6 Ideas to Have an Amazing Time in Kotor

Recommendations for things to do in Kotor

When people visit Montenegro, Kotor is almost always on the list of must-see destinations – and for good reason. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is full of history and natural beauty, from incredible hiking trails to relaxing beaches. It’s a popular place to stop on a day trip, but you can easily spend more time here. Whether you spend one day or many more, here are some recommendations for things to do in Kotor.

1. Get lost in Old Town

The Old Town of Kotor is a walled city that is a maze of shops, restaurants and more. You can wander through it just for the sake of exploration and get lost in the walls. Or you might have a destination. For example, the Kotor Cats museum or the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, built in 1156.

2. Climb the walls to St. John (San Giovanni) Fortress

Climbing the walls to reach this fortress is a must-do for most people visiting Kotor. You walk through Old Town to reach the ticketed entrance then climb the 1,300+ steps to the fortress. You will be rewarded with spectacular views of the bay and city and might even pet a cat.

3. See the other side of Kotor from Vrmac Fort

If you want views of Bay of Kotor from the other side of the city, hike up to Vrmac Fort. Across the Bay from Old Town and up the hill, you can find a hiking trail up to the Fort. Switchbacks take you up to the ride where you can find an old Austro-Hungarian fort and look out over the town of Tivat.

I recommend timing this hike so that you climb down during sunset. That will allow you to see the colors of the sky reflected on the water and mountains.

4. Go on a long hike up to Pestingrad

This 13+ mile round-trip hike starts from behind the Old Town of Kotor and offers incredible views of the entire region. The first part of the trail covers switchbacks up the mountain, and offers similar views to the Kotor Fortress for the first couple of miles. Then, it switches to a forest landscape with scattered ruins, including an old Austro-Hungarian border checkpoint.

Then, climb up until you reach the town outside Mt. Lovcen and find the next trail that will take you to Pestingrad. The trail is not exactly well-marked, but very rewarding with more ruins and sweeping views.

5. Take a ferry out to Perast Our Lady of the Rock

Our Lady of the Rocks is an artificial island off the coast of Perast in the Bay of Kotor. Officially, a bulwark of rocks and sinking old ships created it. But legend says that seamen built it over time after finding an icon of Madonna and Child on the rock. It hosts the Church of Our Lady of the Rock, an old Roman Catholic church and museum. You can take a boat out to see the church and museum for a day.

6. Relax on the beaches

After a few days of hiking and exploring, you’ll want some time to relax. Kotor has several beautiful beaches where you can lounge by the water, go for a swim or have a drink in a seaside restaurant. Check out Kotor Beach to be on the water without going too far from the Old Town, or Orahovac Beach for a sandy beach.

Kotor is also a great home base if you want to explore other parts of Montenegro. Popular day trips from Kotor could include:

• Mount Lovcen
• Budva 
• Herceg Novi
• Tivat
• Lake Skodar

Logistics

Now that you have some recommendations for things to do in Kotor, you may have some other questions, like…

Safety?

Montenegro in general is considered a very safe country. When we asked our Airbnb host in Kotor about walking home at night from the Old Town, he told us we did not need to worry. In Montenegro, residents regularly leave their cars and doors unlocked.

With that being said, I wouldn’t recommend leaving cars or doors unlocked anywhere, regardless of safety. But I did feel very safe in the country even walking around at night. During peak season when there are more crowds, you should be wary of pickpockets. Always take standard precautions like not walking around with your wallet and phone in your back pockets.

Where to stay?

If you’re staying in the town of Kotor, it is fairly small. We stayed in an Airbnb that was about a 15-minute walk up the hill from the Old Town, on the opposite side of the bay. It cost ~$25 USD per night for a one-bedroom apartment with a view overlooking the Bay of Kotor in the off-season (November). You could pay a bit more for a hotel in the city or in Old Town, or a bit less for a hostel on the water. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can even rent a boat to stay on in the Bay of Kotor. 

Transportation?

The town is small enough to walk or bike to most of these recommendations of things to do in Kotor. If you’re taking a day trip or visiting Perast, it’s also possible to take a taxi. However, you might want to rent a car if you plan on taking a lot of day trips, or traveling to stay in other parts of Montenegro. 

We rented a car at the Podgorica airport for about $100 USD total for eight days (plus a $1,000 refundable deposit), but later learned that it’s even cheaper away from the airport, especially in Kotor. If coming from the US, you do not need an international driver’s license. Just note that drivers in Montenegro can be aggressive, so be aware.

When to go?

Like other parts of Europe, the most popular time to visit is June-August, with a shoulder season in May and September. This time of year is when you’ll have the best chance of sunshine, and the hottest temperatures.

Visiting October-April has more of a chance of rain, with the wettest month being November. That being said, we went to Montenegro for eight days in early November and only experienced one real day of rainfall. The weather is also pretty moderate year-round in Kotor, so you never have to worry about being too cold. These months will also have the lowest prices and slimmest crowds.

Those are my recommendations for things to do in Kotor! If you have more questions about other areas to visit in Montenegro, you can read my other post, or reach out.