Things to do in Kotor: the old town, the fortress and the bay
Kotor is a small walled town at the head of a deep, steep-sided bay, with a fortress path climbing the mountain behind it. A day shows you the main sights, two days is better. The one thing to know: cruise ships fill the old town from mid-morning, so climb early and wander at night.
The short answer
- First trip
- Walk the old town early, climb to the fortress before the heat, then take a taxi or bus along the bay to Perast.
- Where to stay
- The old town for atmosphere and noise, Dobrota or Muo for water views and a calmer night, Perast for a very small village base.
- How many days
- Two days covers the old town, the fortress and Perast. Three adds the Lovćen road or a boat trip around the bay.
- Best time to go
- May, June, September and early October. July and August are hot and crowded; winter is quiet and wet.
- Book ahead
- Dinner at the better restaurants in summer, a boat to Our Lady of the Rocks if you want a set time, and a transfer if you arrive late.
- From the airport
- Tivat airport is about 10 km away and a taxi takes roughly 15 minutes. Podgorica and Dubrovnik are 1.5 hours or more by road.
Where to stay in Kotor, in brief
Old town
atmosphere on foot
Stone lanes, squares and churches inside the walls, with no cars. The catch is the noise on warm nights, the stairs and the daytime cruise crowds.
Dobrota and Muo
water views and a calmer night
Villages on the shore a short way along the bay, with a waterfront promenade and rooms facing the water. Expect a walk of 20 to 40 minutes to the old town, or a short bus or taxi ride.
Prčanj
a quiet base across the bay
A small village with a baroque church on the opposite shore, about 6 km from the old town by road. Pleasant if you want quiet and have a car or are happy to use taxis.
Perast
a village stay
A tiny baroque town about 12 km from Kotor, with views of two small islands. Lovely early and late, very quiet at night, and short of restaurants and shops.
Things to do in Kotor
Kotor old town
A walled medieval town of stone lanes and small squares, listed by UNESCO. It is easy to get lost, which is part of the point. Walk it early, and again after dinner.
Fortress of San Giovanni
A steep path of well over a thousand steps climbs the walls to the fortress above the town. Start early, wear proper shoes and bring water. The view of the bay is the reason to go.
Pay at the entrance, usually in cash; check the current fee.
Cathedral of St Tryphon
A Romanesque cathedral on a small square in the old town, dedicated to Kotor's patron saint. Short, and worth it for the stonework.
Our Lady of Remedy
A small church about halfway up the fortress path, where most people stop for breath. It is a good place to turn back if the full climb is too much.
Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks
A baroque village on the bay with small boats to an island church built on an artificial islet. Go in the morning or evening, when the day trips are elsewhere.
Maritime Museum
A museum in a baroque palace in the old town, covering Kotor's seafaring past. A good indoor hour when it rains or the heat is high.
The Kotor Serpentine road
A mountain road with a long run of hairpin bends climbing from Kotor to the Lovćen area, with views back over the bay. Drive it if you are comfortable with narrow roads, or take a taxi or tour.
Njeguši and Lovćen
A village on the mountain above the bay known for smoked ham and cheese, with Lovćen national park close by. A good half day for food and cooler air.
Book a tour or taxi a few days ahead in summer.
A walk along the bay shore
A flat waterfront path runs from the old town toward Dobrota. Go in the evening for the light on the water and the cats.
Kayaking or a boat trip on the bay
The bay is calm and mountain-ringed, and a small boat or kayak is a good way to see the villages from the water. Choose a morning slot, when the water is flatter.
A few days ahead in July and August.
What to book before you go
These sell out. Most of the rest of Kotor can be decided on the day.
Every tour and ticket in Kotor, and which to pick- Dinner at the better restaurants1 to 2 weeks ahead in summer
The old town has few seats for its size, and the well-known waterfront places fill on warm nights.
- Boat trips and kayak toursA few days to a week ahead in July and August
Small boats and guided paddles run to a limited schedule and sell out.
- Airport or cross-border transfersA few days ahead, or at once for late arrivals
Public transport is thin at night, and taxis from the border and Dubrovnik are best fixed in advance.
What to skip in Kotor
- The old town between 10:00 and 16:00 on cruise days
Ship groups fill the lanes and the fortress path. Climb at opening time, spend midday on the water or in Perast, and come back after 17:00.
- Restaurants with photo menus by the main gates
They are built for passing groups. Walk a few lanes in, or eat along the bay at Dobrota.
- A day trip from Dubrovnik as your only visit
The drive is long and includes a border queue in summer, so you spend more time in the car than in town. Stay a night if you can.
Best time to visit Kotor
May, June, September and early October are the best months. The sea is warm enough to swim from about June, the fortress is walkable and the old town is manageable.
July and August are hot and crowded, with cruise ships most days. Winter is quiet and mild but wet, and some restaurants and boats close.
- From Tivat airportTivat airport is about 10 km from Kotor across the ridge. Taxis wait at arrivals and the drive takes roughly 15 minutes. Agree the fare before you get in, or book a transfer.
- From Podgorica or DubrovnikPodgorica airport is about 75 km away, around 1.5 hours by road. Dubrovnik airport is about 60 to 70 km, around 1.5 hours with the border crossing. Take your passport, as Montenegro is outside the EU.
- In the old townThe old town is closed to cars and small enough to cross in minutes. Your luggage will go over stone, so pack light.
- Along the bayA coast road links Kotor with Dobrota, Perast and the villages beyond. Local buses run along it; taxis are easy to find in summer.
Kotor in two days
- Day 1
Climb to San Giovanni fortress early, then wander the old town, the cathedral and the Maritime Museum. Dinner in the old town.
- Day 2
Take a bus or taxi along the bay to Perast, then a boat to Our Lady of the Rocks. Return for a walk along the shore at sunset.
Day trips from Kotor
- Perast and RisanPerast is about 12 km along the bay, 20 to 25 minutes by road. Risan, a little further, has Roman mosaics.
- Lovćen and NjegušiA mountain day above the bay by the Serpentine road, with smoked ham, cheese and big views.
- BudvaA resort town on the open coast about 30 minutes by road, with a small walled old town and beaches.
- Dubrovnik, CroatiaAbout 1.5 hours each way, plus a border crossing that can be slow in summer. Take your passport.
Kotor: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Kotor?
One full day covers the old town and the fortress. Two days adds Perast and a slower pace. Three is useful if you want the Lovćen road or a boat trip around the bay.
Is Kotor worth visiting?
Yes. The old town, the fortress and the setting between steep mountains and the bay are the reason. Go outside July and August if you can, and plan around the cruise-ship hours.
What is the best time to visit Kotor?
May, June, September and early October give warm weather, swimmable water and fewer people than midsummer.
Can you do Kotor in one day?
Yes: the old town, the fortress climb and lunch fit into a day. You will see it at its busiest from a cruise ship, so go early and leave the lanes to the groups at midday.
Is Kotor safe?
Kotor is generally easy and relaxed for visitors. Take the usual care with bags in crowds, and treat the fortress climb and the mountain road with respect.
Do I need euros or a passport in Montenegro?
Montenegro uses the euro although it is not in the EU. Bring your passport, since you cross a border from Croatia or Albania.
How do I get from Tivat airport to Kotor?
By taxi in roughly 15 minutes, or by a pre-booked transfer. There are local buses between Tivat and Kotor, but they are infrequent, so check times before relying on them.