Kotor: the old town, the fortress and the bay in Montenegro
Kotor sits at the head of a bay ringed by mountains, with the town walls climbing straight up the hillside behind the houses. How to see the old town without the crowds, and make the most of the bay.
Kotor
Photo: Linda Gerbec / Unsplash
Kotor: the town at the end of the bay
You are halfway up the steps to the fortress and Kotor lies below you like a map: red roofs inside a triangle of walls, the bay mirroring the mountains and a cruise ship that looks like a toy. The Bay of Kotor reminds many visitors of a Norwegian fjord, and the town sits at its innermost point.
The old town was built by the Venetians and, together with the bay, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is small enough to walk through in an hour, but so full of lanes, squares and churches that you will stay much longer. For the rest of the country, see our Montenegro travel guide.
Things to do in Kotor
Climb to St John's Fortress. Around 1,350 steps along the walls, from the old town to the top 260 metres above the bay. Go early in the morning or just before sunset, and bring water.
Get lost in the old town. The Cathedral of St Tryphon from 1166, the Maritime Museum and the squares inside the Sea Gate.
Meet the cats. Kotor is famous for its many cats, and the town even has a small cat museum.
Take a boat to Perast and the island church. Perast is a small baroque town on the water, and boats run out to Our Lady of the Rocks, a church on a man-made island.
Walk the Ladder of Kotor. The old mule track zigzags up the mountainside behind the town, with views all the way.
Drive to Lovćen. The road with 25 hairpin bends climbs to the national park and the Njegoš Mausoleum at the summit.
Perast
Photo: Benjamin Nilsen / Unsplash
Cruise ships: how to avoid the crowds
Kotor is one of the most popular cruise ports in the Adriatic, and on the busiest days several thousand passengers come ashore at once. The old town gets crowded between ten and four. Stay a night or two and see the town early in the morning and in the evening. The port publishes its cruise schedule online, so you can plan around the busiest days.
Where to stay
The old town: small hotels and apartments in old stone houses. Atmospheric, but can be noisy in the evening.
Dobrota and Prčanj: along the bay just outside town, with water views and peace.
Perast: half an hour away, quiet and romantic.
When to go to Kotor
May, June and September are best, with warm weather and fewer cruise ships than in July and August. Winter is mild but wet, and the town is quiet. The surrounding mountains can see snow.
Frequently asked questions about Kotor
How many steps are there to Kotor fortress?
There are around 1,350 steps from the old town to St John's Fortress. Most people take about an hour to climb up.
Is Kotor worth an overnight stay?
Yes. Day-trippers and cruise passengers leave in the afternoon, and the old town is at its best early in the morning and in the evening.
Can you do a day trip from Dubrovnik to Kotor?
Yes, it takes around two hours each way. Many people combine Kotor and Perast in one day.
When are there fewest cruise ships in Kotor?
From November to March there are few calls. In the summer season it varies from day to day, so check the port's schedule before you travel.