Travel guide · Montenegro
Kotor travel guide
A walled Venetian town under limestone cliffs at the end of a fjord-like bay
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: User:Ggia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Kotor sits at the innermost corner of the Bay of Kotor, a deep, winding inlet of the Adriatic ringed by mountains rising steeply from the water. Its triangular old town, enclosed by walls that zigzag up the cliff to the Fortress of San Giovanni, is a maze of marble-paved squares, Romanesque churches and Venetian palaces, listed by UNESCO with the surrounding bay since 1979. Perast, Our Lady of the Rocks, Lovćen National Park and the beaches of Budva are all within an hour. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are May–June and September.
Key facts
- Country
- Montenegro
- Best time to visit
- May–June and September
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- TIV, TGD
- Mid-range daily budget
- $110–$200 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Bay of Kotor, City walls and San Giovanni Fortress, Venetian old town and Cats
Why visit Kotor
- The climb of about 1,350 steps up the city walls to San Giovanni Fortress gives one of the most dramatic views on the Adriatic, straight down onto the old town and the bay.
- The car-free old town packs the 12th-century Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, small squares and Venetian palaces into a few hundred metres.
- Perast and the island church of Our Lady of the Rocks are 15 minutes along one of Europe's most scenic coast roads.
- The serpentine road up to Lovćen and the Njeguši villages climbs from sea level to mountain air in under an hour.
- Buzara mussels from the bay, Njeguši prosciutto and Vranac red wine make for simple, excellent meals.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 11 things to do.
Neighbourhood · Old Town (Stari Grad)
Kotor Old Town
Enter through the 16th-century Sea Gate onto the Square of Arms, with its clock tower and the pillar of shame in front.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- After dark
Castle · Old Town (Stari Grad)
City walls and San Giovanni Fortress
About 4.5 km of walls climb the cliff behind Kotor to the Fortress of San Giovanni, roughly 260 metres above the bay.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Active
- Photo spot
- History
Religious site · Old Town (Stari Grad)
Cathedral of Saint Tryphon
Kotor's Roman Catholic cathedral was consecrated in 1166 and repaired after several earthquakes, most recently the one of 1979.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Island · Perast
Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks
Opposite Perast, Our Lady of the Rocks is an artificial islet built up over centuries by sailors sinking ships and dropping stones, with a domed church full of votive silver plaques and Baroque paintings.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Couples
- Photo spot
- History
- Views
Nature · Old Town (Stari Grad)
Ladder of Kotor trail
The old mule track that once linked Kotor with Njeguši and Cetinje zigzags up the mountainside north of the fortress in dozens of switchbacks.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Active
- Views
- Outdoors
- Nature
Religious site · Old Town (Stari Grad)
Church of St Luke and St Nicholas Church
On St Luke's Square, the small Romanesque Church of St Luke dates from 1195 and for long periods served both Catholic and Orthodox congregations.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Where to stay
Old Town (Stari Grad) is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 6 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples and culture
Old Town (Stari Grad)
Marble lanes, Venetian palaces and church squares inside the city walls
$$$ · Best for couples, families and quiet stays
Dobrota
Captains' stone mansions and swimming platforms along the bay north of town
$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and food lovers
Muo and Prčanj
Fishing villages on the quieter western shore, facing Kotor's walls
$ · Best for budget and solo travellers
Škaljari
Residential district just south of the walls, near the bus station
What to eat
- Njeguši prosciutto — Dry-cured ham from the mountain village of Njeguši above Kotor, smoked over beech wood and air-dried in the mountain breeze.
- Njeguši cheese — A hard, slightly salty cheese from the same mountain village, often served with the prosciutto as a starter platter.
- Buzara — Mussels or other shellfish cooked in white wine, garlic, parsley and sometimes tomato, with bread to mop up the sauce.
- Black risotto — Risotto coloured and flavoured with cuttlefish or squid ink, a staple across the eastern Adriatic coast.
- Grilled fish — Whole fish such as sea bream or sea bass grilled with olive oil and garlic, served with blitva (chard and potatoes).
- Kačamak — A heavy mountain dish of cornmeal or potatoes cooked with cheese and kajmak (clotted cream), traditionally eaten by shepherds.
When to go
The best times to visit Kotor are May to June and September, when the sea is warm enough to swim, hiking is comfortable and crowds are smaller than in July and August. Midsummer is hot and very busy with cruise passengers. November to February is very wet and many restaurants and guesthouses close.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Mild, green and increasingly sunny, ideal for the walls and Lovćen, with showers and a cool sea until late May. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot and sunny with a warm sea, Fašinada and Boka Night, but heavy cruise-ship crowds and the highest prices. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm sea in September, pleasant October hiking, then heavy rain and closures from November. |
| Winter | December–February | Mild but very wet, with a quiet old town, the Saint Tryphon feast and few open restaurants. |
Getting there and around
Tivat Airport is about 8 km from Kotor through the Vrmac tunnel, roughly 15–20 minutes by taxi. Podgorica Airport is about 90 km away, around 1.5–2 hours by car. Dubrovnik Airport in Croatia, about 70–90 km away, is another option, but allow for the border crossing.
Kotor's old town is car-free and small enough to walk in minutes, and the waterfront path through Dobrota is flat. Buses run along the bay to Perast and on to Herceg Novi, and through the tunnel to Tivat and Budva. Taxis and boat taxis fill the gaps.
Plan your days
Two days covers the old town, the wall climb and a trip to Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks. A third day adds Lovćen and Njeguši or a boat trip to the Blue Cave; with longer, use Kotor as a base for Budva, Cetinje and Lake Skadar.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- Montenegrin and Serbian
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water in Kotor is generally drinkable, though some visitors prefer bottled water; ask your host locally.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number); police 122, ambulance 124
- Tipping
- Tipping is not obligatory but appreciated.
Kotor is generally relaxed for visitors. The main risks are heat and dehydration on the wall climb, slippery marble lanes after rain, and pickpockets in cruise-day crowds. Drive carefully on the narrow bay road and the serpentine to Lovćen.
Flights to Kotor
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Kotor?
Two days covers the old town, the wall climb and a trip to Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks. A third day adds Lovćen and Njeguši or a boat trip to the Blue Cave; with longer, use Kotor as a base for Budva, Cetinje and Lake Skadar. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Kotor?
The best times to visit Kotor are May to June and September, when the sea is warm enough to swim, hiking is comfortable and crowds are smaller than in July and August. Midsummer is hot and very busy with cruise passengers. November to February is very wet and many restaurants and guesthouses close.
+What is Kotor known for?
Bay of Kotor, City walls and San Giovanni Fortress, Venetian old town, Cats, Perast and Cruise-ship port. The climb of about 1,350 steps up the city walls to San Giovanni Fortress gives one of the most dramatic views on the Adriatic, straight down onto the old town and the bay.
+Is Kotor expensive?
Kotor is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $110–$200 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Kotor?
Not for Kotor itself, which is walkable and served by buses and boats. A car is helpful for Lovćen, Njeguši, Cetinje and Lake Skadar, though tours cover all of these.