Kotor Travel Guide: Best things to do in Kotor

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Tucked away right at the deepest part of Boka Bay (otherwise known as the Bay of Kotor), is the charming town of Kotor.

The jewel in Montenegro’s crown and home to one of the most iconic old towns in the Balkans, Kotor is often the highlight of any Montenegro itinerary.

The historic old town sits between the busy port and the ruins of Kotor Fortress, which perches high above the town, nestled against the ranges of Mount Lovcen. The medieval old town walls wrap around the church squares and narrow passageways, where shops and restaurants are housed in historic buildings.

That combination of history, architecture and a bustling town centre is why Kotor is one of (if not the) most visited towns in Montenegro.

Kotor: At a glance

Where to stay: Katereo Apartments for a cute stay in the heart of the Old Town. For secluded luxury, stay at the Hyatt Regency, across the Bay of Kotor. Enjoy sea views at The Golden Luxury Apartments or stay at the budget friendly Montenegro Hostel 4U.

Best things to do: Wander the Old Town, Ride the Kotor Cable car or explore the bay of Kotor by boat.

Best time to visit: Honestly, Kotor is a great place to visit almost all year round, however if you want sunshine without the crowds, then the best time to visit Kotor is during the ‘shoulder season’ in June, early July and September.

Kotor, Montenegro Travel Guide

Below is my guide to everything you need to know to plan your trip to Kotor, Montenegro. I’ll cover some of the best things to do in Kotor, as well as how to get to there and the best areas to stay.

Best Things to do in Kotor

Walk the city walls

Kotor’s city walls are definitely no competition for Dubrovnik’s city walls, however they are free to access and allow a different perspective over the old town. You’ll also get great views over the port as well.

The section of Kotor’s city walls which you can walk on runs from the Guric Bastion, around the front of the old town and to the River (North Gate)

Stroll around the Old Town

Kotor has one of the most iconic and impressive Old Towns in the Adriatic region, rivalling even Dubrovnik in Croatia. With parts of the settlement dating back to the 12th century, it is known as one of the most well preserved mediaeval towns.

Despite its small size, Kotor’s Old Town is one of the most visited destinations in Montenegro. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in charm and character. Behind the stone city walls, the town is full of cobbled streets, cute churches and historic squares and you could easily spend several hours wandering around the town.

Kotor is also full of great little shops – just make sure you don’t plan your shopping day on a Sunday as they will be closed! There is also an abundance of great restaurants, bistros and take away options to enjoy a drink and watch the world go by. Plus you’ll be spoilt for choice with ice cream parlours!

Hike to Kotor Fortress

One of the most popular things to do in Kotor is to hike to the Kotor Fortress. The ruins of the mediaeval fortress are perched half way up the Lovcen mountain range, overlooking Kotor Old Town and the Bay of Kotor. There are two routes up to the fortress – the official route and the free, alternative route.

Kotor Fortress Hike - official route

The official route to the Kotor Fortress starts and finishes in the Old Town. The trail is 1.5 mile out and back and takes about 1 hour to complete, depending on your level of fitness and how often you stop. You do have to pay an entrance fee of €15 per person and there are manned turnstiles and ticket checks. I’ll be honest, the fee is really expensive, considering that there are no facilities and very little maintenance on the trail. However, the official route does offer much better views for the entire hike up and down, in my opinion. This route also passes the small church and additional ruins and has several observation points along the way. Make sure that you wear trainers, rather than sandals, as the stone steps can be very slippery and uneven.

The Ladder of Kotor - free, alternative route

This route starts just outside of Kotor Old Town, on the opposite side of the footbridge, at the end of the car park. This route is longer and has more switch-backs than the official route. The terrain is mostly a steep, wide gravel path, so trainers are recommended. This route goes slightly behind the official route to the fortress, so the views are not as expansive and sweeping and you can only see out to the Bay of Kotor in one direction. You will also not be able to see down to the Old Town from this angle.

Plus, in order to see the fortress, you will need to climb through a small window in the ruins to access the fortress. There is a small ladder than has been placed from the trail to reach the window (hence the trail name, ‘Ladder of Kotor’). The window is quite large, but you will need to be relatively agile and OK with ladders for this. If you take this free, alternative route on the way up, make sure to return the same way as there are ticket checks in both directions of the official route.

Ride the Kotor cable car

Without a doubt one of my favourite things I did in Kotor was to ride the cable car. The views are incredible! I’ll be honest, I sometimes get a bit nervous on cable cars, however everything is very modern and I felt really safe. The journey is really smooth and it only takes about 10-15 minutes to reach the top.

Once you are at the top, there are a couple of restaurants, cafes and a bar, as well as a children’s playground and mountain coaster, which you can pay extra for.

If you don’t have your own car, the best way to get to the Kotor cable car is by shuttle from the Kotor bus station. Book your shuttle+cable car bundle ticket from goshuttle.me for the best package price. I paid €27 per adult for a return cable car ticket and return shuttle bus ticket.

I’ve written a separate, dedicated blog post with everything you need to know about visiting the Kotor Cable car. Check out the post here.

