for.
Day trips from Kotor
Budva
Budva is a beachy party town along Montenegro’s Adriatic coast. In addition to its stunning shores, it also boasts an ancient Old Town that juts out into the ocean on a rocky peninsula. It’s definitely worth spending a few days here if you have the time, but it’s also easy enough to visit on a day trip from Kotor.
To get to Budva, take any public bus heading towards Podgorica. The ride should take about 45 minutes.
Sveti Stefan
Sveti Stefan is a gorgeous islet 3.7 mi (6 km) southeast of Budva. The two stretches of land on either end of its connecting road are made up of pristine sandy beaches.
To get to Sveti Stefan from Kotor, first take the public bus to Budva. From there, you can either call a taxi (that will take around 15 minutes) or walk the Seven Bay Trail (a scenic walk along the coast that takes about an hour and a half).
Podgorica
Podgorica is the capital and largest city in Montenegro, with about 30% of the country’s population. With a mixture of Ottoman and Communist-era architecture, the city has an interesting history with lots to do. The gorgeous backdrop doesn’t hurt, either — the city sits at the confluence of two rivers, with lush valleys and plains in every direction.
There are public buses that run daily from Kotor to Podgorica. The trip takes about an hour and a half.
Dubrovnik
Thanks to Game of Thrones, Dubrovnik is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Croatia. It’s not hard to see why people keep coming back — the city is gorgeous, the weather is amazing, and the nightlife is unbeatable. Dubrovnik can be done as a day trip from Kotor, but it really deserves more time to experience to the fullest.
To get to Dubrovnik, you can take the public bus that runs directly there. The journey takes at least two hours plus the time it takes to cross the border. Don’t forget your passport!
Book a tour in Kotor
Thanks for reading this guide on all the best things to do in Kotor, Montenegro!
xoxo Niki
