3 days in Kotor

Day by day

1. Day 1: Kotor Old Town and City walls and San Giovanni Fortress

   Kotor Old Town, City walls and San Giovanni Fortress and Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, then Sunset from the walls in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      City walls and San Giovanni Fortress

      Start at sunrise or in the hour before sunset; in summer the climb is fully exposed to the sun, so carry plenty of water.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Njeguši prosciutto

      Restaurants across Kotor, the green market, and family smokehouses in Njeguši itself on the Lovćen road.

   4. Afternoon

      Cathedral of Saint Tryphon

      Kotor's Roman Catholic cathedral was consecrated in 1166 and repaired after several earthquakes, most recently the one of 1979.

   5. Evening

      Sunset from the walls

      Climb towards San Giovanni Fortress in the late afternoon and watch the light fade over the bay.

2. Day 2: Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks and Ladder of Kotor trail

   Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks, Ladder of Kotor trail and Church of St Luke and St Nicholas Church, then Dinner in Perast in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks

      Go in the late afternoon when tour boats thin out, then have dinner on Perast's waterfront.

   2. Late morning

      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.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Njeguši cheese

      Kotor's green market and restaurants serving a meze platter; stalls in Njeguši sell it by the piece.

   4. Afternoon

      Church of St Luke and St Nicholas Church

      Step inside both to compare the plain medieval interior with the gilded Orthodox iconostasis next door.

   5. Evening

      Dinner in Perast

      Eat on the waterfront facing Our Lady of the Rocks as the sun goes down behind the mountains.

3. Day 3: Maritime Museum of Montenegro and Cats of Kotor and the Cats Museum

   Maritime Museum of Montenegro, Cats of Kotor and the Cats Museum and Kotor green market, then Evening walk to Dobrota in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Maritime Museum of Montenegro

      Housed in the Baroque Grgurina Palace, the museum tells the story of the Boka sailors and their navy with ship models, portraits of captains, weapons, traditional costumes and navigation instruments.

   2. Late morning

      Cats of Kotor and the Cats Museum

      Children enjoy a 'cat hunt' through the old town; the squares near St Luke's are reliable spots.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Buzara

      Fish restaurants in the old town, Dobrota, Muo and Prčanj.

   4. Afternoon

      Kotor green market

      Just outside the Sea Gate, the covered market sells local fruit, vegetables, fish, honey, olive oil, Njeguši cheese and prosciutto.

   5. Evening

      Evening walk to Dobrota

      Stroll the waterfront path as the floodlit walls appear behind you across the water.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Old Town (Stari Grad) keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Dobrota ($$$) suits couples, families and quiet stays. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–17 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.1 hours in December to 15.3 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Kotor
• 2 days in Kotor

Questions travellers ask