Cool off at Kotor beach

Kotor does not have the best beach, however you don’t come to Kotor for the beach, you come for the history and culture. But, at some point, you are likely to want a rest from walking the streets of the old town and a dip in the sea is the perfect way to cool off (especially if you are visiting in the hot summer months!). There are sunloungers to hire, however, we found these to be very expensive (€40 for two loungers and an umbrella). Unfortunately Kotor beach is not very big and there is not a huge amount of space where you can sit for free, however we managed to find a spot, even in August. Just be prepared to sit on the concrete or pebbles. Water shoes will definitely come in handy here as it is very rocky getting in and out of the water.

Cycle to Dobrota

From Kotor, you can cycle all the way to Dobrota on the coastal road. The distance is around 5km one way and you can go at a leisurely pace, stopping at the various restaurants on route. The coastal road runs parallel to the main E65 road, so it shouldn’t be too busy with vehicles, but just be mindful that there will be cars passing and the road is narrow.

This is a lovely way to spend half a day – pack a beach bag and enjoy a swim to cool off half way!

Walk along the promenade

From Kotor Marina, you can walk along the seafront promenade to Dobrota-Riva. The pedestrian path is only 1.5km one way and runs out once you reach the Boka aquarium. I loved walking along the waterfront at the start of the evening, as the sun was going down. At this time, it is quite peaceful and there are plenty of benches to sit on and watch the small boats coming in. There are also some nice seafront restaurants here for dinner. If you enjoy a seafront promenade, you might enjoy adding a stay in Hercig Novi to your Montenegro itinerary. Hercig Novi has a beautiful 7km coastal walkway, stretching from the old town right along the coast. Check out the best things to do in Hercig Novi, here.

Take a boat trip

One of the best ways to appreciate the beauty of Kotor Bay is by boat. There are a couple of different tours you can take and most follow similar itineraries. One of the most popular boat tours from Kotor is to the Blue Cave and Lady of the Rocks, along the way you’ll pass gorgeous scenery of lush mountains and coastal towns with stone buildings.

If you’re travelling in a group, or looking to splash out, you can also hire a private speedboat to create your own itinerary. Book your boat trip to the Blue Cave here.

Go Kayaking in the Bay of Kotor

As the Bay of Kotor is surrounded by tall mountains, it is really well protected from the wind, which makes the water very calm. These smooth conditions are perfect for kayaking, especially if you are a beginner.
Book your Kayak trip from Kotor here

Daytrip to Porto Montenegro

Porto Montenegro is a luxury waterfront marina, in the heart of Tivat. The purpose built port is home to some of the world’s most expensive superyachts. Along the waterfront, there is a range of upscale restaurants and cafes, as well as a shaded high street, with designer shops. If you are looking to do some designer shopping, this is the palace to visit. Spend a couple of hours here, with a long, leisurely lunch and a stroll around the shops and yachts.
You can also finish the day at Tivat’s beach, which is just a short stroll away from the marina.

How to get to Porto Montenegro?

The best way to get from Kotor to Porto Montenegro is by taxi. I opted to take the local blue line public bus and wished I had got a taxi instead! The public buses are not the most reliable and timetables are more of a guidance! Plus, the bus route takes you all the way around Lepetani peninsula, along the coast, which is a very long way round and definitely not the most convenient!

If you are visiting Porto Montenegro, and you want to visit the shops, make sure to avoid visiting on a Sunday, as all the shops will be closed and there will be less of an atmosphere.

How to get to Kotor

By Plane: The closest airport to Kotor is Tivat Airport, which is just a 15 minute drive. It is best to book a taxi as there are no buses which leave from Tivat airport – you will need to walk 15 minutes on a main road from Tivat airport to Tivat bus station to get the bus.

By Bus: Kotor bus station is well connected with most of the main tourist destinations and major towns and cities in Montenegro. The bus station is 10 minutes walk from Kotor Old Town and Port. Buses get booked up quickly in peak season, so I’d recommend booking online via Omio to secure your seats.

Note that you will need to print your ticket out – the bus drivers do not accept electronic tickets on your phone. You can print your ticket out at the bus station beforehand for a small fee. You will also need to pay the driver for any large luggage. The cost differs depending on where you are travelling from / to, but it is usually only a few euros.

By Car: If you want to explore more of Montenegro, hiring your own car is a great way to get around, as public transport can be very limited, outside of the main towns and cities. However, do note that in the peak summer months, traffic can be very bad and parking spaces are hard to find. I found that I didn’t need a car in Kotor, however I did hire a car via Discover Cars in order to drive to Durmitor National Park – which you can read about in this blog, here.

Best area to stay in Kotor

If you want to be in the heart of Kotor, the best place to stay is in Kotor Old Town. I stayed in Katereo Apartments – a gorgeous one bed studio with a terrace in a quiet part of the Old Town, at the base of Kotor Fortress, which I would really recommend.

If you are booking accommodation in Kotor Old Town, make sure to have a look at what is around the apartment, as you don’t want to be too close to a loud bar (unless you are a very deep sleeper!).

Another great location to stay is between Kotor and Dobrota. This area is quieter, with only a handful of relaxed restaurants on the seafront, but you still have easy access to Kotor Old Town.

If you want more tranquillity – head across the other side of Kotor Bay to Prcanj or Lepetani. However, note that you will need to get taxis to and from Kotor Old Town from here.